There were remarks and
prayers, and while the missionary hymn was being sung at the close,
the collection was taken up, amounting, in money and cotton yarn, to
more than fifteen korans. One sick boy, who had heard what was going
on, rose from his bed, and crept in to deposit his little coin.
Instead of spending their saints' days in idleness, as had been the
custom, many now wrought on those days to earn money for giving,
saying to objectors that it was better to labor for the spread of
the gospel than to be idle for Satan. Mr. Stoddard attended the
March concert, with some idols from India, and so interested the
people that the collection amounted to more than twenty-five korans,
thus the good work went on.
After this the spirit of benevolence steadily increased, and
instances of marked self-denial were not wanting. It shows at once
their poverty and their disposition to do what they could, that at
the monthly concert a basket was passed round along with the
contribution box, to receive eggs from the little children and such
as were too poor to give any thing else. Crosses of ivory or silver
were often found among the contributions.
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