A Strange School Treat

“The children assembled this afternoon represent four schools from four different parts of Madras. The Bible is taught regularly and systematically in all the schools, and for some years no opposition has been made. No child is received if the parents are unwilling to have her learn the Bible; I tell them plainly that we teach it, and they are free to keep their children away if they do not like our rules, but our rules will not be changed.
“Some years ago when the mission was begun it was considered almost hopeless to start a school, and when we think of the prejudices and customs of centuries being overcome, the result of the gathering seemed marvelous!
“In the morning, covered carts were sent to the four schools in different parts of Madras or the children, as they are not allowed to be seen by men, who are also kept out of the compound. There were police regulations to secure their privacy. About one o’clock there was an unusual buzz, and three hundred and sixteen dusky little forms in every variety or color might be seen gliding between the old trees, gay flowers„ and variegated crotons. When not in school many of them pass their lives in small dark rooms with only a court in the middle, so we can imagine what a pleasure it was for them to see a full expanse of sky, trees, and flowers. They had sweets and fruit given to them, and amused themselves with their twelve teachers till four p.m., when some English visitors tried to get up games, but their gracefully folded drapery and the instinctive drawing the veil over the head was scarcely adapted to such rough play and seemed out of place.
“At the time of the prize-giving the children were seated on mats with their respective teachers, and as they are of all social grades, there was great variety in costume, from the gorgeous gold-embroidered silk, and richly jeweled head, nose, ears, arms, and ankles, to the simple cloths of two gay colors. A class rose and sang the familiar hymn, ‘There is a Happy Land’ in Hindustani. Another went through some calisthenics, which are quite a new feature. Pitying the confined life of these little ones it was thought well by those in authority to introduce these exercises. At first they were objected to, and some children removed, but when the parents found that they were not injurious to health they did not mind. Each child who had passed in the recent examinations was to have a prize. Hundreds of dolls were sent by those interested in the work from England, and there were also some gay clothes. Each child received her prize with raising the hand to the brow and gracefully bending the body―a great improvement upon the abrupt nod our English girls give under similar circumstances.”
We shall now turn to some