The Famine in Persia.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 224, 23 December 1880, Page 2

The Famine in Persia.

The famine is quite bad here now. The exporters of carpets are employing men to.pave the streets with the money sent to them. Mr. Ward is having a wall built round the church graveyard, and also a chapel is in process of construction by the poor masons who could not find work elsewhere. I say Mr. Ward is having it done, as he oversees the workmen and pays them every evening, and gives each two pounds and a half of bread. Mr. Wright gives out money amounting to xsdol. a day, in sums from 20 cents to 50, and distributes bread to about 400 persons. We have four people in the house. The first one we took was a boy about 10 years old, who was just beginning to beg. Mr. Ward told him to ask his mother if he -could come every day . and open the gate, and we would give him bread, and money to buy bread for his mother • every, day. Fie has been here oyer two months. ' The next one is a boy about 14 years old. He was so nealy starved fha't he had to be carried here. Two days after he came we sent him to find- his father, whom he feared was dead. He found, him in the graveyard, whither he had gone to die, and brought him here ‘to us. Afterward the boy also brought an older brother, - They are very devoted to us now, and are full of what they will do for us this fall when they get work again., - Their- work is. bringing charcoal from the mountains! It is very unpleasant going out on the streets now, for the beggars-catch hold of one’s bridle and cling to - one’s clothing. Yesterday I was obliged to strike a woman hard, with my whip to make her let go of me. Those who are actually starving do not act in that way. In the streets people will run after us calling out “ In the name of the Holy Jesus give us bread !” Some ask for money. Mrs, Oldfather of Ouvmiah, writes: “Women are eating their own children. The smell in the city is terrible, and we fear a plague.” —Fiom a Missionary's Private Letter.