82 
TURNED OUT BY MISTAKE. 
[chap. III. 
It happened that, on the following day, I was so much 
occupied that I forgot to inquire at the Mission; and 
once more the cool hour of evening arrived when, after 
the intense heat of the day, we sat at table in the 
open court-yard ; it was refreshed by being plentifully 
watered. Hardly were we seated, when again the 
boy appeared, kneeling in the dust, with his head 
lowered at my wife’s feet, and imploring to be allowed 
to follow us. It was in vain that I explained that 
we had a boy, and did not require another; that the 
journey was long and difficult, and that he might 
perhaps die. The boy feared nothing, and craved 
simply that he might belong to us. He had no place 
of shelter, no food; had been stolen from his parents, 
and was a helpless outcast. 
The next morning, accompanied by Mrs. Baker, I 
went to the Mission and heard that the boy had borne 
an excellent character, and that it must have been by 
mistake that he had been turned out with the others. 
This being conclusive, Saat was immediately adopted. 
Mrs. Baker was shortly at work making him some 
useful clothes, and in an incredibly short time a great 
change was effected. As he came from the hands of 
the cook—after a liberal use of soap and water, and 
attired in trousers, blouse, and belt—-the new boy 
appeared in a new character. 
From that time he considered himself as belonging 
absolutely to his mistress. He was taught by her to 
sew ; Bicharn instructed him in the mysteries of wait¬ 
ing at table, and washing plates, &c.; while I taught 
him to shoot, and gave him a light double-barrelled 
gun. This was his greatest pride. 
In the evening, when the day’s work was done, 
Saat was allowed to sit near his mistress ; and he was 
at times amused and instructed by stories of Europe 
and Europeans, and anecdotes from the Bible adapted 
to his understanding, combined with the first prin¬ 
ciples of Christianity. He was very ignorant, not¬ 
withstanding his advantages in the Mission, but he 
