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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19365-8.txt b/19365-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b65a41 --- /dev/null +++ b/19365-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3215 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Everlasting Pearl, by Anna Magdalena +Johannsen, et al + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Everlasting Pearl + One of China's Women + + +Author: Anna Magdalena Johannsen + + + +Release Date: September 24, 2006 [eBook #19365] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVERLASTING PEARL*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 19365-h.htm or 19365-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365/19365-h/19365-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365/19365-h.zip) + + + + + +EVERLASTING PEARL + +One of China's Women + +by + +ANNA MAGDALENA JOHANNSEN + +For Sixteen Years a Missionary in China + +With Preface by Walter B. Sloan + +Second Impression + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: EVERLASTING PEARL. The photo was taken after her +marriage to Mr. Lü.] + + + +China Inland Mission +London, Philadelphia, Toronto, Melbourne and Shanghai +Morgan & Scott, Ltd. +12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E.C. +MCMXVIII + +First Edition October 1913 +Reprinted January 1918 +Completing 5000 copies + + + + +PREFACE + + +Thirty-five years ago missionary work was commenced in the city of +Yüshan, situated on the Kwangsin River in Kiangsi, one of the central +Provinces of China. + +The conversion of "Everlasting Pearl," which is the subject of the +following narrative, is a part of the harvest which has been reaped in +later years by the missionaries of the China Inland Mission, who still +continue to carry on the work in this city and neighbourhood. + +In April of last year I had the privilege of spending ten days there, +and of addressing the Church on the Sundays. On the first Monday +morning we watched, with great interest, the departure of some of the +country Christians to their homes. The party consisted of a +simple-looking company of men and women, clad in the plain blue +garments that the country people usually wear. The men were walking, +but the few women, with their diminutive feet, were perched on barrows, +and one of them was pointed out as being "evangelist, pastor, and +Biblewoman, all rolled into one," in the district from which they all +came. This was the woman, a part of whose life-story is told in this +book, and after reading the many striking incidents which it contains, +I gladly welcome the opportunity afforded me of writing a brief +introduction. + +Even as a study of human life, the story is one that is full of +interest. It takes us far away from the ordinary beaten track right +into the heart of China; and so intimate is the writer's acquaintance +with the habits and customs of the people, that there are few, even of +those who know Chinese life well, who will not be able to learn +something from reading these pages. + +The Chinese are a people of strong character; and although this woman +stands out as being possessed of marked ability and determination, +there are other lives of which we catch a glimpse in which similar +features can be clearly discerned. + +It is, however, as an illustration of the power of the Gospel, in the +heart of one who was brought up in heathenism, that the narrative +possesses its supreme interest. In this case from the time when the +great decision was made, after long resistance, to yield to Christ and +trust in Him, there was no going back. We read of many trials, +sorrows, testings, but the onward and upward course is steadily +maintained. + +The religious devotee, when converted, always makes a better disciple +than the person who has been entirely indifferent to the concerns of +the soul; and so it was in the case of "Everlasting Pearl." She clung +strongly to the vow that she had taken when she became a vegetarian, +and on this account she long withstood the claims of the Gospel; but +when at last she heard the call of Christ, then she turned to Him in +full surrender and whole-hearted obedience, and became a burning and a +shining light amongst her relatives and neighbours. + +The reader will observe the record of not a few dreams and visions in +the story; but instead of these tending to discredit its truthfulness, +they will only confirm it to those who know the life of the people of +this class in China. + +The statement is constantly being made that the Gospel spreads more +through the life and testimony of the converts themselves than by the +work of the missionaries. The way in which this woman was brought to +Christ, and the way in which she led others to Him, illustrates this +fact; but truth is many-sided, and here we also see how large a +ministry there still is for the missionaries to exercise, and how much +they are needed to help the people in the midst of their struggles, +perplexities, and sorrows, by their counsel, kind sympathy, and their +prayers. + +I have only to add that the account of the early years is given just as +it has been told by the woman herself, and the account of the later +days is a simple narrative of the facts as they have come under the +observation of the writer. + +WALTER B. SLOAN. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAP. + + I. BIRTH AND INFANCY. + II. FOOTBINDING + III. CHILDHOOD DAYS + IV. ENGAGEMENT + V. MARRIAGE--PART I + VI. MARRIAGE--PART II + VII. DARK DAYS + VIII. MISERABLE COMFORTERS + IX. BROKEN CISTERNS + X. WAYS NOT KNOWN + XI. THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE + XII. THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT + XIII. THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER + XIV. LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS + XV. SAVED TO SERVE + XVI. PERSECUTION AND TRIAL + XVII. LABOUR AND FRUIT + XVIII. FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT + XIX. PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE + XX. DAYS OF SHADOW + XXI. THE SHADOW DEEPENS + XXII. ENTERING THE VALLEY + XXIII. ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST + XXIV. CONCLUSION + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + EVERLASTING PEARL . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + + A PRECIOUS BUNDLE + + PLAITING SILK BRAID + + A SOURCE OF GREAT DELIGHT + + WRITING THE ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENT + + ADORNED AS A BRIDE + + THE OUT-STATION OF KUCHENG + + ANOTHER JEWEL FOR CHRIST + + + + +EVERLASTING PEARL + + +CHAPTER I + +BIRTH AND INFANCY + +It was a warm, close day in May, in Central China. The summer heat had +just set in, and the inhabitants of Kucheng (Ancient City) were +somewhat weary and languid, when a woman brought the news to her +neighbour--"A daughter has been born to the Tu family." The news soon +spread from door to door. All languor was shaken off, for curiosity +got the better of lassitude, and the women, now fully alert, hobbled on +their small feet to the little house where farmer Tu lived with his +young wife and parents. + +The house was a small, unpretentious building, with mud walls and a +tiled roof. The interior was like that of all the homes around. If +you had seen one, you had a good idea of the appearance of the rest. +You entered the guest-hall, where on the wall at the farther end hung a +large centre scroll, representing the "Ruler of Heaven," before which +incense was lighted morning and evening. On either side of the idol, +and on all the pillars you would see paper scrolls pasted up, with +trite sayings written in flowery phrases, such as-- + +"If in your house you walk circumspectly, then when you leave your home +you will associate with virtuous friends only." + +"If the house is clean and beautiful, an excellent wind will be wafted +through it." + +"If the flowers give out their fragrance, a bright moon will shine upon +them." + +On either side of the guest-hall were doors leading into the bedrooms. +Into one of these the women crowded eagerly, in search of the little +newcomer, shouting, as they entered, their congratulations, first to +the grandmother, and then to the parents of the child. On seeing the +precious bundle held out to them, decked out in all the new, gorgeous, +but uncomfortable clothes bought by the maternal grandmother, one +visitor could not help whispering, "What a pity it is not a boy!" But +the other women politely interrupted her, and the young mother looked +proudly at the "bundle of clothes" handed back to her. It was true she +would have preferred a son, so would her husband, and above all her +mother-in-law, but as it was their first child, even the little girl +received a welcome. Had she been the second or third girl in the +family, she would not have had the same kind reception. Very likely +she would have been given away to some other family, who would have +made her a drudge, and in later years have married her to one of their +sons; or she might even have been left to die from want. + +[Illustration: A precious bundle.] + +But now things were different. Her parents were ready to lavish all +their love and kindness on the little girl. They called in the +fortune-teller, asking him what her fate would be in after years. He, +having been told the day and hour of her birth, declared the child had +been born under a lucky star. Her heart was good, her disposition kind +and amiable; they need not worry about her, only, he added, she was +born to toil and hard work. Satisfied with his prophecies, Mr. Tu paid +him his wonted fee, fully believing in his skill. + +After a month had elapsed, the relatives and neighbours were invited to +a feast in honour of the child. Candles and incense were lighted +before the gods, the babe was presented to them, and henceforward she +was regarded as under their protection. When the little girl was a +year old, the relatives assembled again. The grandmother had brought +another lot of presents, among them some beautifully embroidered shoes, +as the time had come for the child to learn to walk. She was old +enough to notice things, and the baby eyes looked delightedly at her +feet, that had never worn shoes before, now so beautifully adorned in +the gayest of colours. Again a thank-offering was given to the gods. +The grandmother carried the child forward, and this time the baby +fingers had to hold the incense that was lighted before the sacred +picture. + +Thus, instead of being brought to the living, loving Saviour to be +blessed, the little Chinese boy or girl is led before the dead idols, +and dedicated to them. Do not say, "Oh, it will make no difference, +the idols are nothing." The idols _are_ nothing, but there is a +fearful power of darkness behind them. The longer one lives in China, +the more one feels that in a true sense the Chinese child is dedicated, +not to the idols only, but to the prince of darkness himself. And oh! +how one longs to lead the parents into the light of Christ, so that +they may bring their little ones to Him, who is waiting to bless them. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +FOOTBINDING + +The name given to the little girl was _Ch'ang-Chu_, which means +"Everlasting Pearl," and a little treasure she proved herself to be to +her parents. She was good-natured and kind-hearted, full of life and +spirit, and gave much joy to those who watched over her. But it was +very seldom--indeed, only on state occasions--that she was called +Everlasting Pearl in her home and among her little friends. More often +she went by the name of _Nü-ku_, or "Girl-dog." Her parents, afraid of +losing her, had given her this name in order to deceive the evil +spirits who might be seeking her life, but who were not likely to +trouble themselves about a "dog." + +One day, when Everlasting Pearl was about six years old, she saw her +mother working on a pair of small shoes, and asked for whom they were. +Her mother informed her they were for her, as it was time she had her +feet bound. "Your feet are getting so big and clumsy," she said, "and +you are running about far too much for a girl. It is high time that +you had them bound." Everlasting Pearl made no protest. She knew all +girls had to have their feet bound, and, of course, she could not be +different from the rest. + +So when the shoes were finished the footbinding was begun. But oh, the +suffering of it! The mother took a long strip of calico, and wound it +tightly round the little foot, bending the toes right under the sole. +She did not succeed at once in getting the right size, so she undid the +binding and tried again, whilst the little girl cried aloud for pain. +Over and over again the process was begun, but not finished, as the +shoes were so small that the feet could not be squeezed into them. But +at last they were made to fit the shoes, and Everlasting Pearl walked +about with sore and aching feet, wondering if they could ever become as +small as those of some young girls she knew. Night after night she +cried herself to sleep, wondering whether the pain would ever come to +an end, and how she could possibly endure it much longer. But there +were compensations. Month by month and year by year her feet grew +smaller, until her shoes were tinier than those she had worn in her +babyhood. Her little girl-companions admired the tiny feet, and +respected their owner, and both she and her mother received a great +deal of praise from the older women. Her small feet were a sign that +her mother cared for her, and meant to marry her well: so the future +looked bright and promising. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CHILDHOOD DAYS + +A few uneventful years passed by; happy ones for the little girl, as +she was loved and appreciated by all. Two little brothers had been +born in the home, and Everlasting Pearl might often be seen with the +younger of them strapped to her back, rocking herself to and fro, and +softly cooing to the babe. Or she might be found crouching before the +cooking-stove, feeding the fire with brushwood, dried bracken, and +fern, trying to use as little fuel as possible; for strict economy had +to be practised in that home. At other times she would be sitting on a +low stool beside her mother, spinning hemp, not with a spinning-wheel, +but separating the threads with her fingers, and afterwards winding the +thread into balls. Or she would be learning to sew, to embroider, and +to make silk braid. By all these occupations she could only earn about +a farthing a day; but that small sum would pay at least for her +vegetables, salt, and oil, and even leave a little balance. + +[Illustration: Plaiting silk braid.] + +During the summer and autumn she often had to take her low stool and +work outside, so as to watch the grain, which was drying on a large +bamboo mat in front of the house. On such occasions a long bamboo +stick lay at her side, and this she used most vigorously, and with as +much noise as possible, whenever the inhabitants of the poultry-yard +paid her a visit. + +But her life was not all work. There were some variations. Her little +brothers were a source of great delight to her. Her love for them was +intense and motherly, though she would often tease them. When one of +them happened to be dawdling over his food, she would do her best to +coax him to eat, but often without success, until she playfully +exclaimed: + + Who first shall be satisfied may do as he wishes, + But the last one to finish must wash all the dishes. + +[Illustration: A source of great delight. "Is there too great a burden +on the shoulders of the Chinese Christians? Surely not. A little girl +once was carrying a little boy on her back. Some one said, 'I see you +have a big burden, haven't you?' 'No,' replied the little girl, 'that +is not a burden; that is my brother.'"--Rev. Cheng Ching Yi, Edinburgh +Missionary Conference.] + +Her ready wit often helped to keep herself and others in good temper. + +Not only was she full of life and humour, she was also kind and +generous, and had sympathy with those who suffered. When, for +instance, a poor, blind beggar came to her home, chanting his doleful +refrain: + + Oh, friends who can see, in heaven you dwell; + To have sightless eyes is like living in hell, + +her heart would be touched, and she would beg and obtain permission +from her mother to give him some rice. + +Mrs. Tu was a home-loving and industrious woman, who did not often +leave her home, or allow her children to run wild. Once a year, +however, there was a big dramatic performance at Kucheng, and then +Everlasting Pearl, dressed in her best, was taken to the theatre. +These were red-letter days in her life. Chinese plays are mostly very +stupid. Often immoral, and almost invariably connected with idolatry, +they are a snare to some of the people when they want to break with +everything idolatrous. But to the little country girl the theatre was +all that could be desired, and gave her much pleasure. She understood +little of what she saw and heard there, but was carried away with the +excitement and noise. + +Another great occasion was that on which the famous god from Tanyoh +passed through Kucheng. This deity was supposed to have his abode in +Tanyoh, and called it his paternal home; but his maternal home was in +Hongtsun, a few miles off, and to that village he paid yearly visits. +He was carried with great pomp through Kucheng, and as he passed along +all the people came to their doors to bow to him, and implore his +blessing and protection. For the little girl this yearly visit of the +idol was a very solemn occasion, as she was a firm believer in his +power. As yet she had not heard of any greater power; she had never +heard of the true and living God. The ugly idol she saw carried +through the streets of Kucheng embodied the highest object for her +worship, and to him she gave unreserved reverence. + +Surely the messengers of Christ had been a long time in reaching +Kucheng,--yet it was situated on one of the main roads in China. They +had indeed been slow in obeying their Lord's command, "Go ye into all +the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ENGAGEMENT + +Everlasting Pearl was now thirteen years old, and by many relatives and +friends her parents were urged to make arrangements for her future. +"You can keep her a few years before you marry her, but she certainly +ought to be engaged," was the advice given generally. + +A middleman, therefore, had to be found. There are always numerous +applicants for that office, as not only is a good fee usually given, +but it is considered an honour to be entrusted with the future +arrangements for a young couple. On such occasions a great many +untruths are often told, which are only discovered after the marriage, +when it is too late to mend matters. In Everlasting Pearl's case, the +middleman was a relative, one of those who had been urging a speedy +engagement. + +He took the girl's _Pah tsï_,[1] and went with these to a family of the +name of Hsü, who lived in a village four miles distant. The Cyclical +Characters were closely examined, and put in front of the ancestral +tablet, incense being lighted before them morning and evening. There +they remained for a month, and as nothing happened to disturb the peace +of the family during the interval--no child was hurt, no pig died, no +rice basin was broken--they were thought to augur only good luck, and +to promise well for the alliance of the two families. So Mr. Hsü made +out the "Cyclical Characters" of one of his sons, a young man +twenty-five years old. He then called in an astrologer, and asked him +to compare the two papers and give his verdict as to the advisability +of the two young people being joined in marriage. With an important +air, this gentleman examined the two papers put before him, and +announced that everything was in favour of such an alliance. Several +of their characters were alike, the two young people were both born +under the "Tiger," and other things agreed as well. Whereupon the two +families expressed their satisfaction, and declared themselves ready to +arrange for an engagement. + +But now the middleman had a busy time of it, for there were many things +to settle before the engagement could take place. First of all, he +went to Mr. and Mrs. Tu, and asked how much money they would want for +their daughter. "As she is our only daughter, we want her to have a +good outfit," replied the parents, "so Mr. Hsü must give at least $40 +and some good clothes." The list was then made out--$40, ten articles +of clothing, a ring, two bracelets, a pair of earrings, and three +silver hair ornaments. The indefatigable middleman took the list to +the Hsü family, who looked at it critically. After some time of +haggling over the different articles, they finally agreed to furnish +all, and preparations were begun in full earnest. + +The day appointed for the engagement arrived, and there was great +excitement in the two homes which were filled with visitors and +well-wishers. The feast on both sides had to be provided by the young +man's family. About dinner-time, on the day appointed, a party, headed +by the middleman, was seen advancing toward Kucheng, carrying a sort of +wooden box or basket, with several trays, one piled on top of the +other. One tray carried all sorts of sweetmeats and the half of the +money, twenty dollars, wrapped in red paper. Another tray was filled +with pork and fish; again, another with different kinds of expensive +vegetables. Another carrier brought the engagement cake, and five +articles of clothing, and all the silver ornaments. Everywhere, +scattered among all the things, were cypress leaves, a symbol of +longevity and good luck. + +On reaching the Tu home, the men with their precious burdens were +received with fire-crackers, and eagerly all the things were examined, +some of them meeting with approval, others with disapproval. After +dinner the party started off again for the Hsü home, taking the return +presents. These consisted of the following articles--a hat, a pair of +shoes and stockings, a sash, a number of embroidered purses, with a few +dollars in them, also some vegetable seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, +etc. Most of these things were graciously received by the young man +and his family, and the parents on both sides were satisfied. + +The Engagement Agreement, as binding as a marriage certificate, had +been signed by the two families, and Everlasting Pearl's parents had +returned it to Mr. and Mrs. Hsü. The girl of thirteen had her future +settled for her before she had any idea of what such a future might +mean. Her little girl-friends teased her, but there was an added +respect in their treatment of her. She dimly realised that somehow she +had risen in their estimation and that of others. The change was +rather a pleasant one, the new clothes were a welcome addition to her +scanty wardrobe, and she was too young to worry about the future. + +[Illustration: Writing the engagement document. As binding as a +marriage certificate.] + + + +[1] The Eight Cyclical Characters appertaining to the hour of a +person's birth. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +MARRIAGE--PART I + +Again we pass over a few years. Everlasting Pearl had now reached the +age of seventeen, and her future husband was twenty-nine years old; +therefore the day of the wedding was drawing near. The intervening +years between engagement and marriage had been busy ones. Little by +little the trousseau had been prepared, and was all ready. A lucky +day, the third of the eleventh moon, had been chosen for the +approaching wedding; and already, a few days before that date, some of +the guests began to arrive, each one bringing a present of some +garment, or hair flowers, shoes, etc. for the bride. A present of 120 +lbs. of pork, 60 lbs. of fish, 12 chickens, and a good supply of +expensive vegetables had been sent by the young man, and the guests, +with many of whom luxuries were rare, set themselves to enjoy the good +things. + +The evening before the wedding the middleman arrived with the bridal +chair, which was covered all around with red cloth, and embroidered in +gay colours. Now the feasting began in real earnest. The pipers +struck up their usual melody, and with each hour the excitement grew. + +The following morning the trousseau had to be packed, but the bride had +nothing to do with it. She did not rise from her bed at all. Her +breakfast was brought to her by one of her relatives, and she was +exhorted to eat heartily, as that would be her last meal till the +following morning. Towards dinner-time she was coaxed to get up, but +she persistently refused to do so, and began bemoaning her fate, in +having to leave her parents and her own home to go to strangers. Every +now and again the mother joined in the wailing, and the relatives stood +round them crying, trying in vain to comfort them. After dinner the +bride was again urged to get up, but maidenly modesty and her +dutifulness to her parents still forbade her to obey. No one should +have any reason to say that she was anxious to go. She wanted to show +how loath she was to leave her parents, and every one was praising her, +and saying that such a dutiful daughter would make a filial +daughter-in-law. + +But even the most ardent filial piety could not put off the hour of +separation much longer. At last she was dragged from her bed by the +women who had to prepare her for her journey, and she reluctantly +submitted to the preparation. Her hair was shaved all around the +edges, the hair in front, which used to make the fringe for the +forehead, was pulled out. Then her hair was combed straight back to +show that she was now to enter the ranks of the married women. Then +she was powdered and painted, and dressed in her bridal attire, which +consisted of a red skirt, and red cloak, beautifully embroidered in +bright colours, but rather the worse for wear, as it had accompanied +the bridal chair on many another journey. The box with the mitre was +brought forth and the crown was placed on her head, already too richly +adorned with artificial flowers. And now the wailing broke forth +beyond all bounds, the young bride and her mother vying with each other +in making the greatest possible noise; at times beating their heads +against the wall, the bed, or the table in their self-imposed +manifestations of sorrow. + +Outside, the trousseau was being sent off, as it had to reach the +bride's future home before she entered the same. Two men carried a +cupboard between them. Others followed with some chairs, and a table +covered with candlesticks and all kinds of utensils. A pair of the +bride's shoes might also be found, placed within those of the +bridegroom's, for, as every one remarked, "The two must now walk +together till old age." Others carried a couple of red wooden boxes +filled with the clothes and personal belongings of the bride, also a +wadded bed-quilt, a bed-curtain, and two embroidered pillows, etc. The +whole procession made an imposing show, and the relatives of +Everlasting Pearl looked after it with pride. The girl had been well +provided for, and could lift up her head without shame before her +husband's people. + +The bride herself was at that time kneeling in her bedroom on a large +sieve (a token that all evil influences are "sifted out" and all good +luck and riches "sifted in"), bidding farewell to all her relatives. +One by one they were led to her, beginning with her parents and +brothers, and ending with the distant relatives, neighbours, and +guests. To each one she clung in despair, clutching their feet, and +vowing she could not leave them; and she did not let go her hold until +a coin, wrapped in red paper, was dropped into the sieve; then, with a +few words of comfort, the giver would move away to make room for +another, and all the time the red paper parcels increased in number. + +When the farewells had nearly come to an end, the middleman urged a +speedy departure, and at last, when she still delayed, he entered the +room, lifted the weeping girl into his arms, and carried her out into +the guest-hall. Standing on the table before the ancestral tablet, she +worshipped her dead ancestors for the last time, for from henceforth +they were nothing to her, as she would bear another's name. This +performance over, the middleman again lifted her up like a child, and +placed her in the chair. The little bride was then locked in, the key +to the chair resting in the pocket of her guide. Fire-crackers were +let off, the pipers piped, and the bride, loudly wailing, was on her +way to her future home. + +Her brothers followed her for a short distance. After having escorted +her for about a mile, they handed her the keys of her boxes and +cupboard, bade her a last farewell, and returned home, leaving the +middleman and his assistant to escort her all the way. Some ragged +little boys were carrying the large lanterns, on which was inscribed +her husband's name, in front of her chair; others carried red banners; +again, others were beating gongs. One carried the big red umbrella, +which only a bride or a Mandarin is allowed to have carried in front of +the chair. + +It was a proud day in the young girl's life. Everywhere the people +crowded round to get a peep at her through the glass windows of her +sedan chair. And she, sitting motionless and with bent head all the +way, was conscious of the deference paid to her. All the people turned +respectfully aside for the procession to pass, and even if a Mandarin +had happened to meet her on the way he would have had to turn aside. +For once in a lifetime the simple country girl was to be honoured by +him, to whom all others had to bow, for, as he would have said, "Who +knows if the bride of to-day may not bear a son, who shall far exceed +me in position and power?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MARRIAGE--PART II + +Meanwhile the bridegroom's family had not been idle. They had prepared +and decorated their house; had put up new red scrolls, and draped the +guest-hall and the outside door with red cloth. Large red candles, +painted with gold, were burning on a sort of mantelpiece at the top of +the room, and new lanterns were adorning the hall. + +The bedroom for the bride had also been prepared. A man who had been +prosperous in his life and home decided where the bed was to be placed; +and a woman equally prosperous in her home made the bed, and took good +care that no ill-luck should come near the dwelling of the young couple. + +When about a mile's distance from her future husband's home, +Everlasting Pearl suddenly ceased her wailing, for it now behoved her +to show the right submission. The old life lay behind her; she had +mourned for it, but must now prepare for the new life ahead. + +She was met by messengers from the Hsü family. The chair was put down +and some superstitious rites were performed to drive away the evil +influences which she might have encountered by the way. And then, as +it was getting dark, the lanterns were lighted for the last stage of +the journey, and soon she was carried into her new home. She entered +it to the sound of fire-crackers, music, beating of gongs, and the +shouts of all the people who had gathered in great numbers, each one +present trying to catch the first glimpse of the bride. + +The bridal chair was put down in the guest-hall, and there it remained. +After what seemed an exceptionally long waiting time, the door was +unlocked, but still the bride could not move. At last, a woman, the +proud mother of several sons, came forward and helped her out of the +chair. Two little girls, richly adorned with flowers, were waiting, +one on either side of the chair, to offer her some tea. After that she +was led into the room prepared for her. Her own furniture had already +been placed in the room, and the bridegroom, clad in official robes, +was standing near the bed, waiting for her. Then they both sat down, a +table was placed before them with two basins of rice, some eggs, +vermicelli, and a chicken leg for each. Not much of it was eaten, +however; the little bride, still veiled, could touch nothing, but the +guests, who had crowded into the room to stare at her, helped +themselves freely to the rice. + +After a short time the bridegroom left the room, and a little later the +bride was led out to the public guest-hall, supported by two women. +The young man was waiting for her. They took their stand in front of +the ancestral tablet side by side, and now the real wedding ceremony +began. + +A wadded quilt, covered with red, was spread on a mat on the floor, the +bride and bridegroom knelt down on it, and three times worshipped their +ancestors, their heads touching the ground each time. Then they turned +round and worshipped "Heaven and earth" in the same way. Afterwards +two cups of wine were brought from the table. The man who was +supporting the bridegroom offered the latter one of the cups, and the +second one was held to the lips of the bride by the women in charge of +her. Then the wine from the two cups was mixed, and each one took a +sip from the same cup, indicating that from now on they were united, +and must share life together, whilst some of the bystanders laughingly +chanted: + + Together they walk, each other aid, + The knot is tied, the covenant made. + + +The first ceremony had come to an end. Bride and bridegroom bowed to +each other, and then the latter lifted the veil, and beheld for the +first time the face of the girl who had been given him to wife! The +crowd was getting excited, and from all sides the shout arose: + + Oh, with what joy the hour we hail, + When time has come to lift the veil. + +The poor little bride was getting weary, and her bridesmaid led her +back to the bedroom, closely followed by the bridegroom. For a few +moments they took their stand together in front of the bed, but soon +the young man went out of the room, threw off his wedding garments, and +began to help in looking after the guests. Soon all of them were +feasting around a number of square tables, the bridegroom being one of +the busiest in ministering to them. + +But the bride had not got over her ordeal. The whole evening she was +made a gazing-stock to all. Any one might go in to stare at her, and +acquaintances of the bridegroom and even strangers who crowded into the +room were allowed to make any remarks they liked. The children were +dancing around her singing: + + Little bride, little bride! + You climbed the wall from the other side! + +Every now and again this refrain was started, and sometimes a more +mischievous boy or girl would take it up, adding another line: + + Little bride, little bride! + You climbed the wall from the other side! + And to steal our potatoes moreover tried! + +Later on, a table was spread in front of the bride, and a few intimate +friends and relatives had their supper with her, but she herself could +touch nothing. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to keep +calm and composed; no smile lit up her face, no word was uttered, and +it was very seldom that a sentence was addressed to her. + +In the middle of the many courses, her mitre was placed on her head +again, and she was led out to the guest-hall. With a wine cup in her +hand, she went from table to table, and bowed low to her husband's +friends. Their cups were filled afresh, and each one took a drink in +honour of the bride, while the band played vigorously. After she had +finished her round, she went back to her bedroom till the feasting was +over. + +[Illustration: Adorned as a bride. A proud day in the young girl's +life.] + +It was then getting late, and the young bridegroom entered, accompanied +by his friends, who were carrying big red candles in front of him, and +sending off fire-crackers. They did not leave the young people till +after midnight, and not before having tried to get hold of as many of +their belongings as possible. These they endeavoured to hide, and a +good thing it was that the bride had got plenty of sweets, peanuts, +beans, etc., for all the stolen articles had to be redeemed the +following morning. + +After a few short hours of rest, the young people had to get ready for +breakfast, and soon afterwards the second part of the wedding ceremony +began, the part which is called _Fen ta siao_, which, literally +translated, means "To distinguish between great and small." Bride and +bridegroom were arrayed once more in their wedding robes, and proceeded +to the guest-hall where all the relatives were assembled. Again the +two knelt together on the red quilt, bowing their heads three times to +the ground before Mr. and Mrs. Hsü, who bowed in return. Mr. Hsü threw +down the keys of the household before the young people. He had, +however, no thought of giving them any responsibility, and every +intention of getting the keys back into his own pockets and keeping +them there. + +Then the uncles and aunts were led forward, to whom was paid the same +respect. The brothers, cousins, and other relatives came next, but +being of the same generation as the bride and bridegroom, they also +knelt down and "worshipped" them in return. Each relative put a piece +of money, wrapped in red paper, on a tray placed there for that +purpose, and, when filled, it was carried to the bride's room until a +more convenient time was found for the counting of the money. + +The whole party, headed by the bridegroom and the bride, then proceeded +to the kitchen for the purpose of worshipping the kitchen god. The +bridegroom carried a rice measure with a lamp placed in it, the bride a +brush for cleaning the cooking pan. Many superstitious rites are +connected with the worship in the kitchen, the smallest detail has its +own meaning, but it would be too tedious to relate all. + +The dinner came next, and this time the bride had to take the seat of +honour at the top table, but once seated there, she remained as silent +as the night before, and ate nothing. Again she went round to bow to +the guests at the different tables, who all stood up and solemnly drank +her health. + +After dinner she was allowed to put off her bridal attire, and wear +some of the clothes sent her by her husband. She was also permitted to +throw off some of the reserve of the past days, and could talk more +freely to those around her. + +The following day a messenger arrived from Mr. and Mrs. Tu, inviting +the young couple to return to the bride's home for dinner. They were +both carried in sedan chairs, and had to wear most of their wedding +garments again. They were very careful and modest in their +behaviour,--young Hsü especially was afraid of offending in word or +deed,--and they were not sorry when, soon after the formal dinner, they +could once more return home. Another formal visit had to be paid, +about two months later, at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, to +the bride's home, but then a more free and natural relationship was +established between the two families. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DARK DAYS + +The home Everlasting Pearl had entered was not a rich one. The members +were all simple, hard-working people, ordinary country farmers who had +to earn their living by the sweat of their brow. But they were honest +and peace-loving, and the five brothers worked together in unity. +Although one of the Chinese sages had said: + + Let brotherly love in the home abound + And to gold will be changed the dust of the ground, + +the gold seemed a long time coming to the Hsü family. They were able +by steady work to make a comfortable living at their farming, but there +was little over to make a fortune. On the whole, Everlasting Pearl was +moderately happy. Her husband was quite satisfied with his bright +young wife, and treated her kindly. The mother-in-law was rather hard +on her and inconsiderate, but the father-in-law loved her as a +daughter, and made things as easy as possible. Her husband's brothers, +too, were kind, and she went about her common task cheerfully, quite +ready to take her share in the household work. + +Four years passed peacefully, but no child came to gladden the home, +and that was a sore disappointment to the young people. The +mother-in-law too was disappointed, and did not look very kindly on the +young wife who was trying so hard to do her duty. Old Mr. Hsü had left +this world. For three days and nights the Taoist priests had come to +chant their formulas, promising to cleanse the house from evil spirits, +and to break open the door of hell and rescue the soul of the departed +father. There was real sorrow in Everlasting Pearl's heart as she +knelt near the coffin wailing. The old man had been like a father to +her, and had helped her over many rough places. She knew things would +be harder without him, but little did she realize what heavy trials +awaited her. A merciful God had hidden the knowledge from her sight, +or her inborn courage might have failed. + +During the fifth year of Everlasting Pearl's married life her sorrows +began. Twice within a few months she was summoned to the deathbed of +her loved ones. She first knelt mourning at the grave of her father; +and then, before that sorrow had had time to lose its sting, she was +throwing herself in agony over the body of her dead mother, the mother +who had always loved her so tenderly. And death was fearful to her. +The "three souls and seven spirits" had evidently all taken their +departure. Where had they gone? If only she knew, the separation +would not be so hard. But there was no one to solve the mystery for +her; no ray of light to dispel the darkness and fear that crept over +her; no hope of a reunion; no Resurrection Morning to look forward to, +and therefore no comfort to lighten her sorrow. + +But greater trials were yet in store. The brothers did not work quite +so well together after old Mr. Hsü's death, and decided to divide their +fields between them, which they did equally and peacefully, and each +one set up for himself. Everlasting Pearl and her husband worked +harder than ever, as now all the profit they made would be their own. +The harvest promised to be a good one. In the beginning of the sixth +moon, after the early crops of rice had been cut, they ate their new +rice on the day appointed by the Mandarin. Before touching any of the +food they took it to the temple near by, and earnestly invoked the +blessing of the gods on the new grain, after which they sat down to +partake of it without any fear of sickness or trouble coming to them +that year. + +But alas! Only a few days later the husband was taken ill, and day by +day became worse. The wife was naturally anxious, and when his illness +deprived him of his reason, her cup of sorrow seemed full. For three +years he was raving mad, and often, when in one of his fits of rage, he +would ill-treat his wife. These fits might come on without any +warning, day or night, so that she was kept in constant fear. + +These were dark days indeed for the young wife. Not only had she to +nurse her husband, but she was obliged to do a great deal of his work +in the fields, although it required a man's strength. Bravely she +plodded on, but often lost heart and gave herself up to her sorrow. If +only her parents or her father-in-law had been alive, they would have +comforted her. If only she were not so alone in the world. If only +she had had a child of her own to love and to work for, she could have +borne it better. Many a time she would repeat the sad cry of the +childless wife: + + No son, no daughter to call my own, + Thus daily my pitiful lot I bemoan! + +How hard it was to be all alone, without a refuge to turn to, without +some one to share her sorrow. How her heart longed for comfort, but +there was none to give it. How she needed a friend to stand by her, +but none was found. Alas! no one had told her of "the Friend that +sticketh closer than a brother." She was so weary and burdened, but no +one had ever whispered in her ear the sweet and tender invitation of +the great Rest-Giver: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy +laden, and I will give you rest." No one around her knew of that +blessed invitation, for the messengers to whom it had been entrusted +had been sleeping and taking their rest, neglecting their Lord's +command, and forgetting that "the King's business requireth haste." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +MISERABLE COMFORTERS + +The case of Everlasting Pearl's husband was a hopeless one, and despair +took possession of both mother and wife as time went on. They +exhausted all the means in their power, but very soon realized that +vain was the help of man, for the doctors could do nothing for him. +They then turned to the spirits and implored their help. In these +surely they would not be disappointed. + +First of all they sent to a medium to ask what was the matter. She +told them that the sick man had lost a soul, and they would have to go +out and find it. A party of them, therefore, quickly set out, carrying +a measure of rice, which they strewed by the way to show the spirit the +direction home. At every step Everlasting Pearl frantically called +out, "My husband, come home, come home." Each time, when her cry +arose, the rest of the party answered with assurance, "He has come +home, he has come home." But when they returned, after their weary +tramp, the lost soul had not found its way home, and there was no +improvement in the condition of the patient. + +A few days later, the mother decided that they would have to call in a +Taoist priest for a ceremony called _kan tong_, or "influence." In the +middle of the afternoon, when the spirits were supposed to have come +out of their hiding-places, the priest started his work. Three men +were beating the gong and drum most vigorously, while he himself took +three sticks of incense and worshipped the idol hanging before him. +Then he drew a tiger on two pieces of paper, put them down on the +ground, and called for the chosen medium. A relative of young Hsü, +with a red turban round his head, stepped forward, and took his stand +somewhat reluctantly on the tigers. He had seen other mediums return +with their bodily and mental health impaired, and he had no desire to +risk his own; but his duty and brotherly love bade him perform this +service for his young kinsman. + +The priest now began chanting his formulas to the beating of the gong, +keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the medium, watching for the +latter to show signs of being mesmerized. After a time, when the +pupils of the eyes began to dilate, and when the man started jumping, +as the tigers were unable to keep his feet quiet any longer, the priest +asked, "Have you seen light?" The medium answered in the affirmative, +and off he dashed, whilst a number prepared to follow him. They were +horribly painted and armed with pitchforks. On and on they rushed, +calling for the soul. Anything more devilish can hardly be imagined. +Suddenly the medium stopped in one of the fields, and declared that +that was the place where the soul had been lost. Lighting their +incense, they called loudly for the soul, till the medium rushed off +home again, telling them the soul would return with them, and the sick +man would recover. But again the gods had played them false, for the +sick man got worse instead of better. + +What was to be done next? An astrologer's advice was sought, and +readily given. He informed them that they had made a mistake the first +time, when they called in the Taoist priest, and that the wrong +ceremony had been performed. They must call in four Taoist priests to +perform for a day and a night, so as to drive away the evil spirits +which had taken possession of the sick man. The house was accordingly +decorated with idols on all sides, and the four priests began their +work. The noise in the house was almost unbearable, and thus it +continued for twenty-four hours, after which time the priests announced +young Hsü to be out of danger, as the evil spirits had taken their +departure. In reality there was only one thing that had taken its +departure, and that was the money possessed by the Hsü family, which +had now found its way into the roomy pockets of the priests. + +The young wife was almost in despair. But it never occurred to her, or +to any one else in the family, to blame the idols or the priests. Very +likely they had not done enough for the sick man. They would call the +Taoist priests again, and let them go on for three days and three +nights. But where was the money to come from? A consultation was +held, and it was decided to mortgage the fields in order to get the +money needed. Of course it would mean poverty afterwards, but that +point could not be considered just now; all that mattered was to get +the young man well again. So the fields were mortgaged, and the +priests were more than pleased to come again. Needless to say they +succeeded no better than before, but that did not trouble them. + +At last the whole family gave up in despair. It was true there was +still the rite called "The turning of tables," but that was too +expensive, and there was no money left for it. Nothing more could be +done. Young Hsü would have to be left to his fate, and they had to +resign themselves and make the best of their difficulties. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BROKEN CISTERNS + +Time dragged wearily on in that afflicted household, and Everlasting +Pearl walked about with a heavy heart. Her brothers-in-law felt sorry +for her, and several times offered to kill her husband, or get rid of +him somehow, thinking they might do the young wife a service. But she +refused to accept their offer, and said she would much rather do his +work, and earn what was necessary to supply his needs as well as her +own. He had been kind to her, and had worked for her in earlier years, +and now, in his weakness, it was her turn to work for him. + +Day after day and month after month she toiled on, through hard work +and sorrow and trials, often suffering herself both in body and mind; +and all this had to be borne without a shadow of comfort. She knew +nothing about the "God of all comfort," and had never heard of Him who +"day by day beareth our burden." No wonder she was at times almost +driven to despair, and cried out for a ray of light in the darkness, +for a flicker of hope amid the hopeless condition and sad chaos of her +life. Through all the bitter days of suffering her mind was turned to +the things hereafter, and she determined that if she had to toil and +suffer here she would, if at all possible, do something to escape the +suffering in the life to come. But how should she begin? What was she +to do? Was there anything that could give her aching heart some +comfort, her despairing soul some hope? Was it possible to flee from +the suffering in the next world? for that such existed she was sure, +and her heart cried out for deliverance. + +In the neighbourhood a great many vegetarians resided, and one day, +when Everlasting Pearl was engaged in irrigating the field, a woman, +one of the leaders among the vegetarians, passed by. Of course she +knew all about the trouble of the young wife, and stopped to speak to +her. Everlasting Pearl instantly ceased her work. The sun was just +then at its hottest stage, and as she had been standing the whole +morning exposed to its scorching rays, doing work which was far too +heavy for any woman, her tired body was glad of a moment's rest. The +kind words of the woman went to her heart, so she soon confided all her +troubles to her. The listener had only one way of helping her, and +began to exhort her to become a vegetarian for life. She offered to +look upon her as a daughter, and declared herself willing to instruct +her in the vegetarian doctrine. + +Everlasting Pearl eagerly reached out after the comfort promised. The +necessary rosary was bought. She went to the leaders of the vegetarian +sect, and told them of her decision. They gladly welcomed her among +their number, gave her a book and the necessary instructions, with many +exhortations to be steadfast in the way she had begun to walk. If she +remained firm to the end, they promised her what her heart desired, a +life hereafter without any suffering. Through her life as a vegetarian +she would be accumulating merit day by day, and would be able to lay up +such a large store for herself that she would not have to pass through +all the usual stages of transmigration in the next world, but would be +able to go straight to the goal she had set before her, the "Western +Heaven," or "Paradise." + +Everlasting Pearl started as a vegetarian when she was twenty-two years +old, at the advice of the woman whom, from that time on, she adopted as +her mother. She did so in uprightness of heart, seeking after the +truth, and as determination and steadfastness were two very strong +traits in her character, she found it easier than many others to keep +to what she had promised. + +Seldom had the vegetarian cause had a more decided and devout follower +than she was, and Everlasting Pearl soon won a name among the members +of her faith, and far beyond that circle. She was deeply respected, +not only for her steadfastness of purpose, but also for her general +conduct, which was in the eyes of men blameless. Every evening, when +her day's work was done, she would take down her beads, and, kneeling +down before the picture of Buddha, would repeat over and over again +_O-mi-to-fuh_--"In Buddha do I put my trust," counting her beads all +the time. Sometimes she continued till far into the night; thousands +of times she would count her rosary, trying to persuade herself that +she had found relief from her suffering. In reality her heart remained +empty and devoid of any true comfort. The longer she went on, the more +her assurance grew. After all, it was the next world she was working +for, and all things would come out right in the end. + +But God, who looks upon the intents and motives of the heart, saw this +poor, struggling soul trying to grope her way in the darkness, and +determined to work out her own salvation, since she had no one to show +her the true way. In His love and pity He had laid up a better +inheritance for her, and in His own way, all unknown to her, He began +to lay His plans for bringing her into contact with His children and +the messengers of Peace. Slowly, but surely, all things worked +together for her good, and for the salvation of her soul. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WAYS NOT KNOWN + +As mentioned previously, Everlasting Pearl's husband was raving mad for +three years. Then he took a turn for the better, but was still insane +and unable to do any work. For seven years he remained in that +condition, and then, when death knocked at the door, it seemed to bring +relief to the members of the family. + +A few months later Everlasting Pearl was persuaded to marry a widower, +a quiet, honest tailor, who lived at Kucheng. So she returned to the +place of her birth, and found a real home awaiting her. Mr. Lü, her +husband, was a man of sterling worth, and soon a real affection sprang +up between them. Mrs. Lü, for as such Everlasting Pearl will now +appear, was very happy, and fully appreciated her change of +circumstances. + +Mr. Lü had three little children when his new wife entered his home; +but about a month later one child died. He had been ill for some time, +and Mrs. Lü's motherly care could not save him from death. A second +son died three years later, apparently from the same illness, both +seeming to waste away. Their mother had died from consumption, and +evidently her weakness had affected the children. Only one child, a +brother's son, remained, and Mrs. Lü took him to her loving heart. The +lad, in his turn, lavished all his childish affection on her, for she +was a real mother to him. + +About two years after her marriage to Mr. Lü, the latter was asked by a +neighbour, who was a seeker after the Truth, to accompany him to the +Gospel Hall. We were then holding meetings in the house of a +Christian, who lived in a village about two miles' distance from +Kucheng. But Mr. Lü, being a very nervous man, felt shy about going +and shrank from meeting strangers, especially when these appeared in +the form of foreigners. Moreover, he was loath to give up his time +without having a sure compensation for it, as he was hard-working, and +did not like to spend an hour in vain. So he refused to go. + +Another two years passed by. The Boxer troubles had quietened down, +and the workers who had returned were again holding meetings in the +little village near Kucheng. The place was very hard, the Christians +cold, and the man in whose house the services were held was not on good +terms with the other Church members in the village. One Sunday, when +the writer was there, her heart was specially heavy. The coldness was +appalling, and she came to the point where she said, "Lord, I cannot go +on with the work here. If Thou dost not show forth Thy mighty power in +doing a new thing in this place, I must give it up!" The spiritual +battle was a fearful and exhausting one. Returning home to the central +station, she told her fellow-workers how she felt, and all set to pray +for that place as never before, claiming victory from the Lord. A +month later, the writer visited that centre again in fear and +trembling; but the Lord had already begun to work. He was manifestly +in the midst, and it was easily realized that God had granted a real +answer to prayer. + +In one of the meetings one of the Christians humbly confessed his sin +before God, and asked for forgiveness and for strength to walk in +newness of life. Another Christian gave a bright testimony. Life was +beginning to get into the dead bones. That Sunday morning, too, a new +enquirer came to the meetings, and stayed for the whole day. His +presence there seemed to be a promise of coming blessing. And this +impression was not wrong, for the following month a few others came +with him, some of them from Kucheng. One of these enquirers invited +Mr. Lü to the services, and this time he consented. Well does the +writer remember the first Sunday he came. His face and manner alike +were altogether out of the ordinary, and somehow, from the very +beginning, a conviction was received that God had chosen him for +Himself. From that very day a work was begun in his heart. + +Soon the little meeting-place became too small for the congregation, +and a house was rented at Kucheng. Many enquirers had gathered around +this centre, some with mixed motives, it is true. There were those who +only came for worldly advantages, and these soon dropped off. Others +were touched by the Spirit of God, and a real work was begun in their +hearts. But two or three years later, when they had to make their +decision for or against Christ, when they had to count the cost, which +in some cases was a heavy one, they were not willing to pay the price, +and gradually grew cold and indifferent. Some of them caused real +disappointment, as they had been so bright and promising. But there +were a few who went steadily on, and among them was Mr. Lü. He never +wavered, never missed a Sunday. Although in the beginning he used to +do some pressing work after the Sunday meetings, it was pointed out to +him one night that it was not only he who should keep the day of rest, +but all within his house. He listened and understood, and the next +morning, being Sunday, he brought his son to the services. From that +day he never sent him to work again on the Sunday. To those who knew +that Mr. Lü had never wasted an hour before, or let his work stop for +any pleasure of his own, it was a real miracle that he should now be +willing to allow his whole household rest on Sunday. What had happened +to the man? What power was there in that strange religion that could +make him forgo all the money a weekly day of rest meant to him and his +family? What was it that had given the timid and reserved man courage +to speak out freely about the new life that had opened up before him, +and had made him strong to stand against all the ridicule that was +heaped upon him in many of the houses where he worked? A God who could +bring about such a change was a God indeed. + +From the very beginning, Mr. Lü showed unusual understanding about +spiritual things. Was it not because he believed God and took Him +simply at His word? He never attempted to bring in his own wisdom, +never leaned to his own understanding. Very often, when asked +questions about spiritual matters, his answers would cause astonishment +and surprise. The Spirit of God was taking of the things of Christ, +and showing them unto him, and day by day his faith grew stronger and +his trust in the Lord firmer. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE + +When first Mr. Lü began to attend the services his wife did not like +it. She exhorted him to continue in the old way, living a quiet and +respectable life lest he should be involved in difficulties and trouble +because of his friendship with the foreigners. But when she saw that +his mind was made up, she left him alone. + +The writer's first acquaintance with Mrs. Lü dates back to the spring +of 1902, when the out-station at Kucheng was opened. The house that +was rented adjoined that belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Lü, and when the +writer, in company with a Christian woman who was to fill the office of +chapel-keeper, arrived in Kucheng late one evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lü +were there to receive us. The enquirers had had the house cleaned up +and prepared for our coming, and the key to the house had been given to +Mr. Lü. His wife's mind was rather in a state of confusion. She tried +to persuade herself that the coming of this strange religion, which +seemed to take a wonderful hold on the minds of people, could be +nothing to her, as her way was the only right one. But, of course, she +must be neighbourly. Moreover, the strangers were friends of her +husband, and her loyalty to him bade her do all in her power to be kind +to the new-comers. Thus it came about that she, together with her +husband, gave us a hearty welcome, and informed us that supper had +already been prepared. Our heart went out to Mrs. Lü, and very soon a +firm friendship was established. She was exceedingly kind, but there +she stopped. She was very pleased to see her husband and other members +of the family becoming Christians, and even exhorted them to be +steadfast and give their whole hearts to what they believed. But they +were not to ask her to accept their creed. She must go her own way, +and pursue the path she had marked out for herself for so many years. +The doctrine was very good, she said, and she did not mind attending +the meetings. That could not do her any harm, as she intended to go no +further. Thus everything went on smoothly, Satan left her in peace, +whilst others kept on praying for her and claiming this precious soul +for the Lord. It was impossible not to realize what a power this woman +would have for good, if only she were won for the Master, and very soon +some of us received the assurance that one day she would become a +trophy of His grace. + +[Illustration: The out-station at Kucheng. The place where Everlasting +Pearl was converted.] + +All during that summer Mrs. Lü continued to attend the meetings, and +she enjoyed them thoroughly. In spite of herself she got more and more +interested in what she saw and heard. In the autumn of that year the +writer stayed at Kucheng for a fortnight, and while there held Bible +Study for the men twice a week, and although visiting some of the +villages around, gave a good deal of time in teaching the women and +children to read. Mrs. Lü came as usual, and as she was more +intelligent than the average Chinese woman, she not only obtained a +good deal of knowledge concerning salvation in Christ Jesus, but +learned to read quite a little and enjoyed it with all her heart. + +Something happened at that time which made a great impression on her +mind. Early one morning a dreadful quarrel broke out in Mr. Lü's +house. It seemed incredible, as they were a very affectionate family. +But there was no doubt about it; Mrs. Lü had completely lost her temper +with her brother, and was scolding and swearing like any other Chinese +woman. For a while the writer kept quiet, but as the quarrel continued +and increased, we dressed quickly, and made our way to the place from +which the angry voices came. Mr. Lü was sitting there, meekly +listening, and evidently on his wife's side, but not opening his lips, +while Mrs. Lü could not control her voice for anger. The writer, +putting her hand on Mrs. Lü's shoulder, said, "Mrs. Lü, what are you +doing this morning? I never heard you like this before." Then she +narrated all, and added, "If only he would keep quiet and not answer +back, I would get over my anger; but when he retaliates, I lose my +temper altogether, and he ought to have done what I told him!" We said +it was quite true, but she was wrong in saying all these things against +her brother, which she really did not mean, and which would only rile +him instead of bringing him to his sense of duty. After being exhorted +to keep quiet, she calmed down. + +When returning home, we met the brother, who had been hiding in the +kitchen, and had evidently been listening to what had been said to his +sister. Going up to him we said, "Look here, you know you are in the +wrong. Your sister has your good at heart, and has only asked you to +do what it was your duty to do. Now say nothing more about it, but go +and do it, and you will all have peace again." He looked very +shamefaced for a moment, then he got the victory and said, "Very well, +I will do it." And with that he went out to do his work, and the +quarrel was ended. + +But the best result was yet to follow in two hearts. Towards noon Mrs. +Lü appeared, looking very sad and dejected. She said how miserable she +was because she had given way to anger; that after all these years of +trying to live uprightly and do her duty by all, she had no control +over herself when she was roused to anger. "So that is all your many +years of vegetarianism have done for you," the writer added. The tears +started to her eyes, and she answered, "That is all. I have no more +control over myself than I had seventeen years ago, when I first +started as a vegetarian." Solemnly and tenderly we pointed her to the +cleansing and keeping power of Christ. She listened eagerly, for her +heart was sad and weary. + +Her brother, as yet, had not been willing to come to the meetings, +although his brother-in-law had tried earnestly to persuade him to do +so. But that night he walked in and smiled happily, evidently glad +that the little domestic scene had ended so well. So there was a +double victory won, for from that time he came off and on, till about a +year later, when he started to come regularly, and ultimately became a +real enquirer after the Truth. When the writer left for home in +November it was impossible not to praise God for all the blessing He +had given in Kucheng, and to hope and pray for greater things. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT + +A few weeks went by, and then Miss M---- paid a visit to Kucheng. On +her return she said that Mrs. Lü had stopped coming to the meetings, as +she was frightened. At night she was haunted by horrible dreams, and +was afraid she had sinned against her cause in learning our doctrine, +and in listening to the preaching of the Word. So she stayed away +altogether, and began reciting her prayers to Buddha more diligently +than ever before. She determined never to give up her vow, but to go +steadily on, and to be even more earnest in the future, so that if +possible she might find peace and rest for her soul. + +In that state we found her when next we visited the place. She was so +unhappy. Till late into the night she could be heard counting her +beads, and reciting her _O-mi-to-fuh_, in earnest and pleading tones. + +One Sunday, after the meeting, her husband took down the idols and +burned them publicly. Even to please his wife he could not leave them +any longer. The ancestral tablet was destroyed the same day, and some +Christian scrolls and pictures were hung up, to show that henceforth +the Lord Jesus was to be Master in the house instead of Satan. His +real power was to take the place of the imagined power at the disposal +of the idols. Mr. Lü was so happy when his house was cleansed from +everything idolatrous, and we heartily rejoiced with him, praising God +for his salvation and for his bright testimony. + +But as for Mrs. Lü, her face was a picture of sadness. She had not +dared to come to the meeting, but came privately afterwards. We asked +her why she had been sitting alone and miserable in her own house, when +she might have been gathering with others joyfully before the Lord. +The tears started to her eyes, as she answered, "I do want to come, oh +so much, but I dare not, I dare not!" When asked what she was going to +do now, as all the idols had been burned, she said she would have to +recite her prayers without a Buddha to burn incense to. + +"What about your beads? Where are they going to be hung?" + +"Oh, I don't know. My husband says they cannot be hung on the wall +beside the Word of God." + +"You will have to put them in the bedroom." + +"That will not do either, for my husband shares that with me, and he +will not have them there." + +"Well, then, you must make a corner somewhere in the house, all to +yourself," we told her laughingly, but not laughing in our heart. + +Her suffering was evident to all; and one day one of the enquirers +suggested that her husband should secretly give her an egg to eat, and +so break her vow. Turning round, he said, "No, I do not want to do +this, but will continue to pray for her. When the Holy Spirit opens +her understanding, she will break it herself." This gave us an +opportunity of telling him and all present that the Lord would not +compel any one to serve Him, but wanted a willing people. We must +wait, until in His light she would see light, and realize her +nothingness and the utter vanity of her own striving after +righteousness. So she was left with Him who was able to remove the +veil from her face, and lead her into the true and living way, fully +assured that He had already begun a gracious work in her heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER + +At that time the Lord began to prepare Mrs. Lü's heart through dreams +and visions, as is so often His way in heathen countries. Once after +her husband had forbidden her to have idols and burn incense in his +house, she was sitting alone in the evening, feeling dejected and +forlorn, and sadly counting her beads to herself. At last she grew too +weary to continue and sought her pillow. That night she dreamed that +some one she had never seen before came to her, put his foot on her +breast, and said, "And still you will continue to recite your prayers +to Buddha!" She awoke terrified, and for a long time was unable to +shake off the fear that had laid hold of her heart. + +Another time one of the Biblewomen had been telling her about the Lord +being the great Physician, and that He was able to heal her from the +infirmities she had had since the time she had been working too hard +for her strength. When she went to rest that evening she dreamed that +she saw a rope, in the shape of a circle, swinging between heaven and +earth, and on it an old man was standing. After a while he came close +up to her, and said, "Trust me, I have come to heal you." When she +awoke, she was wondering if it was God who had appeared to her in a +vision. + +Time after time, when we visited Kucheng, she would tell us of her +experiences, her dreams and visions, her fears and conflicts. Night +after night she would dream that somebody was setting meat and fish +before her, tempting her to eat, whilst she turned away determined not +to be tempted, not to defile herself, not to lose the merit she had +stored up for herself all these many years. Day and night her mind was +in confusion. She dreaded the night with its visions, and could not +welcome the day that would only bring her unrest. In her agony she +cried out, "No, I will never go back. I will be steadfast to the very +end, and keep my vow till death. Others may walk their different ways, +but no one shall make me change. I have never doubted, have never been +vacillating, and am not going to be so now." + +Oh! how she longed for peace, but none came to end all her struggles, +for they only increased. But God had chosen her for Himself, and could +not give her heart rest until it rested in Him for whom it was made. +But she did not see that all her struggles were "cords of love" with +which the Father was trying to draw her to Himself. One day she said +to me, "If you only knew what I suffer. But it is impossible to put +into words what I have been passing through. It is as if two mighty +powers were fighting about me, and I am just torn between the two." +"Quite true," we answered; "two great Powers, God and the Devil, are +fighting for you; both want you, but God will conquer." It was pitiful +to behold her sufferings. We had never seen any conflict like it in +China, and our heart cried out to the Lord for the deliverance which we +knew must surely come. + +The following day she spoke again about her two dreams. She dreamed +that with many others she went to worship a removed idol, the one she +had so often looked upon with awe in her childhood days. One after +another went to kneel down before the idol, worshipping it, and praying +for health and happiness. But when, after some time of patient +waiting, her turn came, something strange happened. She was just about +to kneel down, when the idol took off his hat, and showed her his head, +which was bald from a loathsome skin disease. He told her he was false +all through, and she was not to worship him. Why should he reveal to +her what he had hidden from the other worshippers? When she awoke she +kept pondering over the meaning of it all. + +Another dream was that she was trying to settle a quarrel, and in doing +so received a wound in her leg. She looked down to where the cut was, +and to her horror she saw no flesh revealed, but only straw. She +examined it closely, but it seemed to be the same all through; she had +nothing but straw inside, and she turned from the sight that had met +her eyes in horror and despair. She was not able to get away from that +dream, feeling quite sure that it had some special teaching in it for +her, and she turned to the writer to help her understand what it might +mean. Recognizing that the dream was from God, that He was teaching +her through these visions, we lifted our heart to God in prayer. We +were standing beside a stack of straw in Mrs. Lü's yard. Pulling out +one straw, and showing it to her, we said, "Do you see that straw? +Now, how much is it worth? You just touch it and it is broken. There +is no real value in it. Suppose you take a match and set fire to this +whole stack of straw, in a few minutes all would be burned up, nothing +but ashes would remain. As with this straw, so will it be with all the +merit you think you have stored up for the life to come. The Word of +God says that everything which is not built on Christ as the foundation +is wood, hay, and stubble, and shall be burned up. So all your +supposed merit will vanish when the day of reckoning comes. There is +no real, lasting value in it; it will all be burned up, only the ashes +will remain, and you will have nothing with which to appear before God. +But all that is built on Christ Jesus will abide." + +This interpretation may not appeal to Western minds, but it made a deep +impression on Mrs. Lü, and we believe it was the message God meant for +her. That night she came again to the meeting. She could stay away no +longer, the time of her deliverance was drawing nigh. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS + +Quite a few weeks elapsed before we went to Kucheng again, and during +that interval nothing had been heard of Mrs. Lü. But we had not been +silent before the Throne of Grace. When we reached Kucheng, several +met us at the gate, shouting, "We have good news for you, which will +give you great joy; Mrs. Lü is now your friend indeed, she has broken +her vow, and has been eating meat for the first time to-day!" That was +good news indeed, and there is no need to tell what joy this news +brought; indeed, it would be impossible to do so. How we did praise +God for having answered prayer and given such a glorious deliverance. +And that song of praise rose higher when we heard from Mrs. Lü's own +lips the full story of God's dealings with her. + +She met us with a radiant face, and began immediately to tell how it +was the Lord Himself who had constrained her to yield. No other power +or person could have done so. The story must be told in her own words. + +"After you had left me," she said, "I was still restless and could find +no peace. As the days passed by, I became more and more miserable, and +at night my sleep was disturbed by all kinds of dreams. I knew I ought +to trust God and break my vow, but I could not. I felt I must go on in +the way I had walked for so long, and I determined again not to turn to +anything or to anybody else. But one night, in my dream, I saw the old +tailor who is living with us and who is earnestly seeking after God, +standing before me in new, beautiful garments. He was altogether +changed, and oh how glorious he was. At that moment, when I was +overwhelmed with the appearance of the old man, I caught sight of some +blood which seemed to flow from his heart, and I cried out, 'That is +the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, which has cleansed away his sin. +That is why he is so beautiful.' How I wished I were like him! + +"After that I awoke, but soon went to sleep again, and then another +vision came. Some one with supernatural strength caught hold of me. +His grasp was so firm that I had no power to move a finger, and I +screamed out, asking him to free me. But he answered, 'Unless you +promise to give up your vegetarian vow, I will not let you go.' Now I +knew it was the Lord speaking to me, and in my terror I cried out, +'Yes, Lord, I will, I will give up my vow.' Still He kept His hold on +me, and said, 'Unless you promise that you will not only give up your +vow, but repent with your whole heart, I will not let you go.' Again I +replied, 'Yes, Lord, I will repent with my whole heart, only let me go, +and I will serve Thee.' As soon as I had promised, He let me go, and I +awoke, feeling so free and happy. My chains were gone, my fetters +broken, and all my unrest had departed. + +"The following day I kept repeating, 'Lord, I have repented. I have +promised to serve Thee, and I will keep my promise to the very end.' +My heart is filled with joy and peace, and now I want to tell you that +you may not worry or be anxious about me any more. You have fought the +battle with me, you have prayed much for me, you have often felt sad +and anxious about me, but now you can be at rest. It is God Himself +who has made me take this step, who was too strong for me, and there is +no turning back." + +That was Mrs. Lü's story. What joy it brought to us as we stood and +listened to that testimony. She had spoken truly, "there was no +turning back," and so there was only grateful praise in our heart, no +fear for the future, for the victory had been won once for all. Mrs. +Lü's conversion was like that of the Apostle Paul, a radical change; +and like him she began to preach boldly the Truth in Christ Jesus. All +who saw and heard her marvelled and could not understand what had +brought about such a change. Over and over again she had to tell the +wonderful story of her conversion, and it made a deep impression on +many. + +The vegetarian leaders were angry, and came time after time to try and +win her back, sometimes by earnest pleading, at other times by threats +and denunciations. But she remained firm, and to each party confessed +that it was God who had called her. It was in His almighty power that +she had been constrained to give up her vow and seek salvation in +Christ Jesus, and she could not resist Him. He had done for her what +no human power could ever have accomplished. She told them it was no +use trying to persuade her to go back, for she would never serve any +one but the Lord Jesus, so they might as well leave her in peace to go +her own road. Her old friends and instructors did not like it, but +while they threatened, she remained calm and spoke kindly to them, and +even suggested that they too should believe; whereupon they began to +curse her in their rage. + +Steadily Mrs. Lü went on growing in the knowledge of Christ. She +continued her reading, and soon began to teach others. About six or +seven months later she and her husband were baptized together into the +Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They returned to their home, +full of joy in the Lord, and with the earnest desire to live for Him +who had died for them, and to show forth His salvation from day to day. