Lo! this time we go up around the head of the bay, ten miles farther. Brother Thompson claims that he can endure such jaunts without wear or much weariness, because he is so abstemious as not to drink tea or coffee nor to eat meat. And everybody knows him to be a true, pure and high-minded Christian minister who, though he has had but little schooling, has been so taught of God in the Word, that after these eleven years in the same parish, that at Helena, he is yet confided in there as an able pulpit teacher. In old times, his people were Presbyterians. Blood will tell; and doctrine, too. [Illustration: VIEWS IN TEXAS] * * * * * WEEK OF PRAYER. NASHVILLE, TENN.--The week of prayer was observed here this year as usual, a meeting being held each day. Notwithstanding the bad weather, the attendance was fair and the interest good, although not of a revival kind. Before that time special efforts had been made in connection with the labors of Rev. Mr. Field, the evangelist, and twenty-five professed conversions took place. A pleasant state of feeling in religion has existed since then. In the circumstances the order of subjects for prayer was closely observed, except that the subject of missions was postponed until Sunday evening, that being the regular time for our monthly missionary meeting. The occasion was one of unusual interest. The special subjects considered were the Congo territory, the Congo conference, the mission to Bihé and that to Umzila's kingdom. In the last mentioned mission we here have a peculiar interest, as two of our former students, Mr. and Mrs. Ousley, have been sent there as missionaries by the American Board. Both are graduates of our college course and Mr. Ousley has since studied theology at Oberlin. A letter from him, written at Cape Town, Africa, was read at our meeting. Since then one has been received from Mrs. Ousley, dated at Durban, Natal, which they had reached in safety and good health and spirits. They were about to sail the next day for Inhambane, their final destination. So as to locate them better we had at the meeting, on our board, a map of that station. Our society writes them once a month. They are very dear to us and we hope they will do much good in Africa. Mr. Ousley dedicated himself one Sunday in the summer of 1878 to that field of labor and has never swerved from his purpose. The last part of the meeting was devoted to a season of prayer for Secretary Pike in consideration of his serious illness. A. K. SPENCE. * * * * * MEMPHIS, TENN.--Our church, as formerly, observed the week of prayer, with, however, nothing of special note in the way of outward results. The stormy weather from the first until the middle of the week greatly hindered the attendance. There was, notwithstanding, for those who came, a blessed realization of spiritual benefit.