The visits of the missionary ladies to the palace continued for a little over three years, when they suddenly and without explanation found admission denied to them. Some have surmised that the king became displeased at the religious influence. However the more probable explanation is that suggested by Dr. House’s journal where the change in this order is associated with the temporary displeasure of the king towards the missionaries by reason of a letter calumniating his character, which coincidently appeared in a newspaper of Straits Settlement and which he erroneously attributed to a missionary. FIRST FRUITS OF THE MISSION Along with the turn of the tide in the relations of the government there came to the workers the cheer of gathering the first fruits from the seed of their own sowing. Though there was no evidence of the native Siamese being interested in the Gospel, yet the missionaries were not left without a token that their work was honoured of God. Two years after the organisation of the church, a Chinese convert was received. Under date of Oct., 1851, Dr. House wrote to his parents: “It is at last our privilege to write to you of one who, once a worshipper of idols, is now a worshipper of Jehovah.... His name is Ooan Si Teng, a Chinese twenty-four years old, born on the Island of Hainan, has been here some six years, speaks and reads Siamese and also reads his native language. He has been living in the family of Mr. Mattoon for the past two or three years. From his first acquaintance with us he has been convinced of the folly of idol worship and has renounced it.... He accompanied Mrs. Mattoon to Singapore as bearer for little Lowrie; and Dr. Lane, with whom Mrs. Mattoon resided while there, says of him that had he already been a professing Christian, his conduct could not have been more exemplary. “So it was with great joy that at our last communion October 5, we received him to the ordinance of the Lord’s appointing. The eyes of more than one of us were filled with tears of joy as we looked on this interesting scene.... In all probability he was the first native of that Island to be converted to protestant Christianity.” While there was bright hope of the immediate prospects on the field, from the Mission Board there came the discouraging reply, “No money, no men,” in response to pleas for recruits. The reports of the dire situation under the old king had not yet been overtaken at home by the news of the marvellous change under the new government. PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH KING MONGKUT