I HAVE had a little slave girl handed over to me to-day, a bright child of about nine years old. Although so young, she has quite a history, poor little thing. It is as follows. When Mr. Arnot passed through this country in 1888, it appears that the headman Cinyama, gave the chief of the district, whose name is Boma, this child. This was unknown to Mr. Arnot, until several days after they had left the place He has kept it in mind all the intervening years, and on our arrival at Boma's, he brought the matter before them and demanded the release of the little girl. A number of excuses were offered, but he insisted that she must be delivered up and sent to our camp, to go on with us in the morning. Shortly after, the little girl was brought, and handed over to me not as a slave thank God, but as a little charge to care for, and bring up for the Lord. She came to me quite cheerfully, poor little thing, although she had never seen me before. She does not understand a word that I say, either in Umbundu or English. When she came, she had no clothing, but I have had her dressed, and her hair, which was plaited thick and covered with palm oil, cut. Now she looks quite smart, seems very cheery, and is quite a favorite already in the camp. She sleeps in my hut on a mat which I bought at the "Kuanza" for a handkerchief. Her name is Nama. She is picking up some Umbundu words from the other girls, and I was very pleased to hear her little sweet voice join in the singing of one of our Umbundu hymns this evening.
May the Lord Jesus open her young heart to receive the wondrous story of His love, and to believe on Him as her own and only Savior, that she may spread His saving Name abroad, amongst the thousands in this dark land who have never yet heard the joyful sound.
We have reached Nana Kandundu after a long journey, and been welcomed by Queen Nana. There are thousands of boys and girls all around us. O, that we may be helped to make known to them the story of His love.