“There were women who were widows in the congregation, whose income was about five cents a day. With that they had to provide food, clothing and, in some cases, shelter. Of course, it goes without saying that living in India is very cheap, but it goes equally well without saying that such widows do not live on broiled pigeons, peacocks’ tongues, and other delicacies. The truth is, that they must practice self-denial, not only in Lent, but throughout the year. They rarely are able to have enough to eat to satisfy hunger fully. It is estimated that over sixty million people in India go to bed hungry every night.
“But what did they do? In the evenings, when they measured out their rice, they would say to themselves: ‘I must help to build that little church up in the hills, so that the women up there may learn to know my Redeemer. I could eat all this rice, but if I can live with so much, I can also live on a few mouthfuls less. I’ll give up a little rice cheerfully, so they may have that meat which perisheth not.’
“Then they would take out a pinch of the raw rice and put it aside in a bowl for safe-keeping. This they did until Palm Sunday. Then they measured the rice saved and brought its value to the Lord.
“No, it was not much--probably, in most cases, not more than ten cents--but it was given of their necessity--taken out of their mouths.
“In the boys’ school were some one hundred and sixty boys, from about nine to fifteen years of age. Money? They had so little they scarcely knew the color of it; but deep down in their hearts was an earnest desire. They, too, felt they must help to build the little church on the hills!
“One evening, a day or two before Ash Wednesday, the manager heard many voices at the door of the teacher who had charge of the boarding department. There was an interested consultation, and then he heard the boys troop back to their rooms with many little shouts of gratulation and glee, and many a “bagunnadi” (it is good).
“The next morning the teacher came to the manager with a queer smile.
“What were the boys up to last night?’ queried the latter.
“‘They asked for permission to go without their supper once a week, on condition that the money saved be given them for the little church up in the hills,’ was the reply.
“‘What did you say to them?’