PREACHING THE GOSPEL, HEALING THE SICK, TELLING OF THE DAILY ROUTINE 223 CHAPTER XXIII A CASKET OF JEWELS, BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL 233 CHAPTER XXIV THE TREASURE HOUSE, WHERE THE READER IS SHOWN THE LAPIDARY AT WORK 247 CHAPTER XXV CONCLUSION, BEING A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT SITUATION 257 APPENDIX 263 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS MRS. HSI _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE A WOMAN OPIUM SMOKER 82 PASTOR WANG 136 WOMEN'S BIBLE SCHOOL 160 "PUPPY" AND HER MOTHER 218 THE TEACHING STAFF 228 SOME KINDERGARTEN SCHOLARS 236 LING AI, HER CHILDREN, AND HER MOTHER, MRS. LIANG 252 PROLOGUE THE spirit of the Confucian scholar Hsi met with its Master Christ, and overwhelmed by the vision yielded all to His control. Constrained by His love the souls of men were sought and won; led by His Spirit, churches were established in the faith; sharing His sufferings, their failures became his burden. In the darkest days the Hwochow Church has known, when many forsook their faith, he was strengthened by a dream, in which he saw a tree cut down to the ground, only to sprout again, and throw out branches stronger than before. In his dream, Pastor Hsi knew this tree to be the Hwochow Church. He knew that though it were brought low, it would revive, and by faith obtained the promise, the fulfilment of which is recorded in these pages. When Thou wouldst pour the Living Stream Then I would be the earthen cup, Filled to the brim and sparkling clear. The Fountain Thou and Living Spring Flow Thou through me, the vessel weak, That thirsty souls may taste Thy grace. When Thou wouldst warn the people, Lord, Then I would be the golden bell Swung high athwart the lofty tower Morning and evening sounding loud; That young and old may wake from sleep, Yea, e'en the deaf hear that strong sound. When Thou wouldst light the darkness, Lord, Then I would be the silver lamp Whose oil supply can never fail. Placed high, to shed the beams afar, That darkness may be turned to light, And men and women see Thy face.