much as our bushel basket, only smaller at the top, and deeper as well, contains straw and old clothes. These are all a casual observer at first would see, but on closer inspection an infant's head is seen sticking out at the top, just the head and no more. Perhaps the infant is only a few days old, packed into that basket in an almost erect posture. This seems strange to us who think we must support their little heads continually, or lay them down comfortably on pillows, but this baby is bound up like a little mummy, only its garments are wadded with cotton. The cap on its head is also wadded and looks like a funny little pincushion. I suppose the infant sleeps comfortably, but it looks pitiful, stuffed into this basket of straw as if it were standing erect."

In the fall of 1902, Miss Leffingwell is advised that she will be given a furlough early in the next year. She does not seem to have sought it, in any way. She writes about the initial incident connected with its being granted as follows: "I am well, very well; not an ache or a pain anywhere that I could use for an excuse for a furlough if I desired to do so. I weigh one hundred and twentythree pounds, and about one hundred and fifteen was all I ever boasted of when in America. All along these years and before the riots, when the storm clouds were gathering and the air was thick and dark with the oncoming tempest, and in the riots themselves, I was conscious of the Lord talking to me about new work, that it was His will that I should do for Him, work that could only be completed in years; and because of this, I felt assured

that He would spare my life. I also felt that He would bring me home again; and, that as a testi. mony to those who are afraid their health would give way if they came to China, He would allow me to return strong and well so that people would say, 'Well, China must have just suited you! The will of God just suits me, and I dread nothing so much as getting out of divine order.

"Our superintendent has just been here holding a big meeting. He has been all along this river where the lady missionaries have their work (where no men missionaries are stationed), and has baptized over one hundred converts, baptizing eight here. He told them here that I must be given a furlough to go home. I cannot, however, get there to participate in that Christmas dinner at 51 Boylston street, Bradford, Pennsylvania, so, please do not keep the dinner waiting. I now send my regrets."

With this assurance given her, Miss Leffingwell begins to look towards home; and when the definite information that she will be returned reaches her, she begins her preparations for the journey. As all the missionaries of the China Inland Mission are obliged to wear native costume while in active missionary work, it would involve no small amount of labor to prepare European clothing; and this, of course, would be increased by the fact that it was seven years since she had been wearing, using, or making that kind of clothing. So we find her soon after this writing to her friends again. "Before this reaches you, you will have received, no doubt, my previous letter announcing

the news of my return, and telling about the dis cussion of my sister missionaries, regarding my getting a bonnet, to wear home! I have had a tailor here sewing on some new blue and some old black skirts. I pay him the exorbitant price of about seven cents a day, and he boards himself ('eats his own rice,' as the Chinese expression is), and that is larger wages than he would get if hired by a Chinese. I selected one that I knew to be very poor. His wife had gone away because there was not sufficient rice for the whole family; and he has two children at home. He had no sewing machine, of course, and much of his work had to be taken out and done over, while it was almost as much work to watch him as to do the work myself. The thought of leaving China seems to me to be so important. I desire to be sure that God wants me to go, or I would not dare to do so."

Early in January of 1903 she writes to her friends regarding her home going: "I am well and can not even manufacture a toothache, or any such excuse, for going home; but I think I will just sail across the ocean and visit you a little while, so people may see that some go to China and neither die of sickness nor get killed. The mission always purchases a ticket to some prominent city near one's home. God has already provided for incidental expenses, for the mission only provides for the fare and for European clothes. A friend who is unknown to me has sent fifty dollars for this purpose. Mr. Wood and the friends at Eldred, Pennsylvania, where I taught, have also sent me some money. It

seems like a fairy tale, only better, the way the Lord provides for all my needs."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A FURLOUGH-HOMEWARD BOUND.

While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none;
But with a God to guide our way,
"Tis equal joy to go or stay.

I hold my nothing here below;
Appoint my journey and I go;

Though pierced by scorn, oppres'd by pride,
I feel Thee good, feel naught beside.

-Madam Guyon.

"And the Lord shut him in. Gen VII, 16

"Who hath measured the waters

in the hollow of His hand,' Isaian. XL;12.

Miss Leffingwell left her station on March 4th, and after a journey of eighteen days, arrived at Shanghai. She was so wedded to China that the actuality of leaving it, even for a furlough, seemed to daze her, and she says in one of her letters, “It is wonderful. I can scarcely believe it to be true." The news of it, however, had already reached her Free Methodist friends in the United States, and they were greatly interested in her home-coming; so that just before her departure, came a flood of