village, who in this respect have had the advantage of the others. One
of the women of this village received the sacrament with such devotion
and joy that a few days after her baptism she made her confession, and
persuaded her husband to become a Christian; and she was one of those
who practiced the exercises of the Christians with most pleasure. An
old man, already so exhausted by age that he could hardly stand upon
his feet, came one day with the others to the church, and upon being
enjoined to become a Christian, that he might give to God the little
of life that remained to him, told them to leave him in peace, for he
was no longer fit for anything except death. Seeing that for the time
being nothing impressed him, I left him; and afterward caused him to
come to my house, where I represented to him the benefits which he
would gain in heaven by becoming a Christian. This had such an effect
that our Lord moved his heart; and, unable to repress his satisfaction,
with much gladness he urgently sought immediate baptism. I told him
to go away and to reflect upon the matter for a time, for an affair
of such moment could not be hastily settled. He again answered that
it should not be delayed, as he desired baptism immediately; but,
at last, the ceremony was deferred. While being instructed he made
the most joyful answers, and afterwards received holy baptism with
the same tokens of pleasure. During the remaining short period of
his life his happiness was such that he imparted it to everyone
who spoke to him. The great goodness and mercy of God were seen in
the case of a new born babe whose pagan mother--an inhabitant of
another village, far distant--gave birth to it in a village of this
mission. To escape the burden and labor which she must sustain in
rearing it, she took it in her arms and, descending to the bank of
a river, was about to bury it alive. A Christian chanced to see her
and hastened to inform us. Upon reaching the spot I found the child,
so small that it was a cause for astonishment. I baptized it, and it