Under Section 12, Schools, this report is given:—­“I am glad to say that the people of my state are beginning to evince greater interest in the education of their children than they have done before.  The greatest desire of Her Highness, the Rani Sahiba, was that I should make suitable provision for the education of girls.  I, accordingly, engaged a competent European lady, Miss P.E.  Pannell, as mistress, and the Khetri Girls’ School was opened by Her Highness in April, 1885, in the teeth of opposition from the orthodox portion of the community.  As was expected, at first every effort to teach these girls was frowned upon and considered absurd by their relatives and friends.  This feeling, however, gradually gave place to trust and confidence, and the school is now showing some return for all the time and patience spent upon it.  The number of pupils on the roll is twenty, of which three have gone to their susval (husband’s home) and three attend only occasionally.  The average attendance of fourteen girls has, however, been regular.  Great pains has been taken to teach truthfulness, honesty and love for one another.  Instruction is also given in needlework of various kinds, and other things, the knowledge of which is necessary for good housekeeping.  The improvement made by some of the girls in this direction may at once be noticed by a change in the manner of doing nicely the little things which go to make up their lives.  The school owes its existence to the care of Her Highness, who is much interested in it.”

In addition to her school, Miss Pannell was engaged to teach the Rani and some of the court ladies.  Dr. Swain and Miss Pannell were the only Christians in the state, but their little Sunday service conducted for their servants gained attention, and others asked to be allowed to attend, some becoming so much interested that they procured Bibles and Testaments that they might read the “wonderful words” themselves.  A supply of tracts and portions of Scripture was always on hand, to distribute whenever and wherever the ladies felt they would be appreciated.

SECOND FURLOUGH

The serious illness of one of Dr. Swain’s sisters decided her to return to America, and she left Khetri in March, 1888, having spent nearly three years in “seed sowing” as she called it.  Her own health, too, demanded a change, and in company with a most congenial missionary friend she turned her face toward the homeland.  She returned to India in company with the same congenial friend, in time to attend the North India Conference before going to her Khetri home, Miss Pannell again accompanying her.

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