In Journeyings Oft. A sketch of the life and travels of Mary C. Nind

Introduction

. IN the spring of 1894 the duty was assigned me of making the customary visitation of our missions in Eastern Asia. The first episcopal visit to this part of the mission world under the care of the Methodist Episcopal Church was made by Bishop Kingsleyin 1869. As this was some years before the planting of our mission in Japan, and Korea was at the time inaccessible, his supervision was restricted to our comparatively new but promising mission in China. Since then the field occupied by our Church has greatly expanded, embracing now large por tions of both the continental and insular em pires, with a considerable part of the Korean peninsula. After my wife had concluded to make the journey with me, it was thought by us both that if "Cousin Mar}-" could be induced to accompany us, our equipment for usefulness would be largely increased.

We were greatly delighted INTR OD UCTION. when, after much thought and prayer over the unexpected proposal, she consented to do so. While we coveted her companionship in our prospective journeyings, we were still more eager that she should visit these fields in the interest of the work itself. The work maintained by the Woman's For eign Missionary Society in Eastern Asia has reached a magnitude which few are aware of. The occasional visit of some one especially fitted by long experience in the Managing Board in the home-land, joined to a profound and lively interest in the work itself, is warmly welcomed by the missionaries in the field, and can not fail to prove an incalculable benefit. This volume gives abundant proof of the untiring diligence and unstinted devotion with which this unofficial representative of the Ex ecutive Committee sought out every possible avenue of usefulness in her wide journeyings through these pagan lands.

Nor does it fail to express the grateful appreciation of her labors felt by all the missionaries in the fields she visited. Her genuine interest in the work, as well as her godly example and singularly wise coun- INTRO D UCTION. 7 sels, made an abiding impression both on the missionaries and the native Christians. I gratefully acknowledge my personal obliga tions to Mrs. Nind for valuable aid in many ways, and especially for important information and suggestions relating to the work of the Woman's Society. We were glad that she found it practicable to tarry in the home of her son-in-law, the Rev. W. H. Lacy, of the Foochow Mission, and return at length by way of Malaysia and India. This brief memorial of our sister's life, and especially of her visit to the Orient, is from the pen of one admirably fitted in every way for the task.

I trust it will be welcomed by a wide circle of readers, stimulating them to a stronger faith and a more self-sacrificing zeal in the cause of the world's evangelization. W. X. Ninde. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

CHILDHOOD AND MARRIAGE, 19 Conversion — Childish Ambition to Preach — Re markable Memory — First Sermon to her School mates — Her Mother's Training — Missionary Zeal — Out at Work — Suitors — Correspondence Leading to Marriage — Departure for America — How she Cured her Husband of Smoking — Business Failure — Go ing to War — Faith Honored — Temperance Work — Sabbath-school Teaching — Unrest of Soul — Becom ing a Methodist — Evangelistic Work — First Office in the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society — Her "Missionary Baptism" — Husband's Death.

Chapter II

Journey to Japan, 37 Ejected from the General Conference of the Meth odist Church — Delegate to the General Conference of Missions — Ovation at the General Executive Committee of the Woman's Foreign Missionary So ciety — Hard Work as an Organizer — Success in Raising Money — Refusal to Join the Woman Suf fragists — "Missionary Children" — Desire to Visit them — Objections, and How they were Overruled — Preparations for the Journey — Farewells — The Lunch-basket — Illness in San Francisco— The Delayed Voyage — Storm and Fog — Entering Tokyo Bay— Excitement of Landing— Disappointed Mis sionaries. CONTENTS. 10

Chapter III

•AGE. Trip to Nagoya, Si Missionary Grandeur — The Postponed Reception — Childreu's-day in Japan — Unique Decorations — Invitations to Commencement Exercises — From Yo kohama to Nagoya — Sights and Sounds En Route — The Earthquake City — Seiryu Jo Gakko — Cramped Quarters— Study of English — Sewing Classes — Com mencement Exhibit — Commencement Exercises — Refreshments— Value of a Sobetsukwai — Return to Yokohama — Reflections — Fire — Saved from au Earthquake — ft Woman's Meeting and Second Re ception.

