face of death, tried to trust in God for all events, and yet looked for a happy issue out of these afflictions, and for the life and extension of the mission which we had begun.
On Thursday, May 14, the commanding officer kindly sent his Adjutant over to our house with a serious message. Not knowing what he specially wanted, we engaged for nearly an hour in religious conversation. But I thought from his manner that he looked anxious. With gentlemanly delicacy he was unwilling to mention his message before Mrs. Butler, lest it might injuriously affect her, as she was in circumstances where any shock was undesirable. He, accordingly, asked to see me alone, and then communicated the intelligence of the mutiny at Meerut, stating that word had arrived from the Governor that the insurrection was spreading to Delhi and other places, and that fears were entertained as to the intention of the Sepoys at Bareilly. Under those circumstances, the commanding officer felt it his duty to request that all ladies and children should be sent off quietly, but at once, to the hills, and also that he considered it prudent, from the reports in circulation concerning us and our objects, that I also should accompany Mrs. B. and the children, as he considered me in rather special danger in the event of a mutiny. I promised the Adjutant that I would prayerfully consider the message, and let my conclusion be known to the commanding officer that evening. As soon as the Adjutant had gone, I communicated the message to Mrs. Butler. She received it with calmness, and we retired to our room to pray together for divine direction. After I had concluded my prayer, she began, and I may be excused in saying that such a prayer I think I never heard; a martyr might worthily have uttered it, it was so full of trust in God and calm submission to his will. But when she came to plead for the preservation of “these innocent little ones,” she broke down completely. We both felt we could die, if such were the will of God; but it seemed too hard for poor human nature to leave these little ones in such dreadful hands, or perhaps to see them butchered before our eyes! We knew that all this had been done on Sunday last in Meerut, and we had no reason to expect
