Page:Scenes in Southern India.djvu/173

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TINNEVELLY. PALAMCOTTA.
151

coat, and breaks the sweet silence with his impertinent caw. The sward is wonderfully green, but will not remain long so now, as the fierce sun grows daily more fierce and will scorch it up. There are many substantial buildings about, which I suppose are schools and boarding-houses; and above all, a little to the right, also within the compound, stands the handsome mission church, gleaming white among the trees, with a graceful spire towering over everything. As I write the church-bell begins to chime forth its invitation to morning prayer, and a troop of schoolgirls in bright garments march past to attend the service. A scene full of encouragement and holy joy to the Christian heart, for it tells of work earnest and fruitful, of hopes fulfilled and promises made good; and one cannot but look onward to the glorious future—perhaps not so very far off—when the nations shall be gathered in and the whole earth filled with the glory of God.

The bishop came for us and we soon followed to church. Mr. Jesudas (the name means Servant of Jesus), the native pastor, was just beginning the service. The bishop and Dr. Mitchell sat within the communion rails, while the pews were filled with the pupils from the Boys' Seminary, the boarding-school girls, the teachers, and all the people of the compound. It is a very large