papa's knee, and nurse came to fetch her to bed. She had pulled his beard on to the top of her head, and was pretending to be a lion. When nurse began, "Now, baby, I've come to take you away," she looked up and said very gravely, "I done unnerstand," and turned into papa's beard again, as if she had settled the question. I think papa would have let her stay a little, he was so amused, but nurse is very strict, and carried her off.

Well, then we got down to the sea. The sands looked so jolly! The same evening manma let us go out to . buy spades and buckets, and I was to get her a campstool. Choosing them took such a long time, that I forgot all about the campstool, and we were going out of the shop when Katie said, "And mother's stool?" So we went back, and now that I did remeinber, I took a great deal of pains, and sat on a great many to make sure they were comfortable and steady. The one I finally chose, I tried in every possible sort of way until Katie said, "You'll wear it out before you get it to her," which was nonsense, for a campstool is a very difficult thing to wear out, besides, one can't be too careful when one is choosing a thing for one's mother.

Every morning after that, and every afternoon too, we went down to the sands. Baby looked such a sweet! Nurse tucked her petticoats into a little pair of striped bathing drawers, and let her run about in the water with her little fat bare legs. We paddled too, and made splendid castles. Once we drew out a big house on the sands with a large drawing-room and dining-room, two bedrooms and a kitchen. Some other children tried to imitate us, but their walls were dreadfully wobbly compared to ours. I must say though, that we were helped, because that day our cousin Jim came to see us, and he you know is nearly grown up, and almost a soldier. He told me he thought he was getting a moustache, but said I wasn't to tell anybody. Really I didn't feel inclined to, for I couldn't see any trace of hairs even when he stood with his face to the sun. However, as I was saying, he helped us about our walls. First he said something about " a straight line is the shortest that can be drawn from one given point to another,” and then he took a long bit of string out of his pocket. I stood as "given point," and Dorothy some way off me as "another," and Jim stretched the string from her feet to mine and dug a line with my spade, following the line of the string. I don't know why this should have made the walls come straight, but it did, beautifully. We left gaps for windows and doors and fireplaces, but Katie was so stupid! I had to scream at her once, for she was going out of the fireplace gap instead of the door gap, up the chimney in fact, although we had put a heap of seaweed to show that it was the fireplace.

She said it didn't matter, it was only pretence, but that's so horrid I think about the way that Katie plays; she never makes believe properly. Now, I think that unless you are going to play seriously and pretend that things are real, you may just as well not pretend at all, and there is an end of all playing. I wanted to have put a greenhouse at the end of the drawing-room and stables a little way off, but just at the place where I wanted to put the stables there was a black lady sitting, and I didn't like to ask her to move because it was the place she sat in all day long by herself, so she seemed to have a sort of right to it, you know. When I say black lady I don't mean that her face was black, though I really

couldn't see much what she was like, for she always kept a big thick veil down; what I mean is that she was dressed in very black sort of black things, and everybody else being in cottons she looked so funny. But, as I was saying, she was sitting in the only place that would have done for stables, so we couldn't have any.

After all it didn't much matter, for presently our house was destroyed by a horrid party of people riding donkeys. There was all the rest of the sands for them to ride on, and they must needs choose the one little bit where we had got our house. I called out, and waved my spade at them very angrily as they came along, but it was no good; the whole lot, about eight of them, galloped right through, tearing up our floors and quite destroying our fireplaces. I was so angry I could have cried; but Katie only said, "Never mind. I daresay we've ridden over people's houses often enough," and that again was nonsense, for we had invented drawing out houses like this on the sands, and I had never been on a donkey in my life, and so I told her. She answered, "Oh, I didn't mean really donkeys and houses." What did she mean then? I'm sure I don't know; I only know I thought the people very horrid and selfish and nasty. They frightened poor baby, too, nearly out of her wits; she rushed away screaming and not looking where she was going until she tumbled up against the black lady's knees. Baby isn't a bit shy, you know, and before nurse, who came running up, could get hold of her she had looked up in the lady's face and said, "Why are you all alone and so black. I done unnerstand." Nurse got hold of her hand and tried to pull her away, for little girls oughtn't to speak to people their mammas don't know; but the lady bent down and kissed baby and said, "I hope, dear, you will never understand what it is to be all alone and so black," and then nurse took her away, but she had left a great sandy mark all down the front of the lady's dress. Luckily the lady didn't seema to notice it.

Well, the month came to an end and we all had to say good-bye to the sands and the sea. I had broken my spade, but Katie had kept hers and burnt "Capstan Bay" on the handle with a hot hairpin. It was very interesting to see her do it. I wonder she didn't burn her fingers.

We got to the station a great deal too soon. Mother is always bothered when she travels without papathere is such a lot of tickets, and such heaps of luggage, and the younger children never will keep together. This time I couldn't possibly help to look after them, for I was taking home some sea-anemones in a pickle-jar, and was dreadfully afraid of spilling the water. We had to wait twenty minutes, the porter said, and the first train signalled would not be ours, it would be the express that ran through without stopping,

So we all sat down on a bench, except mamma and the boys; they said they were thirsty, and she took them to the refreshment-room to get some ginger-beer.

