Of the girls who had become Christians while under her care, two were much persecuted by their parents.  They were whipped and beaten, with the hope that they would again return to their idols; but all the efforts which were made to induce them to forsake the Saviour were in vain.  They declared that they would sooner die than forsake him.  When their parents saw that stripes and blows were of no avail, they determined to marry them to men who were much devoted to their idols.  This stratagem, they thought, might succeed in destroying all their interest in their new religion.  Here, however, they were again foiled.  The girls became alarmed, and fled from their parents.  An English gentleman, but who was not a professor of religion, felt deeply interested for them, and assisted them to get on board a ship going to Batavia.  Here they were pursued but escaped from the pursuers by going on board of a ship which sailed for Singapore.  From Singapore they sailed for China, where they were permitted to join the old friend who had been the means of their conversion.  This lady collected a school at Ningpo of more than thirty girls.  Thus you see how much good female missionaries have done by going to heathen lands.  And are none of you willing to follow their example?  Are none of you willing to say, Here am I, Lord, send me?

CHAPTER XXIII.

SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL IN INDIA AND CEYLON.

My dear Children—­I have told you that India is a very dark land, but there are a few bright spots in it.  Through the blessing of God upon the prayers of his people in Christian lands, and upon the prayers and labors of his missionary servants, many of the heathen of India and Ceylon have forsaken their idols, and are now enlisted under the banner of Jehovah Jesus.  In the Travancore and Tinnivelly districts to say nothing of the success of the Gospel in other places, thousands and tens of thousands of the people have embraced Christianity.  In hundreds of villages where but a few years ago the name of Jesus had never been heard, it is now known and adored.

You have often heard of Ceylon.  If you will look at the map of Hindostan, you will find it close to that country.  Here Christianity has begun to prevail.  This island is two hundred miles long, and in some places quite wide.  A large part of it is covered with what is called jungle.  Jungle and wilderness mean the same thing.  In this jungle there are many wild beasts, such as elephants, bears, wild hogs, and buffaloes.  In it also, there are men, women, and children, running wild, just like the wild beasts.  This people are called Verders, or wild people.  They wear scarcely any clothing.  They have no houses.  When it rains, they creep into holes, or go under overhanging rocks.  Their beds consist of a few leaves.  Sunk almost to the level of the brute, they live and die like their shaggy companions of the forest.  Even upon these the Gospel has tried its power.  More than fifty families have settled down, forming two pleasant, and now Christian villages.  They have schoolmasters and Christian teachers.