Chapter IV

Journeyings Northward, 63 Temples of Japan Disappointing — Visit to Asakusa Temple— The Central Tabernacle — A Methodist Conference — Effects of the Earthquake — The Har rison Industrial Home — A Sick Pupil — The " Sleep Account" — To Nikko by Rail — Nikko not always Kekko — Hastening Northward — Passport Difficul ties in Sendai — Hakodate : the City, the Seashore, the Mountain— Rumors of War — The Daily (?) News paper — War Formally Declared — A Curious Procla mation—Uncertain News— Christian Patriotism— The Friends' Mission Unpopular— War Problems — Daily Program at the Home— Climbing the Moun tain — The View from the Top.

Chapter V

From Hakodate to Hirosaki, Si The Hot Springs— Basha Riding— At the Hotel — A Christian Soldier — A Japanese Parsonage — Native Missionary to the Kurile Islands aud his Bride - CONTENTS. 11 PAGE. Table Conversation — Going to Hirosaki — Delay in Aomori — A Jinrikisha Ride — "Made a Gazing stock" — Glimpses of a Railroad — Welcome to Hi rosaki — The "House with an Up-stairs" — The O Shiro — Iwaki San.

Chapter VI

From Hirosaki to Nagasaki, 105 Invitations to Work — Reception at the so Gakko — The Little Missionary's Mistake — A Woman's Meet ing — Impression Made by Aunt Mary — Invited to Speak in the To-o-gijiku— A Rainy Day — The "Teachers' Room" — Promptness — A Carriage Drive — Another Woman's Meeting — The Pilgrims — Leav ing Hirosaki — Free from Anxiety — Missionary Bat tles — An Adopted Child — A Flooded Railroad — Work in Sendai — Fermented Wine at a Communion Service — An Imperial Procession — " Fraud Coils of Hair"— The "Waterfall House "—Through the In land Sea — Kwassui so Gakko.

Chapter VII

Traveling in China 125 From Nagasaki to Shanghai — Sights at the Land ing — A Missionary Boarding-house — A Fine Mis sionary Residence— A Self-supporting Hospital — Many Kinds of Bondage— Within a Native Walled City— Meeting " Emma "—A Trip up the Yangtse— A Stop at Chinkiang— Conference at Kiukiang— Pledges against Foot-bindiug— English Missionary Work at Hankow— Preparing Tea for the Russian Market— Excitement Over the War— A Trip to the Ming Tombs near Nanking— Chinese Temples— The "Stone cut out of the Mountain"— The China Inland Mission— Voyage to Foochow— Another Con- CONTENTS. 12 PAGE. ference— The " Matchless Interpreter "— Celebratiug an Anniversary — Thanksgiving at the Consulate — A Chinese Feast — Chinese Liberality — A Chinese Bride— An After-Conference Meeting — In a House boat—Beautiful Scenery— A Strike— Discomforts of a Chinese Inn — Greetings at Kucheng — A Sunday Congregation — Farewell Ceremonies.

Chapter VIII

In and About Foochow, 144 Puzzling Details of Missionary Living — Daily Work of One Missionary — A Successful Sunday-school — Christmas Exercises — A Chinese Wedding — New- Year's Festivities — A Trip with Dr. Sites — Au Idol Procession — Death of Dr. Sites — How she became "Mother Nind" — Chinese Graves — Government Examinations — Buildings New and Old — Veteran Missionaries — Home of a Native Preacher — Re markable Converts — Fleeing from the Heat — The Kucheng Massacre — A Child's Heroism — Mother Nind's Seventieth Birthday.

Chapter IX

From Foochow to Singapore, 167 Desire to See India — Waiting for a Companion — "Farewell to China" — Other Good-byes — Mission aries in Native Dress — Arguments on the "For mosa" — The Stewart Children — In Hong Kong — "Happy Valley" — A Steep Railway — Saving Money — On the "Peak" — In Search of Soda-water — Learning New Words — In a Storm — Nearing Singapore — The Opening of Work in Singapore — First Sights — A Gari Ride — The Mary C. Nind Deaconess Home — A Weary Step — Paying for the Baggage — A Trying Atmosphere — Drops of Malaria — An "Ancient" Building. CONTENTS. 13

