Chin Toy writes from Riverside: "Five boys converted and joined in Association since I came. Four boys are going to join Rev. Mr. Hunt's church, (Congregational), and be baptized at the first Sunday of July. This Association of Christian Chinese has ten members now. I like these boys and like these teachers too; they are so helpful to the Lord's work."
Mission House At Oroville.
Teachers And Pupils At Oroville.
Hong Sing writes from Petaluma: "Now I am going to ask you especially to pray for two scholars here who I hope for to gain him to Christ before I leave. I am glad that one accepted my advice and promised yesterday to join our Association, but sorry the other one excuse. I pray to God for the Holy Spirit to open his eyes to see his guilt and danger, and how much he needs a Saviour."
From a pupil in Santa Barbara, addressed to our missionary helper, Loo Quong: "It is now fifth month since I left you at Los Angeles. The time seems very long indeed. We hope dear God give you a great power to cast out the devil; and sowing the seed it bring forth fruit hundred fold into the only God. At beginning we came to the United States [i.e. I first came to the United States] about May, 1881. We did not know of Jesus Christ, because born in the heathen country and work here in the Chinese store. Then we hear the Chinese mission—talk with Jesus Christ, do nothing to our idols and very different from us, for we were with evil companions and do many things in gambling, lottery tickets, opium. Dr. Pond open Congregational mission school about 1887 in Los Angeles, very near our house. Then we was been to school about every evening. Mrs. Sheldon and you teach very kind to us, and you explain the gospel of Jesus. So we know the only true God, leave evil companions, join our Association and sixth month join Dr. Hutchins' church. 'And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed him.'—Luke 5:11."
From Fresno; from Loo Quong: "Now I have some good news for you. There were three more of our pupils joined the Association, making nine in all. God will care for this little flock of his, and may they multiply a hundred fold! One of them was in school at Hong Kong many years ago before he touched the American soil. He also was in our Central School at San Francisco three years ago. Two months ago I was surprised to see him here. At once he attended our school and began to ask me about Christ's teaching. He would have no other lesson but in the Bible." (Miss Worley writes of this pupil that he wishes now to become a missionary). Of another of these three, Loo Quong writes: "He is one of the best young men I ever knew, * * so kind, so quiet, so modest, so full of love. I think he looks like our Lord when on earth. He is always on hand at school. When I asked him to join the Association, he said that he fully believed Jesus that he is the Saviour of his soul, 'but how can I be his disciple while I am in the gambling business?' We explained to him how God would take care of those who gave up all for him, and the next night he told me he was ready to give it up and walk with Christians." Of the third, also, a good account is given, but I must not use more space on the Lights, but turn to the
SHADOWS—One example must suffice. I must not mention either place or person, lest harm come of it. A teacher writes: "I feel sure that two little boys whom you sent to assist in our anniversary will grow to Christian manhood, fed as they are on the Word. With sorrow I compared with their surroundings those of our little —— ——, and I write to know if something cannot be done. Two years ago he entered the school, having come directly from China. He has always been studious and well-behaved, loving his Bible and the gospel songs. The mission boys tell me that those with whom he lives are not his parents, but that this man bought him in China. The child remembers his mother and brothers. He also remembers a man offering him something if he would go with him. He did so and was carried off in a boat and sold. His owner is very fond of him, but is away from home. The wife does not care much for him. Sometimes there are black and blue marks on his hands where he says she strikes him. Once there was a small burned place on both his lips. I asked him about it, and he said "Mamma." One of the boys told me that he talked too much and she put the hot poker on his lips. I have heard that this man intends taking the boy back to China in a year or two, fearing that in this county he will lose him. They are bad people, keeping an opium den."
The shadow deepens when the question rises, "What can be done for this boy?" He is in the grip of an "Imperium in imperio," to which some years ago I had occasion to refer in these columns. Even Americans who know the facts and are eager to help him, feel as though it would be scarcely safe for them to rescue him. Our wisest Chinese helpers say: "Wait, watch over him, but don't disturb existing relations. It would break up our mission in that place. Chinese would not dare to be identified with it. The boy will soon come to understand his rights and will assert them for himself, and then you can help him." But it almost makes one's blood boil to think that on American soil such counsel can be given and perhaps ought to be observed.