2 9 ar y nas been cut down again. Everything looks in that direc- 

 tion. Fortunately Nellie can help this year. ... I have not 

 yet received my money from New York but as soon as I get 

 it I will send you some. . . . With love from the whole fam- 

 ily who unitedly pray for you every day. . . . 



Before the month was out the heavy clouds forever upon 

 the elder Wherry's financial horizon thickened. The Chicago 

 branch of the American tract society had just ended the 

 "celebration" of a seventh annual meeting. It had brightly 

 "illustrated the varied character of the society's missionary 

 work" — thousands of Christian books and tracts had been 

 given away and "in 1 1,987 homes the colporters had been per- 

 mitted to speak to the inmates on the subject of personal 

 religion or to pray with them for God's blessing upon them." 

 The treasurer's report, on the other hand, was not so bright. 

 In fact receipts for the year had totalled but $1,113.77. As a 

 consequence the father had to write his son: 



... I am sorry to have to tell you a piece of bad news but 

 please do not mention it to anyone and do not write of it to 

 the other children. Owing to the falling off of our income, the 

 Society has been obliged to discontinue a large part of its work 

 and with it my term of office expires January first with pos- 

 sible extension until April first. It will be necessary [for you] 

 to practice economy and to figure on doing some work to help 

 yourself. I think it possible to set an arrangement whereby you 

 could aid some good physician in his office and at the same time 

 attend lectures, but of that later. Just now I am greatly per- 

 plexed what to do. You know I have always felt I ought to be 

 in India. I cannot take time to tell you all the reasons for my 

 thinking in this direction now. Enough to say that ( 1 ) God 

 seems to be pointing me there, ( 2 ) Providence looks the same 

 way, (3)1 can thus best provide for the education of all. I am 

 sure God will lead me aright as He always has, but just now I 

 feel troubled lest I should make a misstep. Do not worry over 

 this but use your opportunities so as to get along well in study 

 so that when you graduate you may help us along a bit. 



The ever-thoughtful youth was for quitting at once and 

 proceeding into something lucrative; but the father thus 

 arrested the plan: 