Chapter X. Page

From Singapore to Rangoon, 191 How Beds are Made in Singapore — A Talk on Cli mate — A Eurasian School — A Chinese School — In Chinese Homes — Sin Neo — A Reception — An Ex amination in the Middle Road School — The Malay a Musical Language — Sunday-school Work in Singa pore — A Twilight Service — Children of the Home — A Unique Boarding-school — How the Day Pupils get their Breakfast — A Company Meal — The Public Gardens — " Become a Nice Wife " — Rescue Work among Japanese Women — Ants and Lizards — The Shower Bath — Good-byes again — A Day in Penang — Much Work in Many Languages — Beautiful, but for Sharks — The Work First — A Cocoanut Grove — A Mysterious Waterfall — A Signal of Distress — The Rescued and the Rescuer — Passengers of the Lin dula — Four Houses, but no Home — The Nice Ones and the Nasty Ones — A Hero, if there ever was One.

Chapter XI

In Burma 215 A New Table of Money — Difficulties in the Way of Finding an Address — Novelty of Driving under a House — A Tum-tum — "The Prettiest Drive in the World" — The "Sway Dagon" Pagoda — Renewing the Gold Leaf — A Beautiful Carving — Story of a Bell — Buddhas Many and Varied — Mourners making Music — An Accident in the Tum-tum — Airy Houses — Laura Gunatilaka — Learning Kindergarten — Pertinent Questions — Souvenir from a Burmese School — In the English Church — A Railway Journey — A Particular Guard — A Fellow-traveler Embarrassed — A Religious Feast — A Pretty Picture — A Late Break fast — Giving the Tenth— A Burmese Village—Win ning the Favor of the Gods— A Favorite Song— CONTENTS. 14 PAGE. "Lovely" Children— Simple Dressing— The Tamil School— Novel Calisthenics— Evening Prayers — A Missionary Pioneer — Early Experiences — Translat ing the Bible — Elephants at Work— Burmese Gen erosity.

Chapter XII

First Days in India, 236 Sunday Services on the Lindula — Entering the Hoogly — A Dangerous Stream— An Open-air Enter tainment — The Bareness of an Indian Cupboard — Taking Advice — Prayer-meeting in Bishop Tho burn's Church — Smoke from the Evening Fires — Strange Fuel — An Informal Tea — The Woman preacher Criticised — A Literary Contest and Prize Exhibition — Winter Vacations — A New Ideal of Poverty — An Aristocratic Charity Student — Extreme Self-denial — The Bengali Girls' School — Novelties in Dress — The Zenana Women's Estimate of the Little Missionary — Missionary Beginnings as Represented in a Hindustani School — A Missionary Conference — "Imitation of Krishna" — Too Bus}' for Sightsee ing — A Drive to the "Gardens " — The Great Banyan tree — "Kali Ghat" — The Fakirs and Lepers — The "Sacred Well" — A Hideous Idol — Why they could not See the Sacrifice — Watching the Bathers — The Inconvenience of Drawing Money in Silver — Trav eling in India — Overweight Baggage — A Chilly Night — Arriving in Allahabad — Tents for Guest rooms — Novel Introductions — A Successful Meeting.

Chapter XIII

From Jubbulpur to Lucknow, 254 The Bombay Conference — Deaconesses in the Wo man's Conference— A Dark Cloud— Conference En tertainment— Churning the Butter — Always in a CONTENTS. 15 PAGE. Hurry — " Carrying their Beds with them " — The Dreaded "Touch of the Sun"— "Hot" Food— Highly-esteemed Missionaries in Lucknow — Prep arations for Christmas — Prayer-meeting before Dawn — Other Meetings — A Christmas-tree in a Hos pital for Native Women — A Feast in a Tomb— With the " Mother of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society" — Three Attractions of Lucknow — Going to Cawnpore — " For Europeans Only " — Industrial Exhibition of the Indian Christian Association — A Farewell Reception — Angry Passions in the Girls' High School — A Visit to the Cemetery — A Conver sation at Memorial Well — Memorial Church — Mas sacre Ghat — A Parade Service — Watch-night Serv ices in Lucknow — A Sunday-school Christmas Fete — A Zenana Party — Shivering in India — Trying to Drape the Sari.

