nervous system was rendered so sensitive by exhaustion, that the slightest noise startled me. I again sought protection from Him who alone was my stay, and lay still as before; till one of them came up and began to feel under my head for the cash. I spoke again—they sat down at my feet. I asked them what they were doing; they replied that they, like me, were going to pass the night there. I then requested them to take the opposite side, as there was plenty of room, and leave this side to me; but they would not move from my feet, so I raised myself up, and set my back against the wall. They said, 'You had better lie down and sleep; if you do not you will be unable to walk to-morrow. Do not be afraid; we shall not leave you, and will see no one hurts you.' I replied, 'Listen to me: I do not want your protection—I need it not, I am not a Chinese—I do not worship your senseless, helpless idols. I worship God—He is my Father—I trust in Him. I know well what you are, and what your intentions are, and shall keep my eye on you and shall not sleep.'
"On this, one of them went away, but soon returned with a third companion. I felt very uneasy, but looked to God for help: once or twice one of them got up to see if I was asleep. I said, 'Do not be mistaken, I am not sleeping.' Occasionally my head dropped, and this was a signal for one of them to rise; but I at once roused myself and made some remark. As the night slowly passed on, I felt very sleepy; and to keep myself awake, as well as to cheer my mind, I sang several hymns, repeated aloud some portions of Scripture, and engaged in prayer in English—to the great annoyance of my companions, who seemed as if they would have given anything to get me to desist. After that they troubled me no more; and shortly before dawn of day they left me, and I got a little sleep.
"August 6th.—I was awakened by the young man who had led me about so the previous evening. He was very rude, and insisted on my getting up and paying him for his trouble last night; and even went so &r as to try to accomplish by force what he wanted. It quite roused me; and in an unguarded moment, with very improper feeling, I seized his arm with such a grasp as he little expected I was capable of, and dared him to lay a finger on me again or to annoy me. This quite changed his manner; he let me quietly remain till the guns announced the opening of the gates of the city; then he begged me, at least, to give him some money to buy opium with. It is needless to say he was refused. I gave, him the price of two candles he said he had burnt while with me last night, and no more. I learned he was connected with one of the Ya-muns.
"As soon as I could, I bought some rice-gruel and tea for break&st, and then once more made a personal search after my things. Some hours thus spent proving unavailing, I set out on my return; and after a long, weary, and painful walk, reached Chang-gan about noon. My enquiries here also failed to give me any trace of my missing goods and man; so I had a meal cooked in a tea-shop, got a thorough wash and bathed my inflamed feet, and after my dinner rested and slept till 4 p.m. Much refreshed by this, I set off for Shih-mun Hien. On the way I was led to reflect on the goodness of God, and recollected that I had not made it a matter or prayer that I should be provided with lodgings last night. I felt condemned, too, that I should have been so anxious for my few things, while the many precious souls around me had caused so little emotion. I came as a sinner, pleaded the blood of Jesus, felt I was accepted in Him—pardoned, cleansed, sanctified. And oh! the love of Jesus—how great I felt it to be! I knew something more than I had known before of what it was to be despised and rejected; not to have where to lay my head; and felt more than ever I had done before, the greatness of that love which induced Him to leave His throne, and to suffer thus for me—nay, to lay down His life on the cross. I thought of Him as despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief—at times without a place to lay His head. I thought of Him at Jacob's well, weary, hungry, and thirsty, yet finding it His meat and drink to do His Father's will; and contrasted this with my littleness of love. I looked to Him for pardon for the past and for grace and strength to do His will in the future,