Children of South America

by Katharine A. Hodge

“Down this valley to the Amazon, and thence to the Atlantic, over three thousand miles, we know of no missionary! Within our reach are possibly ten tribes of Indians untouched even by Romanism. In our own valley there are probably forty thousand people.

“We have some fine boys, and the Indians are very interesting. Mrs Stockwell is glad to have her little school. The boys are quite apt at learning texts. Almost any night we can hear them spelling out passages from the New Testament by candle-light in their little rooms.

“Our farm work is very interesting, also our people. One soon learns to have a real love for them. It is hard for the Indian to understand why anyone should treat him kindly without a selfish motive.”

For the school work the Indian children are gathered together in the evenings and taught. They attend willingly and gladly. “The scholars are all ages and sizes, from the ragged little Indian of six upwards. There are some very promising children in the school, and we hope that some day they will become messengers of the Gospel to their own people in the remote villages. Every day we see more the need of the Orphanage, where the children will be under our direct influence. We have four already living in the house, and what a difference we see compared to those outside!

“Mrs Stockwell is just in her glory with the children, and is completely devoted to her school. She is at work from early morning until bedtime, and always making clothing for the children.

“Day-school work among native children in Lima is a very special feature. This was begun in 1913, and a Scripture lesson was always included in the day’s teaching. It is being proved here, as in Argentina and elsewhere, that not only does the day-school deliver the Sunday-school scholars from annoyance, persecution, and priestly instruction, but it is also an excellent feeder for the Sunday-school, at which the attendance marked a great improvement in numbers and steadiness.

“Under the very able superintendence and help of Mrs Millham, there are two native mistresses, who have been associated with the Church for some long time.”

This school work amongst the native children of Lima has been laid upon the workers of the Evangelical Union of South America as a sacred burden. It is their privilege—not only in Peru but in the other Republics in which they work—to lift the child out of its ignorance, and to teach it to know Christ the Friend of little children, to know the world and all that pertains to it, and to know its own heart.

We will not proceed any further in our wanderings, for in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama the same sad condition of things prevails.

We have heard, not unmoved I trust, the wail of the Indian children in the forests of Peru and Brazil, and have seen them in the Amazon valley. We have watched them with painful interest and concern in the streets of the various cities, children of all colours and nationalities, and yet all of one blood with us, who call for our sympathies, our prayers, our gifts, and above all, our love. They call to us out of their deep need from the Land of Opportunity.