Chapter XIV

Visiting Two Conferences, 277 Elephant Riding — In the Deaconess Home — Unex pected Help on Letters — Many Texts, but Only One Sermon — The Publishing-House — The Woman's College — Heavy Burdens — Journey to Sitapur — Bread Cast on the Waters— An Interesting Missionary Meeting — A Capable Teacher— A New Namesake — Parting Salaam from School Children — The North India Conference— The Hospital at Bareilly— The Orphanage— Contrasts Suggested— The "Grinding Room " — A Discussion on Christmas Boxes — Isolated Workers— School for Preachers' Wives— A Financial Exigency — A Novel Journey — Wellesley School at Naini Tal— "The Most Lovely Spot on Earth"— Trip to Budaon— The " Sweepers' Padre "—In Mo radabad — A Weavers' Mohulla— Self-support Anni versary of the Northwest Conference. CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. Page

From Meerut to Muttra, 3°° Phebe Rowe— Village Work— A Sham Battle—At tacked by Hornets— A New Way of Cleaning — Ep worth League Work — In a Railway Compartment — The Fair at Aligarh — A Memorial Bell — A Moham medan College — A Mosque and a Temple — The "Mark of the Beast"— First View of Muttra—Con secrated Wealth — Zenana Visiting — Passion for Jewelry — A Sacred City — A Beautiful Temple — A Story of Krishna — -A Christian Rest-House — A Pitiful Tale — "Flora Hall" — On the School Compound.

Chapter XVI

Last Days in Two Lands 318 Tired of Sight-seeing — "Doing" the Taj — A Trip to the Fort — A Late Christmas Fete — Becoming Independent Travelers — New Companions — A Native "Zoo" — Museum at Jeypore — School of Arts — In the Palace of the Maharaja — An Absorbing Novel — A College for Princes — Traveling Third Class — Un der the Doctor's Care — Going to Central Conference at Poona — The Bishop's Sermon — Ramabai's School — LTnique Weddings — Interesting Zenanas — Sailing from Bombay— A Crowded State-room — Longing for England — Returning Health — The Scenes of her Childhood. INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Mary Clarke Nind Frontispiece. page. Street in Hirosaki, 93 Aunt Mary, the Little Missionary, and her Workers, 97 The "O Shiro" at Hirosaki, 101 Iwaki San 105 Hair Ornaments of a Chinese Lady, 137 A Bridal Sedan Chair, 149 Mother Nind in her Sedan Chair, 157 Mary C. Nind Deaconess Home, Singapore, .... 183 The Bullock Cart, 187 Children of the Home, Singapore ... 197 Breakfasting on the School-ground, ... . . 201 A Tamil Group, 229 A Home in a Tomb 259 "Each Crumbling Tower," 263 Church at Meerut, 291 Phebe Rowe and her Tent,

Chapter I

It was sundown in a country-house near Lon don. The little five-year-old of the family had said her evening prayer as usual, and been put to bed. She was not yet asleep, however, but lay for a long time pondering her first new, wonderful thoughts of God. At last, obeying a sudden impulse, she jumped out of bed, and knelt once more to thank him for her good home and many kind friends. Then, after a little pause, she reverently added, "Please give me a new heart, and make me your good little girl." At this, a sweet feeling of peace and joy stole over her, and, lying down again, she was soon fast asleep. In the morning a new life began for this little girl, so early led to know and love God; and while she played and romped like other children by the lake and in the garden, and dearly loved, like them, to exchange her pennies for sweets at the nearest shop, there was always a warm feeling in her heart toward God, and a desire to please him, even in her play.

On Sundays she delighted in going to Church, and at those times, seated in a high pew by her mother's side, listened intently to all the minister said about the God she loved. She wished, O so much, that she were a boy, and then she, too, might become a preacher. Often, to please the child, her mother turned her pinafore into a gown, and a box into a pulpit, and told her to repeat what the minister had said. Her memory alway served her well, and " first," " secondly," even to " lastly," the sermon was heard again from her childish lips. It came to be the family custom to appeal to Mary, if any part of the sermon was to be recalled. One day a chance visitor wished to refer to a certain head in the sermon of the pre vious Sabbath. Poor Mary was sound asleep, and her sister had to shake her well to make her know what was wanted of her.

Rubbing her eyes, she began reciting the heads in order until the right one was reached; then was down on her pillow again, fast asleep. It was not until she was twelve years old that she preached her first original sermon. She had been tending day-school, but was soon to enter a boarding-school ; and as she thought of leaving her little mates, her heart was full of concern for their eternal welfare. Obtaining permission to speak to them during the rest-hour, she began from the text, " Repent ye." Her sermon had three heads : First, " The meaning of repentance ;" secondly, " Why we should repent ;" thirdly, " When we should repent." By the time she came to the last head, she had grown so earnest and convincing that her little hearers, already overbur dened at the sense of parting, could bear no more, but burst into tears, and, one and all, continued weeping through the rest of the sermon.

