"That is true," said grandma, "of all people who do not have the Bible to guide them. One of the first changes which the poor heathen make when they learn about God our heavenly Father, and his Son our Saviour, is cleanliness."
Milly started up and clasped her hands, her eyes shining like stars.
"I know it I know it! One of our women went to the sahibs, that means missionaries, and learned to read the Bible. Everybody said she was better than before. She always wore such clean sarrees, that's the kind of dress Hindoo women have. I used to wear them, too. And she kept her hair smooth. I never thought though about its being the Bible that made her so much nicer."
"Yes, Milly, that is always the effect of true godliness."
[CHAPTER VIII.]
THE MISSIONARIES.
"SHALL I tell you a story about an Indian girl, who lived this side of the Rocky Mountains?"
"Is that near Calcutta, ma'am?"
"No, it is our own country. She belonged to a tribe called Cherokees, and her name was Iwassee."
"Until some good missionaries went to her tribe to tell them about the great God who made the sun and moon, the boundless forests and the swift running rivers, Iwassee knew nothing what would become of her soul when her body was tied up in a tree for the birds to pick the flesh from the bones. She lived in a kind of tent without glass, with a hole in the top to let out the smoke when they kindled a fire on the heap of stones inside."