'AND TE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE
VOL. XLVnL
THE FAMINE BABY
A Missionary Playlet for the Primaries
V By Miss Susan E. Hall
Characters
The Baby, a rag-doll.
The Baby's Mother, Mrs. Ling,
a Chinese Woman.
Mary, The Missionary Child,
an American little girl.
Mary’s Mother, the Missionary
Lady.
The Priest, a Chinese man.
The Judge, a Chinese
(The five scenes of
let may be giver with
vious preparation except off" tne
part of the story-teller. She
may bring a few simple cos
tumes, or do without costumes
altogether. And she can gather
her characters a few minutes
beforehand and give them in
structions. Then as she tells
the story they carry out the ac
tion in pantomime.)
Pantomime- -Scene I
Mary goes for a walk with
her mother and little sisters, in
at the door, across the room and
back again, pausing to look
about sorrowfully. The children
may carry parasols The moth
er points out the poor people.
Mary has a sudden thought;
they hurry away to get her
bank.
Scene II
The judge enters very grand
ly, and seats himself. He may
wear a bright-colored robe and
hat. Mrs. Ling comes in timid
ly, with very short steps to in
dicate bound feet. Kneels and
bows to follow action in story.
Judge holds out his hand, palm
out, stiffly, in stern refusal. She
rises and.
ip***
The priest comes m mumbling,
\ lights two candles, unfastens
beads from his belt, follows ac
tion in story. He may wear
robe made ot curtains or table
cloth and a cap made of a black
stocking.
Mrs. Ling enters again timid
ly, always holding the baby,
greets the priest by shaking her
it own hands, Chinese fashion. The
baby is wrapped and entirely
covered with a shabby quilt.
The mother may have a long
blouse, trimmed with a wide
band of cloth or paper around
the neck and running down the
left side, to indicate a Chinese
coat. Follow the action of the
story.
Mrs. Ling shakes her head
sadly in answer to his ques
tions.
As he directs, Bhe kneels on
the floor in front of the table
on which the candles are burn
ing and where a "shrine” may be
made of books, before which
the incense is burned.
She goes down on one hand,
holding the baby with the oth
er arm, and very slowly touch
es her forehead to the floor three
times. Then she eagerly watch
es the priest, holding out her
hand beseechingly, and goes
-very slowly and reluctantly when
he sends her away.
Scene IV
The canal bank may be a
bench along which Mrs. Ling
walks. Follow action of story.
Mrs. Ling steps down off the
bench as Mary comes on. Mary
holds up her hands in horror as
she sees Mrs. Ling throw the
baby.
Follow story.
Expressive gestures should go
with Hie dialog.
They go off out of doors, to
find Mary's mother.
Scene V.
Mrs. Ling comes in and sits
sewing, and a little five-year old
boy stands beside her, with his
rice bowl and a pair of chop
sticks. These may be plain,
dean sticks, or may be painted
red. He holds them in one hand,
holds the bow dose up under
his chin and shovels the rice
into his mouth rapidly with the
chop-sticks. When he has pre
sumably shoveled his mouth
quite fuu, he chews it, bulging
out his cheeks to indicate a full
mouth, Chinese fashion.
He puts down his bowl and
chop-sticKs, and his - mother
teaches him from a little book.
The little boy sings, “Jesus
Loves Me," and the children join
mji possible, teach him the
^Chinese words for the chorus:
Ju soo Yasu ai o;
Ju see Yasu ai o,
Ju soo Yasu ai o,
Ju sun soo gaW so o.
Story
Once, in far away China,
there Was a great famine. The
crops had failed and the people
had so little to eat they had to
dig grass roots for food and
grind up the bark of trees in
stead of meal.
Little Mary, whose father
and mother were, missionaries,
felt very, very, sorry for the
poor peopte and gave aU the
pennies put of her bank to buy
them food.
There was one poor Chinese
mother, named Mrs, Ling, who
had nothing to feed her little
baby, and the baby was about
to starve. So one day, she went
to the judge, who lived in* a
grand house and wore beautiful
silk clothes. She knelt down in
front of the judge, and touched
her forehead, to the floor, beg
ging him to give her food for her
tittle baby . But the judge only
said, “After & while! After a
while r and sent her awa
self wfiPgo W the l>ri^t in
the temple. He will pray the
gods for me.”So she went to the
priest in the temple. He was
walking up and down in front
of the idols, tailing his beads,
while the candles burned, When
Mrs. Ling begged him to pray
the idols to send her some food
for her baby, the priest frowned
and asked her, “Is this a girl
baby? If so, I do not pray for
it. A girl is not worth feed
ing,”
But poor Mrs Ling said, “No,
no, it is a boy baby.”