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SAVED TO SERVE + +But the story does not end here. It is possible to go on to tell a +little of the life of Mrs. Lü as a follower of Him whose Name she +bears. The more we saw of Mr. and Mrs. Lü the more we loved and +appreciated them, and many happy hours were spent in true fellowship +with them and a few other Christians at Kucheng. We felt indeed that +we were one family, united in one Lord and Master and in His service. +As they lived next door to the chapel they had special opportunities +for service, and the way in which they took up the responsibility of +the place, and of the people there, often awakened surprise. At times +it seemed as though they were taking too great a share in the burden. +But they did it so joyfully that it was not easy to restrain them. + +When any newcomer attended the meeting, who did not know the rule that +each person must bring his own dinner with him, Mr. and Mrs. Lü would +invite him to their house, "just to make him feel at home the first +time"; and they did it in such a way that the visitor did not feel that +he was receiving any grace from their hands. If, after some of the +Christians had gathered together on a Sunday, it began to snow or rain, +Mr. and Mrs. Lü would persuade them to stay with them for dinner--"Just +that we may be able to have the afternoon meeting together," they would +say quietly. When remonstrated with about doing too much, they +answered cheerfully, "Oh, we like to do it. We put two or three loads +of rice aside for that purpose every year. We give that to the Lord +who has blessed us so greatly." What more could be said? They were +doing it joyfully for the Master, and He who "is not unrighteous to +forget the labour of love" done for Him and for His sake, will surely +reward them "according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." And He +did reward them even here. + +When they had been coming to the services for about a year, they were +asked if they had any want, or if they had lost that year, seeing they +had given all their Sundays and many evenings, whereas they had worked +hard all the time in former years. They replied that they had lost +nothing, but had a greater surplus at the end of the year than +formerly. And the following year that surplus increased, and they +declared laughingly, "Why, we are richer than ever." Is not this a +practical testimony to the way in which God keeps His promise--"Seek ye +first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things +shall be added unto you"? + +They also taught some of us practical lessons, which will not soon be +forgotten. One year they had some building and repairs done, and had a +number of workmen working for them by the day. When Saturday came, the +question was what was to be done with all these men for the Sunday. +The men said they must go on working, or leave for a few days, as they +could not begin work somewhere else for one day. Mr. and Mrs. Lü were +in great need of their house; and yet what were they to do, for they +felt they could not let the men work for them on the day of rest? The +whole day they were ill at ease, but towards evening Mrs. Lü said to +her husband, "I know what we will do. We will just give them their +food and their wages the same as any other day, but tell them they need +not work. And then those who are willing can come with us to the +meetings." + +"But what about the money for all these men?" + +"The Lord is able to give that back to us in some other way," she said, +"and, at any rate, we shall have the assurance that we have done our +best to let them have a chance of hearing the Gospel." So it was all +settled, and their hearts were at rest. + +The writer arrived at Kucheng that Saturday evening, and was surprised +to see some of the workmen in the meeting, listening very attentively. +The following day, Sunday, three of them came again, but others went to +some of the shops for a talk and a smoke. + +"But why are you not working to-day? How can you play about like +this?" thus some of the shopkeepers addressed them. + +"We were working at Mr. Lü's house, but he told us not to do any work +to-day." + +"But how can you afford to lose a day's money like that?" + +"We do not lose anything. Mr. and Mrs. Lü give us our board and wages, +just as if we were working for them the whole day." + +"Well, that is strange. They used to be careful over their money, and +they seem to be so even now." + +"That is quite true, but they say they will not sin against their God +in making us work for them on Sunday." + +"That doctrine about Jesus is really good: surely there must be +something in it." + +Thus the people reasoned, and it need hardly be said that Mr. and Mrs. +Lü, through their steady and careful walk with God, gained a respect +among the people which only few in their position could attain. It was +to them that the people came in sickness and sorrow, counting upon +their help and prayers. It was from them they sought advice when in +perplexity and uncertainty. And it was in their home the Christians +often gathered for a helpful talk before or after the meetings. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +PERSECUTION AND TRIAL + +Things did not always go smoothly for Mr. and Mrs. Lü, and the narrow +way was not always easy to tread. As followers of Christ they had to +share in His sufferings, in His being rejected and despised by the +world. They had to learn by practical experience that "the servant is +not above his Lord," that if they had persecuted Him, the Lord of +Glory, they would also persecute His followers. A share in His +rejection must, in greater or smaller measure, fall to the lot of every +true believer, and Mr. and Mrs. Lü were not excepted. Persecutions, +threats, and even cursings were not lacking, but as those who uttered +them received only meek answers and kind treatment in return, some of +them, at least, very soon became ashamed of themselves, and left Mr. Lü +and his wife alone. The Lord was on their side, and did not allow +their persecutors to go a step beyond His control; and His servants +found that it was easier to go all lengths with Christ, than to serve +Him in a half-hearted way, as they saw some others doing. + +When the annual theatre was held in Kucheng and every one subscribed to +meet the expenses, the collectors came as usual to Mr. Lü's house. Of +course he and his wife refused, saying they had given up idolatry and +could not subscribe to the theatre in future. The collectors began to +curse, but found Mr. and Mrs. Lü steadfast in their refusal. + +"We are quite willing to entertain you," they said, "we are quite ready +to provide dinner for you to-day, to show you that it is not a question +of money, but we cannot and will not give money for idol-worship and +stage-playing." + +The people left enraged, but came again next day, and for many days, +but they had always to return empty-handed. In such cases where the +money is refused, those who will not contribute invariably get into +trouble. The collectors, aided by others, take such things as chairs, +tables, etc., by force. Some of these things are used at the play, +others are sold to make up for the money the owners have refused to +give willingly. Day by day Mr. Lü and his wife were threatened by the +collectors, who had gathered in great numbers, and when threats failed +to achieve anything, their tormentors began to curse them, and declared +they would beat them and soon teach them what it meant to turn from +idols to a new religion. But the Lord kept His children calm and +joyful in Himself, and they answered quietly: + +"Very well, if you take our chairs and tables and break them to pieces, +as you say you will, we cannot hinder you. And if you beat us, as you +threaten to, we cannot help that either; but we are not going to give +you any money for the play, as it is against our conscience and we will +not sin against God." + +Some of the persecutors still threatened, but others listened to the +promptings of their better nature and gave up the quarrel. These, +thoroughly ashamed of themselves, restrained the rest from going any +further. Soon all of them scattered, and Mrs. Lü and her husband were +left in peace, thanking God for the way in which He had undertaken for +them. + +The next year the people threatened them worse than ever, and then Mr. +and Mrs. Lü, with some other Christians, almost lost heart. They began +to look at the difficulties. They feared the storm that was +threatening, and like Peter, as soon as they turned their eyes from the +Lord and began to look around at the wind and waves, they lost faith, +and were tempted to look to the missionaries for help. We told them, +however, to cry to their Master. They did so, and soon realized that +He was still the same as in His days on earth, that the hearts of men +were in His hands, and that He turneth them according to His own will. +At a word from Him the tempest ceased, and there was a great calm. The +enemies, evidently restrained by the hand of God, did not even come to +the house of His servants. The Lord was fighting for them, and they +could afford to stand still and see His salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +LABOUR AND FRUIT + +Mrs. Lü was faithful in using her opportunities for service, and not a +few precious souls have found Christ through her. Some had been coming +to the meetings before she had given up her vegetarian vow, and were +still halting between two opinions. Mrs. Lü helped such to break +through and fully decide for Christ. She did not believe in half +measures. Others first heard the Gospel message from her lips, and +were not able to resist the power with which she spoke. Amongst the +latter was an old woman, called Mrs. Hsiao. + +The first Sunday Mrs. Lü brought her to the meetings the writer +happened to be at Kucheng. A collection was being taken for the Bible +Society, and this old woman wanted to give thirty cash. We did not +wish to receive it, fearing that she did not know what she was giving +it for. But she pressed us to take it, and Mrs. Lü said, "Please, do +take it. She understands quite well. Although she is at the services +for the first time to-day she knows the Gospel already, for I have +spoken to her several times, and she has quite made up her mind to +serve the Lord. If you do not take it, she will be disappointed." And +when Mrs. Hsiao herself was asked, she said she wanted to give the +money so that others might hear the "Good News" Mrs. Lü had been +telling her. + +Mrs. Lü went on teaching her about Christ, and helped her to learn some +hymns and to read a little. This latter work seemed a hopeless task, +as Mrs. Hsiao was not young; moreover, she was half blind. When the +writer saw her next time she had, however, mastered quite a few hymns. +Patiently she was plodding on, using every spare minute, determined to +learn as much as possible, but lamenting her own stupidity. Mrs. Lü +showed herself a patient teacher, and it was touching to see how +persevering they both were, never losing heart, even when the hymns +were specially difficult, and one sentence had to be repeated over and +over again before it had any meaning at all to the student. The +catechism did not prove easier, but little by little some real progress +was visible. + +When Mrs. Hsiao had learned several hymns she longed to possess a +hymn-book of her own. She asked if she might buy one and pay for it in +instalments, as she could not afford to pay for it all at once. We +gladly assented, and gave her the book. She made Mrs. Lü her +treasurer, and whenever she had been able to save ten cash she brought +them to her. About a month or two later she had paid the whole amount, +and Mrs. Lü handed the money over to us. Gladly would we have given +the book freely, but felt that Mrs. Hsiao would prize it more if it +cost her a little, and at the same time it would afford us a better +chance of seeing how far she was in earnest. + +When the theatre collectors arrived that year at Mrs. Hsiao's house, +they were met with a decided refusal. The time had been when she +believed in their false gods, and rejoiced with them in the play they +got up to honour their objects of worship, but it would never come +again. She had changed Masters, and her desire was to have His favour. +So she remained firm, even when the men threatened to take away the few +things she possessed, which were indeed few enough, and most necessary +for her daily use. That day the men left peacefully, but came again +after a day or two, determined to take some of her things if she +refused to give the money. When they arrived she was in the +guest-hall, and as soon as she saw them enter, she knelt where she was +standing and cried to the Lord for help. In her fright she forgot she +was in a public place and lost sight of her surroundings. She only +realized that the test had come; they meant to take away the little she +possessed, and so she cried simply and earnestly, but with intense +fervour, that the Lord would undertake for her and show that He was +mighty to deliver. + +When the collectors saw her on her knees praying they got frightened, +and said, "She is going to ask Heaven and her God to punish us. Let us +go!" But some of them said they were not going to be fooled by an old +woman and her God, so snatched the cooking-pan from the stove and went +hastily out. When she had finished praying, Mrs. Hsiao found them all +gone, but she was minus her cooking-pan. She was glad to have got off +so easily, but even that one article was necessary to her. How could +she do without it? She had no money to buy another. After a few +moments' perplexity she made her way to Mrs. Lü's house, and told her +story, and together they prayed that the missing article might be +returned to her. + +We heard about her difficulty, and one of the missionaries suggested +that as the woman was so very poor we might give her a new cooking-pan. +But some of us answered, "No, let her fight her own battle. It will be +better for her, as it will strengthen her faith. Even if she does not +get the article back (which we believe she will), it will only show her +that we have to be willing to suffer for His sake." So we remained +silent, that is, silent before men, but not before God. We prayed +earnestly that the Lord, who understood how much this small test meant +to the poor woman, still a babe in Christ, would restore unto her what +she had lost, if it were for her good. And God did undertake for her. +Day by day Mrs. Lü prayed with her, and expected the Lord to work for +them. And He did not let them ask in vain. In His love He pitied His +children, and in His power He touched the hearts of those who had made +Mrs. Hsiao suffer, and soon the lost cooking-pan was restored, and the +hearts of the two women overflowed in praise to God for His goodness +and care. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT + +In a former chapter Mrs. Lü's brother was mentioned. Although he came +off and on to the meetings, and gave up idol worship, he did not take +his stand for Christ for a long time. Mr. Lü had tried earnestly to +lead him into the way of salvation; and after Mrs. Lü had yielded to +the Lord, she joined her husband in his efforts, and they soon had the +joy of seeing him on the Lord's side. + +A few months later he was married to a young woman who professed to be +an earnest enquirer. That was the beginning of trial for him, for the +woman had only been pretending to seek after God, as she knew he would +not marry her unless she professed to be a Christian. She would have +ruined him perhaps spiritually and financially, had not the Lord taken +him to Himself. The year before he married he had been seriously ill, +but had been healed in answer to prayer. Now the malady returned with +redoubled force. It was a great trial to Mrs. Lü to see his suffering, +for she loved her brother. Her heart was sad when he poured into her +sympathetic ear the sorrow he felt in not being able to hinder his wife +and her relatives having idolatrous performances for his recovery. He +knew he was not going to recover; he longed to go home to the land +beyond the shadows. From his wife he received no kind treatment. When +almost at death's door he asked in the night for a cup of tea, but she +refused to move from her bed. At last some neighbours, who heard his +pitiful moan, got up and brought him the desired drink. He prayed that +God might call him speedily, and his prayer was answered. Mr. and Mrs. +Lü mourned for their brother, but could only thank God that He had been +merciful enough to take him to Himself, for his sufferings in this +world would have been prolonged. + +Another one to whom Mrs. Lü was a great help was an old lady of eighty +years, her father's step-mother. The old lady had been coming to the +meetings since the first night we arrived at Kucheng, and was very +intelligent and quick of understanding. There had not been much love +lost between her and her grand-daughter, but when her heart was +touched, and the light of God began to shine in, things began to +improve. Mrs. Lü had hitherto been patient with her, but out of duty +only. But when she herself learned something of the compassionate love +of Christ, there was an added tenderness in all her dealings with her +grandmother. Her kind words and loving deeds did much toward hastening +the day when the old lady stepped out into the light of God, and began +to shine for Him. For several years she bore a bright testimony to His +redeeming grace, and each Sunday was a real feast day to her. Even +when on her sick-bed, her heart was with the loved ones gathered around +the Word of God, and she prayed for His blessing upon them. On her +last Sunday morning on earth she asked, "Who is coming to preach +to-day?" They told her, and she nodded, satisfied. That day she was +gathered to the multitude of worshippers around the Throne in Heaven. +What a trophy of God's grace! Her life had been a hard one. For many +years she had toiled and laboured; sorrow had not been lacking, and all +those weary years she had served and feared the powers of darkness. +But Christ had set her free, and at eventide there was light and peace. + +Soon after their conversion Mrs. Lü and her husband were much concerned +about the parents of their little daughter-in-law. The latter came +into their home the day we opened the chapel at Kucheng, and was from +that day brought under the influence of the Gospel, as she was allowed +to come and go as she liked. She was bright and affectionate, and soon +learned to read. Unlike many girls who come to their mother-in-law's +home while they are still children, she was treated with great +tenderness and consideration, and her heart soon warmed towards Mr. and +Mrs. Lü. But although she was won, that was only a small step, and +greater difficulties had to be overcome. The girl's parents were +entirely heathen, and clung to their beliefs and customs with great +zeal. They had no interest whatever in the Gospel, nor had they any +sympathy with those who believed it. + +The first difficulty started when the girl became ill, soon after Mr. +Lü had decided for Christ. His wife was not yet converted. The +parents came, and demanded that the Taoist priests should be called in +to perform their rites for the recovery of the girl. Mr. Lü told them +he was now a believer in God, and could not allow anything idolatrous +in his house. He would spend all the money that was needed in doctors +and medicine, but could not sin against God. The parents of the girl +were angry, but it was of no use--Mr. Lü remained firm. After a long +time of argument on both sides, the parents said they would take their +daughter home with them and do all they could for her, but Mr. Lü +refused to have anything to do with their practices, and would not bear +the expenses either. The girl did not want the Taoists. She had lost +all faith in the idols, and was learning to pray to the living God and +to trust Christ; but she was still a child, and too young to stand out +against her parents. Her illness was not serious, and she soon +recovered. + +But when Mr. and Mrs. Lü were both on the Lord's side, they were very +much exercised in their minds about the future arrangements concerning +this girl. She was ailing again, and the parents began afresh to +trouble them. Mr. and Mrs. Lü felt that, according to the law of the +land, she now belonged to them, and they had the responsibility for +her. The girl, too, loved the Lord, and objected to have anything +idolatrous done for her. Yet, what were they to do? It was not a +cheery outlook to think that every time the young girl was not well +they should have to quarrel with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wen. They +were peace-loving, and dreaded any disagreement and strife between +themselves and their relations; and yet such seemed unavoidable. + +It was at this point that the Lord showed them a way out of the +difficulty, and reminded Mrs. Lü of the power of prayer. So she turned +to her husband and said, "We cannot sin against God by calling in the +Taoist priest; we cannot allow anything in our house which would be +dishonouring to the name of our Lord and Master; but He has showed me +that there is one thing we can do--we can pray; and we will pray, that +the Lord may open the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Wen, and lead them to +Himself. If they are led to repentance--and why should they not +be?--all the difficulties will be at an end." + +With a steadfast purpose, therefore, these two servants of God set +themselves to pray for those who were on their hearts. And the God of +Israel heard the cry of His chosen ones, and soon His Spirit was at +work in the heart of the mother of the girl. Sooner than they had +dared to hope, Mr. and Mrs. Lü rejoiced in the answer to their prayers, +and could praise God for His wonder-working power. Mrs. Wen opened her +heart to the call of the Spirit; she began to enquire after God, and +very quickly, through the instrumentality of Mrs. Lü, she was brought +into the light. + +From the first it was evident that the Lord Himself had touched her +heart. She sought salvation most earnestly, and her former +indifference gave place to an intense longing after God. When once she +had started out, there was no turning back, and nothing was allowed to +hinder her in the race. She seemed to have imbibed something of Mrs. +Lü's earnestness, and was altogether changed under the new influence +that had come into her life. She became bright and energetic, and with +a will set herself to learn as much as possible. She bought a +hymn-book and catechism, and began to read, Mrs. Lü being her teacher. +Through storm or rain, cold or heat she would tramp to the services; +nothing could keep her at home. It did one good to see her appear with +her bright smile, which had almost become part of her since she had +learned where true happiness was to be found. Now and again her family +would say, "We are so busy, you might stay at home for once." "No," +she answered, "I will not stay at home, but I will get up early in the +morning and prepare all I can for you before I leave." And she had her +way. + +In the beginning her husband laughed her to scorn, sometimes he scolded +her and called her a fool. But very soon he had to acknowledge that +Christianity was no mere fancy, but a reality, and he could not but +admire his wife's earnestness. So he left her in peace, and did not +allow the sons to trouble her. After a while he began to take an +interest in the daily prayers to God, and would try to help her, in +securing for her all the quietness and comfort possible. That made +home life pleasanter and easier for her, and she praised God for this +token of His grace and favour. + +How Mrs. Lü rejoiced, and what a bond there was between the two +relatives! They were one in the Saviour whom they loved, and both were +filled with the one desire to please Him. Mrs. Lü had to share in the +new-found joy of the one she had been leading to Christ, and every one +who has been used in winning souls for the Master knows the blessedness +of such hours; an abundant reward indeed for prayers and labours. + +Advice and teaching had still to be given, and Mrs. Lü not only began a +good work, but tried to carry it on to the best of her ability--to help +the new believers by counsel and intercession, and to strengthen their +hands in the Lord. And the one who had so recently passed from death +unto life was not idle either. Especially in her own home she began to +witness for Christ, and found a willing listener in the wife of her +second son. This young woman gladly accompanied her mother-in-law to +the meetings and heard the Word with joy. Her father, who heard of her +attending Christian services, was furious, and declared he would disown +her and bring severe punishment upon her and her home if she continued +to go to the meetings. He insisted on her husband forbidding her to +go. So with a heavy heart the young woman had to stay at home. She +knew how hard and cruel and unforgiving her father was, and she dared +not disobey him. But she determined to continue in the worship of God, +for even her father could not hinder her in that. She asked her +mother-in-law to buy her a book so that she might go on learning at +home. She never dared to brave her father's anger, and step right out +for Christ, but she never worshipped idols again, and when she had a +very serious illness, she trusted the Lord for healing instead of +turning to the Taoist priest. She only lived for a few years, but her +mother-in-law had the full assurance that she died trusting in Christ +Jesus and His redeeming Love. + +After a while old Mr. Wen started coming to the meeting, and his wife +was full of joy. But trouble arose in the home, and their eldest son +had to suffer through an unrighteous law case. He wanted us to +interfere on his behalf, which we could not do, so Mr. Wen and his sons +turned away from us in anger for a time, and Mrs. Wen had a hard test +in her home. But she and Mrs. Lü, and some of us, prayed through, and +Mr. Wen soon saw that he had been too hasty in his judgment, and came +back. From that time he went steadily on, and husband and wife were +once more walking together on the same road, but this time it was +leading them upward into light and glory. + +For Mr. Wen the journey was soon ended. Even before he had been +baptized and had his name put on the Church roll, he heard the +roll-call from above, and gladly answered. Mrs. Wen pursued her lonely +way, faithful to the last. She, too, has left for the Home with the +many mansions. A short serious illness brought her suddenly to the +brink of the river, but there was no fear in her heart as she had to +ford that stream. She gave her last bright testimony to the saving +power of Christ, and told her loved ones that she was going to be with +Him, and they were not to be anxious about her future after death, for +she was going to the home of eternal blessedness. For the last day or +two she was more or less unconscious, but always at peace. She had +lived and walked with Christ, and He carried her gently through the +chilling waters to the other shore. + +Mrs. Wen will be one of the jewels that will shine brightly in Mrs. +Lü's crown, when she receives her reward from the hand of her Master. +May none who read this be found starless or empty-handed in that day! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE + +We must go back again to the time when Mrs. Lü had her heart's desire +in seeing Mrs. Wen beginning to seek after God. In the midst of that +joy the testing time began, and the Lord brought His child through deep +waters. For days and weeks she was lying on her sick-bed, with, +humanly speaking, no hope of recovery. These weeks were hard and +trying, especially to her loved ones, who watched her anxiously. The +native doctors had given up the case as beyond their ability, and said +there was nothing more to be done; Mrs. Lü would never get well again. +Many friends crowded around and entreated her to make her peace with +the gods she had offended, and to let some Taoist ceremonies be +performed for her, as that was her only hope of restoration to health. + +She, of course, would not hear of it, and to one and all testified to +the joy and peace she had in God. "Do not worry about me," she said +brightly, "I am not afraid to die. I rather long for death, for I +shall then be at home with Jesus, which is far better." Weak as she +was, she used every opportunity for pointing the unsaved ones to +Christ. When asked if she did not feel anxious about leaving her +husband, and the children who were still young, she replied, "The Lord +will take care of them." She was anxious about nothing, but was +longing for her heavenly home, although she said she would be glad to +serve the Lord a little longer, if He wanted her here. + +Many went away wondering what the treasure was that she possessed, +which they knew nothing about. A wonderful treasure it must be, they +reflected, to keep her so calm and peaceful, yes, even rejoicing in the +face of death. But others insisted that the gods were punishing Mrs. +Lü for having left them; and as she would not take their advice and try +to reconcile the idols, they were furious and loud in their +denunciations of her. One of Mrs. Lü's relatives came to her and said: + +"I am so frightened for you, all the people are cursing you. They +declare you are now reaping your punishment for leaving the idols." + +Mrs. Lü only smiled and answered, "Let them curse, they can do me no +harm, neither they nor their gods of clay, for my God does bless me." + +"But they say, you will surely die." + +"Even if I should die, there is no punishment. I shall be most glad to +go to my Saviour, and I have nothing to be afraid of. I shall only +have the greater happiness and glory." + +It need scarcely be said that we pleaded earnestly and constantly with +God to spare Mrs. Lü's life, if it would be His will, as we felt that +she was so much needed for the work at Kucheng. He graciously heard +and answered prayer, and Mrs. Lü began to take a turn for the better. +Slowly, very slowly the improvement showed itself. She would insist on +being carried to the services every Sunday, her husband fetching her +from her bed, and seating her in a chair in the little chapel, which +had become a sacred spot to her. There she would sit with closed eyes, +listening to the service. She could not read or sing, as she had no +strength to open her eyes even, but she said softly, "I can pray." At +the close of the service she was carried back to bed again, entirely +exhausted. But God, who knew her motives and saw the longings of a +heart full of love to Him, kept her from taking any harm through what +might otherwise have been considered very unwise. + +What a joy it was to see her well! She had only gained, and not lost, +in her spiritual life during the time the Lord had laid her aside. She +had been chastened through her pain and suffering, through the +temptations from without and within, and would be more meet for the +Master's use than formerly. And so her later service proved. Often +when she went out shopping, or when any other business took her to the +street of the village, she would get an opportunity of witnessing for +her Lord. The shopkeepers and their wives would say, "Now, sit down +and tell us something of the Jesus doctrine first, and then we will +serve you." To that she gladly assented, and with pleasant manner and +convincing words, she would tell of the love of Christ, and what it had +done for her. It often happened that others came to listen to the +message; indeed, many went to her home for that very purpose, and to +each and all she related the story of her conversion, giving God all +the glory for having conquered when she had determined never to yield. +She told them of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power, and of +the great privilege of being a child of God. Mrs. Lü did not get +discouraged when they did not believe at once. "I do not wonder you do +not believe," she would say, "I was just the same once, and worse than +you. No power on earth could have made me leave my old way; but the +wonder-working power of God did it, and that same power will still +bring you into His fold." + +Many strong opponents of the Gospel, many full of arguments and worldly +wisdom sought her out to argue and reason with her, fully assured that +their clever and witty speeches would soon bring ridicule and shame +upon her and her belief. But quietly and earnestly she silenced all of +them, often even outwitting them in arguments; at other times just +telling her simple story, but with such power that all mouths were +closed. The Lord indeed gave her "mouth and wisdom" according to His +promise in Luke xxi. 15, and very often, when the husband and wife were +telling their experiences, the former would say, with a proud, fond +look at his wife, "They are never able to get the best of her in +argument. The Lord always helps her to overcome them all." How he +loved her, and how united these two were in heart and mind! Day by +day, as they both followed Christ, they were drawn closer to each other. + +Mrs. Lü was always ready for service, and whenever the Lord called her +to do something for Him, she did it joyfully and with all her might. +When some days had been set apart for the worship of a famous idol +visiting Kucheng, the people, especially the women, streamed together +from all quarters. A good many of them were strangers in the place, +and all sights worthy of notice had to be seen. The "Jesus Hall" was +one of them, perhaps the most important of all, for the women had heard +strange tales of the foreigners with their new doctrine, and they +wanted to see the place with their own eyes. + +Mrs. Lü saw them coming, and realized that here was work for her to do, +as the old chapel-keeper was little good at preaching. That morning +Mrs. Lü had read in her daily text-book: "Be of good cheer. Speak, and +be not silent, for I have much people in this city." Now the message +came back to her, and it seemed to be the voice of God Himself, so she +answered joyfully, "Very well, Lord, if Thou dost want me to preach, I +will preach. I will put down my own work, and only work for Thee +during these days." So without delay or regret, she put everything +else aside, and for three or four days witnessed from morning till +night to all the women who came, so that each one might hear the glad +tidings of salvation before returning to a distant home. Could such +faithful work, done through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and +through the constraining love of Christ, be in vain? + +She would say in her own bright way--"I am glad and willing to work for +the Lord, even if it should mean great loss; but the Lord does not let +me lose anything, not even in worldly things. I give my time to Him, +and He so often helps me to do a piece of work that makes up for all +the time I have given. Do you know what happened last week? I gave my +time to preaching the Gospel during the week, and then on Saturday +somebody brought a pair of shoes to be mended. It was a difficult +piece of work, and few were able to do it. I undertook to mend them, +and in that one day I earned 100 cash, when others were only able to +earn 20 or 30 cash a day." + +Does not this story give a striking example of how God rewards glad and +willing service for Him, even here, in addition to the greater +recompense above? "Therefore be ye steadfast, immovable, always +abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your +labour is not in vain in the Lord." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +DAYS OF SHADOW + +Reference has already been made to the death of Mrs. Lü's brother. +This had been a great trial to her, as he was the only one left who +bound her to the home of her girlhood. It was in June 1904 that he +left them for the better world above, and already in July death called +another one from the immediate circle. This time it was the old tailor +Chang who was summoned into the presence of the King. + +He was, indeed, a brand plucked from the burning. He had been pretty +well off, and was a good tailor. When a child, Mr. Lü had been +apprenticed to Chang by his parents. Chang was fond of the quiet, +conscientious boy, and treated him well, and the two grew fond of each +other. But soon their ways parted, and later on Chang sunk very low on +account of his opium-smoking habit. He kept an opium den, lived with a +woman who was not his wife, and became more and more a slave to opium, +until he had wasted his last dollar and sold all he possessed. It was +then, when he was landed in utter misery, and knowing not where to +turn, that his former apprentice, Mr. Lü, came forward, and offered him +a home and shelter. + +Chang's body was ruined through former sins, and when trying to +diminish his daily supply of opium, he suffered acutely, and was often +ill for weeks together. It was during one of these attacks that the Lü +children told him to pray to God for healing. He did so, as he said he +could not withstand the pleading of the children, although he had been +very displeased with Mr. and Mrs. Lü being Christians. The Lord did +raise him up the next day. Chang realized it was an answer to prayer, +and set himself to seek the Lord. Little by little he was led on to +know the true way of salvation, and decided to serve Christ. Having +taken the first step along the narrow way, he went steadily on and +never wavered in his decision. It was touching to see his earnestness +in worship and prayer, and in listening to the Word. He left off +smoking opium, and was only swallowing one small pill a day as +medicine. He tried hard to reduce even that small pill, and several +times decided to do without any opium, but he got so ill that he had to +take the pill again. + +In the spring of 1904 he tried again to do without opium altogether, +and we gave him some anti-opium medicine, but he could not take it. +His poor body was altogether ruined. Soon he had to keep to his bed, +and Mrs. Lü looked after him as if he were her own father. The old man +loved her, and could not bear her out of his sight. The children, too, +cheered him greatly, as they would come to his bedside and talk to him +about God, and sing their hymns to him. During his illness he drew +nearer and nearer to the Lord, and was constantly in prayer. Often +during the day, and especially during the long sleepless nights, his +voice could be heard in praise and prayer. For the last few days he +refused to take even the smallest pill of opium. They told him that it +was only as medicine he needed it, for he could not take any food; but +the old man firmly resisted, saying, "I will go to meet my God +altogether free from opium, and from any other of my former sins. The +blood of Christ has cleansed me, I will not defile myself any more." +Although suffering all the time, he awaited his end joyfully, and +continually repeated to those around him that he was trusting in the +merit of the Crucified. + +One day shortly before his death an old vegetarian leader came to call +upon Mrs. Lü. His chief motive was to point out to her that all the +sickness, sorrow, and trials, and the deaths of some of her family had +come to her as a result of her breaking her vegetarian vow. He +finished up by saying, "You see how wrong you were. Your God does not +care for you, He only sends you trouble." Mrs. Lü felt tired and weary +that day, and being downhearted did not answer so quickly and brightly +as was her wont. + +Old Chang, lying on his death-bed in the next room, could hear all, and +noticed not only the man's cruelty, but Mrs. Lü's depression. Feeble +as he was he managed to get out of bed, and stumbled into the room, to +the great distress of Mrs. Lü. She knew he had not walked a step for +days, and was afraid he might fall, so prepared to help him back again. +But he took no notice of her, and confronting the vegetarian, said, +"No, she is not wrong; you are wrong, our God is worthy of our trust. +He does care for us, He does love us, and the trials are only for a +short while." He asked for a New Testament, and began looking for a +text. His eyes were dim, and he wanted to put on his glasses, but had +not the strength to do so, and his fingers were almost unable to turn +the pages of the book. Mrs. Lü remonstrated, telling him that he was +ill, dying, and must go back to bed. But he heeded her not, he must +show the vegetarian in black and white on Whom their hope was built. +At last he found what he wanted. His trembling fingers pointed to the +Word, and in a weak, but glad voice, he read out--"Be ye also patient, +stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." His +eagerness and earnestness, even when at the very door of death, made a +great impression on all around, and the vegetarian leader took his +departure. A few days later old Chang was called Home. He was never +enrolled on the Church register, but no one ever doubted that his name +was registered in the Book of Life. His faith kept firm to the last, +and he gave instructions that no heathen rites were to be performed for +him. He said, "I am going straight to my Saviour. I do not need any +Taoist priest to break open the door of hell, or to bridge the gulf, +for the door of heaven is opened wide for me through Jesus and His +blood." + +Mr. Lü bought a coffin for him, and his own relatives were to take the +coffin to the home of the old man, three miles out in the country. The +relatives came, but not to do their duty, only to make trouble. They +declared the Lü family must have received a lot of money from old +Chang, and demanded it back. They refused to bury their relative, so +Mr. Lü calmly called others to bury him, and paid all the extra +expenses. Then the shop-keepers at Kucheng got enraged, and made the +relatives ashamed of their behaviour, for they knew in their hearts, +and all others knew, that Mr. and Mrs. Lü had pitied the old man in his +poverty and sickness, when his own people had spurned him. + +Again the Lord had been glorified through His servants, and although +they did not receive much gratitude here for many of their loving +deeds, they will not lose the reward laid up for them in the Father's +Home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE SHADOW DEEPENS + +So far reference has only been made to the trials connected with the +illness and death of two in the family circle. But another storm was +already pending, and a great dark cloud was yet to break over the heads +of these two devoted servants of God. Did the Lord not have compassion +on them, or had He ceased to care? Why did they not prosper in +everything as before? Had the Lord changed in His love for them, or +had He forgotten to be gracious? They did not think so, neither did +they murmur. They were ready to take what He sent, and could say with +Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." They knew they +could trust Him; and their faith was kept firm and bright, and the +presence of their Heavenly Guide grew more precious as He led them +through the valley of shadows. + +Mr. Lü had not been strong for years, and every now and again, +specially during the winter and spring, he had a bad cough, with some +slight haemorrhage. As he got better as