“Dear girls, we leave the band in your hands knowing you will do all you can for its best interests. Mrs. Cresswell has kindly invited you to hold your meetings at her house. I have appointed four of the older girls to lead these meetings—Mary Cresswell and Hannah Morton in July, Ella Thomas and Mamie Dascomb in August. I have given each of these leaders some missionary reading in case you run short, but I dare say you will find plenty of things yourselves. I also intend to write you a little letter for each meeting, and should be glad to have any or all of you write to me.”
To the others she said,
“Now when you are away having a good time, don't forget missions. Keep up your interest and come home ready to work more earnestly and faithfully than ever. There are many ways of keeping the subject fresh in your minds and of helping along with the work even in vacation times. But you know this as well as I do, and I should like the suggestions as to how to do it to come from you.”
After a pause Edith said, “We all know the subjects for the next four meetings, and we might study and read just as we should do at home.”
“That is a good suggestion,” said Miss Walsh, “and one I hope you will all adopt; for if you don't, I'm afraid the go-aways will be far behind the stay-at-homes.”
“We might remember what we hear about missions and tell it when we come back,” said one of the others.
“That would be very instructive and pleasant,” said their leader; “and you may have plenty of opportunity to hear, as in these days very interesting missionary meetings are often held at summer resorts. Besides you may meet individuals who can give you much information.”
“We might do as you are going to do and write letters to the band at home,” said another.
“I know the band at home would like that very much, but you must remember that they must be letters suited to a missionary meeting.”
“We might join with others in holding meetings,” suggested Rosa Stevenson. “In the cottage where I was last summer there were four other girls and two boys who belonged to mission-bands, and we had a meeting every Sunday.”