Chap. XVII. 
MISSIONS— A DAY-DREAM. 
269 
and undaunted as it had in the days of the Refor- 
mation. To these missionaries the way into the heart 
of the Chinese empire may not be very clear. They 
may not consider it their duty to press beyond the wide 
field which exists already at the five ports where 
foreigners reside. There is no doubt, however, that 
a few years will see a vast change in China ; it may 
be that another war and all its horrors is inevitable, and 
whenever that takes place this vast country will be 
opened up to foreigners of every nation. Then the 
Christian missionary will be able to extend his labours 
to those far-distant stations amongst the Bohea hills 
which I have just been describing. With the blessing 
of God these temples may yet be the spots from which 
the Sun of righteousness shall shine. The "glad news 
of the Gospel'' may yet be proclaimed in them, and 
spread from hill to valley, and from valley to hill, until 
the whole of this vast country shall hear the glad and 
joyful tidings. 
While seated at the bottom of the hill, under the 
shade of a large camphor-tree, waiting for my men, 
it was pleasant to dream of all these vast changes, and 
to picture to the mind future scenes amongst these 
mountains. Absorbed in thought, I could fancy I 
heard the sound of the sabbath-bell tolling the hour 
of prayer — I could almost see the crowds coming up 
from the valley dressed in their holiday attire, and 
could hear them chanting the beautiful Morning 
Hymn : — 
" Awake, my soul, and with the sun 
Thy daily stage of duty run." 
