Mr. Judson was delighted beyond measure to hear these words proceed from the lips of a Burman.  He handed him a tract and catechism, but these the man had read, and specially wanted another book.  Judson had told him that he was preparing another book, but had not got it ready yet.  “Have you not a little of that book done which you would be graciously pleased to give me?” the man asked; and Judson, thinking it better not to let the opportunity pass by, gave him two half sheets which had been already printed, and which contained the first five chapters of Matthew.

The man did not come again to them for some time, but they learned that he was appointed governor of some villages a distance away.  The following January he had to visit Rangoon, and once more called at the mission-house.  Mr. Judson was away just then, having gone for a short time to India, but Mrs. Judson had a long talk with him, and asked him if he had yet become a disciple of Jesus.  “I have not yet,” he replied, “but I am thinking and reading in order to become one.  I cannot yet destroy my old mind, for if I see a handsome cloth or handkerchief I still desire them.  Tell the great teacher when he returns, that I wish to see him, though I am not a disciple of Christ.”  He requested more books and then left.

Up to this time the rulers had been most friendly, but in 1818 a little event occurred which indicated to the missionaries what might at any time happen.  The former Viceroy had left, and a new one was appointed in his stead.  It was the time when Mr. Judson was away in India, and one morning Mr. Hough received a command, written in most threatening language, ordering him to at once appear at the court-house to give an account of himself.  He went, and was ordered to come next day for examination, and the officials assured him that, “If he did not tell all the truth about his situation in the country, they would write it with his heart’s blood.”

For two days he was subjected to a severe cross-examination, and the officials seemed to delight in annoying and threatening him in every possible way.  He could not appeal to the Viceroy, for he was not sufficiently acquainted with the language; so the native teacher drew up a petition, and Mrs. Judson herself presented it to the Viceroy.  He received it kindly, and at once gave orders that Mr. Hough was not to be troubled further.  They afterwards found out that the thing had been arranged by the minor officials, in order to extort money from the missionaries.

Before Mr. Judson returned a severe epidemic of cholera broke out in Rangoon, and Mr. Hough was very anxious to take his wife and Mrs. Judson out of the place and go back to India.  It was a trying and troubled time, and all missionary-work was necessarily at a standstill.  Mrs. Judson was very reluctant to leave Burmah, and for long refused to depart; she had not heard from her husband for many months, and did not know on what day he might return.  But