With such effective preaching in her childhood days, it was not strange that even so great a man as Edward Eggleston should say of Mary in later years, "There is a woman who should be licensed to preach." But long before Edward Eggleston's days, Mary's mother must have realized the gift that had been bestowed upon her child ; for, often when she gave her tracts to distribute, she would add, "And, if you like, you can say a word of exhortation, too." Sometimes the mother put an empty basket in her hand, and she and her sister went out to collect penn}' offerings for missions. They were taught to save even bones and rags, to pick up pins, and to practice every possible economy for the Eord's work. Once they had a pastor who was, also, a returned missionary from Madagascar. He had left his work only because of extreme persecu tion instigated by the queen toward Christians, and was biding his time, no doubt, to return.

His zeal inflamed Mary's, and she resolved to become a missionary. No sooner was this resolution made than she confided it to her mother — her mother, who was such a lover of missions, who had taught Mary to love them, to save her pennies, and to collect money from others for them. Surely, her mother was the one of all others to tell, the one to be most interested, most glad. Without hesitation, her heart bounding with joy in her new-made consecration, she unfolded her desires. To her dismay, this lover of missions was not pleased to make a missionary of her own daughter. " I can not spare you," she said. " You are too useful, too much needed at home." Neither tears nor remonstrances were of any avail, but only obedience. As Mary yielded, however, with all the strength of her disappointment, she made another resolve.

The new resolu tion was a solemn covenant with the Lord that, if he should ever give her children and all of them should want to become missionaries, she would freely give her consent. In after years she was obliged to keep this covenant in bidding good-bye to a son bound for South America, aud a daughter for China. But it was true, as Mary's mother had said, that the family needed her help. A place was found for her as saleswoman in a shop at some distance from home. She was obliged to board with her employer in rooms over the shop, and became so homesick that she feared she could not keep her trial engage ment of one month. But a Sunday-school class, which she began to teach, absorbed her leisure hours, and she soon had no time for homesickness. Doing with her might what her hands found to do, she became so valuable a saleswoman that her employer, fearful of losing her, often advanced her wages; and as a Sunday-school worker she frequently rejoiced over new souls brought to Christ.

During this period she was laid low with cholera, and pre pared for immediate translation to her heavenly home. Her preparations included the selection of a funeral text, one that has been characteristic of her whole busy life. " I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day ; the night cometh, when no man can work." But night had not yet come to Mary. There were many works still waiting for her to do. She was now growing up into attractive young womanhood, and suitors began to flock about her. There was one David, who found great favor in her eyes; and as she told her mother of all her lovers, she told her, also, how this David had won her heart. But he did not win the mother's heart, for he was frail, had inherited a weak constitution ; and she would not consent to Mary's union with him.

Then Mary was filled with grief, and spent many a night in weeping for the lover she could not have. About this time another of her lovers sailed to America, to seek his fortune in that new country. Before leaving, he asked if he might write to Mary. She consented to the correspondence as with a friend, not lover, faithfully showing every letter to her mother for her approval. Finally, a letter came which required very special attention. The mother approved, the father likewise. But the final decision must rest with Mary. What should she do ? She could not assume the responsibility alone ; but, for a whole month, by day and night, she prayed for guidance. At last, James Nind, at work in far-away America, received the news that the bride of his choice should be his. But her parents would not permit her to go all the way to America alone, as he had proposed.

He must take the long journey to England for her. This would be a great drain on his slender purse ; but what will not a man do for the woman he loves ? He engaged steerage passage that he might have the more money for the return trip, and joyfully crossed the sea to obtain his bride. And what will a woman not do for the man who loves her ? She left her lucrative position, her loved Sunday-school class, her home, her country, to be come the wife of a poor man in a new land. Soon after their marriage, a grievous disappoint ment came to her. James came in one day, and, as was his wont, offered to kiss his wife. She drew back in evident dismay. ' What is the matter ?" said he ' I have broken my vow.' 'What vow?" " I solemnly vowed that I would never marry a man who smoked." " But do I smoke ?