Presently another porter came across the line and hopped up on the platform near to us, by a step let in under the platform on purpose for the porters—at least, passengers mayn't go down that way. He was a friend of Jane's and nurse, and she and he began talking. I, therefore, was able, without their seeing, to slip the cover off my jar, and take a good look at my sea anemones. busy doing this, and I gave quite a jump when Katie

I was very

suddenly cried, "Where's baby." At that moment the down express was signalled. And what do you think? Baby had noticed how the porter came across, and she had scrambled down by the same way, and there she was on the lines with the express coming round the corner! In an instant Katie was after her-in her hurry she did not wait to find the steps, and she fell in jumping down on to the rails; but she rushed and seized baby in her arms and ran back with her to the platform, but it was too high for her to get up.

Meanwhile everybody had crowded to look! Mother was on her knees with her hands clasped, nurse and Jane were crying, so were all we children.

"Take baby," called out Katie, her face turning very white as the engine came rushing on to crush her to death. Nurse flew to snatch baby, and at the same time the porter sprang forward and swung

never heard such a noise! Katie looked quite frightened and got suddenly very red, and of course everybody could see, because she hadn't on any hat. Then mother got up and went to her and took her in her arms, saying, "God bless you, my child!" Everybody said "Amen" just as if we were in church, and we all felt very solemn until baby, who hadn't taken in what all the fuss was about, said quite out loud, "I done unnerstand," and we couldn't help laughing.

After that our train came up and we were bustled in. We fill a compartment quite full, you see-eight of us and baby over. As the train began to move everybody cheered again, and the station-master walked alongside our carriage and said to Katie, "Shake hands, missy!" and Katie suddenly put her face up and gave him a kiss, saying "Thank you" to him. I thought it such a funny thing of Katie to do, who won't kiss anybody hardly

Katie up into safety just as the express came tearing through the station-there wasn't a minute to spare! Katie's hat flew off with the draught the engine made as it bore down upon her, and all the wheels went over it, tearing and crushing it; it didn't look like a hat at all when the train had passed. And that might have been baby! We were all round baby nowshe was nearly suffocated with kisses. Mother, still on her knees, was sobbing like Dorothy with the toothache. Everybody was doing something funny. I was holding my pickle-jar upside down, and I don't know what had become of my poor sea-anemones. I never saw them again. Katie only was as quiet as usual, although her face was still very white, and she stood looking on with all the rest of the people as if she had had nothing to do with it.

Then the station-master, a great, big man-but I saw he had tears in his eyes-rushed to the front of the crowd and, taking off his cap, cried, "Three cheers for the brave little lady," and everybody hurrahed-you

66

except papa and mamma. She drew her head in again and wriggled up close to mother. It was my place really, next to mother, but as she had been so brave I let her have it, and mother kissed her and stroked her hair, giving little shudders when she looked at that naughty baby, who was eating a bun, not knowing a bit how nearly she had been killed. Mother couldn't speak for a long time-she always choked-but at last she said: Papa will be at home when we arrive, Katie, and I will tell him directly of what you have done, and he will be proud of you." "Oh!" said Jack, who is fond of money, "will that mean sixpence or a shilling?" Katie lifted her head from mother's shoulder to look furiously at Jack-I never saw her look angry before. "No, Jack," said mother, "what she has done to-day is too big to be paid for; she has saved baby's life at the risk of her own. I don't think papa will give her anything." And of course he didn't; no one but Jack would have expected him to. When mamma told him he stood quite still, looking at Katie for a minute. Then he put

THE

HE return to Peking of the Rev. W. H. Murray, has been greatly saddened by the death of Blind Peter, who has so long been his trusted head teacher, as well as being organist to the London mission at Peking.

He was one of Mr. Murray's earliest pupils, when his work was quite in its infancy, and known only to a very few of his immediate neighbours. But the strange fancy of the foreign book-hawker who cared for the blind so practically as to admit several to share his own humble home, soon became known among these poor creatures, and one morning there came to his door two brothers, aged twelve and fourteen, whose parents had recently died of fever, in a town 150 miles distant, leaving the children destitute.

These had accordingly begged their way to the capital, and there the oldest brother besought Mr. Murray to take charge of his blind brother, saying that he himself could earn his own living but could not provide for two without begging, which he shrank from doing. So Mr. Murray agreed to keep the little lad awhile, to see whether he was capable of learning, and the brothers promised to return ere long, to see how he prospered. But evidently fearing lest the blind lad should be returned to his care, the elder brother did not return for two years, by which time the bright little fellow had proved himself an eminently satisfactory scholar-the best hand at stereotyping, and most reliable in all departments of work, and having, moreover, the marked talent for music,

which, in due time, led to his appointment as organist of the London mission.

When the elder brother returned, Mr. Murray took him into the school, and without speaking a word, placed his hand in that of the younger, who instantly recognised the touch, and great was the joy of both, in talking over their varied experiences.

