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Show repeated from memory as they have heard it being taught. The reward for several weeks, if not months, of such labor is a group of colored post cards strung together with bright ribbons, which Sunday School children in America have prepared for the children here, and how happy it makes them to get one of these. The other children, who have not yet finished the first list of verses and hymns, work busily under the direction of school girls and are so eager to receive the magazine picture which is given when something is memorized. They are such interesting youngsters, with dirty faces and garments usually, but always such bright eyes and eager faces. The big girls carry the baby of the family and if it is little enough, it goes inside her garment to keep warm, and if it is larger she carries it over her shoulder, and many times it is impossible for the " little mother " to get any studying done, but at least she can see and hear and get a little pleasure out of this one day that is different. Since we have a day school at the chapel, these pupils make a foundation for the Sunday School work and are ready to lead in the hymns that have been learned and the special memory work; these children are clean and look quite different from the others and are a credit to the school. Some of the older girls have been married off: two of them come now chaperoned by babies of their families and are still reading the lessons. Others are too big now to be seen on the street and so not come, but we hope that what they have learned will stay with them and that they will always be the better and happier for what they have received Perhaps some day they may be able to learn more. Such a nice lot of pictures and packages arrived this year to* make Christmas a happy time for everyone. Gifts for the church members and children were given out at the Saturday morning meeting and at night the boys and girls of the schools had theirs. The school girls were invited to our house and listened to the Victroia, received their gifts, and were served ice-cream,-which they are learning to like but which some of the little ones think is altogether too cold !-and cookies, and again they say " Holy Night " as we burned the Christmas candles around the fire-place,-a scene to be remembered. The Sunday School children received their gifts On Sunday morning, such a variety of things to make people happy,-Red Cross and Liberty Loan buttons, scraps of cloth, magazine pictures and scrap-books, toys, dolls, handkerchiefs, knitted wristlets, bags, soap, pencils and paper, balls, etc. Everyone was given a colored post card and the children of the chapel Sunday School each received a large magazine picture, while those who came regularly were given dolls: these dolls came at noon of Christmas Day and altho other presents had been prepared, we knew nothing would be as joyfully received as dolls, so we took them down and how eager the children were to get them ! We only wish those who made them could have had the pleasure of giving them out; you would all have felt rewarded, I am sure. Enclosed is a list of things which we can use in our work. It is such a pleasure to have boxes sent out from home containing things which we otherwise would not have, and we want you to know that we appreciate thoroly these gifts and the work that is necessary to prepare them and send them off. We never get too many so don't be afraid that we will not need them by the time you can get them sent to us. Boxes at Christmas time are especially nice but they are most acceptable at any time of the year. The girls left with many pictures and tracts for use in their evangelistic work at home. It is interesting to hear the reports they give on their return.-of old women who want to learn and can't, of children eager for pictures and ready to listen to Bible stories, of government school children who can read and are anxious to learn what we teach, and of mothers who have had no chance to study painfully working over simple little books of catchism. It is a great opportunity and we are so anxious that the training of the girls here in school will be such as to make them the most helpful when they are at home with others who have not had the chance to study. Please remember them in your prayers, and all of the work here. We thank you for your interest and help and hope that this letter may increase your interest by making the work and need more real. Most sincerely yours, Ethel M. Long. |