It is only once in a great while that I take a little whiff." "That 's smoking ; and I said I would not marry a man that smoked. I can not undo that ; but I certainly shall never kiss a man that smokes." The reply was too firm to admit of protest, and James was not like the seaman who remarked : " My wife does not like tobacco. She '11 not kiss me when I smoke ; so, when I am in port, I have to give it up." James was always in port. There were no long voyages to give him opportunity to indulge his tastes. His self-denial must be absolute. Still he did not for a moment think it too great to make for the kisses of her whom he loved best ; but wished, no doubt, as he made it, that he could as easily dissipate all the trials which marriage had in store for her. Try as he might, however, his love must impose some hardships which he could only help to bear.

He was poor, and his first busi ness ventures ended in such utter failure as to lay a heavy burden of debt on the newly-married couple. They were too honorable to avail them selves of the bankrupt law ; but struggled along as best they could under their heavy load. Working hard and saving carefully, it yet required ten or twelve years of constant effort and sacrifice to make them free. Then it was that the Nation itself began to tremble under a far more terrible load. The most diligent effort and the wisest planning did not suf fice to free her. But, in the midst, she was suddenly plunged into all the horrors and atrocities of a great internal war. Mr. Nind was not drafted ; but the cry of freedom so stirred his heart that he felt impelled to enlist as a volunteer. "What do you think," said he to his wife, "of my going to the war?"

What did she think? What would any woman think, with a family of little children about her and no way of providing them with bread? It was with a sinking heart and flagging courage that she replied: "If it be the Lord's will for you, you must go. But let us talk with your mother first, and leave the decision with her." The mother lived not many miles away, but auxiety made the short drive long. All the way they said little, but occupied themselves with prayer and earnest thought. Both felt, rather than knew, what was coming. As they anticipated, the elder Mrs. Nind did not hesitate to reply : " You have a duty to your home and you have a duty to your country. But this is the hour of your country's need." Mr. Nind's pay, as a private soldier, was thir teen dollars a month, which he used scarcely at all for himself, but rigidly economized, that he might send the most of it to his family.

But, at the best, how little it was to feed and clothe a wife and five children ! No wonder Mrs. Nind's faith wavered at thought of deducting, as had been their habit, one-tenth regularly for the Lord's work ! But she had learned to take counsel, first of her mother, then of her husband's mother; and now, in this difficulty, she appealed to her pastor for advice. " It does seem hard," he said ; " but do n't you think you 'd better trust the Lord a little? Do n't break your covenant with him, unless it proves positively necessary." Her " little faith " was soon honored by news of her husband's promotion and increase in pay to twenty dollars. From this he was steadily pro moted until, at the close of the war, he was receiving one hundred and twenty-five dollars a month aud bore the rank of adjutant.

Engaging in many battles, he had not once been wounded; and his only illness was an attack of camp-fever. Better than this, he had passed through the various temp tations of army life without yielding, and could say to his wife upon his return : " I am just the same as when I left you, Mary." In harmony with her child-interest in preaching and missions, Mary Clark Nind had always been an earnest temperance advocate, serving at the age of fourteen as president of a juvenile temperance organization. The adding of Nind to her name but added fresh incentive to her zeal ; and, amidst all her busy life as a housewife, the care of her home never caused her to forget the necessity of guarding it. At first she belonged to secret temperance so cieties, then so much in vogue. But in her integ rity of soul and independence of judgment, she saw that the paraphernalia and numerous attend ant forms and ceremonies of these societies were but blocking the wheels of progress ; so she with drew that she might give the more vigor and en ergy to the work itself.

The Crusade naturally attracted her, and she was one of the first to enter the ranks of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. But her interest and zeal in the cause of temperance were never allowed to run away with her devotion to other forms of Christian work. For thirty-five consecutive years she was a Sabbath school teacher. She had many pupils in that time — pupils, no doubt, who came to her class in the same listless, purposeless fashion which is the habit of a great body of Sabbath-school pupils who have a Sunday on their hands and do n't know what to do with it. But her pupils never came to a listless, purposeless teacher. She had an aim, if they did not ; and they were drawn, as by a mag net, straight to the Master himself. With all her directness of purpose, however, and her success in achieving it, she was wholly dis satisfied with herself.