Augusta Huiell Seaman

“ Campbell Mason missionary died Arcot ten years ago diseases due climatic conditions. Wife deceased. One son victim plague later. Other taken to America by Abercrombies missionaries of Presbyterian Board. Nothing further known.
The charges on this were enormous, and took every dollar of our Christmas money. But I paid it all joyfully, for I knew that now, at least, we had some definite clue that all Uncle’s relatives had not died—at least in India, as that heartless old Cookson had hoped. ”

“ As it turned out, Mother had gone home by the time I got back and Miss Carstair was again on duty. But Connie informed me, in one moment we had alone, that she had managed to quiet Mother’s curiosity by telling her that as Mr. Cookson was laid up and Tomkins so busy I had gone to get this message for Uncle. Mother still didn’t quite see the necessity for it, but had asked no more questions, being more interested in Mr. Cookson’s accident of the night before. This Connie described to her as well as she could, without telling any of the before and after developments. ”

“ No! That’s too slow! I have a better scheme than that. A letter would take too long, and we must have this information at once. To-morrow’s a half-holiday in school because of that teachers’ convention in Philadelphia, you said. Now, you come straight here at noon, get by yourself in the library, and call up the Presbyterian Board in New York. Tell them you want some information about these Abercrombie missionaries who returned to America ten years ago, bringing with them the young son of a dead missionary named Mason. Ask what has become of this boy. ”