she cried with vehemence, ' May my child live-may my Lucy live long-may God prosper and protect her!" I took this occasion to translate the letter to her, and open to her the purport of my message. By this she seemed puzzled and confounded: spoke of her caste and her family; asked how she could renounce all these; but at the same time seemed to have a feeling that good was intended her. 1 however obtained from her a promise to attend my preaching in a large room which I had obtained for the purpose of accommodating a native congregation, and her lady was so kind as to take care that her attendance should be regular. I had many opportunities of addressing the poor woman, both publicly and privately, before I was sensible of any impression being made upon her mind, though she continued to hear with considerable attention. At length, however, she was seized with some disorder, which rendered her unfit for service: and her lady at the same time quitting the station, she was left in a small hut in the bazar: a few rupees, a few silver ornaments, and her Lucy's presents being all her property. Finding her in this situation, I invited her to take a small dwelling in my compound, or rather in my garden; which dwelling indeed I caused to be prepared on purpose for her close by my little chapel before mentioned; and as I had not yet given her the money sent her by her beloved child, I now portioned it out to her in small quantities, as she might want it. This poor woman, though talking of her caste and her family, had, I found, neither husband nor child; and this circumstance was much in her favour, in assisting her to overcome her fears of the world. some months, however, after her removal into my family, she remained insensible to the power of religion: though her attendance on the word was regular, yet she never joined in prayer. But after a while, as sickness pressed and death drew near, I had the satisfaction to observe a change; this change became from time to time more decided; and she at length sought to be baptized, renounced her caste, and gave very satisfactory evidence of true conversion. I attended her death-bed a few weeks ago, and can solemnly assure my friends in England, who gave me the commission to seek out this poor woman, that I have never received from any of my native converts more satisfactory proofs of true conversion than from this poor woman." For Some of you, my young readers, may have been nursed by heathen women in foreign lands, and others by women who are as utter strangers to their Saviour as Lucy's beloved dhaye. May I not hope that the example of Lucy will induce you also to seek the spiritual good of those persons to whom you owed the comfort of your early years? And do not forget that if nothing else remains which you can do for them, you have a Friend in heaven who has said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John xiv. 13. THE END OF LUCY AND HER DHAYE. VOL. III.-D 7 |