Part 17 (1/2)

”When was the Hong-Kong mission begun?” Sybil asked.

”In 1862.”

Although the results were far from what the zealous missionaries would fain have seen them, Mr. Graham was right in saying that the Mission from the Church of England to Hong-Kong had cause to take hope and be thankful.

Several men and women were now under instruction both for baptism and confirmation. The mission schools for boys numbered more than 190, and for girls more than thirty, and here the children were religiously as well as secularly instructed.

There were, although only two European missionaries and one native clergyman, twenty-three native Christian teachers, and 183 native Christians. The Mission comprised, besides St. Stephen's Church and the agencies around it in the island of Hong-Kong, many out-stations in the province of Quangtung occupied by native agents.

The Prayer Book, and, still better, the Holy Bible, translated into their own tongue, were now circulated among the people, some of whom were really learning to love and value them; and not only were the services for the Christians well attended, but every evening the heathen were to be seen in numbers going to hear sermons that were to be preached for them.

Well, then, might Mr. Graham go forth to his new work with hope.

”How much you will have to do, father,” Sybil said, ”if you go to the Medical Missionary Inst.i.tution so often, and do all your other work besides! But the people seem to be very grateful to you. 'Boy' said yesterday that you were 'a hundred man good,' and I know what that means: 'The best of men.'”

Mr. Graham smiled.

”I like, and it is good for us all,” he said, ”to have plenty to do; and one work, you know, may help on the other.”

”I expect mother will help you a very great deal too.”

”She is sure to do that.” Sybil knew she was.