“Then,” said the priest, “I
will pray for it if ybu have
brought a present.”
But poor Mrs, Ling did not
have a present to give him, for
she had no money. She only
had two little incense sticks. So
the priest took one of them and
lighted it and put it in the in
cense bowl before the idol, and
he kept tne other one.
“Now,” he said, “you can get
down and butt your forehead on
the floor three times before the
idol.” And while she did that,
he walked up and down telling
his beads and muttering over
and over, “Oh me toh fa,” which
was his kind of prayer.
“Maybe the gods will hear
you, said the priest, i ao
sot know. You should have
brought a present.” And he
sent her away. '
But those wooden idols could
not hear any one’s prayers. And
Mrs. Ling knew nothing of our
loving heavenly Father.
So at lasf she decided that
she could not beat to see her
baby die, and there was nothing
she couid do.
And so one day she went out
on the bank of the canal, held
the baby and looked at it, kissed
it with the tears rolling down
her cheeks, and then threw it
into the water.
But little Mary, the mission
ary child, was walking on the
canal bank that day. and she
saw Mrs. Ling holding the baby
and kissing & and then Mary
cried out aloud when she saw
her throw her baby out into the
water. Mary did not wait a
minute, but ran down the muddy
canal and dashed into the mud
dy water and snatched up the
baby just in time to save it
from drowning. And when she
opened the muddy bundle there
she saw the poor little babyWho
looked just like a skeleton, and
who cried a feeble little cry.
“Oh,” said Mary, “why did
you do that ?*’
“Because 1 could not bear to
see him die,” said Mrs. Ling,
“and I hau nothing to feed him.”
‘I know somebody that will
feed him,” cried Mery joyfully.
“Come with me, and we will take
him to my own mother. She will
feed your baby.”
And did Mary’s mother feed
the baby? Oh, she did! and how
the poor baby drank that warm
milk! And then he went to sleep
and began to get better right
away. ' ■
And Mary’s mother gave Mrs.
Ling a room to live in and sew*
ing to do so she could buy food
now for herself and her little
boy, And thg baby ate and ate;
and grew and grew till after a
While he was a big little boy,
and his mother made beautiful
little embroidered shoes for him
and for Mary’s little brother
and sister and bought rice and
milk and eggs fer him Id eat.
And she taught him to read the
funny Chinese letters.
How happy they were togeth
er! But the best thing of all
was that Mrs. Ling learned
about our Joying heavenly fath
er, and prayed te Wm' mm
day. And her little boy went
to Sunday school just at you dp,
and learned all about Jesus. And
he can sing the little song you
love so well too,
Wilmington, N. C.
PAGEANT TO BE STAGED
^ BY WOMEN’S CLUBS. .
Virginia Federation Plans Big
Program for Roanoke Meet
ink*
Hampton, Va., June 21.--A
pageant in which ten nations in
native costume will bs represent
ed is to be a part of the program
at Roanoke June 29 to July 2*
when the Virginia Federation of
Colored Women’s Clubs, of which
Mrs. Janie porter Barrett
is President, meets for its nine
teenth annual convention. This
organization has been coopers^
ing with State and community
agencies for almost two decades
in its work of social develop
ment, and has to its credit such
worthwhile accomplishments as
the establishing of the Virginia
Industrial School at Peaks,
Great interest centers around
the meeting this year bcause of
the active part to be taken by
the Junior members of the Fed
eration on July 1st. They are to
present the pageant, “Good
Will, the Magician.” Floats for
the parade are being planned by
the heads of each of the ten
departments under which the
Federation carries on lia wont.
Junior members in different
parts of the State and the
school children of Roanoke have
been making paper flowers since
early spring with which to dec
orate the floats. This example
of cooperation indicates the en
thusiasm for the work already
developed in the Virginia club
women of the future, and is
putting into action what the
Federation has always stood
for.-;. . . . --vfi,
The exhibit will be exception
ally fine this year. State Board
of Health is lending posters to
illustrate the work of each de
partment and the Home Eco
nomics department will at noon
each day hold a demonstration
appropriate to the hour. The
“Open Forum” to be held on
Thursday night with the topic
Health for discussion will be led
by doctors and nurses, and any
one wffl be permitted to ask
questions. Religious Training
and Recreation, under the lead
ership of authorities in these
two fields, will also be discussed
at this time.
