In the Villages of Bengal

“Two young women had come, asking us to go to their village, which was named after the moon,” writes Miss Brown, “and where there were a few women who had heard of our religion some years ago, and who wanted to hear again.
“This village was on the other side of the river, and few of the inhabitants seemed ever to have seen an English lady, whilst one or two had treasured up the few truths they had heard and understood, and were most anxious to hear again.
“The people were pleased to see us, when, suddenly, without a word of apology, the whole mass turned their backs upon us, calling to each other to go to the school.
“At first we were puzzled to understand the meaning of this sudden movement, but we discovered that some of the women had caught sight of Miss Dawe’s figure corning towards the village, and they were calling to one another, ‘Miss Dawe is coming! There will be a meeting! Leave your work!’ Upon this some hurriedly caught hold of their goats to tie them up; and others shoveled rice and other things they had been cooking into remote corners, that the birds should not get at them.
“Miss Dawe went over the gospel story simply and slowly from the very beginning, and often such remarks were made as, ‘We have not forgotten,’ ‘We have been wanting to hear about it again,’ or, ‘Yes, we do believe in Jesus; our idols can do nothing!’
“One morning we rode to a village that had never been visited before by a lady, though some work had been done amongst the men. At first they seemed alarmed at our sudden appearance, but after we had made a few conciliatory remarks, and had taken off our hats that they might see we had long hair, and were therefore really women, they let us sit down. After again re-assuring some doubtful ones who were outside, that we were women, and that they were good words we had come to speak, we got an attentive group of women.
“They were Mahornmedans, and very ignorant, but listened eagerly, and seemed to think the news was too good to be true. Gradually one and another came dropping in; they began to understand more fully what was being told them, and one or two of the more intelligent asked questions. They seemed to think it most wonderful that they could have their sins forgiven, and go to live with God in heaven.” From “India’s Women.”