soon as the warm weather set +in, they had not considered the attacks dangerous, and Mr. Lü would +work as hard as ever, often doing night work by the dim light from the +Chinese oil-lamp. On Saturday they would all come to the prayer +meeting, and then go back home and work till long after their regular +bedtime, so that they might be free for the Sunday. Mr. Lü was a very +hard worker, and never spared himself. + +In the beginning of 1905 he took a more severe cold than before; his +cough became very troublesome, and he was constantly spitting blood. +He believed everything was owing to the exceptionally cold winter we +were experiencing, and hoped to be better as soon as the spring set in. +But before spring came, he gave every evidence of serious consumption. +Knowing that he had been ailing for years, it was hoped that he might +possibly improve again, and perhaps live on for some time. He was +therefore invited to come to the city Mission Station for a while, so +that he might get proper medicine and better nourishment than he could +have in his own home. As soon as his strength allowed him to take the +journey, he came and stayed with us for a month. During that time all +was done that love could do. At the end of the month he felt better +and seemed stronger, but soon after his return home he began to get +worse again, and his cough grew more violent. Soon it was evident to +all that there was no hope of his recovery, but he and his wife were +the only ones who remained calm about it. Many doctors came to ask if +they could do anything for him; some out of kindness, others to enrich +their own pockets. But Mr. Lü only replied, "No, you are not able to +do anything for me. I am going Home. The Lord is calling me." + +His wife was blamed by everybody for "letting him die," as they put it. + +"Why don't you try to save him? The Taoist priests would restore him +to health. Why do you not call them?" + +"Because," she replied, "what you and the priests trust in, is all +false and powerless. Life and death are alike in the hand of God, and +He will do what is best." + +The people shook their heads at her obstinacy; others declaring it +served her right. Her husband's death would be at her door, for had +she not angered the idols in leaving them? Mrs. Lü heeded them not, +for her heart was fixed. The Rock upon which she had built was the +Rock of Ages, and upon it she stood secure, firm and unshaken in the +time of trial. She knew whom she had believed, had proved His +faithfulness, and that He would remain though all else were taken from +her. + +Mr. Lü, though glad for his own sake to go to the Home above, would at +times feel sorry for his much-loved wife and son, and would express his +regret at leaving them while the boy was still so young. But Mrs. Lü, +instead of complaining or murmuring against her fate, as others would +have done, gently encouraged her husband in the Lord, saying, "Never +mind about us. You just prepare yourself to meet your God. We have +Him, and He will take care of us. Do not worry." With words like +these she would comfort his heart, although her own was bleeding. But +she knew where to take her sorrow, and every day, and many times a day, +she fled to her safe and happy refuge. + +When Mr. Lü was staying in the city and she was left alone, her heart +often went out in longing after him, and she was wondering anxiously +how he was. She felt lonely without him, and, try as hard as she might +be to cheerful, sad thoughts would come. Just then one of the +evangelists went to Kucheng to take the Sunday services. He was led to +speak on John xiv. 1--"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in +God, believe also in Me." That was the message Mrs. Lü needed. She +felt comforted, and, after the meeting, she started to read the whole +chapter. What treasures it revealed, and how precious it became to +her. She heard, while reading it over and over again, the voice of Him +who first spoke these words to His beloved disciples, and that voice +had lost none of its former power. Eagerly and joyfully she drank in +the beautiful words and precious promises, spoken to those other sad +ones when the loving Master was about to leave them, and in her quiet +room her heart was filled with "the peace that passeth all +understanding." Needless to say, John xiv. became her favourite +chapter henceforth. + +When the writer went to see Mr. Lü for the last time, we arrived late +one Friday night. He sat up joyfully when he heard our voice, and +greeted us with the words--"Our next meeting-place will be in Heaven." +It did not need more than one look at the wasted form to realize that +for him, at least, that happy place would soon be reached. It was with +a sad and husky voice we replied, "Yes, Mr. Lü, it will be with our +Lord in Glory." The native evangelist who had accompanied us now +entered the room, and after some talk we had prayer together. Although +our hearts ached and the tears could not be kept back, we were filled +with praise to God for His saving grace, for the hope of glory, and for +the eternal inheritance laid up in heaven. Oh, how near Heaven seemed! +Christ was in our midst, and the humble room seemed hallowed by His +presence. Having commended our brother to our Father's tender care, we +separated for the night. + +The following day he was much the same. In the evening the prayer +meeting was held in his house, as we had a message from the Lord we +wanted to deliver to him and his wife. He insisted on being helped out +into the public room, and remained there while the meeting lasted, +which was consequently shortened. It was a blessed hour we spent +together in communion with the Lord, and in hearing His voice speaking +through Psalm xxiii. + +The following day, Sunday, the meetings were held in the chapel, so Mr. +Lü could not be present. But he was present in spirit, and during the +prayer meeting his heart was lifted up to God in his lonely chamber. +In the evening the little praise meeting was held at their home, and we +shall never forget the picture that met our eyes as we entered. Mr. Lü +was lying on a low couch, his wife sitting close beside him, holding +his hand. Their little son was sitting close to both of them at the +end of the bed, leaning against his mother, and gently stroking his +father's feet. It was the most touching and home-like thing we had +ever seen in family life in China. But, if the shadows rested over +that united and loving home, the Sun of Righteousness was shining also. + +Everybody seemed to choose bright hymns about the Heavenly Home and the +coming again of our Lord in glory. Mr. Lü was lying there with a happy +smile on his face, and the last hymn he asked for was "Oh, thou my +soul, bless God the Lord." As we sang our praise to God our souls were +lifted above the sufferings and trials of this life, and seemed to +realize already something of the glory which was to be revealed. One +of our fellow-workers had sent a card for Mr. and Mrs. Lü with Romans +viii. 28 on it, and as we read it, it seemed as if we already saw +beyond the veil, beyond the "workings" to the blessed result--"The joy +unspeakable and full of glory." Mrs. Lü said after a while, "The +longer I sing, the happier I get. My sorrow has quite departed, and is +no more." Oh, how little does the world know what real joy means! +What are all the pleasures this world can offer, yea, even the choicest +ones, compared to one hour's real joy in fellowship and communion with +Him who is the Fount of every Blessing, and in whose presence there is +fulness of joy? Would that the poor souls hungering for rest and +happiness, dissatisfied with the worldly pleasures, tired of their +empty show, might turn to Him who is the source of all true and lasting +joy. How abundantly they would be satisfied with the fatness of His +house, for He would make them drink of the rivers of His pleasure. How +much richer their lives would be already here, to say nothing of the +life hereafter. + + Take the world, but give me Jesus, + Other joys are but a name, + But His love abideth ever, + To eternal years the same. + Oh, the height and depth of mercy, + Oh, the length and breadth of love, + Oh, the fulness of salvation, + Pledge of endless life above. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ENTERING THE VALLEY + +The following morning there seemed to be a change in Mr. Lü, and +thinking that the end would come that day we stayed on until the +afternoon, for which he was very grateful. Several times he would say, +"I know quite well why you are staying here, it is only for my sake. I +shall never be able to repay you for what you have done for me, but God +will." And yet it seemed so little that one had been able to do for +him, and he had been such a help to us, and to the work in Kucheng. +Towards evening we had to return to the city; so after a parting prayer +and a last farewell, or, rather, a hopeful "We shall meet again up +yonder," we left him smiling his bright farewell. The evangelist +remained with them till the end should come. + +Mr. Lü lingered on till Thursday night. During those days many came to +see him, and expressed their regret and pity at his not getting better. +But he answered brightly, "No, I am not sorry that the end is near. +Although I am loth to leave my family, I am still full of joy. There +is no fear of death in my heart, I am prepared for it, and I know my +Saviour is coming to take me to my Heavenly Home, to be with Him, which +is far better. What about you? Take heed and prepare quickly for the +day when you, too, may be called." With these words and many others, +he would testify to the joy he had in Christ, and exhort his neighbours +and friends to seek salvation before it was too late. + +The day before his death he had a visit from a Christian distantly +related to him. He greeted him brightly, and said, "Jesus has not yet +come. I wish He would come quickly and take me Home. Our teacher left +the evangelist here to help us, and I know she has other work for him +to do." Up till the very end his thoughts were for others and not for +himself. + +Towards midnight he called for his wife. "Please wash me quickly and +put my old garments aside, and help me into my new clothes, for I am +soon going: the Lord is calling me." + +"Do not say this," she remonstrated. + +But he answered, "Do not hinder me, do not try to delay me. My time +has come, my God is calling me." + +So she did as he bid her, and prepared him for the journey. Some days +previously he had asked her to make him a long white robe, as it was in +pure white, within and without, that he wanted to meet his Lord. When +their preparations were ready, his wife wanted to call the evangelist, +but even then Mr. Lü was thoughtful enough to say, "No, do not wake +him; he is getting old, let him sleep. I am all right and need +nothing." He was called, however, and soon stood at the bedside of his +friend, praying for him for the last time. Before that prayer was +ended, Mr. Lü called out, "I am going, Jesus is here," and with that +word upon his lips his spirit had left the mortal body and taken its +flight to God who gave it. There was no pain, no sorrow, no last +struggle. Gently and peacefully he passed over Jordan into the +presence of the King. + +The funeral took place a week later. Our hearts were sore and the +tears flowing fast as we remembered we should see his face no more. In +some measure we could sympathize with those who were nearest and +dearest to him, and who had lost so much. But through the whole +service a joy note rang out clearly. We felt the very presence of the +Lord, and even all the outsiders were awed and listened attentively to +the message given, in which the evangelist sought to bring home to +their hearts the necessity for receiving Christ and His redeeming +grace, so that their end might be like the one they had so recently +witnessed. Many of them never forgot the peace that kept Mr. Lü's +heart at perfect rest, even when he stood on the brink of the river. +His joy in the Lord under such circumstances was a surprise and a +mystery which would again and again force itself upon their minds. +They asked each other, and they asked us, where that joy came from. + +On the morning of the burial, a heathen man came and told us that he +had seen Mr. Lü in his dream the night before. He was walking on a +beautiful shore which must be Heaven, and was so joyful and beautiful. +Mr. Lü had called to him, begging him to come across, and he decided to +go to that glorious place. When starting to go he felt some change +come over him, and at last reached the glory-land where he conversed +with Mr. Lü. This was his dream; but was it not a clear call to that +man to seek the things above? God grant that he may heed the call. + +In other ways, too, the Lord spoke to some of the ignorant, idolatrous +people around. He knew just the state of their minds, and what would +appeal to those who as yet had no light. In His tender mercy He sought +their lost souls, and spoke to them in a language they could +understand. Some of them said to one another, "Well, it is strange, +the God of the Christians does seem to care for them. They refuse to +choose days like we do, and yet every Christian has died on a lucky +day. We can choose our days for the funerals, but we cannot choose +lucky days for those dying. But God does that for those who worship +Him." + +Poor benighted souls. They do not know that to the God of the +Christians all days are alike, but in His love He teaches them +according to their understanding. How great is His long-suffering! It +was a great help to me to see how the Lord did not despise their +ignorance, but fitted His voice and doings to their understanding. +While we should have got impatient, God took the trouble of teaching +them in this small way. What a good thing it is that our Father is +more patient than we His children are. We want light and full +understanding straight off; but He does not despise the very smallest +beginning, does not reject the poor soul in darkness, who shows, +perhaps, only a feeble groping after the light. May He make us more +like Himself! + + +It is true that the "tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." While +Mr. Lü was lying on his death-bed, one of the idols was having its +birthday celebrated, and again the people of the place were collecting +money for the theatre. Mrs. Lü replied again that she would be glad to +give her share for anything which would benefit her fellow-men, and was +even willing to give a double share, but could not give them any money +for idolatry. The men threatened that she should ask them in vain for +help when her husband died. They would not carry the coffin, neither +would they lend her the things needed for carrying it to its +resting-place. She did not reply, but came and told us. We advised +her to act as if no word had been said, for we believed the men would +think better of it, and not carry out their threats. And if they did, +the Church members from other villages would gladly do that service for +her. So she said nothing till after her husband's death, when all of +them came without any refusal. Only one man said that he would not +carry a Christian's coffin, but the others soon made him ashamed of +himself. None could keep up his displeasure with Mrs. Lü for very +long, for she was too much respected by all. + +As the funeral procession passed through Kucheng the streets were lined +on both sides with onlookers. But even there a hush seemed to have +fallen on the people. Here and there a quiet remark was heard, "Oh, +the Christians do pay proper respect to their dead. Even all the +missionaries and preachers follow them to the grave, and wear mourning +for them!" Some little boys were walking ahead of the coffin, beating +the gongs and carrying four banners, with the inscription, "He shall +certainly rise again," and, "He shall ascend to heaven and dwell +there." One long banner showed the text, "For there is one God and one +Mediator between God and men." And another, "For God so loved the +world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in +Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." One boy carried a +large white umbrella, then followed the coffin, carried by eight men, +behind which the wife and nearest relatives went weeping and wailing, +recalling all the virtues of the one who had gone from them. Further +behind, other relatives and friends followed, ourselves among the +number, all with white headgear. + +The remains of Mr. Lü were put to rest on the quiet hillside, beside +his first wife. Before he died, we had chosen the words for his +gravestone--"He that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he +live," and also the word of the Apostle Paul, "For ever with the Lord." +Yes, for ever with the Lord, separated from us for a little while, but +not for ever. Here the short time of warfare apart, there the long +eternity of victory and blessedness together. What a glorious hope is +ours! + +God's ways are wonderful, and His thoughts past finding out. To our +finite minds, Mr. Lü seemed needed here. The Lord had put him in a +place where he had many opportunities for service, and those +opportunities were not left unheeded or misused. "Oh, that he might be +spared to us!" that was the cry in the beginning, but already we began +to see the purpose of God in taking His servant away, as so much was +accomplished through his death. God, our God, does not make any +mistakes. He buries His servants but carries on His work. May it be +said at the end of the life of each one of us, as I think it might +truly be written over Mr. Lü's service--"He has done what he could!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST + +"Old Grandfather, you are early this morning at your worship." Thus +Mrs. Lü addressed an old man who was earnestly worshipping at a shrine +she was passing. Her heart went out in compassion for the old man, who +was nearing the end of life's journey without God and without hope. So +she addressed him kindly, hoping she would be able to point him to +Christ. The old man was hard of hearing. After having finished his +worship, he slowly turned round and looked at her, and again she +repeated her greeting. "You are early at your worship, old +Grandfather. You are very earnest about it." + +"Well may I be in earnest," he replied, "for herein my only hope lies. +I am an old man, without kith or kin, without anybody to care for my +soul when I die." + +"But you are wasting your money on worshipping these false gods, and +you are spending your energy in vain. I know of a better way." + +"A better way! What might that be? I never heard of any better way. +And as I have no sons or grandsons, I must look out for myself. I do +not need my money. I have buried my wife and my children. Now I have +been preparing for my own burial. For twelve years my grave has been +made and is well lined with bricks. My coffin is in my house waiting +for me. I have prepared many boxes full of paper clothes, and many +thousand paper dollars to be burned for me when I am gone, for I do not +want to go hungry and naked into the next world." + +[Illustration: Another jewel for Christ. "You are early at your +worship, old grandfather. You are very earnest about it."] + +"But all these things will be of no use to you in the next world. The +priests are deceiving you. You ought to come and worship God." + +"You say I ought to worship God. I do worship heaven. We all ought to +worship heaven and earth." + +"I do not want you to worship heaven, but the Creator of heaven and +earth. There is no God beside Him." + +"But I have not seen Him. I do not know Him." + +"No, you cannot see Him, for He is a Spirit; but He sees you, and He +supplies your need every day by sending the rain and sunshine when +needed. And better still, He will forgive your sins. He is the only +one who can forgive sins." + +"The only way to get your sins forgiven is to do good deeds, and +accumulate as much merit as possible." + +"That way, too, is false. You know I was a vegetarian for many years." + +"Yes, I remember you when you lived in my native village, in my +relatives' home, and when your first husband was ill. Ah, you were a +strict vegetarian then!" + +"That is true, but God taught me the better way, and now I am serving +Him. There is no need for me to lay up merit for myself, for I trust +in the atoning Blood of Christ and stand upon His merit. Indeed, I +have merited only condemnation, but God in His infinite grace has +forgiven all." + +"The doctrine you preach is good, and it is quite true, but I am too +old to obtain such happiness as you speak of." + +"No, you are not too old--the Lord Jesus wants you to come to Him. And +the older you are the more important it is for you to believe quickly, +so that you may escape the sufferings in the next world." + +"I should like to do that, but I do not understand. What am I to do?" + +"If you will come to see me in my own home, I will tell you more about +Jesus and His teaching." + +With that invitation, Mrs. Lü left the old man, but she began to pray +for him and for his salvation. She realized that it would not be easy +for his darkened mind to understand the good news she had been telling +him, and yet she felt that he would be saved. A few days later, old +Grandfather Hsü appeared in her home. He had been thinking about the +strange doctrine, and wanted to know more. Gladly Mrs. Lü explained +the way of salvation to him, and pointed him to the Crucified and Risen +Saviour. + +The next Sunday he came to the services, and it did not take him long +to find out that he had at last come upon that which would satisfy his +heart, and for which he had been longing in vain for many years. The +old man, who had been bowing down to wood and stone for eighty years, +was brought into touch with the Living God, who soon became a bright +reality to him. He who had done his utmost to prepare himself for the +world to come, learned to rejoice in the eternal inheritance laid up +for him in heaven. His faith was so simple that it gave no room for +doubt or reasoning. Like a child who, weary with chasing the shadows, +nestles down to rest in his mother's arms, so old Grandfather Hsü +turned from his weary search and vain strivings after peace, and +pillowed his head on the loving breast of his Saviour, and there his +heart found rest. + +A year later he was baptized, being then eighty-one years old. How our +hearts rejoiced when we looked upon his shining face and listened to +his bright testimony. Some months before his baptism we asked him, +"Grandfather Hsü, what about your boxes of clothes and all your paper +money?" + +"Oh, these false things are burnt. I fetched them down from the loft +and made a bonfire of them." + +"Were you not sorry to see them burnt, seeing that you had prepared +them so carefully, and had spent a lot of money on them?" + +"Oh no, I do not need them now, for Jesus has prepared all for me. +When I die there is nothing left for others to do but to lower the +coffin already prepared, and complete the grave. Some one will do that +for me. My heart is at peace. I have nothing to be anxious about, but +am just quietly waiting till the Lord Jesus calls me Home." + +And so he kept on waiting till he was eighty-three years old, without a +shadow of doubt darkening his simple, child-like faith in the Lord. +One Sunday he gathered as usual with the Lord's people at the little +chapel at Kucheng, and only bade them good-bye after the afternoon +meeting. No one thought that Grandfather Hsü had been amongst them for +the last time in this world. The next morning he was found dead in his +bed, with a happy smile on his face. Evidently there had been no pain. +Death had been a messenger from God, calling him Home, and not the +"king of terrors." Could the Lord have dealt more kindly with the old +man, who would have had none to lovingly care for him had he passed +through a long illness? Quickly and gently he had been lifted up into +the Everlasting Arms. There was joy in Heaven, for another priceless +and precious jewel had been brought into the King's Treasure Chamber. +"They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make +up My jewels." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + +Mrs. Lü is still living and working for God. But her name is no more +Lü, for she has been married for several years to an earnest Christian, +and the two are serving the Lord together. + +When we first heard of her contemplated marriage we were loth to let +her leave Kucheng, but in talking to us about it, she said, "Do not be +anxious about this matter. I am seeking the Lord's guidance. You say +you are afraid it is the devil trying to get me away from the work +here. But I promise that I will not leave unless it is the Lord's +will. If He says I must go, I will go." + +We had to leave her future with the Lord, and we knew that one of the +Christians was right when he said, "The work in Kucheng may be harder +without her, but as for her she will be a light wherever she goes." + +She has remained faithful to the Church at Kucheng. Sunday after +Sunday she is to be found there, and tries her best to bring others. +Through heat or cold, rain or sunshine, she walks the four or five +miles cheerfully, showing in word and deed Whose she is and Whom she +serves, buying up the opportunities God gives her. + +"Everlasting Pearl" is still seeking jewels for her Master, and the +first one given to her new home was her husband's mother, a dear old +lady, seventy years old, who was baptized two years ago. The two are +firm friends. They have gone through sickness, persecution, and other +deep waters together, but joy in the Lord and in His Word has been +their strength. When the day's work is done, the three who love God in +that busy, worldly home have a quiet hour together for the reading of +the Word and for praise and prayer. There at the Throne of Grace they +gather strength and courage and patience. All these are needed, for +the other members of the family are strongly opposed to the Gospel. +Their sister-in-law weeps for their hardness of heart, and prays +earnestly for their salvation. + +We have followed "Everlasting Pearl" on her life's journey for nearly +fifty years. She has aroused our pity for her in her heathen darkness, +and has claimed our sympathy in her sufferings and trials. She has +excited our admiration for her steadfast devotion, and stirred our +hearts through her loving and zealous service. What is the outcome to +be? Her voice is raised as eagerly as ever in testifying to the grace +in Christ Jesus and salvation in His Name, but it is only able to reach +a few of that vast unsaved throng. Shall we not unite our voices with +hers? Her heart is lifted up in prayer to God for a lost world; shall +we let her wrestle alone, and let the cry of many a despairing soul go +unheeded? What is our part to be? + + A cry as of pain, again and again + Is borne o'er the deserts and wide-spreading main; + A cry from the lands that in darkness are lying, + A cry from the hearts that in sorrow are sighing. + It comes unto me; it comes unto thee; + Oh what, oh what shall the answer be? + + It comes to the soul that Christ has made whole, + The heart that is longing His Name to extol; + It comes with a chorus of pitiful wailing, + It comes with a plea which is strong and prevailing. + For Christ's sake to me; for Christ's sake to Thee; + Oh what, oh what shall the answer be? + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVERLASTING PEARL*** + + +******* This file should be named 19365-8.txt or 19365-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Everlasting Pearl</p> +<p> One of China's Women</p> +<p>Author: Anna Magdalena Johannsen</p> +<p>Release Date: September 24, 2006 [eBook #19365]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVERLASTING PEARL***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Al Haines</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="EVERLASTING PEARL. The photo was taken after her marriage to Mr. Lü." BORDER="2" WIDTH="387" HEIGHT="644"> +<H3> +[Frontispiece: EVERLASTING PEARL. <BR> +The photo was taken after her marriage to Mr. Lü.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +EVERLASTING PEARL +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +ONE OF CHINA'S WOMEN +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ANNA MAGDALENA JOHANNSEN +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +FOR SIXTEEN YEARS A MISSIONARY IN CHINA +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WITH PREFACE BY +<BR> +WALTER B. SLOAN +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +SECOND IMPRESSION +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHINA INLAND MISSION +<BR> +LONDON, PHILADELPHIA, TORONTO, MELBOURNE AND SHANGHAI +<BR><BR> +MORGAN & SCOTT, LTD. +<BR> +PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, LONDON, E.C. +<BR> +MCMXVIII +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +First Edition October 1913 +<BR> +Reprinted January 1918 +<BR> +Completing 5000 copies +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P> +Thirty-five years ago missionary work was commenced in the city of +Yüshan, situated on the Kwangsin River in Kiangsi, one of the central +Provinces of China. +</P> + +<P> +The conversion of "Everlasting Pearl," which is the subject of the +following narrative, is a part of the harvest which has been reaped in +later years by the missionaries of the China Inland Mission, who still +continue to carry on the work in this city and neighbourhood. +</P> + +<P> +In April of last year I had the privilege of spending ten days there, +and of addressing the Church on the Sundays. On the first Monday +morning we watched, with great interest, the departure of some of the +country Christians to their homes. The party consisted of a +simple-looking company of men and women, clad in the plain blue +garments that the country people usually wear. The men were walking, +but the few women, with their diminutive feet, were perched on barrows, +and one of them was pointed out as being "evangelist, pastor, and +Biblewoman, all rolled into one," in the district from which they all +came. This was the woman, a part of whose life-story is told in this +book, and after reading the many striking incidents which it contains, +I gladly welcome the opportunity afforded me of writing a brief +introduction. +</P> + +<P> +Even as a study of human life, the story is one that is full of +interest. It takes us far away from the ordinary beaten track right +into the heart of China; and so intimate is the writer's acquaintance +with the habits and customs of the people, that there are few, even of +those who know Chinese life well, who will not be able to learn +something from reading these pages. +</P> + +<P> +The Chinese are a people of strong character; and although this woman +stands out as being possessed of marked ability and determination, +there are other lives of which we catch a glimpse in which similar +features can be clearly discerned. +</P> + +<P> +It is, however, as an illustration of the power of the Gospel, in the +heart of one who was brought up in heathenism, that the narrative +possesses its supreme interest. In this case from the time when the +great decision was made, after long resistance, to yield to Christ and +trust in Him, there was no going back. We read of many trials, +sorrows, testings, but the onward and upward course is steadily +maintained. +</P> + +<P> +The religious devotee, when converted, always makes a better disciple +than the person who has been entirely indifferent to the concerns of +the soul; and so it was in the case of "Everlasting Pearl." She clung +strongly to the vow that she had taken when she became a vegetarian, +and on this account she long withstood the claims of the Gospel; but +when at last she heard the call of Christ, then she turned to Him in +full surrender and whole-hearted obedience, and became a burning and a +shining light amongst her relatives and neighbours. +</P> + +<P> +The reader will observe the record of not a few dreams and visions in +the story; but instead of these tending to discredit its truthfulness, +they will only confirm it to those who know the life of the people of +this class in China. +</P> + +<P> +The statement is constantly being made that the Gospel spreads more +through the life and testimony of the converts themselves than by the +work of the missionaries. The way in which this woman was brought to +Christ, and the way in which she led others to Him, illustrates this +fact; but truth is many-sided, and here we also see how large a +ministry there still is for the missionaries to exercise, and how much +they are needed to help the people in the midst of their struggles, +perplexities, and sorrows, by their counsel, kind sympathy, and their +prayers. +</P> + +<P> +I have only to add that the account of the early years is given just as +it has been told by the woman herself, and the account of the later +days is a simple narrative of the facts as they have come under the +observation of the writer. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +WALTER B. SLOAN. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="80%"> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAP.</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">BIRTH AND INFANCY.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">FOOTBINDING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">CHILDHOOD DAYS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">ENGAGEMENT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">MARRIAGE—PART I</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">MARRIAGE—PART II</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">DARK DAYS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">MISERABLE COMFORTERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">BROKEN CISTERNS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">WAYS NOT KNOWN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">SAVED TO SERVE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">PERSECUTION AND TRIAL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">LABOUR AND FRUIT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">DAYS OF SHADOW</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">THE SHADOW DEEPENS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">ENTERING THE VALLEY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">CONCLUSION</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATIONS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +EVERLASTING PEARL . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-002"> +A PRECIOUS BUNDLE +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-007"> +PLAITING SILK BRAID +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-008"> +A SOURCE OF GREAT DELIGHT +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-012"> +WRITING THE ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENT +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-024"> +ADORNED AS A BRIDE +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-067"> +THE OUT-STATION OF KUCHENG +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-104"> +ANOTHER JEWEL FOR CHRIST +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +EVERLASTING PEARL +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BIRTH AND INFANCY +</H3> + +<P> +It was a warm, close day in May, in Central China. The summer heat had +just set in, and the inhabitants of Kucheng (Ancient City) were +somewhat weary and languid, when a woman brought the news to her +neighbour—"A daughter has been born to the Tu family." The news soon +spread from door to door. All languor was shaken off, for curiosity +got the better of lassitude, and the women, now fully alert, hobbled on +their small feet to the little house where farmer Tu lived with his +young wife and parents. +</P> + +<P> +The house was a small, unpretentious building, with mud walls and a +tiled roof. The interior was like that of all the homes around. If +you had seen one, you had a good idea of the appearance of the rest. +You entered the guest-hall, where on the wall at the farther end hung a +large centre scroll, representing the "Ruler of Heaven," before which +incense was lighted morning and evening. On either side of the idol, +and on all the pillars you would see paper scrolls pasted up, with +trite sayings written in flowery phrases, such as— +</P> + +<P> +"If in your house you walk circumspectly, then when you leave your home +you will associate with virtuous friends only." +</P> + +<P> +"If the house is clean and beautiful, an excellent wind will be wafted +through it." +</P> + +<P> +"If the flowers give out their fragrance, a bright moon will shine upon +them." +</P> + +<P> +On either side of the guest-hall were doors leading into the bedrooms. +Into one of these the women crowded eagerly, in search of the little +newcomer, shouting, as they entered, their congratulations, first to +the grandmother, and then to the parents of the child. On seeing the +precious bundle held out to them, decked out in all the new, gorgeous, +but uncomfortable clothes bought by the maternal grandmother, one +visitor could not help whispering, "What a pity it is not a boy!" But +the other women politely interrupted her, and the young mother looked +proudly at the "bundle of clothes" handed back to her. It was true she +would have preferred a son, so would her husband, and above all her +mother-in-law, but as it was their first child, even the little girl +received a welcome. Had she been the second or third girl in the +family, she would not have had the same kind reception. Very likely +she would have been given away to some other family, who would have +made her a drudge, and in later years have married her to one of their +sons; or she might even have been left to die from want. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-002"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-002.jpg" ALT="A precious bundle." BORDER="2" WIDTH="387" HEIGHT="625"> +<H3> +[Illustration: A precious bundle.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +But now things were different. Her parents were ready to lavish all +their love and kindness on the little girl. They called in the +fortune-teller, asking him what her fate would be in after years. He, +having been told the day and hour of her birth, declared the child had +been born under a lucky star. Her heart was good, her disposition kind +and amiable; they need not worry about her, only, he added, she was +born to toil and hard work. Satisfied with his prophecies, Mr. Tu paid +him his wonted fee, fully believing in his skill. +</P> + +<P> +After a month had elapsed, the relatives and neighbours were invited to +a feast in honour of the child. Candles and incense were lighted +before the gods, the babe was presented to them, and henceforward she +was regarded as under their protection. When the little girl was a +year old, the relatives assembled again. The grandmother had brought +another lot of presents, among them some beautifully embroidered shoes, +as the time had come for the child to learn to walk. She was old +enough to notice things, and the baby eyes looked delightedly at her +feet, that had never worn shoes before, now so beautifully adorned in +the gayest of colours. Again a thank-offering was given to the gods. +The grandmother carried the child forward, and this time the baby +fingers had to hold the incense that was lighted before the sacred +picture. +</P> + +<P> +Thus, instead of being brought to the living, loving Saviour to be +blessed, the little Chinese boy or girl is led before the dead idols, +and dedicated to them. Do not say, "Oh, it will make no difference, +the idols are nothing." The idols <I>are</I> nothing, but there is a +fearful power of darkness behind them. The longer one lives in China, +the more one feels that in a true sense the Chinese child is dedicated, +not to the idols only, but to the prince of darkness himself. And oh! +how one longs to lead the parents into the light of Christ, so that +they may bring their little ones to Him, who is waiting to bless them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FOOTBINDING +</H3> + + +<P> +The name given to the little girl was <I>Ch'ang-Chu</I>, which means +"Everlasting Pearl," and a little treasure she proved herself to be to +her parents. She was good-natured and kind-hearted, full of life and +spirit, and gave much joy to those who watched over her. But it was +very seldom—indeed, only on state occasions—that she was called +Everlasting Pearl in her home and among her little friends. More often +she went by the name of <I>Nü-ku</I>, or "Girl-dog." Her parents, afraid of +losing her, had given her this name in order to deceive the evil +spirits who might be seeking her life, but who were not likely to +trouble themselves about a "dog." +</P> + +<P> +One day, when Everlasting Pearl was about six years old, she saw her +mother working on a pair of small shoes, and asked for whom they were. +Her mother informed her they were for her, as it was time she had her +feet bound. "Your feet are getting so big and clumsy," she said, "and +you are running about far too much for a girl. It is high time that +you had them bound." Everlasting Pearl made no protest. She knew all +girls had to have their feet bound, and, of course, she could not be +different from the rest. +</P> + +<P> +So when the shoes were finished the footbinding was begun. But oh, the +suffering of it! The mother took a long strip of calico, and wound it +tightly round the little foot, bending the toes right under the sole. +She did not succeed at once in getting the right size, so she undid the +binding and tried again, whilst the little girl cried aloud for pain. +Over and over again the process was begun, but not finished, as the +shoes were so small that the feet could not be squeezed into them. But +at last they were made to fit the shoes, and Everlasting Pearl walked +about with sore and aching feet, wondering if they could ever become as +small as those of some young girls she knew. Night after night she +cried herself to sleep, wondering whether the pain would ever come to +an end, and how she could possibly endure it much longer. But there +were compensations. Month by month and year by year her feet grew +smaller, until her shoes were tinier than those she had worn in her +babyhood. Her little girl-companions admired the tiny feet, and +respected their owner, and both she and her mother received a great +deal of praise from the older women. Her small feet were a sign that +her mother cared for her, and meant to marry her well: so the future +looked bright and promising. