Gospel, and that we might prepare native teachers. And, besides, we had to make many presents, because we had their children!
“So it was forty years ago; but not now. They have learned that the missionaries bring only blessings to their country, and they are anxious to have their children ‘learn books,’ and be ‘taught white man’s way.’ They also wish to learn about God and how to be saved. And to obtain these blessings they are willing to give something—willing to give land for missionaries to build school-houses, and help the missionary build his house, and pay tuition for the children, and help the preacher.
“In very many places they are begging for a missionary. At a point on the Niger, where the steamers landed, the people ran to the wharf to meet every boat, saying, ‘Has the teacher come?’ (No one had promised a teacher.) ‘If the teacher will come, and teach us white man’s book, we will give him plenty to eat and take good care of him!’
“Another king said: ‘I do not wish to die till I can see a school house built, where my children can be taught; and a church, where my people may learn about God.’
“Another king came from the country to Liberia to obtain a missionary for his people.
“I have had chiefs come from the interior to beg for a mission, and after giving them one, I have seen them become followers of Jesus.
“Thus from many places they cry: ‘Come over and help us!’ Very different from fifty years ago!
“(3) The lack of written languages and books was a great obstacle. While the nations had regular languages (nearly 700 in Africa), they were all unwritten, and, of course, they had no books and no knowledge of the world or the way of salvation through Christ. This universal ignorance was the mother of gross superstition and horrible cruelties.
“To learn the language and prepare school books, and translate the Bible, was a slow process.
“To-day, over fifty of these languages are reduced to writing. The Bible is printed in ten of them, and portions of it in over