“Tavoy, March 7, 1831.

         “My beloved Parents,

“With a heart glowing with joy, and at the same time rent with anguish unutterable, I take my pen to address you.  You, too, will rejoice when you hear what God has wrought through the instrumentality of your beloved son.  Yes, you will bless God that you were enabled to devote him to this blessed service among the heathen, when I tell you that within the last two months, fifty-seven have been baptized, all Karens, excepting one, a little boy of the school and son of the native governor.  Twenty-three were baptized in this city by Moung Ing, and thirty-four in their native wilderness by Mr. Mason.

“Mr. Mason arrived Jan. 23d, and on the 31st, he, with Mr. Boardman, myself and George, set out on a long-promised tour among the Karens.  Mr. Boardman was very feeble, but we hoped the change of air and scenery would be beneficial.  A company of Karens had come to convey us out, Mr. Boardman on his bed and me in a chair.  We reached the place on the third day, and found they had erected a bamboo chapel on a beautiful stream at the base of a range of mountains.  The place was central, and nearly one hundred persons had assembled, more than half of them applicants for baptism.  Oh it was a sight calculated to call forth the liveliest joy of which human nature is susceptible, and made me, for a moment, forget my bitter griefs—­a sight far surpassing all I had ever anticipated, even in my most sanguine hours.  The Karens cooked, ate and slept on the around, by the river-side, with no other shelter than the trees of the forest.  Three years ago they were sunk in the lowest depths of ignorance and superstition.  Now the glad tidings of mercy had reached them, and they were willing to live in the open air, away from their homes, for the sake of enjoying the privileges of the Gospel.

“My dear husband had borne the journey better than we had feared, though he suffered from exhaustion and pain in his side, which, however, was much relieved by a little attention.  His spirits were unusually good, and we fondly hoped that a few days’ residence in that delightful, airy spot, surrounded by his loved Karens, would recruit and invigorate his weakened frame.  But I soon perceived he was failing, and tenderly urged his return to town, where he could enjoy the quiet of home, and the benefit of medical advice.  But he repelled the thought at once, saying he confidently expected improvement from the change, and that the disappointment would be worse for him than staying.  ‘And even,’ added he, ’should my poor, unprofitable life be somewhat shortened by staying, ought I, on that account merely, to leave this interesting field?  Should I not rather stay and assist in gathering in these dear scattered lambs of the fold?  You know, Sarah, that coming on a foreign mission involves the probability of a shorter life, than staying in one’s native country.  And