I foresaw almost six months ago that the universal stringency would bring us an empty treasury long before the close of our fiscal year.  It seemed due in justice to our workers to forewarn them of this.  I told them that I would do my best for them, but that for the months of June, July and August this might amount to nothing; that I was not allowed, and ought not to be, to use the resources of the new year to meet any deficits from the old one, and that I was under solemn pledge to one of our chief benefactors never to let the mission run in debt.  Consequently I could not and would not blame them if they ceased work and closed the schools.  I am proud to say that not one teacher was found to accept my proposal.  One of them wrote:  “I am very sorry you are so short of funds.  I feel sure that

’In some way or other,
  The Lord will provide.’

At any rate I shall not join the strikers, but keep right on.”  Another said:  “Whatever stops, the work must not stop; pay or no pay, I shall keep up the school.”  Gin Foo King wrote from San Bernardino, with a sort of lofty contempt of the unbelief that could stop work for lack of pay:  “God will take care of us; why should we fear?” Joe Dun, the latest addition to our force of helpers, and one from whose work for Christ I expect glad fruitage right along, replied to my message of deep regret that I could forward no salary to him for June services:  “You need not send money; I have rice.”  Rice with water to boil it in, is good enough, some think, for any Chinaman.  Perhaps it is.  At any rate Joe Dun thinks that if that is all God gives it must be all he needs.  Nevertheless our helpers, especially in the beginnings of service, must work the brain hard, and ought to have brain nutriment.  And unless I can send something to him now, even his rice will fail.

What is thus expressed by some in words has been expressed in acts by all.  It is a great relief to know that the work is going on, and at some points better than ever at this season of the year.  It is a relief to know that there are no broken promises, and no accumulation of debt, involved in my failure to remit.  But for this, the distress would be intolerable; the trial greater than I could possibly bear.  But when I bring up the case of some of our most faithful and successful workers, and realize the fact, which I know to be a fact, that they are dependent on the little salaries they are wont to receive from me for very subsistence, my forewarning passes out of remembrance, and the whole burden rolls down upon my heart.  God knows what he is doing, and I cast my care upon him and rest.  But it seems to me that from somewhere the few hundreds of dollars—­not more than $500 needed in addition to what I have reason already to hope for—­must come.