Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/177

Rh classes; for it is only the desire for acquiring English that will induce those of wealth and rank to attend a Christian school and mingle with boys of inferior caste. Yet we are glad to bring the poor as well as the rich under the influence of the gospel; and although such schools are defective in many respects, they are better than nothing at all. The boys study the Scriptures and Scripture catechisms, attend church on Sunday, and come to the missionary station monthly, or oftener, to be examined. They thus acquire a knowledge of Christianity, and are prepared to understand the preaching of the gospel, as it cannot be understood by one who has been nurtured in complete heathenism. Moreover, we thus get a foothold in the centre of populous heathen districts. We hire the house, and pay the teacher; hence, all feel that it is our school. We go there when we please, and the people seldom complain, for it is now the “Padré's school.” Thus the school becomes a point for preaching, without greatly alarming the prejudices of the people; and the whole cost will only be about five dollars a month, the pay of the teacher included. Imperfect as is the teaching, we feel very sure that could our Christian friends on a Sabbath