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHILDHOOD DAYS +</H3> + + +<P> +A few uneventful years passed by; happy ones for the little girl, as +she was loved and appreciated by all. Two little brothers had been +born in the home, and Everlasting Pearl might often be seen with the +younger of them strapped to her back, rocking herself to and fro, and +softly cooing to the babe. Or she might be found crouching before the +cooking-stove, feeding the fire with brushwood, dried bracken, and +fern, trying to use as little fuel as possible; for strict economy had +to be practised in that home. At other times she would be sitting on a +low stool beside her mother, spinning hemp, not with a spinning-wheel, +but separating the threads with her fingers, and afterwards winding the +thread into balls. Or she would be learning to sew, to embroider, and +to make silk braid. By all these occupations she could only earn about +a farthing a day; but that small sum would pay at least for her +vegetables, salt, and oil, and even leave a little balance. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-007"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-007.jpg" ALT="Plaiting silk braid." BORDER="2" WIDTH="384" HEIGHT="629"> +<H3> +[Illustration: Plaiting silk braid.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +During the summer and autumn she often had to take her low stool and +work outside, so as to watch the grain, which was drying on a large +bamboo mat in front of the house. On such occasions a long bamboo +stick lay at her side, and this she used most vigorously, and with as +much noise as possible, whenever the inhabitants of the poultry-yard +paid her a visit. +</P> + +<P> +But her life was not all work. There were some variations. Her little +brothers were a source of great delight to her. Her love for them was +intense and motherly, though she would often tease them. When one of +them happened to be dawdling over his food, she would do her best to +coax him to eat, but often without success, until she playfully +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Who first shall be satisfied may do as he wishes,<BR> +But the last one to finish must wash all the dishes.<BR> +</P> + +<A NAME="img-008"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-008.jpg" ALT="A source of great delight." BORDER="2" WIDTH="401" HEIGHT="673"> +<H3> +[Illustration: A source of great delight.] +</H3> +</CENTER> +<H4> +"Is there too great a burden +on the shoulders of the Chinese Christians? Surely not. A little girl +once was carrying a little boy on her back. Some one said, 'I see you +have a big burden, haven't you?' 'No,' replied the little girl, 'that +is not a burden; that is my brother.'"—Rev. Cheng Ching Yi, Edinburgh +Missionary Conference.] +</H4> + +<BR> + +<P> +Her ready wit often helped to keep herself and others in good temper. +</P> + +<P> +Not only was she full of life and humour, she was also kind and +generous, and had sympathy with those who suffered. When, for +instance, a poor, blind beggar came to her home, chanting his doleful +refrain: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Oh, friends who can see, in heaven you dwell;<BR> +To have sightless eyes is like living in hell,<BR> +</P> + +<P> +her heart would be touched, and she would beg and obtain permission +from her mother to give him some rice. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Tu was a home-loving and industrious woman, who did not often +leave her home, or allow her children to run wild. Once a year, +however, there was a big dramatic performance at Kucheng, and then +Everlasting Pearl, dressed in her best, was taken to the theatre. +These were red-letter days in her life. Chinese plays are mostly very +stupid. Often immoral, and almost invariably connected with idolatry, +they are a snare to some of the people when they want to break with +everything idolatrous. But to the little country girl the theatre was +all that could be desired, and gave her much pleasure. She understood +little of what she saw and heard there, but was carried away with the +excitement and noise. +</P> + +<P> +Another great occasion was that on which the famous god from Tanyoh +passed through Kucheng. This deity was supposed to have his abode in +Tanyoh, and called it his paternal home; but his maternal home was in +Hongtsun, a few miles off, and to that village he paid yearly visits. +He was carried with great pomp through Kucheng, and as he passed along +all the people came to their doors to bow to him, and implore his +blessing and protection. For the little girl this yearly visit of the +idol was a very solemn occasion, as she was a firm believer in his +power. As yet she had not heard of any greater power; she had never +heard of the true and living God. The ugly idol she saw carried +through the streets of Kucheng embodied the highest object for her +worship, and to him she gave unreserved reverence. +</P> + +<P> +Surely the messengers of Christ had been a long time in reaching +Kucheng,—yet it was situated on one of the main roads in China. They +had indeed been slow in obeying their Lord's command, "Go ye into all +the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ENGAGEMENT +</H3> + + +<P> +Everlasting Pearl was now thirteen years old, and by many relatives and +friends her parents were urged to make arrangements for her future. +"You can keep her a few years before you marry her, but she certainly +ought to be engaged," was the advice given generally. +</P> + +<P> +A middleman, therefore, had to be found. There are always numerous +applicants for that office, as not only is a good fee usually given, +but it is considered an honour to be entrusted with the future +arrangements for a young couple. On such occasions a great many +untruths are often told, which are only discovered after the marriage, +when it is too late to mend matters. In Everlasting Pearl's case, the +middleman was a relative, one of those who had been urging a speedy +engagement. +</P> + +<P> +He took the girl's <I>Pah tsï</I>,[1] and went with these to a family of the +name of Hsü, who lived in a village four miles distant. The Cyclical +Characters were closely examined, and put in front of the ancestral +tablet, incense being lighted before them morning and evening. There +they remained for a month, and as nothing happened to disturb the peace +of the family during the interval—no child was hurt, no pig died, no +rice basin was broken—they were thought to augur only good luck, and +to promise well for the alliance of the two families. So Mr. Hsü made +out the "Cyclical Characters" of one of his sons, a young man +twenty-five years old. He then called in an astrologer, and asked him +to compare the two papers and give his verdict as to the advisability +of the two young people being joined in marriage. With an important +air, this gentleman examined the two papers put before him, and +announced that everything was in favour of such an alliance. Several +of their characters were alike, the two young people were both born +under the "Tiger," and other things agreed as well. Whereupon the two +families expressed their satisfaction, and declared themselves ready to +arrange for an engagement. +</P> + +<P> +But now the middleman had a busy time of it, for there were many things +to settle before the engagement could take place. First of all, he +went to Mr. and Mrs. Tu, and asked how much money they would want for +their daughter. "As she is our only daughter, we want her to have a +good outfit," replied the parents, "so Mr. Hsü must give at least $40 +and some good clothes." The list was then made out—$40, ten articles +of clothing, a ring, two bracelets, a pair of earrings, and three +silver hair ornaments. The indefatigable middleman took the list to +the Hsü family, who looked at it critically. After some time of +haggling over the different articles, they finally agreed to furnish +all, and preparations were begun in full earnest. +</P> + +<P> +The day appointed for the engagement arrived, and there was great +excitement in the two homes which were filled with visitors and +well-wishers. The feast on both sides had to be provided by the young +man's family. About dinner-time, on the day appointed, a party, headed +by the middleman, was seen advancing toward Kucheng, carrying a sort of +wooden box or basket, with several trays, one piled on top of the +other. One tray carried all sorts of sweetmeats and the half of the +money, twenty dollars, wrapped in red paper. Another tray was filled +with pork and fish; again, another with different kinds of expensive +vegetables. Another carrier brought the engagement cake, and five +articles of clothing, and all the silver ornaments. Everywhere, +scattered among all the things, were cypress leaves, a symbol of +longevity and good luck. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the Tu home, the men with their precious burdens were +received with fire-crackers, and eagerly all the things were examined, +some of them meeting with approval, others with disapproval. After +dinner the party started off again for the Hsü home, taking the return +presents. These consisted of the following articles—a hat, a pair of +shoes and stockings, a sash, a number of embroidered purses, with a few +dollars in them, also some vegetable seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, +etc. Most of these things were graciously received by the young man +and his family, and the parents on both sides were satisfied. +</P> + +<P> +The Engagement Agreement, as binding as a marriage certificate, had +been signed by the two families, and Everlasting Pearl's parents had +returned it to Mr. and Mrs. Hsü. The girl of thirteen had her future +settled for her before she had any idea of what such a future might +mean. Her little girl-friends teased her, but there was an added +respect in their treatment of her. She dimly realised that somehow she +had risen in their estimation and that of others. The change was +rather a pleasant one, the new clothes were a welcome addition to her +scanty wardrobe, and she was too young to worry about the future. +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<A NAME="img-012"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-012.jpg" ALT="Writing the engagement document. As binding as a marriage certificate." BORDER="2" WIDTH="372" HEIGHT="638"> +<H3> +[Illustration: Writing the engagement document. <BR> +As binding as a marriage certificate.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +[1] The Eight Cyclical Characters appertaining to the hour of a +person's birth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MARRIAGE—PART I +</H3> + + +<P> +Again we pass over a few years. Everlasting Pearl had now reached the +age of seventeen, and her future husband was twenty-nine years old; +therefore the day of the wedding was drawing near. The intervening +years between engagement and marriage had been busy ones. Little by +little the trousseau had been prepared, and was all ready. A lucky +day, the third of the eleventh moon, had been chosen for the +approaching wedding; and already, a few days before that date, some of +the guests began to arrive, each one bringing a present of some +garment, or hair flowers, shoes, etc. for the bride. A present of 120 +lbs. of pork, 60 lbs. of fish, 12 chickens, and a good supply of +expensive vegetables had been sent by the young man, and the guests, +with many of whom luxuries were rare, set themselves to enjoy the good +things. +</P> + +<P> +The evening before the wedding the middleman arrived with the bridal +chair, which was covered all around with red cloth, and embroidered in +gay colours. Now the feasting began in real earnest. The pipers +struck up their usual melody, and with each hour the excitement grew. +</P> + +<P> +The following morning the trousseau had to be packed, but the bride had +nothing to do with it. She did not rise from her bed at all. Her +breakfast was brought to her by one of her relatives, and she was +exhorted to eat heartily, as that would be her last meal till the +following morning. Towards dinner-time she was coaxed to get up, but +she persistently refused to do so, and began bemoaning her fate, in +having to leave her parents and her own home to go to strangers. Every +now and again the mother joined in the wailing, and the relatives stood +round them crying, trying in vain to comfort them. After dinner the +bride was again urged to get up, but maidenly modesty and her +dutifulness to her parents still forbade her to obey. No one should +have any reason to say that she was anxious to go. She wanted to show +how loath she was to leave her parents, and every one was praising her, +and saying that such a dutiful daughter would make a filial +daughter-in-law. +</P> + +<P> +But even the most ardent filial piety could not put off the hour of +separation much longer. At last she was dragged from her bed by the +women who had to prepare her for her journey, and she reluctantly +submitted to the preparation. Her hair was shaved all around the +edges, the hair in front, which used to make the fringe for the +forehead, was pulled out. Then her hair was combed straight back to +show that she was now to enter the ranks of the married women. Then +she was powdered and painted, and dressed in her bridal attire, which +consisted of a red skirt, and red cloak, beautifully embroidered in +bright colours, but rather the worse for wear, as it had accompanied +the bridal chair on many another journey. The box with the mitre was +brought forth and the crown was placed on her head, already too richly +adorned with artificial flowers. And now the wailing broke forth +beyond all bounds, the young bride and her mother vying with each other +in making the greatest possible noise; at times beating their heads +against the wall, the bed, or the table in their self-imposed +manifestations of sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +Outside, the trousseau was being sent off, as it had to reach the +bride's future home before she entered the same. Two men carried a +cupboard between them. Others followed with some chairs, and a table +covered with candlesticks and all kinds of utensils. A pair of the +bride's shoes might also be found, placed within those of the +bridegroom's, for, as every one remarked, "The two must now walk +together till old age." Others carried a couple of red wooden boxes +filled with the clothes and personal belongings of the bride, also a +wadded bed-quilt, a bed-curtain, and two embroidered pillows, etc. The +whole procession made an imposing show, and the relatives of +Everlasting Pearl looked after it with pride. The girl had been well +provided for, and could lift up her head without shame before her +husband's people. +</P> + +<P> +The bride herself was at that time kneeling in her bedroom on a large +sieve (a token that all evil influences are "sifted out" and all good +luck and riches "sifted in"), bidding farewell to all her relatives. +One by one they were led to her, beginning with her parents and +brothers, and ending with the distant relatives, neighbours, and +guests. To each one she clung in despair, clutching their feet, and +vowing she could not leave them; and she did not let go her hold until +a coin, wrapped in red paper, was dropped into the sieve; then, with a +few words of comfort, the giver would move away to make room for +another, and all the time the red paper parcels increased in number. +</P> + +<P> +When the farewells had nearly come to an end, the middleman urged a +speedy departure, and at last, when she still delayed, he entered the +room, lifted the weeping girl into his arms, and carried her out into +the guest-hall. Standing on the table before the ancestral tablet, she +worshipped her dead ancestors for the last time, for from henceforth +they were nothing to her, as she would bear another's name. This +performance over, the middleman again lifted her up like a child, and +placed her in the chair. The little bride was then locked in, the key +to the chair resting in the pocket of her guide. Fire-crackers were +let off, the pipers piped, and the bride, loudly wailing, was on her +way to her future home. +</P> + +<P> +Her brothers followed her for a short distance. After having escorted +her for about a mile, they handed her the keys of her boxes and +cupboard, bade her a last farewell, and returned home, leaving the +middleman and his assistant to escort her all the way. Some ragged +little boys were carrying the large lanterns, on which was inscribed +her husband's name, in front of her chair; others carried red banners; +again, others were beating gongs. One carried the big red umbrella, +which only a bride or a Mandarin is allowed to have carried in front of +the chair. +</P> + +<P> +It was a proud day in the young girl's life. Everywhere the people +crowded round to get a peep at her through the glass windows of her +sedan chair. And she, sitting motionless and with bent head all the +way, was conscious of the deference paid to her. All the people turned +respectfully aside for the procession to pass, and even if a Mandarin +had happened to meet her on the way he would have had to turn aside. +For once in a lifetime the simple country girl was to be honoured by +him, to whom all others had to bow, for, as he would have said, "Who +knows if the bride of to-day may not bear a son, who shall far exceed +me in position and power?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MARRIAGE—PART II +</H3> + + +<P> +Meanwhile the bridegroom's family had not been idle. They had prepared +and decorated their house; had put up new red scrolls, and draped the +guest-hall and the outside door with red cloth. Large red candles, +painted with gold, were burning on a sort of mantelpiece at the top of +the room, and new lanterns were adorning the hall. +</P> + +<P> +The bedroom for the bride had also been prepared. A man who had been +prosperous in his life and home decided where the bed was to be placed; +and a woman equally prosperous in her home made the bed, and took good +care that no ill-luck should come near the dwelling of the young couple. +</P> + +<P> +When about a mile's distance from her future husband's home, +Everlasting Pearl suddenly ceased her wailing, for it now behoved her +to show the right submission. The old life lay behind her; she had +mourned for it, but must now prepare for the new life ahead. +</P> + +<P> +She was met by messengers from the Hsü family. The chair was put down +and some superstitious rites were performed to drive away the evil +influences which she might have encountered by the way. And then, as +it was getting dark, the lanterns were lighted for the last stage of +the journey, and soon she was carried into her new home. She entered +it to the sound of fire-crackers, music, beating of gongs, and the +shouts of all the people who had gathered in great numbers, each one +present trying to catch the first glimpse of the bride. +</P> + +<P> +The bridal chair was put down in the guest-hall, and there it remained. +After what seemed an exceptionally long waiting time, the door was +unlocked, but still the bride could not move. At last, a woman, the +proud mother of several sons, came forward and helped her out of the +chair. Two little girls, richly adorned with flowers, were waiting, +one on either side of the chair, to offer her some tea. After that she +was led into the room prepared for her. Her own furniture had already +been placed in the room, and the bridegroom, clad in official robes, +was standing near the bed, waiting for her. Then they both sat down, a +table was placed before them with two basins of rice, some eggs, +vermicelli, and a chicken leg for each. Not much of it was eaten, +however; the little bride, still veiled, could touch nothing, but the +guests, who had crowded into the room to stare at her, helped +themselves freely to the rice. +</P> + +<P> +After a short time the bridegroom left the room, and a little later the +bride was led out to the public guest-hall, supported by two women. +The young man was waiting for her. They took their stand in front of +the ancestral tablet side by side, and now the real wedding ceremony +began. +</P> + +<P> +A wadded quilt, covered with red, was spread on a mat on the floor, the +bride and bridegroom knelt down on it, and three times worshipped their +ancestors, their heads touching the ground each time. Then they turned +round and worshipped "Heaven and earth" in the same way. Afterwards +two cups of wine were brought from the table. The man who was +supporting the bridegroom offered the latter one of the cups, and the +second one was held to the lips of the bride by the women in charge of +her. Then the wine from the two cups was mixed, and each one took a +sip from the same cup, indicating that from now on they were united, +and must share life together, whilst some of the bystanders laughingly +chanted: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Together they walk, each other aid,<BR> +The knot is tied, the covenant made.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The first ceremony had come to an end. Bride and bridegroom bowed to +each other, and then the latter lifted the veil, and beheld for the +first time the face of the girl who had been given him to wife! The +crowd was getting excited, and from all sides the shout arose: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Oh, with what joy the hour we hail,<BR> +When time has come to lift the veil.<BR> +</P> + +<P> +The poor little bride was getting weary, and her bridesmaid led her +back to the bedroom, closely followed by the bridegroom. For a few +moments they took their stand together in front of the bed, but soon +the young man went out of the room, threw off his wedding garments, and +began to help in looking after the guests. Soon all of them were +feasting around a number of square tables, the bridegroom being one of +the busiest in ministering to them. +</P> + +<P> +But the bride had not got over her ordeal. The whole evening she was +made a gazing-stock to all. Any one might go in to stare at her, and +acquaintances of the bridegroom and even strangers who crowded into the +room were allowed to make any remarks they liked. The children were +dancing around her singing: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Little bride, little bride!<BR> +You climbed the wall from the other side!<BR> +</P> + +<P> +Every now and again this refrain was started, and sometimes a more +mischievous boy or girl would take it up, adding another line: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Little bride, little bride!<BR> +You climbed the wall from the other side!<BR> +And to steal our potatoes moreover tried!<BR> +</P> + +<P> +Later on, a table was spread in front of the bride, and a few intimate +friends and relatives had their supper with her, but she herself could +touch nothing. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to keep +calm and composed; no smile lit up her face, no word was uttered, and +it was very seldom that a sentence was addressed to her. +</P> + +<P> +In the middle of the many courses, her mitre was placed on her head +again, and she was led out to the guest-hall. With a wine cup in her +hand, she went from table to table, and bowed low to her husband's +friends. Their cups were filled afresh, and each one took a drink in +honour of the bride, while the band played vigorously. After she had +finished her round, she went back to her bedroom till the feasting was +over. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-024"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-024.jpg" ALT="Adorned as a bride. A proud day in the young girl's life." BORDER="2" WIDTH="373" HEIGHT="632"> +<H3> +[Illustration: Adorned as a bride. A proud day in the young girl's life.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +It was then getting late, and the young bridegroom entered, accompanied +by his friends, who were carrying big red candles in front of him, and +sending off fire-crackers. They did not leave the young people till +after midnight, and not before having tried to get hold of as many of +their belongings as possible. These they endeavoured to hide, and a +good thing it was that the bride had got plenty of sweets, peanuts, +beans, etc., for all the stolen articles had to be redeemed the +following morning. +</P> + +<P> +After a few short hours of rest, the young people had to get ready for +breakfast, and soon afterwards the second part of the wedding ceremony +began, the part which is called <I>Fen ta siao</I>, which, literally +translated, means "To distinguish between great and small." Bride and +bridegroom were arrayed once more in their wedding robes, and proceeded +to the guest-hall where all the relatives were assembled. Again the +two knelt together on the red quilt, bowing their heads three times to +the ground before Mr. and Mrs. Hsü, who bowed in return. Mr. Hsü threw +down the keys of the household before the young people. He had, +however, no thought of giving them any responsibility, and every +intention of getting the keys back into his own pockets and keeping +them there. +</P> + +<P> +Then the uncles and aunts were led forward, to whom was paid the same +respect. The brothers, cousins, and other relatives came next, but +being of the same generation as the bride and bridegroom, they also +knelt down and "worshipped" them in return. Each relative put a piece +of money, wrapped in red paper, on a tray placed there for that +purpose, and, when filled, it was carried to the bride's room until a +more convenient time was found for the counting of the money. +</P> + +<P> +The whole party, headed by the bridegroom and the bride, then proceeded +to the kitchen for the purpose of worshipping the kitchen god. The +bridegroom carried a rice measure with a lamp placed in it, the bride a +brush for cleaning the cooking pan. Many superstitious rites are +connected with the worship in the kitchen, the smallest detail has its +own meaning, but it would be too tedious to relate all. +</P> + +<P> +The dinner came next, and this time the bride had to take the seat of +honour at the top table, but once seated there, she remained as silent +as the night before, and ate nothing. Again she went round to bow to +the guests at the different tables, who all stood up and solemnly drank +her health. +</P> + +<P> +After dinner she was allowed to put off her bridal attire, and wear +some of the clothes sent her by her husband. She was also permitted to +throw off some of the reserve of the past days, and could talk more +freely to those around her. +</P> + +<P> +The following day a messenger arrived from Mr. and Mrs. Tu, inviting +the young couple to return to the bride's home for dinner. They were +both carried in sedan chairs, and had to wear most of their wedding +garments again. They were very careful and modest in their +behaviour,—young Hsü especially was afraid of offending in word or +deed,—and they were not sorry when, soon after the formal dinner, they +could once more return home. Another formal visit had to be paid, +about two months later, at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, to +the bride's home, but then a more free and natural relationship was +established between the two families. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DARK DAYS +</H3> + + +<P> +The home Everlasting Pearl had entered was not a rich one. The members +were all simple, hard-working people, ordinary country farmers who had +to earn their living by the sweat of their brow. But they were honest +and peace-loving, and the five brothers worked together in unity. +Although one of the Chinese sages had said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Let brotherly love in the home abound<BR> +And to gold will be changed the dust of the ground,<BR> +</P> + +<P> +the gold seemed a long time coming to the Hsü family. They were able +by steady work to make a comfortable living at their farming, but there +was little over to make a fortune. On the whole, Everlasting Pearl was +moderately happy. Her husband was quite satisfied with his bright +young wife, and treated her kindly. The mother-in-law was rather hard +on her and inconsiderate, but the father-in-law loved her as a +daughter, and made things as easy as possible. Her husband's brothers, +too, were kind, and she went about her common task cheerfully, quite +ready to take her share in the household work. +</P> + +<P> +Four years passed peacefully, but no child came to gladden the home, +and that was a sore disappointment to the young people. The +mother-in-law too was disappointed, and did not look very kindly on the +young wife who was trying so hard to do her duty. Old Mr. Hsü had left +this world. For three days and nights the Taoist priests had come to +chant their formulas, promising to cleanse the house from evil spirits, +and to break open the door of hell and rescue the soul of the departed +father. There was real sorrow in Everlasting Pearl's heart as she +knelt near the coffin wailing. The old man had been like a father to +her, and had helped her over many rough places. She knew things would +be harder without him, but little did she realize what heavy trials +awaited her. A merciful God had hidden the knowledge from her sight, +or her inborn courage might have failed. +</P> + +<P> +During the fifth year of Everlasting Pearl's married life her sorrows +began. Twice within a few months she was summoned to the deathbed of +her loved ones. She first knelt mourning at the grave of her father; +and then, before that sorrow had had time to lose its sting, she was +throwing herself in agony over the body of her dead mother, the mother +who had always loved her so tenderly. And death was fearful to her. +The "three souls and seven spirits" had evidently all taken their +departure. Where had they gone? If only she knew, the separation +would not be so hard. But there was no one to solve the mystery for +her; no ray of light to dispel the darkness and fear that crept over +her; no hope of a reunion; no Resurrection Morning to look forward to, +and therefore no comfort to lighten her sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +But greater trials were yet in store. The brothers did not work quite +so well together after old Mr. Hsü's death, and decided to divide their +fields between them, which they did equally and peacefully, and each +one set up for himself. Everlasting Pearl and her husband worked +harder than ever, as now all the profit they made would be their own. +The harvest promised to be a good one. In the beginning of the sixth +moon, after the early crops of rice had been cut, they ate their new +rice on the day appointed by the Mandarin. Before touching any of the +food they took it to the temple near by, and earnestly invoked the +blessing of the gods on the new grain, after which they sat down to +partake of it without any fear of sickness or trouble coming to them +that year. +</P> + +<P> +But alas! Only a few days later the husband was taken ill, and day by +day became worse. The wife was naturally anxious, and when his illness +deprived him of his reason, her cup of sorrow seemed full. For three +years he was raving mad, and often, when in one of his fits of rage, he +would ill-treat his wife. These fits might come on without any +warning, day or night, so that she was kept in constant fear. +</P> + +<P> +These were dark days indeed for the young wife. Not only had she to +nurse her husband, but she was obliged to do a great deal of his work +in the fields, although it required a man's strength. Bravely she +plodded on, but often lost heart and gave herself up to her sorrow. If +only her parents or her father-in-law had been alive, they would have +comforted her. If only she were not so alone in the world. If only +she had had a child of her own to love and to work for, she could have +borne it better. Many a time she would repeat the sad cry of the +childless wife: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +No son, no daughter to call my own,<BR> +Thus daily my pitiful lot I bemoan!<BR> +</P> + +<P> +How hard it was to be all alone, without a refuge to turn to, without +some one to share her sorrow. How her heart longed for comfort, but +there was none to give it. How she needed a friend to stand by her, +but none was found. Alas! no one had told her of "the Friend that +sticketh closer than a brother." She was so weary and burdened, but no +one had ever whispered in her ear the sweet and tender invitation of +the great Rest-Giver: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy +laden, and I will give you rest." No one around her knew of that +blessed invitation, for the messengers to whom it had been entrusted +had been sleeping and taking their rest, neglecting their Lord's +command, and forgetting that "the King's business requireth haste." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MISERABLE COMFORTERS +</H3> + + +<P> +The case of Everlasting Pearl's husband was a hopeless one, and despair +took possession of both mother and wife as time went on. They +exhausted all the means in their power, but very soon realized that +vain was the help of man, for the doctors could do nothing for him. +They then turned to the spirits and implored their help. In these +surely they would not be disappointed. +</P> + +<P> +First of all they sent to a medium to ask what was the matter. She +told them that the sick man had lost a soul, and they would have to go +out and find it. A party of them, therefore, quickly set out, carrying +a measure of rice, which they strewed by the way to show the spirit the +direction home. At every step Everlasting Pearl frantically called +out, "My husband, come home, come home." Each time, when her cry +arose, the rest of the party answered with assurance, "He has come +home, he has come home." But when they returned, after their weary +tramp, the lost soul had not found its way home, and there was no +improvement in the condition of the patient. +</P> + +<P> +A few days later, the mother decided that they would have to call in a +Taoist priest for a ceremony called <I>kan tong</I>, or "influence." In the +middle of the afternoon, when the spirits were supposed to have come +out of their hiding-places, the priest started his work. Three men +were beating the gong and drum most vigorously, while he himself took +three sticks of incense and worshipped the idol hanging before him. +Then he drew a tiger on two pieces of paper, put them down on the +ground, and called for the chosen medium. A relative of young Hsü, +with a red turban round his head, stepped forward, and took his stand +somewhat reluctantly on the tigers. He had seen other mediums return +with their bodily and mental health impaired, and he had no desire to +risk his own; but his duty and brotherly love bade him perform this +service for his young kinsman. +</P> + +<P> +The priest now began chanting his formulas to the beating of the gong, +keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the medium, watching for the +latter to show signs of being mesmerized. After a time, when the +pupils of the eyes began to dilate, and when the man started jumping, +as the tigers were unable to keep his feet quiet any longer, the priest +asked, "Have you seen light?" The medium answered in the affirmative, +and off he dashed, whilst a number prepared to follow him. They were +horribly painted and armed with pitchforks. On and on they rushed, +calling for the soul. Anything more devilish can hardly be imagined. +Suddenly the medium stopped in one of the fields, and declared that +that was the place where the soul had been lost. Lighting their +incense, they called loudly for the soul, till the medium rushed off +home again, telling them the soul would return with them, and the sick +man would recover. But again the gods had played them false, for the +sick man got worse instead of better. +</P> + +<P> +What was to be done next? An astrologer's advice was sought, and +readily given. He informed them that they had made a mistake the first +time, when they called in the Taoist priest, and that the wrong +ceremony had been performed. They must call in four Taoist priests to +perform for a day and a night, so as to drive away the evil spirits +which had taken possession of the sick man. The house was accordingly +decorated with idols on all sides, and the four priests began their +work. The noise in the house was almost unbearable, and thus it +continued for twenty-four hours, after which time the priests announced +young Hsü to be out of danger, as the evil spirits had taken their +departure. In reality there was only one thing that had taken its +departure, and that was the money possessed by the Hsü family, which +had now found its way into the roomy pockets of the priests. +</P> + +<P> +The young wife was almost in despair. But it never occurred to her, or +to any one else in the family, to blame the idols or the priests. Very +likely they had not done enough for the sick man. They would call the +Taoist priests again, and let them go on for three days and three +nights. But where was the money to come from? A consultation was +held, and it was decided to mortgage the fields in order to get the +money needed. Of course it would mean poverty afterwards, but that +point could not be considered just now; all that mattered was to get +the young man well again. So the fields were mortgaged, and the +priests were more than pleased to come again. Needless to say they +succeeded no better than before, but that did not trouble them. +</P> + +<P> +At last the whole family gave up in despair. It was true there was +still the rite called "The turning of tables," but that was too +expensive, and there was no money left for it. Nothing more could be +done. Young Hsü would have to be left to his fate, and they had to +resign themselves and make the best of their difficulties. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BROKEN CISTERNS +</H3> + + +<P> +Time dragged wearily on in that afflicted household, and Everlasting +Pearl walked about with a heavy heart. Her brothers-in-law felt sorry +for her, and several times offered to kill her husband, or get rid of +him somehow, thinking they might do the young wife a service. But she +refused to accept their offer, and said she would much rather do his +work, and earn what was necessary to supply his needs as well as her +own. He had been kind to her, and had worked for her in earlier years, +and now, in his weakness, it was her turn to work for him. +</P> + +<P> +Day after day and month after month she toiled on, through hard work +and sorrow and trials, often suffering herself both in body and mind; +and all this had to be borne without a shadow of comfort. She knew +nothing about the "God of all comfort," and had never heard of Him who +"day by day beareth our burden." No wonder she was at times almost +driven to despair, and cried out for a ray of light in the darkness, +for a flicker of hope amid the hopeless condition and sad chaos of her +life. Through all the bitter days of suffering her mind was turned to +the things hereafter, and she determined that if she had to toil and +suffer here she would, if at all possible, do something to escape the +suffering in the life to come. But how should she begin? What was she +to do? Was there anything that could give her aching heart some +comfort, her despairing soul some hope? Was it possible to flee from +the suffering in the next world? for that such existed she was sure, +and her heart cried out for deliverance. +</P> + +<P> +In the neighbourhood a great many vegetarians resided, and one day, +when Everlasting Pearl was engaged in irrigating the field, a woman, +one of the leaders among the vegetarians, passed by. Of course she +knew all about the trouble of the young wife, and stopped to speak to +her. Everlasting Pearl instantly ceased her work. The sun was just +then at its hottest stage, and as she had been standing the whole +morning exposed to its scorching rays, doing work which was far too +heavy for any woman, her tired body was glad of a moment's rest. The +kind words of the woman went to her heart, so she soon confided all her +troubles to her. The listener had only one way of helping her, and +began to exhort her to become a vegetarian for life. She offered to +look upon her as a daughter, and declared herself willing to instruct +her in the vegetarian doctrine. +</P> + +<P> +Everlasting Pearl eagerly reached out after the comfort promised. The +necessary rosary was bought. She went to the leaders of the vegetarian +sect, and told them of her decision. They gladly welcomed her among +their number, gave her a book and the necessary instructions, with many +exhortations to be steadfast in the way she had begun to walk. If she +remained firm to the end, they promised her what her heart desired, a +life hereafter without any suffering. Through her life as a vegetarian +she would be accumulating merit day by day, and would be able to lay up +such a large store for herself that she would not have to pass through +all the usual stages of transmigration in the next world, but would be +able to go straight to the goal she had set before her, the "Western +Heaven," or "Paradise." +</P> + +<P> +Everlasting Pearl started as a vegetarian when she was twenty-two years +old, at the advice of the woman whom, from that time on, she adopted as +her mother. She did so in uprightness of heart, seeking after the +truth, and as determination and steadfastness were two very strong +traits in her character, she found it easier than many others to keep +to what she had promised. +</P> + +<P> +Seldom had the vegetarian cause had a more decided and devout follower +than she was, and Everlasting Pearl soon won a name among the members +of her faith, and far beyond that circle. She was deeply respected, +not only for her steadfastness of purpose, but also for her general +conduct, which was in the eyes of men blameless. Every evening, when +her day's work was done, she would take down her beads, and, kneeling +down before the picture of Buddha, would repeat over and over again +<I>O-mi-to-fuh</I>—"In Buddha do I put my trust," counting her beads all +the time. Sometimes she continued till far into the night; thousands +of times she would count her rosary, trying to persuade herself that +she had found relief from her suffering. In reality her heart remained +empty and devoid of any true comfort. The longer she went on, the more +her assurance grew. After all, it was the next world she was working +for, and all things would come out right in the end. +</P> + +<P> +But God, who looks upon the intents and motives of the heart, saw this +poor, struggling soul trying to grope her way in the darkness, and +determined to work out her own salvation, since she had no one to show +her the true way. In His love and pity He had laid up a better +inheritance for her, and in His own way, all unknown to her, He began +to lay His plans for bringing her into contact with His children and +the messengers of Peace. Slowly, but surely, all things worked +together for her good, and for the salvation of her soul. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WAYS NOT KNOWN +</H3> + + +<P> +As mentioned previously, Everlasting Pearl's husband was raving mad for +three years. Then he took a turn for the better, but was still insane +and unable to do any work. For seven years he remained in that +condition, and then, when death knocked at the door, it seemed to bring +relief to the members of the family. +</P> + +<P> +A few months later Everlasting Pearl was persuaded to marry a widower, +a quiet, honest tailor, who lived at Kucheng. So she returned to the +place of her birth, and found a real home awaiting her. Mr. Lü, her +husband, was a man of sterling worth, and soon a real affection sprang +up between them. Mrs. Lü, for as such Everlasting Pearl will now +appear, was very happy, and fully appreciated her change of +circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lü had three little children when his new wife entered his home; +but about a month later one child died. He had been ill for some time, +and Mrs. Lü's motherly care could not save him from death. A second +son died three years later, apparently from the same illness, both +seeming to waste away. Their mother had died from consumption, and +evidently her weakness had affected the children. Only one child, a +brother's son, remained, and Mrs. Lü took him to her loving heart. The +lad, in his turn, lavished all his childish affection on her, for she +was a real mother to him. +</P> + +<P> +About two years after her marriage to Mr. Lü, the latter was asked by a +neighbour, who was a seeker after the Truth, to accompany him to the +Gospel Hall. We were then holding meetings in the house of a +Christian, who lived in a village about two miles' distance from +Kucheng. But Mr. Lü, being a very nervous man, felt shy about going +and shrank from meeting strangers, especially when these appeared in +the form of foreigners. Moreover, he was loath to give up his time +without having a sure compensation for it, as he was hard-working, and +did not like to spend an hour in vain. So he refused to go. +</P> + +<P> +Another two years passed by. The Boxer troubles had quietened down, +and the workers who had returned were again holding meetings in the +little village near Kucheng. The place was very hard, the Christians +cold, and the man in whose house the services were held was not on good +terms with the other Church members in the village. One Sunday, when +the writer was there, her heart was specially heavy. The coldness was +appalling, and she came to the point where she said, "Lord, I cannot go +on with the work here. If Thou dost not show forth Thy mighty power in +doing a new thing in this place, I must give it up!" The spiritual +battle was a fearful and exhausting one. Returning home to the central +station, she told her fellow-workers how she felt, and all set to pray +for that place as never before, claiming victory from the Lord. A +month later, the writer visited that centre again in fear and +trembling; but the Lord had already begun to work. He was manifestly +in the midst, and it was easily realized that God had granted a real +answer to prayer. +</P> + +<P> +In one of the meetings one of the Christians humbly confessed his sin +before God, and asked for forgiveness and for strength to walk in +newness of life. Another Christian gave a bright testimony. Life was +beginning to get into the dead bones. That Sunday morning, too, a new +enquirer came to the meetings, and stayed for the whole day. His +presence there seemed to be a promise of coming blessing. And this +impression was not wrong, for the following month a few others came +with him, some of them from Kucheng. One of these enquirers invited +Mr. Lü to the services, and this time he consented. Well does the +writer remember the first Sunday he came. His face and manner alike +were altogether out of the ordinary, and somehow, from the very +beginning, a conviction was received that God had chosen him for +Himself. From that very day a work was begun in his heart. +</P> + +<P> +Soon the little meeting-place became too small for the congregation, +and a house was rented at Kucheng. Many enquirers had gathered around +this centre, some with mixed motives, it is true. There were those who +only came for worldly advantages, and these soon dropped off. Others +were touched by the Spirit of God, and a real work was begun in their +hearts. But two or three years later, when they had to make their +decision for or against Christ, when they had to count the cost, which +in some cases was a heavy one, they were not willing to pay the price, +and gradually grew cold and indifferent. Some of them caused real +disappointment, as they had been so bright and promising. But there +were a few who went steadily on, and among them was Mr. Lü. He never +wavered, never missed a Sunday. Although in the beginning he used to +do some pressing work after the Sunday meetings, it was pointed out to +him one night that it was not only he who should keep the day of rest, +but all within his house. He listened and understood, and the next +morning, being Sunday, he brought his son to the services. From that +day he never sent him to work again on the Sunday. To those who knew +that Mr. Lü had never wasted an hour before, or let his work stop for +any pleasure of his own, it was a real miracle that he should now be +willing to allow his whole household rest on Sunday. What had happened +to the man? What power was there in that strange religion that could +make him forgo all the money a weekly day of rest meant to him and his +family? What was it that had given the timid and reserved man courage +to speak out freely about the new life that had opened up before him, +and had made him strong to stand against all the ridicule that was +heaped upon him in many of the houses where he worked? A God who could +bring about such a change was a God indeed. +</P> + +<P> +From the very beginning, Mr. Lü showed unusual understanding about +spiritual things. Was it not because he believed God and took Him +simply at His word? He never attempted to bring in his own wisdom, +never leaned to his own understanding. Very often, when asked +questions about spiritual matters, his answers would cause astonishment +and surprise. The Spirit of God was taking of the things of Christ, +and showing them unto him, and day by day his faith grew stronger and +his trust in the Lord firmer. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE +</H3> + + +<P> +When first Mr. Lü began to attend the services his wife did not like +it. She exhorted him to continue in the old way, living a quiet and +respectable life lest he should be involved in difficulties and trouble +because of his friendship with the foreigners. But when she saw that +his mind was made up, she left him alone. +</P> + +<P> +The writer's first acquaintance with Mrs. Lü dates back to the spring +of 1902, when the out-station at Kucheng was opened. The house that +was rented adjoined that belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Lü, and when the +writer, in company with a Christian woman who was to fill the office of +chapel-keeper, arrived in Kucheng late one evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lü +were there to receive us. The enquirers had had the house cleaned up +and prepared for our coming, and the key to the house had been given to +Mr. Lü. His wife's mind was rather in a state of confusion. She tried +to persuade herself that the coming of this strange religion, which +seemed to take a wonderful hold on the minds of people, could be +nothing to her, as her way was the only right one. But, of course, she +must be neighbourly. Moreover, the strangers were friends of her +husband, and her loyalty to him bade her do all in her power to be kind +to the new-comers. Thus it came about that she, together with her +husband, gave us a hearty welcome, and informed us that supper had +already been prepared. Our heart went out to Mrs. Lü, and very soon a +firm friendship was established. She was exceedingly kind, but there +she stopped. She was very pleased to see her husband and other members +of the family becoming Christians, and even exhorted them to be +steadfast and give their whole hearts to what they believed. But they +were not to ask her to accept their creed. She must go her own way, +and pursue the path she had marked out for herself for so many years. +The doctrine was very good, she said, and she did not mind attending +the meetings. That could not do her any harm, as she intended to go no +further. Thus everything went on smoothly, Satan left her in peace, +whilst others kept on praying for her and claiming this precious soul +for the Lord. It was impossible not to realize what a power this woman +would have for good, if only she were won for the Master, and very soon +some of us received the assurance that one day she would become a +trophy of His grace. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-067"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-067.jpg" ALT="The out-station at Kucheng. The place where Everlasting Pearl was converted." BORDER="2" WIDTH="620" HEIGHT="416"> +<H3> +[Illustration: The out-station at Kucheng. <BR> +The place where Everlasting Pearl was converted.] +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +All during that summer Mrs. Lü continued to attend the meetings, and +she enjoyed them thoroughly. In spite of herself she got more and more +interested in what she saw and heard. In the autumn of that year the +writer stayed at Kucheng for a fortnight, and while there held Bible +Study for the men twice a week, and although visiting some of the +villages around, gave a good deal of time in teaching the women and +children to read. Mrs. Lü came as usual, and as she was more +intelligent than the average Chinese woman, she not only obtained a +good deal of knowledge concerning salvation in Christ Jesus, but +learned to read quite a little and enjoyed it with all her heart. +</P> + +<P> +Something happened at that time which made a great impression on her +mind. Early one morning a dreadful quarrel broke out in Mr. Lü's +house. It seemed incredible, as they were a very affectionate family. +But there was no doubt about it; Mrs. Lü had completely lost her temper +with her brother, and was scolding and swearing like any other Chinese +woman. For a while the writer kept quiet, but as the quarrel continued +and increased, we dressed quickly, and made our way to the place from +which the angry voices came. Mr. Lü was sitting there, meekly +listening, and evidently on his wife's side, but not opening his lips, +while Mrs. Lü could not control her voice for anger. The writer, +putting her hand on Mrs. Lü's shoulder, said, "Mrs. Lü, what are you +doing this morning? I never heard you like this before." Then she +narrated all, and added, "If only he would keep quiet and not answer +back, I would get over my anger; but when he retaliates, I lose my +temper altogether, and he ought to have done what I told him!" We said +it was quite true, but she was wrong in saying all these things against +her brother, which she really did not mean, and which would only rile +him instead of bringing him to his sense of duty. After being exhorted +to keep quiet, she calmed down. +</P> + +<P> +When returning home, we met the brother, who had been hiding in the +kitchen, and had evidently been listening to what had been said to his +sister. Going up to him we said, "Look here, you know you are in the +wrong. Your sister has your good at heart, and has only asked you to +do what it was your duty to do. Now say nothing more about it, but go +and do it, and you will all have peace again." He looked very +shamefaced for a moment, then he got the victory and said, "Very well, +I will do it." And with that he went out to do his work, and the +quarrel was ended. +</P> + +<P> +But the best result was yet to follow in two hearts. Towards noon Mrs. +Lü appeared, looking very sad and dejected. She said how miserable she +was because she had given way to anger; that after all these years of +trying to live uprightly and do her duty by all, she had no control +over herself when she was roused to anger. "So that is all your many +years of vegetarianism have done for you," the writer added. The tears +started to her eyes, and she answered, "That is all. I have no more +control over myself than I had seventeen years ago, when I first +started as a vegetarian." Solemnly and tenderly we pointed her to the +cleansing and keeping power of Christ. She listened eagerly, for her +heart was sad and weary. +</P> + +<P> +Her brother, as yet, had not been willing to come to the meetings, +although his brother-in-law had tried earnestly to persuade him to do +so. But that night he walked in and smiled happily, evidently glad +that the little domestic scene had ended so well. So there was a +double victory won, for from that time he came off and on, till about a +year later, when he started to come regularly, and ultimately became a +real enquirer after the Truth. When the writer left for home in +November it was impossible not to praise God for all the blessing He +had given in Kucheng, and to hope and pray for greater things. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT +</H3> + + +<P> +A few weeks went by, and then Miss M—— paid a visit to Kucheng. On +her return she said that Mrs. Lü had stopped coming to the meetings, as +she was frightened. At night she was haunted by horrible dreams, and +was afraid she had sinned against her cause in learning our doctrine, +and in listening to the preaching of the Word. So she stayed away +altogether, and began reciting her prayers to Buddha more diligently +than ever before. She determined never to give up her vow, but to go +steadily on, and to be even more earnest in the future, so that if +possible she might find peace and rest for her soul. +</P> + +<P> +In that state we found her when next we visited the place. She was so +unhappy. Till late into the night she could be heard counting her +beads, and reciting her <I>O-mi-to-fuh</I>, in earnest and pleading tones. +</P> + +<P> +One Sunday, after the meeting, her husband took down the idols and +burned them publicly. Even to please his wife he could not leave them +any longer. The ancestral tablet was destroyed the same day, and some +Christian scrolls and pictures were hung up, to show that henceforth +the Lord Jesus was to be Master in the house instead of Satan. His +real power was to take the place of the imagined power at the disposal +of the idols. Mr. Lü was so happy when his house was cleansed from +everything idolatrous, and we heartily rejoiced with him, praising God +for his salvation and for his bright testimony. +</P> + +<P> +But as for Mrs. Lü, her face was a picture of sadness. She had not +dared to come to the meeting, but came privately afterwards. We asked +her why she had been sitting alone and miserable in her own house, when +she might have been gathering with others joyfully before the Lord. +The tears started to her eyes, as she answered, "I do want to come, oh +so much, but I dare not, I dare not!" When asked what she was going to +do now, as all the idols had been burned, she said she would have to +recite her prayers without a Buddha to burn incense to. +</P> + +<P> +"What about your beads? Where are they going to be hung?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know. My husband says they cannot be hung on the wall +beside the Word of God." +</P> + +<P> +"You will have to put them in the bedroom." +</P> + +<P> +"That will not do either, for my husband shares that with me, and he +will not have them there." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, you must make a corner somewhere in the house, all to +yourself," we told her laughingly, but not laughing in our heart. +</P> + +<P> +Her suffering was evident to all; and one day one of the enquirers +suggested that her husband should secretly give her an egg to eat, and +so break her vow. Turning round, he said, "No, I do not want to do +this, but will continue to pray for her. When the Holy Spirit opens +her understanding, she will break it herself." This gave us an +opportunity of telling him and all present that the Lord would not +compel any one to serve Him, but wanted a willing people. We must +wait, until in His light she would see light, and realize her +nothingness and the utter vanity of her own striving after +righteousness. So she was left with Him who was able to remove the +veil from her face, and lead her into the true and living way, fully +assured that He had already begun a gracious work in her heart. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER +</H3> + + +<P> +At that time the Lord began to prepare Mrs. Lü's heart through dreams +and visions, as is so often His way in heathen countries. Once after +her husband had forbidden her to have idols and burn incense in his +house, she was sitting alone in the evening, feeling dejected and +forlorn, and sadly counting her beads to herself. At last she grew too +weary to continue and sought her pillow. That night she dreamed that +some one she had never seen before came to her, put his foot on her +breast, and said, "And still you will continue to recite your prayers +to Buddha!" She awoke terrified, and for a long time was unable to +shake off the fear that had laid hold of her heart. +</P> + +<P> +Another time one of the Biblewomen had been telling her about the Lord +being the great Physician, and that He was able to heal her from the +infirmities she had had since the time she had been working too hard +for her strength. When she went to rest that evening she dreamed that +she saw a rope, in the shape of a circle, swinging between heaven and +earth, and on it an old man was standing. After a while he came close +up to her, and said, "Trust me, I have come to heal you." When she +awoke, she was wondering if it was God who had appeared to her in a +vision. +</P> + +<P> +Time after time, when we visited Kucheng, she would tell us of her +experiences, her dreams and visions, her fears and conflicts. Night +after night she would dream that somebody was setting meat and fish +before her, tempting her to eat, whilst she turned away determined not +to be tempted, not to defile herself, not to lose the merit she had +stored up for herself all these many years. Day and night her mind was +in confusion. She dreaded the night with its visions, and could not +welcome the day that would only bring her unrest. In her agony she +cried out, "No, I will never go back. I will be steadfast to the very +end, and keep my vow till death. Others may walk their different ways, +but no one shall make me change. I have never doubted, have never been +vacillating, and am not going to be so now." +</P> + +<P> +Oh! how she longed for peace, but none came to end all her struggles, +for they only increased. But God had chosen her for Himself, and could +not give her heart rest until it rested in Him for whom it was made. +But she did not see that all her struggles were "cords of love" with +which the Father was trying to draw her to Himself. One day she said +to me, "If you only knew what I suffer. But it is impossible to put +into words what I have been passing through. It is as if two mighty +powers were fighting about me, and I am just torn between the two." +"Quite true," we answered; "two great Powers, God and the Devil, are +fighting for you; both want you, but God will conquer." It was pitiful +to behold her sufferings. We had never seen any conflict like it in +China, and our heart cried out to the Lord for the deliverance which we +knew must surely come. +</P> + +<P> +The following day she spoke again about her two dreams. She dreamed +that with many others she went to worship a removed idol, the one she +had so often looked upon with awe in her childhood days. One after +another went to kneel down before the idol, worshipping it, and praying +for health and happiness. But when, after some time of patient +waiting, her turn came, something strange happened. She was just about +to kneel down, when the idol took off his hat, and showed her his head, +which was bald from a loathsome skin disease. He told her he was false +all through, and she was not to worship him. Why should he reveal to +her what he had hidden from the other worshippers? When she awoke she +kept pondering over the meaning of it all. +</P> + +<P> +Another dream was that she was trying to settle a quarrel, and in doing +so received a wound in her leg. She looked down to where the cut was, +and to her horror she saw no flesh revealed, but only straw. She +examined it closely, but it seemed to be the same all through; she had +nothing but straw inside, and she turned from the sight that had met +her eyes in horror and despair. She was not able to get away from that +dream, feeling quite sure that it had some special teaching in it for +her, and she turned to the writer to help her understand what it might +mean. Recognizing that the dream was from God, that He was teaching +her through these visions, we lifted our heart to God in prayer. We +were standing beside a stack of straw in Mrs. Lü's yard. Pulling out +one straw, and showing it to her, we said, "Do you see that straw? +Now, how much is it worth? You just touch it and it is broken. There +is no real value in it. Suppose you take a match and set fire to this +whole stack of straw, in a few minutes all would be burned up, nothing +but ashes would remain. As with this straw, so will it be with all the +merit you think you have stored up for the life to come. The Word of +God says that everything which is not built on Christ as the foundation +is wood, hay, and stubble, and shall be burned up. So all your +supposed merit will vanish when the day of reckoning comes. There is +no real, lasting value in it; it will all be burned up, only the ashes +will remain, and you will have nothing with which to appear before God. +But all that is built on Christ Jesus will abide." +</P> + +<P> +This interpretation may not appeal to Western minds, but it made a deep +impression on Mrs. Lü, and we believe it was the message God meant for +her. That night she came again to the meeting. She could stay away no +longer, the time of her deliverance was drawing nigh. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS +</H3> + + +<P> +Quite a few weeks elapsed before we went to Kucheng again, and during +that interval nothing had been heard of Mrs. Lü. But we had not been +silent before the Throne of Grace. When we reached Kucheng, several +met us at the gate, shouting, "We have good news for you, which will +give you great joy; Mrs. Lü is now your friend indeed, she has broken +her vow, and has been eating meat for the first time to-day!" That was +good news indeed, and there is no need to tell what joy this news +brought; indeed, it would be impossible to do so. How we did praise +God for having answered prayer and given such a glorious deliverance. +And that song of praise rose higher when we heard from Mrs. Lü's own +lips the full story of God's dealings with her. +</P> + +<P> +She met us with a radiant face, and began immediately to tell how it +was the Lord Himself who had constrained her to yield. No other power +or person could have done so. The story must be told in her own words. +</P> + +<P> +"After you had left me," she said, "I was still restless and could find +no peace. As the days passed by, I became more and more miserable, and +at night my sleep was disturbed by all kinds of dreams. I knew I ought +to trust God and break my vow, but I could not. I felt I must go on in +the way I had walked for so long, and I determined again not to turn to +anything or to anybody else. But one night, in my dream, I saw the old +tailor who is living with us and who is earnestly seeking after God, +standing before me in new, beautiful garments. He was altogether +changed, and oh how glorious he was. At that moment, when I was +overwhelmed with the appearance of the old man, I caught sight of some +blood which seemed to flow from his heart, and I cried out, 'That is +the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, which has cleansed away his sin. +That is why he is so beautiful.' How I wished I were like him! +</P> + +<P> +"After that I awoke, but soon went to sleep again, and then another +vision came. Some one with supernatural strength caught hold of me. +His grasp was so firm that I had no power to move a finger, and I +screamed out, asking him to free me. But he answered, 'Unless you +promise to give up your vegetarian vow, I will not let you go.' Now I +knew it was the Lord speaking to me, and in my terror I cried out, +'Yes, Lord, I will, I will give up my vow.' Still He kept His hold on +me, and said, 'Unless you promise that you will not only give up your +vow, but repent with your whole heart, I will not let you go.' Again I +replied, 'Yes, Lord, I will repent with my whole heart, only let me go, +and I will serve Thee.' As soon as I had promised, He let me go, and I +awoke, feeling so free and happy. My chains were gone, my fetters +broken, and all my unrest had departed. +</P> + +<P> +"The following day I kept repeating, 'Lord, I have repented. I have +promised to serve Thee, and I will keep my promise to the very end.' +My heart is filled with joy and peace, and now I want to tell you that +you may not worry or be anxious about me any more. You have fought the +battle with me, you have prayed much for me, you have often felt sad +and anxious about me, but now you can be at rest. It is God Himself +who has made me take this step, who was too strong for me, and there is +no turning back." +</P> + +<P> +That was Mrs. Lü's story. What joy it brought to us as we stood and +listened to that testimony. She had spoken truly, "there was no +turning back," and so there was only grateful praise in our heart, no +fear for the future, for the victory had been won once for all. Mrs. +Lü's conversion was like that of the Apostle Paul, a radical change; +and like him she began to preach boldly the Truth in Christ Jesus. All +who saw and heard her marvelled and could not understand what had +brought about such a change. Over and over again she had to tell the +wonderful story of her conversion, and it made a deep impression on +many. +</P> + +<P> +The vegetarian leaders were angry, and came time after time to try and +win her back, sometimes by earnest pleading, at other times by threats +and denunciations. But she remained firm, and to each party confessed +that it was God who had called her. It was in His almighty power that +she had been constrained to give up her vow and seek salvation in +Christ Jesus, and she could not resist Him. He had done for her what +no human power could ever have accomplished. She told them it was no +use trying to persuade her to go back, for she would never serve any +one but the Lord Jesus, so they might as well leave her in peace to go +her own road. Her old friends and instructors did not like it, but +while they threatened, she remained calm and spoke kindly to them, and +even suggested that they too should believe; whereupon they began to +curse her in their rage. +</P> + +<P> +Steadily Mrs. Lü went on growing in the knowledge of Christ. She +continued her reading, and soon began to teach others. About six or +seven months later she and her husband were baptized together into the +Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They returned to their home, +full of joy in the Lord, and with the earnest desire to live for Him +who had died for them, and to show forth His salvation from day to day. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SAVED TO SERVE +</H3> + + +<P> +But the story does not end here. It is possible to go on to tell a +little of the life of Mrs. Lü as a follower of Him whose Name she +bears. The more we saw of Mr. and Mrs. Lü the more we loved and +appreciated them, and many happy hours were spent in true fellowship +with them and a few other Christians at Kucheng. We felt indeed that +we were one family, united in one Lord and Master and in His service. +As they lived next door to the chapel they had special opportunities +for service, and the way in which they took up the responsibility of +the place, and of the people there, often awakened surprise. At times +it seemed as though they were taking too great a share in the burden. +But they did it so joyfully that it was not easy to restrain them. +</P> + +<P> +When any newcomer attended the meeting, who did not know the rule that +each person must bring his own dinner with him, Mr. and Mrs. Lü would +invite him to their house, "just to make him feel at home the first +time"; and they did it in such a way that the visitor did not feel that +he was receiving any grace from their hands. If, after some of the +Christians had gathered together on a Sunday, it began to snow or rain, +Mr. and Mrs. Lü would persuade them to stay with them for dinner—"Just +that we may be able to have the afternoon meeting together," they would +say quietly. When remonstrated with about doing too much, they +answered cheerfully, "Oh, we like to do it. We put two or three loads +of rice aside for that purpose every year. We give that to the Lord +who has blessed us so greatly." What more could be said? They were +doing it joyfully for the Master, and He who "is not unrighteous to +forget the labour of love" done for Him and for His sake, will surely +reward them "according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." And He +did reward them even here. +</P> + +<P> +When they had been coming to the services for about a year, they were +asked if they had any want, or if they had lost that year, seeing they +had given all their Sundays and many evenings, whereas they had worked +hard all the time in former years. They replied that they had lost +nothing, but had a greater surplus at the end of the year than +formerly. And the following year that surplus increased, and they +declared laughingly, "Why, we are richer than ever." Is not this a +practical testimony to the way in which God keeps His promise—"Seek ye +first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things +shall be added unto you"? +</P> + +<P> +They also taught some of us practical lessons, which will not soon be +forgotten. One year they had some building and repairs done, and had a +number of workmen working for them by the day. When Saturday came, the +question was what was to be done with all these men for the Sunday. +The men said they must go on working, or leave for a few days, as they +could not begin work somewhere else for one day. Mr. and Mrs. Lü were +in great need of their house; and yet what were they to do, for they +felt they could not let the men work for them on the day of rest? The +whole day they were ill at ease, but towards evening Mrs. Lü said to +her husband, "I know what we will do. We will just give them their +food and their wages the same as any other day, but tell them they need +not work. And then those who are willing can come with us to the +meetings." +</P> + +<P> +"But what about the money for all these men?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Lord is able to give that back to us in some other way," she said, +"and, at any rate, we shall have the assurance that we have done our +best to let them have a chance of hearing the Gospel." So it was all +settled, and their hearts were at rest. +</P> + +<P> +The writer arrived at Kucheng that Saturday evening, and was surprised +to see some of the workmen in the meeting, listening very attentively. +The following day, Sunday, three of them came again, but others went to +some of the shops for a talk and a smoke. +</P> + +<P> +"But why are you not working to-day? How can you play about like +this?" thus some of the shopkeepers addressed them. +</P> + +<P> +"We were working at Mr. Lü's house, but he told us not to do any work +to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"But how can you afford to lose a day's money like that?" +</P> + +<P> +"We do not lose anything. Mr. and Mrs. Lü give us our board and wages, +just as if we were working for them the whole day." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that is strange. They used to be careful over their money, and +they seem to be so even now." +</P> + +<P> +"That is quite true, but they say they will not sin against their God +in making us work for them on Sunday." +</P> + +<P> +"That doctrine about Jesus is really good: surely there must be +something in it." +</P> + +<P> +Thus the people reasoned, and it need hardly be said that Mr. and Mrs. +Lü, through their steady and careful walk with God, gained a respect +among the people which only few in their position could attain. It was +to them that the people came in sickness and sorrow, counting upon +their help and prayers. It was from them they sought advice when in +perplexity and uncertainty. And it was in their home the Christians +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PERSECUTION AND TRIAL +</H3> + + +<P> +Things did not always go smoothly for Mr. and Mrs. Lü, and the narrow +way was not always easy to tread. As followers of Christ they had to +share in His sufferings, in His being rejected and despised by the +world. They had to learn by practical experience that "the servant is +not above his Lord," that if they had persecuted Him, the Lord of +Glory, they would also persecute His followers. A share in His +rejection must, in greater or smaller measure, fall to the lot of every +true believer, and Mr. and Mrs. Lü were not excepted. Persecutions, +threats, and even cursings were not lacking, but as those who uttered +them received only meek answers and kind treatment in return, some of +them, at least, very soon became ashamed of themselves, and left Mr. Lü +and his wife alone. The Lord was on their side, and did not allow +their persecutors to go a step beyond His control; and His servants +found that it was easier to go all lengths with Christ, than to serve +Him in a half-hearted way, as they saw some others doing. +</P> + +<P> +When the annual theatre was held in Kucheng and every one subscribed to +meet the expenses, the collectors came as usual to Mr. Lü's house. Of +course he and his wife refused, saying they had given up idolatry and +could not subscribe to the theatre in future. The collectors began to +curse, but found Mr. and Mrs. Lü steadfast in their refusal. +</P> + +<P> +"We are quite willing to entertain you," they said, "we are quite ready +to provide dinner for you to-day, to show you that it is not a question +of money, but we cannot and will not give money for idol-worship and +stage-playing." +</P> + +<P> +The people left enraged, but came again next day, and for many days, +but they had always to return empty-handed. In such cases where the +money is refused, those who will not contribute invariably get into +trouble. The collectors, aided by others, take such things as chairs, +tables, etc., by force. Some of these things are used at the play, +others are sold to make up for the money the owners have refused to +give willingly. Day by day Mr. Lü and his wife were threatened by the +collectors, who had gathered in great numbers, and when threats failed +to achieve anything, their tormentors began to curse them, and declared +they would beat them and soon teach them what it meant to turn from +idols to a new religion. But the Lord kept His children calm and +joyful in Himself, and they answered quietly: +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, if you take our chairs and tables and break them to pieces, +as you say you will, we cannot hinder you. And if you beat us, as you +threaten to, we cannot help that either; but we are not going to give +you any money for the play, as it is against our conscience and we will +not sin against God." +</P> + +<P> +Some of the persecutors still threatened, but others listened to the +promptings of their better nature and gave up the quarrel. These, +thoroughly ashamed of themselves, restrained the rest from going any +further. Soon all of them scattered, and Mrs. Lü and her husband were +left in peace, thanking God for the way in which He had undertaken for +them. +</P> + +<P> +The next year the people threatened them worse than ever, and then Mr. +and Mrs. Lü, with some other Christians, almost lost heart. They began +to look at the difficulties. They feared the storm that was +threatening, and like Peter, as soon as they turned their eyes from the +Lord and began to look around at the wind and waves, they lost faith, +and were tempted to look to the missionaries for help. We told them, +however, to cry to their Master. They did so, and soon realized that +He was still the same as in His days on earth, that the hearts of men +were in His hands, and that He turneth them according to His own will. +At a word from Him the tempest ceased, and there was a great calm. The +enemies, evidently restrained by the hand of God, did not even come to +the house of His servants. The Lord was fighting for them, and they +could afford to stand still and see His salvation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LABOUR AND FRUIT +</H3> + + +<P> +Mrs. Lü was faithful in using her opportunities for service, and not a +few precious souls have found Christ through her. Some had been coming +to the meetings before she had given up her vegetarian vow, and were +still halting between two opinions. Mrs. Lü helped such to break +through and fully decide for Christ. She did not believe in half +measures. Others first heard the Gospel message from her lips, and +were not able to resist the power with which she spoke. Amongst the +latter was an old woman, called Mrs. Hsiao. +</P> + +<P> +The first Sunday Mrs. Lü brought her to the meetings the writer +happened to be at Kucheng. A collection was being taken for the Bible +Society, and this old woman wanted to give thirty cash. We did not +wish to receive it, fearing that she did not know what she was giving +it for. But she pressed us to take it, and Mrs. Lü said, "Please, do +take it. She understands quite well. Although she is at the services +for the first time to-day she knows the Gospel already, for I have +spoken to her several times, and she has quite made up her mind to +serve the Lord. If you do not take it, she will be disappointed." And +when Mrs. Hsiao herself was asked, she said she wanted to give the +money so that others might hear the "Good News" Mrs. Lü had been +telling her. