The Drudge and the Angel. 
A LADY missionary went on a visit to a mis- 
sionary friend residing at a place some dis- 
tance away. After she had been there a day or 
two, she was taken round the town and introduced 
to certain of the chiefs and Christians. When talk- 
ing with the Ete," or big chief, she noticed some 
boys and girls playing about his compound, and 
politely asked him how many children he had. He 
counted them upon his fingers, saying, One, two, 
three, four, five. Ma! I get five piccins." The 
lady missionary was surprised at the answer, and 
showed it. There were many more than five play- 
ing about. It dawned upon the chief the cause of 
her surprise, and so he added, ^*The rest are girl 
piccins, and girls don't count.'' Just fancy, girls, 
not being worth numbering! Shocking, isn't it? 
And yet that chief saw nothing wrong in it. From 
the day of birth unto the day of death heathen 
girls and women folks have a hard time of it, and 
are simply looked upon as useful drudges and 
beasts of burden. If they have a value at all, it is 
when they are betrothed in marriage by their 
parents to a man they have probably never seen, 
and he hands oVer in goods or cash an amount 
fixed upon as a sort of betrothal fee. The girl gets 
none of this. It is entirely for the parents' benefit 
and disposal. One day when staying with the Rev. 
W. Christie, at Urua Eye, we decided we would 
