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Show 3 You know that the new missicnaries are assigned to théir fields - or father to their stations-by the mission to which they go,and not by the boards at home, though often,as in my case,ona may corne to fi11 a spécial place and be sent just where ^hey ha$^ expected to go.Two years ago when Miss Lyons was sent to ShanTung#the station at Tientsin had no single woman,and wished to keep her there.They were proinised that they might hâve the next single woman who was sent to North China.That one is Miss Ellis. Ihen we learmed this at mission meeting last spring we tried to make the friends at home understand how it was,bdt still every one persisted in thinking that she could not but be sent where her brother was.Mr êllis had written to the Tientsin friends , asking that his sister be allowed to bring her teacher and spend her first two months of study ïïewa in Lintsing with us.We thought they had given a relue tant consent,but it proved that ail the members of that station had not - been consulted and some were wholly unwilling,for a number of reasons,that Miss lllis should spend even a month away from Tientsin.There was nothing tw for us to do but/to leave the décision with them.Sometimes you are glad that others must décide matters and sometimes you wish that you could.Perhaps n when we hâve worked in China for forty years or more we will hâve less doubt as to the infalability of people of long experiance than we are sometimes inclined to hâve now.Mabel was very sweet about it and we tried not to let her know how Yery disappointed we were,for that would only hâve made it hard-er ail around. In some ways she will be much more comfortable there than she could hâve been hère,and she will bring much brightness and life into the little circle at Hsi Ku.The Swings hâve four nice children,the oldest a girl of foùrteen or, so.Mrs.Ewing is not well,and the Stanleys,with whom Mabel will board,are both old and not very able to do active work.There are many other pleasant people living in Tientsin,and she will eeeasionally see them.Mrs* Peck said she would not forget her.Mrs.Peck is just as interesting as ever» "When Mr.Ellis was well enough to enjoy hearing home affaira talked abouti - Mabel came %n and spent five very satisfactory*days with us.The friends at | Hsi Ku asked us to corne out there for a week or so,but as soon as Mr.Ellis **«* 4 well enough so that it seemed ftésfe to move himfwe knew that we ought to i* start on our way back.Our second night out of Tientsin we had a snow storm. . It began ^asily in the afternoon,and the next morning when the men were scra|h * ing^%4e's6Îf the boat one said,»It is a foot deep.» Another said,«It is a foot I and a half." Really it was not two inches,but ail this week as we hâve gone * slowly up the river snow has still lain in the shady places. si In chosing the time of year to take a trip on this canal,do not» I advise ^ you,plan a time so late as this.For most of the days it has been so cold % *n that the boards hâve had to be up on the outside of our paper Windows,and fi while. I. hâve sat bundled up on the kang,Mrs.Ellis has sat in our middle room t and read aloud to Mr.Ellis in his little front compartment,and to me.Ho,we il %* do not read ail the time,¥e visit a good deal and plan about our work,and }Sp \ Mrs.Ellis and I hâve written letters not a few» Much time seems to be spent ,J in eating,or in seeing that Mr.Ellis has something*He would gladly eat any- ^ thing and any amount of it.Clover knows how he feels.Of course we go to bed t early and get up late,and then Mrfc^ElIis and I take long walks aftermoons on > the river bank.Once or twice we hâve, walked as much as six miles.We do enjoy W thèse walks so much.Do not ever let anyone ever make you think that the ^ A Sgrand canalnin straight.This part is a river,really,and I never saw one more crooked.One day we noticed four boat-masts in a straight line,but the .$» boats to which they belonged were each in-a-différent section of the river. J In thèse walks we hâve seen enough beautiful sheep-pictures to fill a port* folio.Once the sheep werev feeding under great soft-leafed willows,such as 07 \J Garot would hâve• delighted to paint,once it was early afternoon and gently / ^ raining,and the sheep were being ferried across the river on a rickety old . boat (they were so frightened). The two pictures that will stay with me longes* J were fivening seenes,the air ail full of evening light.In one the sheep are *' drinking in a bend of the river.The refleetions in the water are perfect.In * the other a shepherd is leading his flock along a dusty road into a soft purple haze.A Millet would make you love our shan Tung plaflâ. |