between yen and mu, the former standing for optic, the latter for ophthalmic. If such a distinction is sought to be made, Dr. Osgood's terms must be simply transposed, for the idea of seeing enters into the mu but not into the yen. The gustatory is called the nerve that distinguishes tastes, () but had it been made to follow the others, it should have been called simply the tongue nerve. Perhaps the szchang-the governing-taste-nerve-would have been more classical. The otic ganglion is called the ganglion below the lau opening. It is highly objectionable to apply this term-because it happens to be oval-to any portion of the body but that to which it refers, viz., the testes. The ancients applied the names nates and testes to the corpora quadrigemina of the brain from their resemblance to these parts; but no one would dream of calling them by such names in Chinese, nor even in English, were we to use the common English phraseology. Latin being a dead language, its common terms have come to be classical with us and to supply as with distinctive names without offending common decency or suggesting anything offensive. The foramen ovale, near which the ganglion is situated, is of course called the lau opening. The ganglion I presume gets its name from the opening. The chorda tympani is a blank in Chinese. The ventrales of the brain are called houses, fang, I should have preferred to have called them palaces, kung, as more honorific; as the residences of the governing spirit or emperor. The imperial quarters at Peking are so named.

The above are a few of the more obvious comments which a careful perusal of the Vocabulary would suggest. We have overlooked much and have referred merely to the more glaring inaccuracies, mistranslations, errors and blemishes. Every term and expression which we could, by a stretch of charity, pass over we have done. It remains now with the Committee to justify "the perfect knowledge" which they possess of what they are doing." It is to be hoped that the author of the work on physiology will not be bound to follow the anatomical nomenclature in all its entirety; and yet if harmony and uniformity are to exist in books of one series, we see no escape from the dilemma. Should he deviate from this plan, he will introduce an amount of confusion in regard to terms which is not perhaps advisable. Is uniformity and harmony, symmetry completeness and oneness to be sacrificed for the sake of truth and well-established Chinese terms P

P. S.-The writer in some of the above remarks may have failed to catch the nature and scope of the Book Series, writing, as he does, without having the constitution and rules before him, and in regard

to his comments and strictures on the Medical Vocabulary, it is just possible that what holds good in North China may not be equally valid for South China-one is apt to think the usages of his own place the only proper Chinese. In every case however he has sought to consult the native works on the subject which are applicable to all China, and he has had the benefit of the views of an old and able native scholar. The great desire in all such researches and ventilation of views is of course to arrive at the truth, and to produce work which will last and be of important service in the future to workers in the same field. The discussion of such subjects, if carried on in a proper spirit, cannot but be profitable, and will certainly be a change from the theological essays on the Term question, to which we have been so long subjected, although the descent be from the spiritual to the physical. I must once more express my high opinion of the value of the forth-coming Book Series, and of the wisdom, industry and indefatigable labours of the Committee, to secure this important result. I shall continue to do all in my power to advance its interest; and it appears to me that its best interests are to be found, not in passing over blemishes, but in pointing them out, and so having them rectified. There is now a large band of medical missionaries all over China, who, I have no doubt, would be grateful for assistance in this direction. Such a work as Dr. Osgood's must be very puzzling to them. We shall, I fear, have his errors and misapprehensions repeated and the evil that may result will be incalculable. The writer has for years been engaged on a Medical Vocabulary of purely native terms, which he hopes soon to publish. J. D.

A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET.

BY REV. J. HUDSON TAYLOR.

THE HE following account of the death of one of our Christian girls, who for some years has adorned the Gospel of her God and Saviour in our school at Shao-hing was sent me by Miss Murray, the missionary in charge of the school. I think it so interesting and encouraging that I am induced to send it for publication in the Recorder.

For nine years there had not been a death in the school, but this year, within a short time of each other, three promising Christian girls were removed. They were loving companions in life and were not long separated from each other. The loss of three of her most promising pupils was of course intensely trying to Miss Murray, who loved them with almost a mother's love; and God seems graciously to have cheered her and to have gilded the dark clouds by special manifestation of His presence.

The girl's name, Teh-sing (#), was very appropriate to the abundant entrance given her into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Miss Murrary says:

"After I wrote you last, Teh-sing continued for a time very much the same; having weary days and nights, and much suffering in her chest. Though her strong constitution combated the insidious foe which was sapping the foundations of her life, it was very evident that the enemy was making steady and sure advances.

