The high schools are quite different from the primary.  The students have to lodge and board in the school-house.  We get up in the morning before daybreak to study; the teacher and all the students go to the explanation hall for our lesson.  The teacher explains the meaning of the lesson, and in the afternoon we are expected to recite and give the explanation as given by the teacher.  This is the hardest work of the whole day.  Our evening lesson is studying essays and poems by Chinese Princes.  About eleven o’clock school closes, and in a very few minutes I am sure you will find no one awake.  In winter time we manage to get about six hours for sleep, but in summer only about four.  We generally {pg 215} sleep a little while at the noon recess.  It would not be surprising if when the teacher could not see us, we try to take a little nap in our seat.  Each boy has a table to himself.  None of the scholars sit erect as your American custom.  Every boy leans his head upon his hands, so that he can manage to take a little sleep when the teacher is not looking.

We are allowed two meals a day only, and students cannot tell the cook to prepare any private lunch.  We can have as much tea as we wish.  The only way we can get anything extra is to try and get the cook to buy it secretly, then it is very hard to get a chance to eat it without the teacher seeing.  I remember once my teacher made a visit to his friends; usually he came back in about half an hour.  When he was gone, I thought I could make a little lunch, and eat it before he came back.  He came sooner than I expected.  When I saw him coming back, I ran to my seat as fast as I could and left the lunch in the kitchen.  When the teacher found out he told the cook to dish it up and he ate it.  When he finished, he came to us with a smile on his face and said, “Whose cooking is this?  If he tell me I will give him back the money.”  When I heard that, I thought it was true, and I never thought the teacher of the high school would tell stories and deceive me.  So I said, “It is mine.”  After I said that, he walked slowly back to his seat.  I thought he was going to give me back the money.  I did wonder he did not ask me how much it cost.  So I watched him and saw him take up the bundle of rattans.  I guessed what was coming, and I guess I need not tell you the result.  The children of Christian lands have much to be thankful for.  I earnestly hope that soon the children of China will enjoy all the privileges which the Gospel brings.

* * * * *

BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

MISS D.K.  EMERSON, SECRETARY.

WOMAN’S STATE ORGANIZATIONS. 
CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

ME.—­Woman’s Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A.  Woodbury,
Woodfords, Me.

VT.—­Woman’s Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry
Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

CONN.—­Woman’s Home Miss.  Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M.  Hotchkiss, 171
Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.