Of course there was no further question of Peter resuming his travels. It was plain that he was on the way to earn his own living by teaching others, and making himself useful in a thousand ways, and thenceforward this has been his never-failing record. By degrees he rose to be Mr. Murray's right hand in all departments of the school, taking charge of all new pupils on their arrival, and teaching them most successfully. He was also a very earnest and persuasive preacher.

When in May, 1890, Mr. Murray attended the great Missionary Conference held at Shanghai, he took with him Peter, as a most practical illustration of the results of his system of teaching the blind, and Peter's excellent reading, writing, and playing the church organ, won enthusiastic appreciation from that great assemblage gathered from all parts of China.

Naturally, on his return to Peking, his fame went abroad, and doubtless tended to influence a very pleasantlooking sighted girl, who, having been brought up in a Christian school, was allowed the unheard-of privilege of selecting her husband from half-a-dozen available young men. She unhesitatingly selected Peter, as being the best, cleverest, and best-looking of the lot, and they seem to have been a very happy couple during their brief years of married life.

Alas! while Mr. Murray was in Scotland last year, he received letters from Peter, talking of failing strength. He was apparently a victim of the dread consumption, which has proved fatal to so many of the most promising students. He wrote that he feared he would have passed away ere his dear friends returned to Peking, but happily he and they were spared that trial. They returned early in autumn, in order to reach Peking ere the Peiho river was frozen, so Peter had the joy of welcoming them back, and handing over to their keeping all the interests left in his charge. It was not till about the beginning of March that he was translated from his lifelong physical darkness to the unspeakable joy of "beholding the King in His beauty" in the land where there is no need of the sun because the Lamb is Himself the Light thereof.

Of course, on his return, Mr. Murray's first care was to re-assemble his little flock of blind students, most of whom had been sent back to their own relations, as being the safest quarters during the war scare. But he was gladdened by being invited to inspect classes at several missions, where quite ignorant sighted converts had, with the help of blind teachers, learnt to read and write fluently from books printed at the blind school in the Numeral type, which is his own invention, for the benefit of the illiterate poor, in the Mandarin Provinces. (As the population of these is estimated at three hundred millions, it must be admitted that the field is a pretty large one, comprising four-fifths of the inhabitants of China.)

It was also delightful to hear from Mrs. Allardyce and Miss Goode (who had themselves mastered the system with surprising facility, and who, during the war scare,

had revisited their home in Australia), that while there, they had received well-written letters in Numeral type from the poor farm women who had been taught by Blind Hannah the previous winter.

But there is one matter sorely trying to even so patient a man as Mr. Murray, namely, that the rebuilding of his house is, alas! we fear still postponed. In 1892 the dilapidated old Chinese house (which was on the little property when it was bought for this mission) was condemned as being unfit to live in, its inhabitants being literally washed out of it, and their goods destroyed by the violent annual downpours of summer rain.

It was at that time estimated that a decent house might be erected for about 550l., but notwithstanding all our efforts to raise that sum, it was not till the close of 1894, that the committee were able to sanction the rebuilding in the following spring. Then came the war, which disorganised everything, so it is in this really unsafe house that Mr. Murray, his wife and six little ones, are now living.

Early this spring the Peking committee set to work in good earnest, hoping to have all comfortable before the pitiless rains set in, but, alas! on going into estimates, they found that in consequence of the war, all prices for labour, bricks, timber, etc., have risen so much that the same modest dwelling that was sanctioned by the Home Committee, cannot now be put up for less than 8007.

When letters reached Scotland explaining all this, the Home Committee telegraphed their sanction to incurring the debt of 2501., and they trust that kind hearts will be moved to send that sum in the course of the present year, in addition to the gifts which are always necessary for the annual maintenance of the Blind School. There is, however, reason to fear that the present buildingseason is lost, as the rainy season will so soon set in, in which case Mr. Murray and his family will again hare to face its dangers and discomforts in the dilapidati house.

We must try to believe that, in some way, even this vexation will be over-ruled for good. It may be that even now, at the eleventh hour, some friend will be raised up, able and willing to secure the adjoining property (valued at about 20007.), with its excellent Chinese houses all ready for occupation. Thus, also, abundant space would be secured for the development of the printing works of the Blind School, instead of being cramped as it now is, with no space even to accommodate country pupils desirous of being taught.

The purchase of this ground for the Mission has long been one of Mr. Murray's great desires, and when we think how many people do give 801. or 100l. a year, to some good object, it does not seem quite unreasonable to hope that if only the need was known, perhaps some one might be found willing to devote to this object the capital represented by that sum, thereby benefiting the Mission in perpetuity, by preparing the cradle for that printing-press which will, we trust, truly prove to be "The Lever of the Christian Church" in China.

A kind friend in Switzerland has collected 50%. as onefortieth of the 20007., hoping that thirty-nine friends may do likewise. I fear, however, that this 'ope must not tempt me to delay commencing to collect that aggravating deficit of 2501., with all possible diligence.

CONSTANCE F. GORDON CUMMING.

Walton Lodge, Crieff.