I WAS telling you how happily our little school was going on here and in the surrounding villages, how the boys were learning to read and to repeat the Scriptures. But here, in Africa, we can never count upon anything for certain, things are so unsettled. I have just witnessed a sight that makes me sad. The head men of the two villages near us passed to-day, with a great band of men and youths, on their way to the "capital," to join the chief of this district on a plundering expedition. I was grieved to see all my grown-up scholars among them, on their way to join in this cruel work. It appears that a caravan had been plundered on the way from the interior, and this is said to be to take vengeance on the plunderers. They presented a rather war-like appearance, poor fellows. They were dressed up with all the feathers and ornaments that they could muster. When they came opposite our village they formed a circle, with two men in the center beating a drum, the others dancing around, singing and passing their guns from one hand to another. So they are all gone. The women remain at the villages, but it is more difficult to reach them than the men. Like those in the parable who were bidden to "the great supper," and began to make excuses, so the African women do when we ask them to come and hear the Word, or learn to read it. They pretend to be so busy pounding corn, sewing, and such like. They are, nevertheless, very kind and courteous, and, as a rule, we get on very well with them. O how I long to see them won for Jesus, saved, and following Him; and there is nothing too hard for Him. The God who has saved us sinners of the Gentiles, lost in sin, is able to cause His Word to reach the hearts of these African men and women, and bring them to Himself. Some of my dear scholars may never return, for these raids are very often attended by much bloodshed. I am thankful to have been able to tell them something about the true God, and the Savior of sinners.