Life at Karmatar, India
By J. C. Little
There is something about the monotony of every-day life that makes us shrink from telling the little experiences that fill a large share of our time in mission work. However, I shall try to give a little glimpse of every-day life at Karmatar. Every one begins to stir about half-past five in the morning, the boys taking about an hour's exercise in work about the farm or garden, and the girls utilizing the early hours in preparing lessons for the day, or in doing some necessary housework. At this early hour, patients begin to gather at the dispensary door, and usually from this on until midday, the interested group about the door is the common spectacle from our window. These often amount to as many as twenty or thirty patients treated in one day, so it can readily be seen that Sister Whiteis has not an unimportant part in our work here. We find this one of the most favorable means of reaching these darkened people. Breakfast is at half-past seven, after which the boys gather in the schoolroom, and spend the half hour before school opens at nine, in looking over the day's lessons. Mrs. Little is in charge of the school at present, and she is making some special efforts to teach present truth along with other studies. We they can speak only words of praise for the evidences of the Lord's leading thus far in this branch of the work. School is out at 1:30 P. M. Also at nine o'clock in the morning the press work begins. School classes are held early for students who work here, and thus we are able to keep up this work during the school year without extra help. Our workers have all been willing, and the work in this department has progressed nicely since the printing plant moved from Calcutta, March 1. We were pleased to have Sister Burroway join us about the middle of July, and we have found her a valuable helper in the work here. One faculty we seem to require in this country is the ability to adapt ourselves to varied circumstances and conditions without long months of experience, and to readily discern a situation so as to lift in unison with those already on the ground. Sister Burroway has taken hold of the work here in a remarkably short time, and has proved a real help in her branch of the work. God has certainly blessed in sending us help at a time of need. In the afternoon, farm and garden work for the boys, and the sewing class for the girls, form the principal part of our domestic work. About forty biggahs of paddy-field not far from the compound are now nearly all under cultivation, and besides this we have to plant the garden, most of which is put out in September and October. Thus we are trying to make our school meet the plan of the Lord regarding manual labor. All students gather at the evening worship hour, and together we sing and bow to thank the Giver of blessings for his daily care. This, with our morning worship, forms the leading part of our devotional exercises. The work here is not all we hope it will be, by any means, but we believe the Lord is leading, and that some fruits will be seen in his kingdom.