How you would love these tiny, innocent toddlers, with all their quaint little ways!
It is an important moment for the Mohammedan baby when “Miss Sahib” arrives. From the vantage point of his mother’s arms he is the first to see the white topee (sun hat) come round that mysterious purdah that shuts away the outer world. Forthwith a chubby hand is eagerly outstretched; for he must be, of course, the very first to shake hands with Miss Sahib, and a very serious performance it is to our young Moslem friend. First he gives the right hand, then the little play-thing must be moved from one hand to the other, and the left hand is produced, for it seems to be a point of etiquette with Mohammedan babies to shake hands with both hands. Then generally he finishes this serious business with a solemn native salaam, which consists of respectfully raising the hand two or three times to the forehead. When this part of the program has been completed, his bright eyes are fixed expectantly for the next interesting move, which is the showing of the Bible picture. It is a happy moment to have these little ones form a circle round one, their little hands eagerly patting the picture roll in their anxiety to see it.
I have a beautiful picture of the holy child Jesus, and there is no sight more touching than to see this group of little ones standing round with bent heads, solemnly salaaming the baby Jesus, their Saviour. Yes, their Saviour, too; and they are learning to love him in their little unconscious baby way. O, the pity of it! that these tender little hearts should ever grow hard, that this baby love should be quenched, because there are no funds to send those who could help them. Yet Jesus has said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.” These are the little lambs that Jesus said were not of this fold, yet surely they, too, must be brought, that there may be “one fold and one Shepherd.”
VERA CHILTON.
Lucknow, India.
WEST AFRICAN SCHOOL
BETSY READING THE "OLD, OLD STORY" (IN JAVA, EAST INDIES).
