Mrs. Ahok is daily giving herself, in whole-hearted service, to her countrywomen.  A fellow-worker has recently written of her: 

“She is winning her way into the hearts of the people in the Manchu settlement.  Always bright and cheerful, and ready to tell the Story, she is welcomed wherever she goes.  When I think of her past life of ease as the daughter, and later the wife, of an official, I marvel at her spirit of consecration.  Quietly she goes from house to house in search of those who are willing to listen.  Miles she has walked over the hot stone pavements.  ’If my people will only believe in Christ, I shall be well repaid,’ she says.”

A true Christian woman, whose courage has flinched at no sacrifice, who has borne the loss of husband, mother, son, and property, and the reproaches of non-Christian relatives, with a peace and a faith unshakeable and convincing, Mrs. Ahok is accomplishing much by what she does, doubtless even more by what she is.

* * * * *

DR. IDA KAHN

  I. CHILDHOOD IN THREE COUNTRIES

 II.  AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

III.  SEVEN YEARS IN KIUKIANG

 IV.  PIONEER WORK IN NANCHANG

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[Illustration:  Dr. Ida Kahn]

DR. IDA KAHN

I

CHILDHOOD IN THREE COUNTRIES

By the time little Ida Kahn first opened her eyes in Kiukiang, China, little girls had become a drug on the market in her family.  Her parents had long been eager for a son, but each of the five babies who had come was a daughter, and now this sixth one was a little girl, too.  According to Chinese custom, they called in the old blind fortune-teller to declare her fate and give advice concerning her future.  His verdict was discouraging for he told them that she must be killed or given away to another family, since as long as she remained in the home the long-desired son would never come to them.  The parents were not willing to end the little life, so they determined to engage the baby to a little boy in a neighbouring family, and give her to the family of her betrothed to bring up.  But when they called the fortune-teller again to ask his judgment on the proposed betrothal, he declared that the little girl had been born under the dog star, the boy under the cat star, and therefore the betrothal was not to be thought of.  The family’s perplexity as to what to do with this superfluous little daughter became known to the neighbours, and one of them, who was teaching Chinese to Miss Howe and Miss Hoag of the Methodist Mission, told them about it.  That very afternoon they took their sedan chairs and went and got the baby.  Thus, when only two months old, Ida was adopted by Miss Howe, whom she always calls “my mother,” and of whom she says, “There is no one like her in the world.”