^ On Friday night the Conven
j
will hear Mrs. Mary Church
oi Washington, D. C.,
first President of the Nn
r1 Association of Colored
sen, who is now the honor
President. Mrs. Terrell is
mduiste of Oberiin College,
traveled widely and is a
foer or charm and eloquence,
meetings with the exception
ie sessions Of the Executive
rd are open to the public.
ilSON COMMENCE
By Mrs. A. P. Butler
friends and. students of
looked forward with
,.j pleasure to the reun
. Hie reunion spirit pexVad
the campus. The occasion
night a large number of men
women who attended Harbi
ih its infancy. The chief
« pr, Thomas Amos,
New York. Dr. Amos was
and flrsit President of
lison. It was a beautiful
re to see the loyalty and
the students bore, towards
Amos. Time and again ad*
were made by some
of riie old school and
referred lovingly and kind
to Dr. Amos. The Reunion
a success.
Our President, Dr. Young,
strenuous effette' to put
riie reunion and It must
cheered his heart to see
his plans were a great sue
Our closing began with the
ises by the parochial school
aesday and Thursday
. hts. The first night was fiv
i to tbe primary grades. The
?5d of songs,
■ 1, mm
ier the Sugar Plum Tree.”_ The
axercises were well rendered, and
witnessed by a large audience.
Thursday night a class of
young girls, who had reached
the Alps of the parochial school,
made up the program. The
declamations given by them
were of high order and reflect
ed much credit upon their teach
er* .
\ Friday afternoon was the
time for the class day program
which was largely attended and
enjoyed by all. The Seniors
made their last will and gave
prophecies of the future.
; Friday night was the Junior
Prize .Contest. Six young men
contested for a gold medal. These
addresses were , fine and it was
hard for the judges to decide
Who won. Mr. R. W. Steele was
the winner and honorable men
tion was made of Mr. J. E. Hill.
Mr.. Steele’s subject was “Vis
ion/’
Sunday 3:3U r. m., Drougnt a
large crowd to listen to the bac
calaureate sermon. This ser
mon, was preached by Rev. G.
T. Dillard, D. D, The sermon
was replete with good things.
Dr; Dillard was at his best
and .made an address that was
rich in thought.
Monday: morning at twelve
O’clock the annual address was
delivered by Dr. Amos. Dr.
Amos soon proved his ability as
a speaker and held the attention
of his audience for an hour.
Monday afternoon at 3:30 the
final exercises began. Six ,young
men from the graduating class
had- been chosen to deliver ora
tions These orations were well
delivered. Dr. Amos presented
the diplomas to the graduates,
s i'Thje following prizes were giv
en: .first prize of flO. for the
best kept room to Messrs. S. G.
Johnson and Clarence Pope; sec
ond prise of $5 to Messrs. E. B.
PittS and W. M Smith; 3rd
prize of |2.50 to Messrs. R. K.
Fortune and J. A. Tillman.
Teh dollars for the highest
mark in- the Bible was given to
Messrs. J. D. Dorrah and Otto
Martin
Ten Mars for the largest
amount of corn raised to the
acre ,was given to Mr, R. V,
Harrison.
our
school
May I say
gard to the
file Schools,
upon ha?
see the doors
seenljpore
older people! Will
Christians, open the
the children this
excuses and let
pointed and fall short
gious training for a
In Bristol it seemed
we had an excuse
for, we had to
Presbytery .and ^
Convention by August and also
remodel our church and sachool.
Surely, they said, this would
excuse us for this year, at least.
But i tola them this excuse
would not suffice,, for we could
have our D. V. B. S., add make
the preparation also; yes, it can
be done if we but try. On the
other hand, we can find plenty
of apparent excuses if we half
look. So we opened this morn
ing with thirty-six children and
two teachers. Mrs. C. A. Shep
person and Miss Janet Thomp
son did not hunt exdiues, but
shouldered the burden and said
“I will,” There will be one
hundred children knock
ing for admission before the
week ends. We heed more
teachers.
God is truly trying us accord
ing to the teaching in the para
ble of the Great Supper. But
instead of accepting His call we
are finding excuses; Some of us
have bought oxen, others bought
land, and still others have mar
for the children. It can be done.