66

During the last fortnight she was with us she was watched day and night, and many times during that period we all gathered round her bed, expecting that every breath would be her last. Still she rallied again, and suffered as before till Friday, 30th September, when a scene burst upon us as wonderful as it was sudden and unlooked for. It seemed as if she had been borne on the crest of a wave to the very door of heaven; and was brought back in its receding flow, not to tell us what she had seen, but to let us know how inexpressibly happy it had made her.

to

"A little after noon, on my way to her room, I was met by one of the girls coming to call me, as they thought her dying. On nearing the door I could hear sounds of her laboured breathing; and by the bed the children and women were gathered as they had frequently been before. Teh-sing lay motionless with half closed eyes still breathing. I hastened away my own room for prayer, but in about five minutes a child came to say that Teh-sing wished to see me. In an instant I was by her side, and taking her cold hands in mine asked her how it was with her now. She fixed her beaming eyes on mine and said 'O I am so happy! Do not weep; you need not be troubled; you must not weep, I am going to heaven! I am inexpressibly happy. I have seen the Lord! I have seen heaven. It is so good, very, very, good.' 'Have your sufferings ceased entirely then?' I asked. Only my chest is sore, but that will soon be over. In heaven there will be no pain, nor sorrow, no not the least. Heaven is so good, inexpressibly good! You cannot even imagine how good it is. OI am happy, happy! Looking round on us all, she thanked us repeatedly, saying 'We shall meet in heaven' many times We asked her if she knew us all. She said, 'I know you every one' naming Mr. and Mrs. Meadows, and their children; but she said "I do not like to see you looking like that. You need not weep, you must not weep. We shall meet in heaven. Its door is very wide; so that whosoever will may enter, if they will only trust in Jesus.' Before this she had asked me to pray for her mother and exhort her. She now called her mother to her, and taking her hand, said, 'You must repent and trust in Jesus. You must become a disciple, and meet me in heaven. Heaven is so good! I shall wait for you there. I shall soon see E-tsia [her friend and companion in school who had recently died], and dwell with the angels.'

over.

"The hymn "There is a happy land' was then softly sung. She was quiet till the last line was sung, and then she began again to talk of its blessedness, saying, 'Yes! Yes!' as the singing ceased. I asked her if she would choose a hymn. She said 'Sing No. 59' ['Rock of Ages']. She tried to sing too. When the singing ceased she said, 'It is wholly on account of Jesus' merit that I am made pure; could do nothing to save myself-no, not the least thing.' She then said again I shall see E-tsia,' and drawing me towards her said, 'You are coming too? Come with me now; why won't you come now?'

I

'My work is not quite finished yet,' I said, and I have not been sent for. Do you remember Christiana receiving her letter and going over the river?' (We had been reading the second part of the Pilgrim's Progress, and had almost finished it). Yes,' she replied, the water is very shallow for me. I wish you could come. There is nothing to fear. I will help you, for the Lord is with me. But He says you must wait a little.' Then looking earnestly and tenderly on me, she continued 'But remember my words, there is nothing to fear. It is so easy.' Holding her forefinger and thumb apart about two inches she said, "The water is just about so deep. When faith is weak the water is deeper.' Mr. Meadows remarked, "There was one who said 'Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.' 'That,' said she, was Balaam : he did not experience it. But I am, I am included in the number, I am experiencing it now! O, I am so happy! But do you believe what I am saying? I fear you do not fully believe it.' She was assured that we did, and seemed pleased, saying, 'You ought to you ought to. I am impatient to be gone, but alas! I must wait a little.' She uttered all the foregoing in a most excited manner though her intellect was perfectly clear. Now she was exhausted and sank back on her pillow saying 'I am so tired-I am so tried.'