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Lü went on teaching her about Christ, and helped her to learn some +hymns and to read a little. This latter work seemed a hopeless task, +as Mrs. Hsiao was not young; moreover, she was half blind. When the +writer saw her next time she had, however, mastered quite a few hymns. +Patiently she was plodding on, using every spare minute, determined to +learn as much as possible, but lamenting her own stupidity. Mrs. Lü +showed herself a patient teacher, and it was touching to see how +persevering they both were, never losing heart, even when the hymns +were specially difficult, and one sentence had to be repeated over and +over again before it had any meaning at all to the student. The +catechism did not prove easier, but little by little some real progress +was visible. +</P> + +<P> +When Mrs. Hsiao had learned several hymns she longed to possess a +hymn-book of her own. She asked if she might buy one and pay for it in +instalments, as she could not afford to pay for it all at once. We +gladly assented, and gave her the book. She made Mrs. Lü her +treasurer, and whenever she had been able to save ten cash she brought +them to her. About a month or two later she had paid the whole amount, +and Mrs. Lü handed the money over to us. Gladly would we have given +the book freely, but felt that Mrs. Hsiao would prize it more if it +cost her a little, and at the same time it would afford us a better +chance of seeing how far she was in earnest. +</P> + +<P> +When the theatre collectors arrived that year at Mrs. Hsiao's house, +they were met with a decided refusal. The time had been when she +believed in their false gods, and rejoiced with them in the play they +got up to honour their objects of worship, but it would never come +again. She had changed Masters, and her desire was to have His favour. +So she remained firm, even when the men threatened to take away the few +things she possessed, which were indeed few enough, and most necessary +for her daily use. That day the men left peacefully, but came again +after a day or two, determined to take some of her things if she +refused to give the money. When they arrived she was in the +guest-hall, and as soon as she saw them enter, she knelt where she was +standing and cried to the Lord for help. In her fright she forgot she +was in a public place and lost sight of her surroundings. She only +realized that the test had come; they meant to take away the little she +possessed, and so she cried simply and earnestly, but with intense +fervour, that the Lord would undertake for her and show that He was +mighty to deliver. +</P> + +<P> +When the collectors saw her on her knees praying they got frightened, +and said, "She is going to ask Heaven and her God to punish us. Let us +go!" But some of them said they were not going to be fooled by an old +woman and her God, so snatched the cooking-pan from the stove and went +hastily out. When she had finished praying, Mrs. Hsiao found them all +gone, but she was minus her cooking-pan. She was glad to have got off +so easily, but even that one article was necessary to her. How could +she do without it? She had no money to buy another. After a few +moments' perplexity she made her way to Mrs. Lü's house, and told her +story, and together they prayed that the missing article might be +returned to her. +</P> + +<P> +We heard about her difficulty, and one of the missionaries suggested +that as the woman was so very poor we might give her a new cooking-pan. +But some of us answered, "No, let her fight her own battle. It will be +better for her, as it will strengthen her faith. Even if she does not +get the article back (which we believe she will), it will only show her +that we have to be willing to suffer for His sake." So we remained +silent, that is, silent before men, but not before God. We prayed +earnestly that the Lord, who understood how much this small test meant +to the poor woman, still a babe in Christ, would restore unto her what +she had lost, if it were for her good. And God did undertake for her. +Day by day Mrs. Lü prayed with her, and expected the Lord to work for +them. And He did not let them ask in vain. In His love He pitied His +children, and in His power He touched the hearts of those who had made +Mrs. Hsiao suffer, and soon the lost cooking-pan was restored, and the +hearts of the two women overflowed in praise to God for His goodness +and care. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT +</H3> + + +<P> +In a former chapter Mrs. Lü's brother was mentioned. Although he came +off and on to the meetings, and gave up idol worship, he did not take +his stand for Christ for a long time. Mr. Lü had tried earnestly to +lead him into the way of salvation; and after Mrs. Lü had yielded to +the Lord, she joined her husband in his efforts, and they soon had the +joy of seeing him on the Lord's side. +</P> + +<P> +A few months later he was married to a young woman who professed to be +an earnest enquirer. That was the beginning of trial for him, for the +woman had only been pretending to seek after God, as she knew he would +not marry her unless she professed to be a Christian. She would have +ruined him perhaps spiritually and financially, had not the Lord taken +him to Himself. The year before he married he had been seriously ill, +but had been healed in answer to prayer. Now the malady returned with +redoubled force. It was a great trial to Mrs. Lü to see his suffering, +for she loved her brother. Her heart was sad when he poured into her +sympathetic ear the sorrow he felt in not being able to hinder his wife +and her relatives having idolatrous performances for his recovery. He +knew he was not going to recover; he longed to go home to the land +beyond the shadows. From his wife he received no kind treatment. When +almost at death's door he asked in the night for a cup of tea, but she +refused to move from her bed. At last some neighbours, who heard his +pitiful moan, got up and brought him the desired drink. He prayed that +God might call him speedily, and his prayer was answered. Mr. and Mrs. +Lü mourned for their brother, but could only thank God that He had been +merciful enough to take him to Himself, for his sufferings in this +world would have been prolonged. +</P> + +<P> +Another one to whom Mrs. Lü was a great help was an old lady of eighty +years, her father's step-mother. The old lady had been coming to the +meetings since the first night we arrived at Kucheng, and was very +intelligent and quick of understanding. There had not been much love +lost between her and her grand-daughter, but when her heart was +touched, and the light of God began to shine in, things began to +improve. Mrs. Lü had hitherto been patient with her, but out of duty +only. But when she herself learned something of the compassionate love +of Christ, there was an added tenderness in all her dealings with her +grandmother. Her kind words and loving deeds did much toward hastening +the day when the old lady stepped out into the light of God, and began +to shine for Him. For several years she bore a bright testimony to His +redeeming grace, and each Sunday was a real feast day to her. Even +when on her sick-bed, her heart was with the loved ones gathered around +the Word of God, and she prayed for His blessing upon them. On her +last Sunday morning on earth she asked, "Who is coming to preach +to-day?" They told her, and she nodded, satisfied. That day she was +gathered to the multitude of worshippers around the Throne in Heaven. +What a trophy of God's grace! Her life had been a hard one. For many +years she had toiled and laboured; sorrow had not been lacking, and all +those weary years she had served and feared the powers of darkness. +But Christ had set her free, and at eventide there was light and peace. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after their conversion Mrs. Lü and her husband were much concerned +about the parents of their little daughter-in-law. The latter came +into their home the day we opened the chapel at Kucheng, and was from +that day brought under the influence of the Gospel, as she was allowed +to come and go as she liked. She was bright and affectionate, and soon +learned to read. Unlike many girls who come to their mother-in-law's +home while they are still children, she was treated with great +tenderness and consideration, and her heart soon warmed towards Mr. and +Mrs. Lü. But although she was won, that was only a small step, and +greater difficulties had to be overcome. The girl's parents were +entirely heathen, and clung to their beliefs and customs with great +zeal. They had no interest whatever in the Gospel, nor had they any +sympathy with those who believed it. +</P> + +<P> +The first difficulty started when the girl became ill, soon after Mr. +Lü had decided for Christ. His wife was not yet converted. The +parents came, and demanded that the Taoist priests should be called in +to perform their rites for the recovery of the girl. Mr. Lü told them +he was now a believer in God, and could not allow anything idolatrous +in his house. He would spend all the money that was needed in doctors +and medicine, but could not sin against God. The parents of the girl +were angry, but it was of no use—Mr. Lü remained firm. After a long +time of argument on both sides, the parents said they would take their +daughter home with them and do all they could for her, but Mr. Lü +refused to have anything to do with their practices, and would not bear +the expenses either. The girl did not want the Taoists. She had lost +all faith in the idols, and was learning to pray to the living God and +to trust Christ; but she was still a child, and too young to stand out +against her parents. Her illness was not serious, and she soon +recovered. +</P> + +<P> +But when Mr. and Mrs. Lü were both on the Lord's side, they were very +much exercised in their minds about the future arrangements concerning +this girl. She was ailing again, and the parents began afresh to +trouble them. Mr. and Mrs. Lü felt that, according to the law of the +land, she now belonged to them, and they had the responsibility for +her. The girl, too, loved the Lord, and objected to have anything +idolatrous done for her. Yet, what were they to do? It was not a +cheery outlook to think that every time the young girl was not well +they should have to quarrel with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wen. They +were peace-loving, and dreaded any disagreement and strife between +themselves and their relations; and yet such seemed unavoidable. +</P> + +<P> +It was at this point that the Lord showed them a way out of the +difficulty, and reminded Mrs. Lü of the power of prayer. So she turned +to her husband and said, "We cannot sin against God by calling in the +Taoist priest; we cannot allow anything in our house which would be +dishonouring to the name of our Lord and Master; but He has showed me +that there is one thing we can do—we can pray; and we will pray, that +the Lord may open the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Wen, and lead them to +Himself. If they are led to repentance—and why should they not +be?—all the difficulties will be at an end." +</P> + +<P> +With a steadfast purpose, therefore, these two servants of God set +themselves to pray for those who were on their hearts. And the God of +Israel heard the cry of His chosen ones, and soon His Spirit was at +work in the heart of the mother of the girl. Sooner than they had +dared to hope, Mr. and Mrs. Lü rejoiced in the answer to their prayers, +and could praise God for His wonder-working power. Mrs. Wen opened her +heart to the call of the Spirit; she began to enquire after God, and +very quickly, through the instrumentality of Mrs. Lü, she was brought +into the light. +</P> + +<P> +From the first it was evident that the Lord Himself had touched her +heart. She sought salvation most earnestly, and her former +indifference gave place to an intense longing after God. When once she +had started out, there was no turning back, and nothing was allowed to +hinder her in the race. She seemed to have imbibed something of Mrs. +Lü's earnestness, and was altogether changed under the new influence +that had come into her life. She became bright and energetic, and with +a will set herself to learn as much as possible. She bought a +hymn-book and catechism, and began to read, Mrs. Lü being her teacher. +Through storm or rain, cold or heat she would tramp to the services; +nothing could keep her at home. It did one good to see her appear with +her bright smile, which had almost become part of her since she had +learned where true happiness was to be found. Now and again her family +would say, "We are so busy, you might stay at home for once." "No," +she answered, "I will not stay at home, but I will get up early in the +morning and prepare all I can for you before I leave." And she had her +way. +</P> + +<P> +In the beginning her husband laughed her to scorn, sometimes he scolded +her and called her a fool. But very soon he had to acknowledge that +Christianity was no mere fancy, but a reality, and he could not but +admire his wife's earnestness. So he left her in peace, and did not +allow the sons to trouble her. After a while he began to take an +interest in the daily prayers to God, and would try to help her, in +securing for her all the quietness and comfort possible. That made +home life pleasanter and easier for her, and she praised God for this +token of His grace and favour. +</P> + +<P> +How Mrs. Lü rejoiced, and what a bond there was between the two +relatives! They were one in the Saviour whom they loved, and both were +filled with the one desire to please Him. Mrs. Lü had to share in the +new-found joy of the one she had been leading to Christ, and every one +who has been used in winning souls for the Master knows the blessedness +of such hours; an abundant reward indeed for prayers and labours. +</P> + +<P> +Advice and teaching had still to be given, and Mrs. Lü not only began a +good work, but tried to carry it on to the best of her ability—to help +the new believers by counsel and intercession, and to strengthen their +hands in the Lord. And the one who had so recently passed from death +unto life was not idle either. Especially in her own home she began to +witness for Christ, and found a willing listener in the wife of her +second son. This young woman gladly accompanied her mother-in-law to +the meetings and heard the Word with joy. Her father, who heard of her +attending Christian services, was furious, and declared he would disown +her and bring severe punishment upon her and her home if she continued +to go to the meetings. He insisted on her husband forbidding her to +go. So with a heavy heart the young woman had to stay at home. She +knew how hard and cruel and unforgiving her father was, and she dared +not disobey him. But she determined to continue in the worship of God, +for even her father could not hinder her in that. She asked her +mother-in-law to buy her a book so that she might go on learning at +home. She never dared to brave her father's anger, and step right out +for Christ, but she never worshipped idols again, and when she had a +very serious illness, she trusted the Lord for healing instead of +turning to the Taoist priest. She only lived for a few years, but her +mother-in-law had the full assurance that she died trusting in Christ +Jesus and His redeeming Love. +</P> + +<P> +After a while old Mr. Wen started coming to the meeting, and his wife +was full of joy. But trouble arose in the home, and their eldest son +had to suffer through an unrighteous law case. He wanted us to +interfere on his behalf, which we could not do, so Mr. Wen and his sons +turned away from us in anger for a time, and Mrs. Wen had a hard test +in her home. But she and Mrs. Lü, and some of us, prayed through, and +Mr. Wen soon saw that he had been too hasty in his judgment, and came +back. From that time he went steadily on, and husband and wife were +once more walking together on the same road, but this time it was +leading them upward into light and glory. +</P> + +<P> +For Mr. Wen the journey was soon ended. Even before he had been +baptized and had his name put on the Church roll, he heard the +roll-call from above, and gladly answered. Mrs. Wen pursued her lonely +way, faithful to the last. She, too, has left for the Home with the +many mansions. A short serious illness brought her suddenly to the +brink of the river, but there was no fear in her heart as she had to +ford that stream. She gave her last bright testimony to the saving +power of Christ, and told her loved ones that she was going to be with +Him, and they were not to be anxious about her future after death, for +she was going to the home of eternal blessedness. For the last day or +two she was more or less unconscious, but always at peace. She had +lived and walked with Christ, and He carried her gently through the +chilling waters to the other shore. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Wen will be one of the jewels that will shine brightly in Mrs. +Lü's crown, when she receives her reward from the hand of her Master. +May none who read this be found starless or empty-handed in that day! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE +</H3> + + +<P> +We must go back again to the time when Mrs. Lü had her heart's desire +in seeing Mrs. Wen beginning to seek after God. In the midst of that +joy the testing time began, and the Lord brought His child through deep +waters. For days and weeks she was lying on her sick-bed, with, +humanly speaking, no hope of recovery. These weeks were hard and +trying, especially to her loved ones, who watched her anxiously. The +native doctors had given up the case as beyond their ability, and said +there was nothing more to be done; Mrs. Lü would never get well again. +Many friends crowded around and entreated her to make her peace with +the gods she had offended, and to let some Taoist ceremonies be +performed for her, as that was her only hope of restoration to health. +</P> + +<P> +She, of course, would not hear of it, and to one and all testified to +the joy and peace she had in God. "Do not worry about me," she said +brightly, "I am not afraid to die. I rather long for death, for I +shall then be at home with Jesus, which is far better." Weak as she +was, she used every opportunity for pointing the unsaved ones to +Christ. When asked if she did not feel anxious about leaving her +husband, and the children who were still young, she replied, "The Lord +will take care of them." She was anxious about nothing, but was +longing for her heavenly home, although she said she would be glad to +serve the Lord a little longer, if He wanted her here. +</P> + +<P> +Many went away wondering what the treasure was that she possessed, +which they knew nothing about. A wonderful treasure it must be, they +reflected, to keep her so calm and peaceful, yes, even rejoicing in the +face of death. But others insisted that the gods were punishing Mrs. +Lü for having left them; and as she would not take their advice and try +to reconcile the idols, they were furious and loud in their +denunciations of her. One of Mrs. Lü's relatives came to her and said: +</P> + +<P> +"I am so frightened for you, all the people are cursing you. They +declare you are now reaping your punishment for leaving the idols." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Lü only smiled and answered, "Let them curse, they can do me no +harm, neither they nor their gods of clay, for my God does bless me." +</P> + +<P> +"But they say, you will surely die." +</P> + +<P> +"Even if I should die, there is no punishment. I shall be most glad to +go to my Saviour, and I have nothing to be afraid of. I shall only +have the greater happiness and glory." +</P> + +<P> +It need scarcely be said that we pleaded earnestly and constantly with +God to spare Mrs. Lü's life, if it would be His will, as we felt that +she was so much needed for the work at Kucheng. He graciously heard +and answered prayer, and Mrs. Lü began to take a turn for the better. +Slowly, very slowly the improvement showed itself. She would insist on +being carried to the services every Sunday, her husband fetching her +from her bed, and seating her in a chair in the little chapel, which +had become a sacred spot to her. There she would sit with closed eyes, +listening to the service. She could not read or sing, as she had no +strength to open her eyes even, but she said softly, "I can pray." At +the close of the service she was carried back to bed again, entirely +exhausted. But God, who knew her motives and saw the longings of a +heart full of love to Him, kept her from taking any harm through what +might otherwise have been considered very unwise. +</P> + +<P> +What a joy it was to see her well! She had only gained, and not lost, +in her spiritual life during the time the Lord had laid her aside. She +had been chastened through her pain and suffering, through the +temptations from without and within, and would be more meet for the +Master's use than formerly. And so her later service proved. Often +when she went out shopping, or when any other business took her to the +street of the village, she would get an opportunity of witnessing for +her Lord. The shopkeepers and their wives would say, "Now, sit down +and tell us something of the Jesus doctrine first, and then we will +serve you." To that she gladly assented, and with pleasant manner and +convincing words, she would tell of the love of Christ, and what it had +done for her. It often happened that others came to listen to the +message; indeed, many went to her home for that very purpose, and to +each and all she related the story of her conversion, giving God all +the glory for having conquered when she had determined never to yield. +She told them of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power, and of +the great privilege of being a child of God. Mrs. Lü did not get +discouraged when they did not believe at once. "I do not wonder you do +not believe," she would say, "I was just the same once, and worse than +you. No power on earth could have made me leave my old way; but the +wonder-working power of God did it, and that same power will still +bring you into His fold." +</P> + +<P> +Many strong opponents of the Gospel, many full of arguments and worldly +wisdom sought her out to argue and reason with her, fully assured that +their clever and witty speeches would soon bring ridicule and shame +upon her and her belief. But quietly and earnestly she silenced all of +them, often even outwitting them in arguments; at other times just +telling her simple story, but with such power that all mouths were +closed. The Lord indeed gave her "mouth and wisdom" according to His +promise in Luke xxi. 15, and very often, when the husband and wife were +telling their experiences, the former would say, with a proud, fond +look at his wife, "They are never able to get the best of her in +argument. The Lord always helps her to overcome them all." How he +loved her, and how united these two were in heart and mind! Day by +day, as they both followed Christ, they were drawn closer to each other. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Lü was always ready for service, and whenever the Lord called her +to do something for Him, she did it joyfully and with all her might. +When some days had been set apart for the worship of a famous idol +visiting Kucheng, the people, especially the women, streamed together +from all quarters. A good many of them were strangers in the place, +and all sights worthy of notice had to be seen. The "Jesus Hall" was +one of them, perhaps the most important of all, for the women had heard +strange tales of the foreigners with their new doctrine, and they +wanted to see the place with their own eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Lü saw them coming, and realized that here was work for her to do, +as the old chapel-keeper was little good at preaching. That morning +Mrs. Lü had read in her daily text-book: "Be of good cheer. Speak, and +be not silent, for I have much people in this city." Now the message +came back to her, and it seemed to be the voice of God Himself, so she +answered joyfully, "Very well, Lord, if Thou dost want me to preach, I +will preach. I will put down my own work, and only work for Thee +during these days." So without delay or regret, she put everything +else aside, and for three or four days witnessed from morning till +night to all the women who came, so that each one might hear the glad +tidings of salvation before returning to a distant home. Could such +faithful work, done through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and +through the constraining love of Christ, be in vain? +</P> + +<P> +She would say in her own bright way—"I am glad and willing to work for +the Lord, even if it should mean great loss; but the Lord does not let +me lose anything, not even in worldly things. I give my time to Him, +and He so often helps me to do a piece of work that makes up for all +the time I have given. Do you know what happened last week? I gave my +time to preaching the Gospel during the week, and then on Saturday +somebody brought a pair of shoes to be mended. It was a difficult +piece of work, and few were able to do it. I undertook to mend them, +and in that one day I earned 100 cash, when others were only able to +earn 20 or 30 cash a day." +</P> + +<P> +Does not this story give a striking example of how God rewards glad and +willing service for Him, even here, in addition to the greater +recompense above? "Therefore be ye steadfast, immovable, always +abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your +labour is not in vain in the Lord." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DAYS OF SHADOW +</H3> + + +<P> +Reference has already been made to the death of Mrs. Lü's brother. +This had been a great trial to her, as he was the only one left who +bound her to the home of her girlhood. It was in June 1904 that he +left them for the better world above, and already in July death called +another one from the immediate circle. This time it was the old tailor +Chang who was summoned into the presence of the King. +</P> + +<P> +He was, indeed, a brand plucked from the burning. He had been pretty +well off, and was a good tailor. When a child, Mr. Lü had been +apprenticed to Chang by his parents. Chang was fond of the quiet, +conscientious boy, and treated him well, and the two grew fond of each +other. But soon their ways parted, and later on Chang sunk very low on +account of his opium-smoking habit. He kept an opium den, lived with a +woman who was not his wife, and became more and more a slave to opium, +until he had wasted his last dollar and sold all he possessed. It was +then, when he was landed in utter misery, and knowing not where to +turn, that his former apprentice, Mr. Lü, came forward, and offered him +a home and shelter. +</P> + +<P> +Chang's body was ruined through former sins, and when trying to +diminish his daily supply of opium, he suffered acutely, and was often +ill for weeks together. It was during one of these attacks that the Lü +children told him to pray to God for healing. He did so, as he said he +could not withstand the pleading of the children, although he had been +very displeased with Mr. and Mrs. Lü being Christians. The Lord did +raise him up the next day. Chang realized it was an answer to prayer, +and set himself to seek the Lord. Little by little he was led on to +know the true way of salvation, and decided to serve Christ. Having +taken the first step along the narrow way, he went steadily on and +never wavered in his decision. It was touching to see his earnestness +in worship and prayer, and in listening to the Word. He left off +smoking opium, and was only swallowing one small pill a day as +medicine. He tried hard to reduce even that small pill, and several +times decided to do without any opium, but he got so ill that he had to +take the pill again. +</P> + +<P> +In the spring of 1904 he tried again to do without opium altogether, +and we gave him some anti-opium medicine, but he could not take it. +His poor body was altogether ruined. Soon he had to keep to his bed, +and Mrs. Lü looked after him as if he were her own father. The old man +loved her, and could not bear her out of his sight. The children, too, +cheered him greatly, as they would come to his bedside and talk to him +about God, and sing their hymns to him. During his illness he drew +nearer and nearer to the Lord, and was constantly in prayer. Often +during the day, and especially during the long sleepless nights, his +voice could be heard in praise and prayer. For the last few days he +refused to take even the smallest pill of opium. They told him that it +was only as medicine he needed it, for he could not take any food; but +the old man firmly resisted, saying, "I will go to meet my God +altogether free from opium, and from any other of my former sins. The +blood of Christ has cleansed me, I will not defile myself any more." +Although suffering all the time, he awaited his end joyfully, and +continually repeated to those around him that he was trusting in the +merit of the Crucified. +</P> + +<P> +One day shortly before his death an old vegetarian leader came to call +upon Mrs. Lü. His chief motive was to point out to her that all the +sickness, sorrow, and trials, and the deaths of some of her family had +come to her as a result of her breaking her vegetarian vow. He +finished up by saying, "You see how wrong you were. Your God does not +care for you, He only sends you trouble." Mrs. Lü felt tired and weary +that day, and being downhearted did not answer so quickly and brightly +as was her wont. +</P> + +<P> +Old Chang, lying on his death-bed in the next room, could hear all, and +noticed not only the man's cruelty, but Mrs. Lü's depression. Feeble +as he was he managed to get out of bed, and stumbled into the room, to +the great distress of Mrs. Lü. She knew he had not walked a step for +days, and was afraid he might fall, so prepared to help him back again. +But he took no notice of her, and confronting the vegetarian, said, +"No, she is not wrong; you are wrong, our God is worthy of our trust. +He does care for us, He does love us, and the trials are only for a +short while." He asked for a New Testament, and began looking for a +text. His eyes were dim, and he wanted to put on his glasses, but had +not the strength to do so, and his fingers were almost unable to turn +the pages of the book. Mrs. Lü remonstrated, telling him that he was +ill, dying, and must go back to bed. But he heeded her not, he must +show the vegetarian in black and white on Whom their hope was built. +At last he found what he wanted. His trembling fingers pointed to the +Word, and in a weak, but glad voice, he read out—"Be ye also patient, +stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." His +eagerness and earnestness, even when at the very door of death, made a +great impression on all around, and the vegetarian leader took his +departure. A few days later old Chang was called Home. He was never +enrolled on the Church register, but no one ever doubted that his name +was registered in the Book of Life. His faith kept firm to the last, +and he gave instructions that no heathen rites were to be performed for +him. He said, "I am going straight to my Saviour. I do not need any +Taoist priest to break open the door of hell, or to bridge the gulf, +for the door of heaven is opened wide for me through Jesus and His +blood." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lü bought a coffin for him, and his own relatives were to take the +coffin to the home of the old man, three miles out in the country. The +relatives came, but not to do their duty, only to make trouble. They +declared the Lü family must have received a lot of money from old +Chang, and demanded it back. They refused to bury their relative, so +Mr. Lü calmly called others to bury him, and paid all the extra +expenses. Then the shop-keepers at Kucheng got enraged, and made the +relatives ashamed of their behaviour, for they knew in their hearts, +and all others knew, that Mr. and Mrs. Lü had pitied the old man in his +poverty and sickness, when his own people had spurned him. +</P> + +<P> +Again the Lord had been glorified through His servants, and although +they did not receive much gratitude here for many of their loving +deeds, they will not lose the reward laid up for them in the Father's +Home. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SHADOW DEEPENS +</H3> + + +<P> +So far reference has only been made to the trials connected with the +illness and death of two in the family circle. But another storm was +already pending, and a great dark cloud was yet to break over the heads +of these two devoted servants of God. Did the Lord not have compassion +on them, or had He ceased to care? Why did they not prosper in +everything as before? Had the Lord changed in His love for them, or +had He forgotten to be gracious? They did not think so, neither did +they murmur. They were ready to take what He sent, and could say with +Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." They knew they +could trust Him; and their faith was kept firm and bright, and the +presence of their Heavenly Guide grew more precious as He led them +through the valley of shadows. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lü had not been strong for years, and every now and again, +specially during the winter and spring, he had a bad cough, with some +slight haemorrhage. As he got better as soon as the warm weather set +in, they had not considered the attacks dangerous, and Mr. Lü would +work as hard as ever, often doing night work by the dim light from the +Chinese oil-lamp. On Saturday they would all come to the prayer +meeting, and then go back home and work till long after their regular +bedtime, so that they might be free for the Sunday. Mr. Lü was a very +hard worker, and never spared himself. +</P> + +<P> +In the beginning of 1905 he took a more severe cold than before; his +cough became very troublesome, and he was constantly spitting blood. +He believed everything was owing to the exceptionally cold winter we +were experiencing, and hoped to be better as soon as the spring set in. +But before spring came, he gave every evidence of serious consumption. +Knowing that he had been ailing for years, it was hoped that he might +possibly improve again, and perhaps live on for some time. He was +therefore invited to come to the city Mission Station for a while, so +that he might get proper medicine and better nourishment than he could +have in his own home. As soon as his strength allowed him to take the +journey, he came and stayed with us for a month. During that time all +was done that love could do. At the end of the month he felt better +and seemed stronger, but soon after his return home he began to get +worse again, and his cough grew more violent. Soon it was evident to +all that there was no hope of his recovery, but he and his wife were +the only ones who remained calm about it. Many doctors came to ask if +they could do anything for him; some out of kindness, others to enrich +their own pockets. But Mr. Lü only replied, "No, you are not able to +do anything for me. I am going Home. The Lord is calling me." +</P> + +<P> +His wife was blamed by everybody for "letting him die," as they put it. +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you try to save him? The Taoist priests would restore him +to health. Why do you not call them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because," she replied, "what you and the priests trust in, is all +false and powerless. Life and death are alike in the hand of God, and +He will do what is best." +</P> + +<P> +The people shook their heads at her obstinacy; others declaring it +served her right. Her husband's death would be at her door, for had +she not angered the idols in leaving them? Mrs. Lü heeded them not, +for her heart was fixed. The Rock upon which she had built was the +Rock of Ages, and upon it she stood secure, firm and unshaken in the +time of trial. She knew whom she had believed, had proved His +faithfulness, and that He would remain though all else were taken from +her. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lü, though glad for his own sake to go to the Home above, would at +times feel sorry for his much-loved wife and son, and would express his +regret at leaving them while the boy was still so young. But Mrs. Lü, +instead of complaining or murmuring against her fate, as others would +have done, gently encouraged her husband in the Lord, saying, "Never +mind about us. You just prepare yourself to meet your God. We have +Him, and He will take care of us. Do not worry." With words like +these she would comfort his heart, although her own was bleeding. But +she knew where to take her sorrow, and every day, and many times a day, +she fled to her safe and happy refuge. +</P> + +<P> +When Mr. Lü was staying in the city and she was left alone, her heart +often went out in longing after him, and she was wondering anxiously +how he was. She felt lonely without him, and, try as hard as she might +be to cheerful, sad thoughts would come. Just then one of the +evangelists went to Kucheng to take the Sunday services. He was led to +speak on John xiv. 1—"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in +God, believe also in Me." That was the message Mrs. Lü needed. She +felt comforted, and, after the meeting, she started to read the whole +chapter. What treasures it revealed, and how precious it became to +her. She heard, while reading it over and over again, the voice of Him +who first spoke these words to His beloved disciples, and that voice +had lost none of its former power. Eagerly and joyfully she drank in +the beautiful words and precious promises, spoken to those other sad +ones when the loving Master was about to leave them, and in her quiet +room her heart was filled with "the peace that passeth all +understanding." Needless to say, John xiv. became her favourite +chapter henceforth. +</P> + +<P> +When the writer went to see Mr. Lü for the last time, we arrived late +one Friday night. He sat up joyfully when he heard our voice, and +greeted us with the words—"Our next meeting-place will be in Heaven." +It did not need more than one look at the wasted form to realize that +for him, at least, that happy place would soon be reached. It was with +a sad and husky voice we replied, "Yes, Mr. Lü, it will be with our +Lord in Glory." The native evangelist who had accompanied us now +entered the room, and after some talk we had prayer together. Although +our hearts ached and the tears could not be kept back, we were filled +with praise to God for His saving grace, for the hope of glory, and for +the eternal inheritance laid up in heaven. Oh, how near Heaven seemed! +Christ was in our midst, and the humble room seemed hallowed by His +presence. Having commended our brother to our Father's tender care, we +separated for the night. +</P> + +<P> +The following day he was much the same. In the evening the prayer +meeting was held in his house, as we had a message from the Lord we +wanted to deliver to him and his wife. He insisted on being helped out +into the public room, and remained there while the meeting lasted, +which was consequently shortened. It was a blessed hour we spent +together in communion with the Lord, and in hearing His voice speaking +through Psalm xxiii. +</P> + +<P> +The following day, Sunday, the meetings were held in the chapel, so Mr. +Lü could not be present. But he was present in spirit, and during the +prayer meeting his heart was lifted up to God in his lonely chamber. +In the evening the little praise meeting was held at their home, and we +shall never forget the picture that met our eyes as we entered. Mr. Lü +was lying on a low couch, his wife sitting close beside him, holding +his hand. Their little son was sitting close to both of them at the +end of the bed, leaning against his mother, and gently stroking his +father's feet. It was the most touching and home-like thing we had +ever seen in family life in China. But, if the shadows rested over +that united and loving home, the Sun of Righteousness was shining also. +</P> + +<P> +Everybody seemed to choose bright hymns about the Heavenly Home and the +coming again of our Lord in glory. Mr. Lü was lying there with a happy +smile on his face, and the last hymn he asked for was "Oh, thou my +soul, bless God the Lord." As we sang our praise to God our souls were +lifted above the sufferings and trials of this life, and seemed to +realize already something of the glory which was to be revealed. One +of our fellow-workers had sent a card for Mr. and Mrs. Lü with Romans +viii. 28 on it, and as we read it, it seemed as if we already saw +beyond the veil, beyond the "workings" to the blessed result—"The joy +unspeakable and full of glory." Mrs. Lü said after a while, "The +longer I sing, the happier I get. My sorrow has quite departed, and is +no more." Oh, how little does the world know what real joy means! +What are all the pleasures this world can offer, yea, even the choicest +ones, compared to one hour's real joy in fellowship and communion with +Him who is the Fount of every Blessing, and in whose presence there is +fulness of joy? Would that the poor souls hungering for rest and +happiness, dissatisfied with the worldly pleasures, tired of their +empty show, might turn to Him who is the source of all true and lasting +joy. How abundantly they would be satisfied with the fatness of His +house, for He would make them drink of the rivers of His pleasure. How +much richer their lives would be already here, to say nothing of the +life hereafter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Take the world, but give me Jesus,<BR> +Other joys are but a name,<BR> +But His love abideth ever,<BR> +To eternal years the same.