These apparent excuses have no
bottom. For oxen are not
proved at night; it is dangerous
even in the day time. Moreover,
no one buys oxen or land before
first proving them. And
a man can take his bride to
no better place than a supper.
Friends, it can be done ifwe only
try. But we would rattier find
excuses, or something to deceive
us and make us feel that we are
justified in failing to do God’s
bidding. These are some of the
excuses we hear over the field:
(1) T he teachers are gone to
summer school. We have no one
to teach.
(2) We can’t give the time.
(3) We are remodeling the
church.
These excuses don’t stand;
they are too weak to express,
it can be done if we but try.
Our ministers are complaining
about the churches going down
and the very things suggested
by the Board for building and
increasing church attendance
are the things they ooze out of,
and wonder why the people don’t
come out. I hope tbe time will
soon come when our elders will
insist on having these Daily Va
cation Bible Schools and othei
auxiliaries necessary to stimu
late and promote the church
The young people are demanding
them. And anything that at
tracts young people to tin
church should be had by al
means.
The future of the church lief
in tne kiddies and young peo
pie. It can be done.
J. J. SHEPPERSON.
Bristol, Tenn., June 14.
IS IT FAIR?
Last week a list of 1,500 teach
era to be employed in schools o:
Omaha was announced. In thii
vast army of teachers there i
not one single representative o
our people. And yet some peo
pie wonder why we are not sal
isfied. There is nothing fai
about this and no one with th
slightest sense of fairness o
justice in his make-up will clair
that it is.—The Monitor.
begins Sunday, June 20. Att
availahlp twinnrpAa *dt fliirigm
are being placed at the disposal
of the world is assembling in
pilgrimage of Roman Catholics
for religious devotion and conse
cration.
Negroes from all sections of
America, and other countries,
will nave a definite and propor
tional part.
me program of the Negro
section of the Eucharistic Con
gress, si announced by the Rev.
J. F. Eckert, S. V. D., pastor of
St. El&abeth’s church of Chi
cago, indicates that pilgrimages
of colored Roman Catholics will
come to the congress from New
York, Cincinnati, St. Louis, De
troit, Louisville, and most of the /'.
principal cities of the South. The 4
Josephite fathers, missionaries
who work among the Negroes of
the United States, will lead
large delegations of their par
ishioners from the Southern
States. Another religious order
that dedicates itself to Negro
Missions, the Society of the Di
vine Word, will do likewise.
One of the foremost educators
and missionaries of the Negro
nice, the Rev. Joseph Glenn, ©#
Richmond,' Va., will deliver the
principal address Sunday after
beth’s church, where that morn
ing a solemn high mass will be
celebrated by the Rev. Father
Eckert, assisted by two young
colored priests.
Particiption of colored Roman
Catholics in the Congress will
not be limited to meetings in
their section. From Negro paro
chial schools more than 500 chil
dren will be in the vast choir of
62,000 voices Monday, June 21,
when the “Mass of the Angels"
is sung in Soldiers' Field Stadi
um. Also more than 150 stu
dents from St. Elizabeth’s high
school. are to take part in the
ceremonies of Higher Education
Day, June.23, and 1,000 Roman
Catholic men of color will take
part in the men’s night ceremo
ny.
WHERE THE HEART IS.
(From Everybody’s Magazine)
For many years John D. Rock
efeller, Sr.; used to visit the Bon
Air Hotel, Augusta, Ga., for
Winter golf. He would always
attend the Negro Baptist church
on the first Sunday after his ’ar
rival, the First Baptist church
(white) on the second Sunday
and St. Paul’s Episcopal church,
of which his secretary was
member, on the third Sunday.
After noting the sequence for
several years a prominent mem
ber of St. Paul’s asked an old
Negro: “Look here, William,
how is it that every winter when
Mr. Rockefeller comes down
here he goes first ip your
church, then to the white Bap-/
tist church and then to St. Paid’s
Episcopal?" T
William replied: “Lawd, boss,
dafs easy. It's disa way.:. At
St. Paul’s you bu’ns
at de w’te Baptist
bu’ns gas, but we
sene."
NOTICE
All persons expecting'to at
tend the Sunday School Conyers
tion of Atlantic Presbytery,
meeting July 22nd, 1926, at
Wallingford Presbyterian
church, Charleston, S. C., will
please notify the pastor, Rev.
W. T. Frazier, 11 Nassau St.,
& CL