keep afloat. How can they successfully contend with all this strong opposition, though it may not be expressed in words? Even Jesus, in some places, was hindered from doing many mighty works because of their unbelief in Him.

"God is calling young women to the home and the foreign fields. May none of them be lost to the work through needless opposition! There are enough unavoidable difficulties. It is for us to make straight paths lest that which is lame be turned out. of the way of service.

"Each one of us has enough discouragements that necessarily come to us in the work, but if thus wounded in the house of our friends, as was David when his brother told him that he better go home and attend to those few sheep, is it a wonder that many are turned out of the way of obedience to God's call? Rather let them be healed.

"What deep wounds ever closed without a scar?
The heart bleeds longest, and it heals to wear
That which disfigures it.'

"Now we are the body of Christ and members in particular, and the members should have the same care one for another.'"

CHAPTER VI.

EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.

Better to stem with heart and hand
The roaring tide of life, than lie,
Unmindful, on its flowery strand,
Of God's occasions drifting by;
Better with naked nerve to bear

The needles of this goading air,

Than in the lap of sensual ease forego

The godlike power to do, the godlike aim to know.

-Whittier.

With the advent into her life of such an increase of physical strength, there came to Miss Leffingwell the feeling that she should engage in some kind of occupation. Moreover, this seemed to be an actual necessity. The license to preach which she had received from the church did not carry with it any salary, nor did it entitle her to a regular appointment where there was an established work.

So after preaching around at many different places, she began school-teaching; but she always taught in country places where they would permit her to use the schoolhouse evenings and Sundays for religious services, as well as for special revival meetings. She would not accept a school where this privilege was denied her. This enabled her to support herself and at the same time gave her

entire freedom in preaching the gospel, which she always made her first and most important business. She also did a great amount of pastoral visiting among the people where such ministerial labors

were performed. She always had a remarkably winning way with children and young people. She loved everybody, but for the young she had an especial fondness and a very tender love. So she always succeeded well with her schools. In this way the

Lord enabled her to do a great work in several places. More concerning this subject will be mentioned a little later.

As she continued her teaching and preaching, it was apparent to her that a broader education would not only better fit her for teaching and for her life work, but that this additional education was essential to her future success. Her long continued illness, just at a time in her life when she would otherwise have been most diligently engaged in securing a suitable education, had somewhat crippled her in this respect. She therefore arranged to attend the Chamberlain Institute at Randolph, New York. This institution for many years had been the leading educational center for Western New York.

She did not remain there very long, however, as her attention was called to The A. M. Chesbrough Seminary of North Chili, New York. This institution, which was founded by Rev. B. T. Rob erts, the first general superintendent of the Free Methodist church, had for many years enjoyed the reputation of being a school where special attention was given to the moral, religious and spiritual interest of its students. This phase of educational work attracted Miss Leffingwell, and she arranged to go there. She was in attendance at this school during the years 1887-8.

At this time it was under the charge of Rev. Benson H. Roberts and his wife, Mrs. Emma Sellew Roberts, both of them educators of exceptional ability. They had been connected with this seminary for many years, and had given it not only a high

educational standing but had made a name for it as a strongly religious institution. Under their supervision it had educated quite a large number of talented young men and women who had entered foreign mission work; and the missionary spirit was strong there. This was especially congenial to Miss Leffingwell, and her call to the ministry and to missionary work was greatly strengthened by her associations at this institution.

After leaving the A. M. Chesbrough Seminary, she went to St. Louis, where she entered the Vanguard Missionary Training Home. For some reason she remained there only a short time, and soon returned to Western New York where her family resided. There she began again the work of teaching and preaching.

During a part of 1889 and 1890 she taught at Great Valley, and as a result of her labors there as a minister, a Free Methodist class was organized by the author, who then was preaching on the Allegheny Circuit of that denomination. During 1891 she went to Illinois and worked about six months with the Pentecost Bands. No account of her labors there are available for these pages.

In July, 1892, she attended a Free Methodist camp-meeting at Emporium, Pennsylvania. She was much blessed at this meeting, and was also made a great blessing to many who attended that gathering. There had never been a camp-meeting at that place before, and the novelty of it drew a large crowd, including, of course, many boys. The pray. ing, singing, and shouting attracted them, and they were interested in the meeting as only boys can be.