For some time past, the Sunday School pis of the Church of, Our Savions, fong kow, have been promised an outing by their teachers; but owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, when the day arrived the picnic had to be postponed It was resolved that another attempt should be made on Wednesday to carry out the programme, and if that failed, then the picnicwasto be abandoned. The teachers of the children provided two commodious house-boats and a quantity of toothsome eatables, as well as ten and aerated water, and told the children to assemble at the Church of Our Saviour on Wednesday, soon after noon. had boon a terrific 8 thunderstorm before daylight, and the rain that fell flooded for a time the roads and country; but as the weather cleared up long before noon, quite a large number of children met at the rendezvous at the appointed hour. There were thirty-nine girls and twenty-three boys, the former being taken charge of by the lady teachers and the boys by the gentlemen. They all proceeded to the Ming-hong Road jetty, hear the United States Cunsulato, the girls in one boat and the buys in another, the whole being under the superintendence of Mr. McKeigs Previous to starting, the steam-launch Glad Tidings, the property of the Bethodist Episcopal Mission at Kiukiany, proceeded up the Soochow Creek and waited above the Stone Bridge, abreast of the Acid Works, in order to' tow the house-when they arrived there, up to Jeas-'The Glad Tidings had quite a time of it going up. The tide had commenced to make flood and was running up like a mill race, so that what with steering clear of the numerous boats of various sizes and descriptions which appeared in all directions, and shooting the bridges, great skill had to be exercised in navigating her. Her funnel being rather high, though not too high for her, great care had to be taken to prevent contact with the bridges. All mishaps were, however, avoided, and the Glad Tidings passed safely under all the bridges; at the Stone Bridyo the drawbridge had to be raised to allow her to pass.
We may hero say a word about the Glud Tidings, which is one of the handsomest steam-launches we hare seen and has the reputation of being a fast boat. She was built by the firm of Forrest and Sons of London, who are noted for their skill in the construction of these handy little vessels. She was purchased by Mr. W. Blackstone of Oakpark, Illinois, who presented her to the Methodist Episcopal Mission, which has its headquarters at Kiukiang, The same gentleman, a short time ago, presented a similar steam launch to one of the Blissions on the Congo. The Gad Tidings is 62 feet long, 10 feot beam and draws 18 inches forward and 3 fast aft. She is built of steel and is fitted with an engine which works with remarkable smoothness; the boiler has been tested to 140lbs., but blows moffat 70lbs, so that there is no danger of an explosion. The launch has a large saloon forward and cabin with two berths in it aft, and is fitted with every convenience for travelling. It is worthy of note that the Glad Tidings is the first Missionary steam-Jaunch in China, She is intended to run between Kiukiang and the various out-stations of the Mission on the Poyang Lake and the Yangtsze, and she leaves for her destin: tion probably to-day via the Grand Canal, The house-boats having passed the Stone Bridge, were taken in tow by the launch, and JessGield was reached at about half past three o'clock. The Rev. W. S. Sayres, the Minister of the Hongkew Church and one of the principals of St. John's College, received the pic-nic party and took them to the house formerly occupied by Bishop Scheroschewsky. The teachers sent the children to play and then got ready the Tox, The boys inde. most noise and appeared to have the most fun, the tug-of-war apparently being entered into heart and soul, After the tea had been negotiated, the order was given to return to the boats, Coming back, it rained again, though not very heavily. The and singing songs, and it was almost boys amused themselves erackitig jokes as laughable listening to them as it was listening to the Blackbirds at the Lyceum. The Minghong Road jetty was roached at half-past seven o'clock, and all the children, having answered to their names on the muster roll, wore landed and sent to their homes, every one having spent a very pleasant afternoon,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.