Page:Siam and Laos, as seen by our American missionaries (1884).pdf/225

 would not willingly give up their daughters' help at home, which was of real value to the whole family, for an education which they believed would be injurious in every way. They hated the new religion and despised the offered education.

As far as could be seen then, there was but one way out of the difficulty; and so the question was asked, "How much can your girl earn per day?" and the old mother answered, "When she finds work she makes a fuang per day" (seven and a half cents). Then said the missionary, "Send her to me, and I will let her spend half the day in learning to read and the other half in working, and for her work I will pay her a fuang." At this the mother began to waver, and at last said, "I am very poor, and sometimes it is hard to find work, so I will let her try it." The next morning the industrial school for girls at Petchaburee was opened with one scholar, and she was seated on the floor of the veranda of the mission-house, and for nearly a month there were no additions. But there are times when it is safe to wait. A very simple white jacket was cut, and Perm was taught to make it for herself. After many days, and with pushing the needle from her instead of drawing it toward her, and with holding the seam between her little bare toes instead of pinning it to her knee, the jacket was pronounced finished and