"She then rested quietly, and most of those around her bed went away, wondering and amazed at what they had seen and heard. Truly pen cannot describe it, nor words convey any adequate idea of what the scene was like. All was spoken in a loud whisper, for her voice had failed for some time. Just then, not thinking that she was listening, I said to E-ling! Do you remember that verse "O death, where is thy sting?" ' Before the child could reply, Teh-sing said, 'It is in Corinthians. That is like me now, my name is is Teh-sing' (Victory) and putting her hand on her bosom, then pointing upwards, she implied that she was then experiencing the victory. Early in the evening she began to suffer again from her breathing. About 10.0 p.m., she said to me. 'I want a text; I think it is in the 26th chapter of Matt. but I am not sure.' 'Can you give me a word or two of it' I asked? I could only make out the words 'king' and 'servants' Kying-me then put her ear to Teh-sing's lips, and understood at once. She found for me the 25th Matt., and began to read from the 34th verse Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come ye Blessed of my Father" Teh-sing took no notice till she heard. I was sick, and ye visited ME.' 'That is what I want' said she, 'I give it to you' (what a legacy!), and to you Mrs. Meadows, and to you all. We thanked her, but she waved her hand impatiently, saying 'Not so, not so. These are not man's words: thank Jesus, He gives it you.'

"Soon after this she requested me to go to bed, and the children too, saying. 'You will be tired in the morning.' At last we yielded to her request and left her with the woman.

'During the night, remembering that Mrs. Tsiu (the matron of the school) was not present when she gave us the text, she gave it to her too. At dawn she felt very ill and requested Mrs. Tsiu to pray that the Lord would come quickly for her. After prayer she said, "Thank you, I am relieved a little.'

me.

"An hour later she said, 'I am going now,' and desired her to call She greeted me with a very pleasant smile, but only said, 'Miss Murray, you are here?' Again she said, 'Call my mother.' A grieved look came over her face when her mother came, but she said nothing. Presently the struggle between death and life began again, but once

more she rallied, and was restless and pained till noon, when another struggle commenced; from which recovering, she looked round upon us with a startled look and asked me why there were so many round her bed. I said to her, 'You are going to heaven Teh-sing, and we are waiting to see you go.' 'O I forgot,' she said. She then passed her bright eyes round the few who were by her, and named us each one. That was, I think, the last intelligent look we had from her.

"She now complained of pain and hunger, and asked for food. 'I am going to eat with E-tsia,' she said; and then supposing that food was before her, covered her eyes with her hand, and her lips moved as if asking a blessing on it. Soon after she said, 'When the Lord calls me I have no pain: When He sends me back, then I have pain. I am going now!' In half an hour she breathed her last.

"There was nothing to indicate the moment her spirit took its flight, save the gradual cessation of breathing, like a tired child going to sleep on its mother's bosom. 'And when the shining ones bore her away from us, we looked till we saw her no more; and when the gates were shut, after what we had seen, we wished ourselves among them.' She was well named Victory.

"On Monday all the household accompanied her remains to the cemetery, when she was laid close by E-tsia's side. Truly they were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they were scarcely divided.

"I feel as if I ought not to send this sketch, so far short does it come of giving an adequate idea of the glory around Teh-sing. Her words were all the more wonderful, since she was naturally so very reserved and reticent. Our hearts burn within us at the remembrance of it, and I cannot tell you how deep a meaning all that transpired during that twenty-four hours, from Friday noon till Saturday noon, had for me.

"When Teh-sing first turned ill, just three months before her death, her mother asked her home. I did not send her just then, as I had written to Dr. McFarlane about her, and hoped that she would soon be better. But she quickly got worse; and when I saw that it was consumption I was then anxious for her to go home, on several grounds: I did not want the neighbours to know of another death among us; and for myself, being very weak, I greatly shrank from being again brought in contact with the king of terrors. Now I can say, 'It is not death to die' How glorious!

"Well, her mother, though written to, did not come for some time; and days passed on till I saw that she could not be removed. She did not at first show her gratitude for attention, and her concern for her mother's salvation, as I should have liked her to do. But it was all there; and when her natural reserve was once broken through, it literally burst upon us like a pent up mountain stream. How many times she poured out her thanks; how earnestly she pleaded for her mother; how tenderly she looked at me. Oh those long, loving looks from her beaming eyes! How kind of our Heavenly Father to shut up her way from going home, so that we might witness so glorious a spectacle."

May we all be encouraged by the daily increasing proofs that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation here in China as elsewhere, whether the proofs are shown in godly, earnest lives, or, as above described by Miss Murray, in triumphant deathbed scenes, to be "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."