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Oh, the height and depth of mercy,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Oh, the length and breadth of love,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Oh, the fulness of salvation,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Pledge of endless life above.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ENTERING THE VALLEY +</H3> + + +<P> +The following morning there seemed to be a change in Mr. Lü, and +thinking that the end would come that day we stayed on until the +afternoon, for which he was very grateful. Several times he would say, +"I know quite well why you are staying here, it is only for my sake. I +shall never be able to repay you for what you have done for me, but God +will." And yet it seemed so little that one had been able to do for +him, and he had been such a help to us, and to the work in Kucheng. +Towards evening we had to return to the city; so after a parting prayer +and a last farewell, or, rather, a hopeful "We shall meet again up +yonder," we left him smiling his bright farewell. The evangelist +remained with them till the end should come. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lü lingered on till Thursday night. During those days many came to +see him, and expressed their regret and pity at his not getting better. +But he answered brightly, "No, I am not sorry that the end is near. +Although I am loth to leave my family, I am still full of joy. There +is no fear of death in my heart, I am prepared for it, and I know my +Saviour is coming to take me to my Heavenly Home, to be with Him, which +is far better. What about you? Take heed and prepare quickly for the +day when you, too, may be called." With these words and many others, +he would testify to the joy he had in Christ, and exhort his neighbours +and friends to seek salvation before it was too late. +</P> + +<P> +The day before his death he had a visit from a Christian distantly +related to him. He greeted him brightly, and said, "Jesus has not yet +come. I wish He would come quickly and take me Home. Our teacher left +the evangelist here to help us, and I know she has other work for him +to do." Up till the very end his thoughts were for others and not for +himself. +</P> + +<P> +Towards midnight he called for his wife. "Please wash me quickly and +put my old garments aside, and help me into my new clothes, for I am +soon going: the Lord is calling me." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not say this," she remonstrated. +</P> + +<P> +But he answered, "Do not hinder me, do not try to delay me. My time +has come, my God is calling me." +</P> + +<P> +So she did as he bid her, and prepared him for the journey. Some days +previously he had asked her to make him a long white robe, as it was in +pure white, within and without, that he wanted to meet his Lord. When +their preparations were ready, his wife wanted to call the evangelist, +but even then Mr. Lü was thoughtful enough to say, "No, do not wake +him; he is getting old, let him sleep. I am all right and need +nothing." He was called, however, and soon stood at the bedside of his +friend, praying for him for the last time. Before that prayer was +ended, Mr. Lü called out, "I am going, Jesus is here," and with that +word upon his lips his spirit had left the mortal body and taken its +flight to God who gave it. There was no pain, no sorrow, no last +struggle. Gently and peacefully he passed over Jordan into the +presence of the King. +</P> + +<P> +The funeral took place a week later. Our hearts were sore and the +tears flowing fast as we remembered we should see his face no more. In +some measure we could sympathize with those who were nearest and +dearest to him, and who had lost so much. But through the whole +service a joy note rang out clearly. We felt the very presence of the +Lord, and even all the outsiders were awed and listened attentively to +the message given, in which the evangelist sought to bring home to +their hearts the necessity for receiving Christ and His redeeming +grace, so that their end might be like the one they had so recently +witnessed. Many of them never forgot the peace that kept Mr. Lü's +heart at perfect rest, even when he stood on the brink of the river. +His joy in the Lord under such circumstances was a surprise and a +mystery which would again and again force itself upon their minds. +They asked each other, and they asked us, where that joy came from. +</P> + +<P> +On the morning of the burial, a heathen man came and told us that he +had seen Mr. Lü in his dream the night before. He was walking on a +beautiful shore which must be Heaven, and was so joyful and beautiful. +Mr. Lü had called to him, begging him to come across, and he decided to +go to that glorious place. When starting to go he felt some change +come over him, and at last reached the glory-land where he conversed +with Mr. Lü. This was his dream; but was it not a clear call to that +man to seek the things above? God grant that he may heed the call. +</P> + +<P> +In other ways, too, the Lord spoke to some of the ignorant, idolatrous +people around. He knew just the state of their minds, and what would +appeal to those who as yet had no light. In His tender mercy He sought +their lost souls, and spoke to them in a language they could +understand. Some of them said to one another, "Well, it is strange, +the God of the Christians does seem to care for them. They refuse to +choose days like we do, and yet every Christian has died on a lucky +day. We can choose our days for the funerals, but we cannot choose +lucky days for those dying. But God does that for those who worship +Him." +</P> + +<P> +Poor benighted souls. They do not know that to the God of the +Christians all days are alike, but in His love He teaches them +according to their understanding. How great is His long-suffering! It +was a great help to me to see how the Lord did not despise their +ignorance, but fitted His voice and doings to their understanding. +While we should have got impatient, God took the trouble of teaching +them in this small way. What a good thing it is that our Father is +more patient than we His children are. We want light and full +understanding straight off; but He does not despise the very smallest +beginning, does not reject the poor soul in darkness, who shows, +perhaps, only a feeble groping after the light. May He make us more +like Himself! +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +It is true that the "tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." While +Mr. Lü was lying on his death-bed, one of the idols was having its +birthday celebrated, and again the people of the place were collecting +money for the theatre. Mrs. Lü replied again that she would be glad to +give her share for anything which would benefit her fellow-men, and was +even willing to give a double share, but could not give them any money +for idolatry. The men threatened that she should ask them in vain for +help when her husband died. They would not carry the coffin, neither +would they lend her the things needed for carrying it to its +resting-place. She did not reply, but came and told us. We advised +her to act as if no word had been said, for we believed the men would +think better of it, and not carry out their threats. And if they did, +the Church members from other villages would gladly do that service for +her. So she said nothing till after her husband's death, when all of +them came without any refusal. Only one man said that he would not +carry a Christian's coffin, but the others soon made him ashamed of +himself. None could keep up his displeasure with Mrs. Lü for very +long, for she was too much respected by all. +</P> + +<P> +As the funeral procession passed through Kucheng the streets were lined +on both sides with onlookers. But even there a hush seemed to have +fallen on the people. Here and there a quiet remark was heard, "Oh, +the Christians do pay proper respect to their dead. Even all the +missionaries and preachers follow them to the grave, and wear mourning +for them!" Some little boys were walking ahead of the coffin, beating +the gongs and carrying four banners, with the inscription, "He shall +certainly rise again," and, "He shall ascend to heaven and dwell +there." One long banner showed the text, "For there is one God and one +Mediator between God and men." And another, "For God so loved the +world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in +Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." One boy carried a +large white umbrella, then followed the coffin, carried by eight men, +behind which the wife and nearest relatives went weeping and wailing, +recalling all the virtues of the one who had gone from them. Further +behind, other relatives and friends followed, ourselves among the +number, all with white headgear. +</P> + +<P> +The remains of Mr. Lü were put to rest on the quiet hillside, beside +his first wife. Before he died, we had chosen the words for his +gravestone—"He that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he +live," and also the word of the Apostle Paul, "For ever with the Lord." +Yes, for ever with the Lord, separated from us for a little while, but +not for ever. Here the short time of warfare apart, there the long +eternity of victory and blessedness together. What a glorious hope is +ours! +</P> + +<P> +God's ways are wonderful, and His thoughts past finding out. To our +finite minds, Mr. Lü seemed needed here. The Lord had put him in a +place where he had many opportunities for service, and those +opportunities were not left unheeded or misused. "Oh, that he might be +spared to us!" that was the cry in the beginning, but already we began +to see the purpose of God in taking His servant away, as so much was +accomplished through his death. God, our God, does not make any +mistakes. He buries His servants but carries on His work. May it be +said at the end of the life of each one of us, as I think it might +truly be written over Mr. Lü's service—"He has done what he could!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST +</H3> + + +<P> +"Old Grandfather, you are early this morning at your worship." Thus +Mrs. Lü addressed an old man who was earnestly worshipping at a shrine +she was passing. Her heart went out in compassion for the old man, who +was nearing the end of life's journey without God and without hope. So +she addressed him kindly, hoping she would be able to point him to +Christ. The old man was hard of hearing. After having finished his +worship, he slowly turned round and looked at her, and again she +repeated her greeting. "You are early at your worship, old +Grandfather. You are very earnest about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well may I be in earnest," he replied, "for herein my only hope lies. +I am an old man, without kith or kin, without anybody to care for my +soul when I die." +</P> + +<P> +"But you are wasting your money on worshipping these false gods, and +you are spending your energy in vain. I know of a better way." +</P> + +<P> +"A better way! What might that be? I never heard of any better way. +And as I have no sons or grandsons, I must look out for myself. I do +not need my money. I have buried my wife and my children. Now I have +been preparing for my own burial. For twelve years my grave has been +made and is well lined with bricks. My coffin is in my house waiting +for me. I have prepared many boxes full of paper clothes, and many +thousand paper dollars to be burned for me when I am gone, for I do not +want to go hungry and naked into the next world." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-104"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-104.jpg" ALT="Another jewel for Christ. "You are early at your worship, old grandfather. You are very earnest about it."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="373" HEIGHT="641"> +<H3> +[Illustration: Another jewel for Christ.] +</H3> +</CENTER> +<H4> +"You are early at your worship, old grandfather. You are very earnest about it." +</H4> + +<BR> + +<P> +"But all these things will be of no use to you in the next world. The +priests are deceiving you. You ought to come and worship God." +</P> + +<P> +"You say I ought to worship God. I do worship heaven. We all ought to +worship heaven and earth." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not want you to worship heaven, but the Creator of heaven and +earth. There is no God beside Him." +</P> + +<P> +"But I have not seen Him. I do not know Him." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you cannot see Him, for He is a Spirit; but He sees you, and He +supplies your need every day by sending the rain and sunshine when +needed. And better still, He will forgive your sins. He is the only +one who can forgive sins." +</P> + +<P> +"The only way to get your sins forgiven is to do good deeds, and +accumulate as much merit as possible." +</P> + +<P> +"That way, too, is false. You know I was a vegetarian for many years." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I remember you when you lived in my native village, in my +relatives' home, and when your first husband was ill. Ah, you were a +strict vegetarian then!" +</P> + +<P> +"That is true, but God taught me the better way, and now I am serving +Him. There is no need for me to lay up merit for myself, for I trust +in the atoning Blood of Christ and stand upon His merit. Indeed, I +have merited only condemnation, but God in His infinite grace has +forgiven all." +</P> + +<P> +"The doctrine you preach is good, and it is quite true, but I am too +old to obtain such happiness as you speak of." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you are not too old—the Lord Jesus wants you to come to Him. And +the older you are the more important it is for you to believe quickly, +so that you may escape the sufferings in the next world." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to do that, but I do not understand. What am I to do?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you will come to see me in my own home, I will tell you more about +Jesus and His teaching." +</P> + +<P> +With that invitation, Mrs. Lü left the old man, but she began to pray +for him and for his salvation. She realized that it would not be easy +for his darkened mind to understand the good news she had been telling +him, and yet she felt that he would be saved. A few days later, old +Grandfather Hsü appeared in her home. He had been thinking about the +strange doctrine, and wanted to know more. Gladly Mrs. Lü explained +the way of salvation to him, and pointed him to the Crucified and Risen +Saviour. +</P> + +<P> +The next Sunday he came to the services, and it did not take him long +to find out that he had at last come upon that which would satisfy his +heart, and for which he had been longing in vain for many years. The +old man, who had been bowing down to wood and stone for eighty years, +was brought into touch with the Living God, who soon became a bright +reality to him. He who had done his utmost to prepare himself for the +world to come, learned to rejoice in the eternal inheritance laid up +for him in heaven. His faith was so simple that it gave no room for +doubt or reasoning. Like a child who, weary with chasing the shadows, +nestles down to rest in his mother's arms, so old Grandfather Hsü +turned from his weary search and vain strivings after peace, and +pillowed his head on the loving breast of his Saviour, and there his +heart found rest. +</P> + +<P> +A year later he was baptized, being then eighty-one years old. How our +hearts rejoiced when we looked upon his shining face and listened to +his bright testimony. Some months before his baptism we asked him, +"Grandfather Hsü, what about your boxes of clothes and all your paper +money?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, these false things are burnt. I fetched them down from the loft +and made a bonfire of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Were you not sorry to see them burnt, seeing that you had prepared +them so carefully, and had spent a lot of money on them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, I do not need them now, for Jesus has prepared all for me. +When I die there is nothing left for others to do but to lower the +coffin already prepared, and complete the grave. Some one will do that +for me. My heart is at peace. I have nothing to be anxious about, but +am just quietly waiting till the Lord Jesus calls me Home." +</P> + +<P> +And so he kept on waiting till he was eighty-three years old, without a +shadow of doubt darkening his simple, child-like faith in the Lord. +One Sunday he gathered as usual with the Lord's people at the little +chapel at Kucheng, and only bade them good-bye after the afternoon +meeting. No one thought that Grandfather Hsü had been amongst them for +the last time in this world. The next morning he was found dead in his +bed, with a happy smile on his face. Evidently there had been no pain. +Death had been a messenger from God, calling him Home, and not the +"king of terrors." Could the Lord have dealt more kindly with the old +man, who would have had none to lovingly care for him had he passed +through a long illness? Quickly and gently he had been lifted up into +the Everlasting Arms. There was joy in Heaven, for another priceless +and precious jewel had been brought into the King's Treasure Chamber. +"They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make +up My jewels." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONCLUSION +</H3> + + +<P> +Mrs. Lü is still living and working for God. But her name is no more +Lü, for she has been married for several years to an earnest Christian, +and the two are serving the Lord together. +</P> + +<P> +When we first heard of her contemplated marriage we were loth to let +her leave Kucheng, but in talking to us about it, she said, "Do not be +anxious about this matter. I am seeking the Lord's guidance. You say +you are afraid it is the devil trying to get me away from the work +here. But I promise that I will not leave unless it is the Lord's +will. If He says I must go, I will go." +</P> + +<P> +We had to leave her future with the Lord, and we knew that one of the +Christians was right when he said, "The work in Kucheng may be harder +without her, but as for her she will be a light wherever she goes." +</P> + +<P> +She has remained faithful to the Church at Kucheng. Sunday after +Sunday she is to be found there, and tries her best to bring others. +Through heat or cold, rain or sunshine, she walks the four or five +miles cheerfully, showing in word and deed Whose she is and Whom she +serves, buying up the opportunities God gives her. +</P> + +<P> +"Everlasting Pearl" is still seeking jewels for her Master, and the +first one given to her new home was her husband's mother, a dear old +lady, seventy years old, who was baptized two years ago. The two are +firm friends. They have gone through sickness, persecution, and other +deep waters together, but joy in the Lord and in His Word has been +their strength. When the day's work is done, the three who love God in +that busy, worldly home have a quiet hour together for the reading of +the Word and for praise and prayer. There at the Throne of Grace they +gather strength and courage and patience. All these are needed, for +the other members of the family are strongly opposed to the Gospel. +Their sister-in-law weeps for their hardness of heart, and prays +earnestly for their salvation. +</P> + +<P> +We have followed "Everlasting Pearl" on her life's journey for nearly +fifty years. She has aroused our pity for her in her heathen darkness, +and has claimed our sympathy in her sufferings and trials. She has +excited our admiration for her steadfast devotion, and stirred our +hearts through her loving and zealous service. What is the outcome to +be? Her voice is raised as eagerly as ever in testifying to the grace +in Christ Jesus and salvation in His Name, but it is only able to reach +a few of that vast unsaved throng. Shall we not unite our voices with +hers? Her heart is lifted up in prayer to God for a lost world; shall +we let her wrestle alone, and let the cry of many a despairing soul go +unheeded? What is our part to be? +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +A cry as of pain, again and again<BR> +Is borne o'er the deserts and wide-spreading main;<BR> +A cry from the lands that in darkness are lying,<BR> +A cry from the hearts that in sorrow are sighing.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">It comes unto me; it comes unto thee;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Oh what, oh what shall the answer be?</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +It comes to the soul that Christ has made whole,<BR> +The heart that is longing His Name to extol;<BR> +It comes with a chorus of pitiful wailing,<BR> +It comes with a plea which is strong and prevailing.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">For Christ's sake to me; for Christ's sake to Thee;</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Oh what, oh what shall the answer be?</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVERLASTING PEARL***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 19365-h.txt or 19365-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/3/6/19365</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Everlasting Pearl + One of China's Women + + +Author: Anna Magdalena Johannsen + + + +Release Date: September 24, 2006 [eBook #19365] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVERLASTING PEARL*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 19365-h.htm or 19365-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365/19365-h/19365-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365/19365-h.zip) + + + + + +EVERLASTING PEARL + +One of China's Women + +by + +ANNA MAGDALENA JOHANNSEN + +For Sixteen Years a Missionary in China + +With Preface by Walter B. Sloan + +Second Impression + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: EVERLASTING PEARL. The photo was taken after her +marriage to Mr. Lue.] + + + +China Inland Mission +London, Philadelphia, Toronto, Melbourne and Shanghai +Morgan & Scott, Ltd. +12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E.C. +MCMXVIII + +First Edition October 1913 +Reprinted January 1918 +Completing 5000 copies + + + + +PREFACE + + +Thirty-five years ago missionary work was commenced in the city of +Yueshan, situated on the Kwangsin River in Kiangsi, one of the central +Provinces of China. + +The conversion of "Everlasting Pearl," which is the subject of the +following narrative, is a part of the harvest which has been reaped in +later years by the missionaries of the China Inland Mission, who still +continue to carry on the work in this city and neighbourhood. + +In April of last year I had the privilege of spending ten days there, +and of addressing the Church on the Sundays. On the first Monday +morning we watched, with great interest, the departure of some of the +country Christians to their homes. The party consisted of a +simple-looking company of men and women, clad in the plain blue +garments that the country people usually wear. The men were walking, +but the few women, with their diminutive feet, were perched on barrows, +and one of them was pointed out as being "evangelist, pastor, and +Biblewoman, all rolled into one," in the district from which they all +came. This was the woman, a part of whose life-story is told in this +book, and after reading the many striking incidents which it contains, +I gladly welcome the opportunity afforded me of writing a brief +introduction. + +Even as a study of human life, the story is one that is full of +interest. It takes us far away from the ordinary beaten track right +into the heart of China; and so intimate is the writer's acquaintance +with the habits and customs of the people, that there are few, even of +those who know Chinese life well, who will not be able to learn +something from reading these pages. + +The Chinese are a people of strong character; and although this woman +stands out as being possessed of marked ability and determination, +there are other lives of which we catch a glimpse in which similar +features can be clearly discerned. + +It is, however, as an illustration of the power of the Gospel, in the +heart of one who was brought up in heathenism, that the narrative +possesses its supreme interest. In this case from the time when the +great decision was made, after long resistance, to yield to Christ and +trust in Him, there was no going back. We read of many trials, +sorrows, testings, but the onward and upward course is steadily +maintained. + +The religious devotee, when converted, always makes a better disciple +than the person who has been entirely indifferent to the concerns of +the soul; and so it was in the case of "Everlasting Pearl." She clung +strongly to the vow that she had taken when she became a vegetarian, +and on this account she long withstood the claims of the Gospel; but +when at last she heard the call of Christ, then she turned to Him in +full surrender and whole-hearted obedience, and became a burning and a +shining light amongst her relatives and neighbours. + +The reader will observe the record of not a few dreams and visions in +the story; but instead of these tending to discredit its truthfulness, +they will only confirm it to those who know the life of the people of +this class in China. + +The statement is constantly being made that the Gospel spreads more +through the life and testimony of the converts themselves than by the +work of the missionaries. The way in which this woman was brought to +Christ, and the way in which she led others to Him, illustrates this +fact; but truth is many-sided, and here we also see how large a +ministry there still is for the missionaries to exercise, and how much +they are needed to help the people in the midst of their struggles, +perplexities, and sorrows, by their counsel, kind sympathy, and their +prayers. + +I have only to add that the account of the early years is given just as +it has been told by the woman herself, and the account of the later +days is a simple narrative of the facts as they have come under the +observation of the writer. + +WALTER B. SLOAN. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAP. + + I. BIRTH AND INFANCY. + II. FOOTBINDING + III. CHILDHOOD DAYS + IV. ENGAGEMENT + V. MARRIAGE--PART I + VI. MARRIAGE--PART II + VII. DARK DAYS + VIII. MISERABLE COMFORTERS + IX. BROKEN CISTERNS + X. WAYS NOT KNOWN + XI. THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE + XII. THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT + XIII. THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER + XIV. LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS + XV. SAVED TO SERVE + XVI. PERSECUTION AND TRIAL + XVII. LABOUR AND FRUIT + XVIII. FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT + XIX. PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE + XX. DAYS OF SHADOW + XXI. THE SHADOW DEEPENS + XXII. ENTERING THE VALLEY + XXIII. ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST + XXIV. CONCLUSION + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + EVERLASTING PEARL . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + + A PRECIOUS BUNDLE + + PLAITING SILK BRAID + + A SOURCE OF GREAT DELIGHT + + WRITING THE ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENT + + ADORNED AS A BRIDE + + THE OUT-STATION OF KUCHENG + + ANOTHER JEWEL FOR CHRIST + + + + +EVERLASTING PEARL + + +CHAPTER I + +BIRTH AND INFANCY + +It was a warm, close day in May, in Central China. The summer heat had +just set in, and the inhabitants of Kucheng (Ancient City) were +somewhat weary and languid, when a woman brought the news to her +neighbour--"A daughter has been born to the Tu family." The news soon +spread from door to door. All languor was shaken off, for curiosity +got the better of lassitude, and the women, now fully alert, hobbled on +their small feet to the little house where farmer Tu lived with his +young wife and parents. + +The house was a small, unpretentious building, with mud walls and a +tiled roof. The interior was like that of all the homes around. If +you had seen one, you had a good idea of the appearance of the rest. +You entered the guest-hall, where on the wall at the farther end hung a +large centre scroll, representing the "Ruler of Heaven," before which +incense was lighted morning and evening. On either side of the idol, +and on all the pillars you would see paper scrolls pasted up, with +trite sayings written in flowery phrases, such as-- + +"If in your house you walk circumspectly, then when you leave your home +you will associate with virtuous friends only." + +"If the house is clean and beautiful, an excellent wind will be wafted +through it." + +"If the flowers give out their fragrance, a bright moon will shine upon +them." + +On either side of the guest-hall were doors leading into the bedrooms. +Into one of these the women crowded eagerly, in search of the little +newcomer, shouting, as they entered, their congratulations, first to +the grandmother, and then to the parents of the child. On seeing the +precious bundle held out to them, decked out in all the new, gorgeous, +but uncomfortable clothes bought by the maternal grandmother, one +visitor could not help whispering, "What a pity it is not a boy!" But +the other women politely interrupted her, and the young mother looked +proudly at the "bundle of clothes" handed back to her. It was true she +would have preferred a son, so would her husband, and above all her +mother-in-law, but as it was their first child, even the little girl +received a welcome. Had she been the second or third girl in the +family, she would not have had the same kind reception. Very likely +she would have been given away to some other family, who would have +made her a drudge, and in later years have married her to one of their +sons; or she might even have been left to die from want. + +[Illustration: A precious bundle.] + +But now things were different. Her parents were ready to lavish all +their love and kindness on the little girl. They called in the +fortune-teller, asking him what her fate would be in after years. He, +having been told the day and hour of her birth, declared the child had +been born under a lucky star. Her heart was good, her disposition kind +and amiable; they need not worry about her, only, he added, she was +born to toil and hard work. Satisfied with his prophecies, Mr. Tu paid +him his wonted fee, fully believing in his skill. + +After a month had elapsed, the relatives and neighbours were invited to +a feast in honour of the child. Candles and incense were lighted +before the gods, the babe was presented to them, and henceforward she +was regarded as under their protection. When the little girl was a +year old, the relatives assembled again. The grandmother had brought +another lot of presents, among them some beautifully embroidered shoes, +as the time had come for the child to learn to walk. She was old +enough to notice things, and the baby eyes looked delightedly at her +feet, that had never worn shoes before, now so beautifully adorned in +the gayest of colours. Again a thank-offering was given to the gods. +The grandmother carried the child forward, and this time the baby +fingers had to hold the incense that was lighted before the sacred +picture. + +Thus, instead of being brought to the living, loving Saviour to be +blessed, the little Chinese boy or girl is led before the dead idols, +and dedicated to them. Do not say, "Oh, it will make no difference, +the idols are nothing." The idols _are_ nothing, but there is a +fearful power of darkness behind them. The longer one lives in China, +the more one feels that in a true sense the Chinese child is dedicated, +not to the idols only, but to the prince of darkness himself. And oh! +how one longs to lead the parents into the light of Christ, so that +they may bring their little ones to Him, who is waiting to bless them. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +FOOTBINDING + +The name given to the little girl was _Ch'ang-Chu_, which means +"Everlasting Pearl," and a little treasure she proved herself to be to +her parents. She was good-natured and kind-hearted, full of life and +spirit, and gave much joy to those who watched over her. But it was +very seldom--indeed, only on state occasions--that she was called +Everlasting Pearl in her home and among her little friends. More often +she went by the name of _Nue-ku_, or "Girl-dog." Her parents, afraid of +losing her, had given her this name in order to deceive the evil +spirits who might be seeking her life, but who were not likely to +trouble themselves about a "dog." + +One day, when Everlasting Pearl was about six years old, she saw her +mother working on a pair of small shoes, and asked for whom they were. +Her mother informed her they were for her, as it was time she had her +feet bound. "Your feet are getting so big and clumsy," she said, "and +you are running about far too much for a girl. It is high time that +you had them bound." Everlasting Pearl made no protest. She knew all +girls had to have their feet bound, and, of course, she could not be +different from the rest. + +So when the shoes were finished the footbinding was begun. But oh, the +suffering of it! The mother took a long strip of calico, and wound it +tightly round the little foot, bending the toes right under the sole. +She did not succeed at once in getting the right size, so she undid the +binding and tried again, whilst the little girl cried aloud for pain. +Over and over again the process was begun, but not finished, as the +shoes were so small that the feet could not be squeezed into them. But +at last they were made to fit the shoes, and Everlasting Pearl walked +about with sore and aching feet, wondering if they could ever become as +small as those of some young girls she knew. Night after night she +cried herself to sleep, wondering whether the pain would ever come to +an end, and how she could possibly endure it much longer. But there +were compensations. Month by month and year by year her feet grew +smaller, until her shoes were tinier than those she had worn in her +babyhood. Her little girl-companions admired the tiny feet, and +respected their owner, and both she and her mother received a great +deal of praise from the older women. Her small feet were a sign that +her mother cared for her, and meant to marry her well: so the future +looked bright and promising. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CHILDHOOD DAYS + +A few uneventful years passed by; happy ones for the little girl, as +she was loved and appreciated by all. Two little brothers had been +born in the home, and Everlasting Pearl might often be seen with the +younger of them strapped to her back, rocking herself to and fro, and +softly cooing to the babe. Or she might be found crouching before the +cooking-stove, feeding the fire with brushwood, dried bracken, and +fern, trying to use as little fuel as possible; for strict economy had +to be practised in that home. At other times she would be sitting on a +low stool beside her mother, spinning hemp, not with a spinning-wheel, +but separating the threads with her fingers, and afterwards winding the +thread into balls. Or she would be learning to sew, to embroider, and +to make silk braid. By all these occupations she could only earn about +a farthing a day; but that small sum would pay at least for her +vegetables, salt, and oil, and even leave a little balance. + +[Illustration: Plaiting silk braid.] + +During the summer and autumn she often had to take her low stool and +work outside, so as to watch the grain, which was drying on a large +bamboo mat in front of the house. On such occasions a long bamboo +stick lay at her side, and this she used most vigorously, and with as +much noise as possible, whenever the inhabitants of the poultry-yard +paid her a visit. + +But her life was not all work. There were some variations. Her little +brothers were a source of great delight to her. Her love for them was +intense and motherly, though she would often tease them. When one of +them happened to be dawdling over his food, she would do her best to +coax him to eat, but often without success, until she playfully +exclaimed: + + Who first shall be satisfied may do as he wishes, + But the last one to finish must wash all the dishes. + +[Illustration: A source of great delight. "Is there too great a burden +on the shoulders of the Chinese Christians? Surely not. A little girl +once was carrying a little boy on her back. Some one said, 'I see you +have a big burden, haven't you?' 'No,' replied the little girl, 'that +is not a burden; that is my brother.'"--Rev. Cheng Ching Yi, Edinburgh +Missionary Conference.] + +Her ready wit often helped to keep herself and others in good temper. + +Not only was she full of life and humour, she was also kind and +generous, and had sympathy with those who suffered. When, for +instance, a poor, blind beggar came to her home, chanting his doleful +refrain: + + Oh, friends who can see, in heaven you dwell; + To have sightless eyes is like living in hell, + +her heart would be touched, and she would beg and obtain permission +from her mother to give him some rice. + +Mrs. Tu was a home-loving and industrious woman, who did not often +leave her home, or allow her children to run wild. Once a year, +however, there was a big dramatic performance at Kucheng, and then +Everlasting Pearl, dressed in her best, was taken to the theatre. +These were red-letter days in her life. Chinese plays are mostly very +stupid. Often immoral, and almost invariably connected with idolatry, +they are a snare to some of the people when they want to break with +everything idolatrous. But to the little country girl the theatre was +all that could be desired, and gave her much pleasure. She understood +little of what she saw and heard there, but was carried away with the +excitement and noise. + +Another great occasion was that on which the famous god from Tanyoh +passed through Kucheng. This deity was supposed to have his abode in +Tanyoh, and called it his paternal home; but his maternal home was in +Hongtsun, a few miles off, and to that village he paid yearly visits. +He was carried with great pomp through Kucheng, and as he passed along +all the people came to their doors to bow to him, and implore his +blessing and protection. For the little girl this yearly visit of the +idol was a very solemn occasion, as she was a firm believer in his +power. As yet she had not heard of any greater power; she had never +heard of the true and living God. The ugly idol she saw carried +through the streets of Kucheng embodied the highest object for her +worship, and to him she gave unreserved reverence. + +Surely the messengers of Christ had been a long time in reaching +Kucheng,--yet it was situated on one of the main roads in China. They +had indeed been slow in obeying their Lord's command, "Go ye into all +the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ENGAGEMENT + +Everlasting Pearl was now thirteen years old, and by many relatives and +friends her parents were urged to make arrangements for her future. +"You can keep her a few years before you marry her, but she certainly +ought to be engaged," was the advice given generally. + +A middleman, therefore, had to be found. There are always numerous +applicants for that office, as not only is a good fee usually given, +but it is considered an honour to be entrusted with the future +arrangements for a young couple. On such occasions a great many +untruths are often told, which are only discovered after the marriage, +when it is too late to mend matters. In Everlasting Pearl's case, the +middleman was a relative, one of those who had been urging a speedy +engagement. + +He took the girl's _Pah tsi_,[1] and went with these to a family of the +name of Hsue, who lived in a village four miles distant. The Cyclical +Characters were closely examined, and put in front of the ancestral +tablet, incense being lighted before them morning and evening. There +they remained for a month, and as nothing happened to disturb the peace +of the family during the interval--no child was hurt, no pig died, no +rice basin was broken--they were thought to augur only good luck, and +to promise well for the alliance of the two families. So Mr. Hsue made +out the "Cyclical Characters" of one of his sons, a young man +twenty-five years old. He then called in an astrologer, and asked him +to compare the two papers and give his verdict as to the advisability +of the two young people being joined in marriage. With an important +air, this gentleman examined the two papers put before him, and +announced that everything was in favour of such an alliance. Several +of their characters were alike, the two young people were both born +under the "Tiger," and other things agreed as well. Whereupon the two +families expressed their satisfaction, and declared themselves ready to +arrange for an engagement. + +But now the middleman had a busy time of it, for there were many things +to settle before the engagement could take place. First of all, he +went to Mr. and Mrs. Tu, and asked how much money they would want for +their daughter. "As she is our only daughter, we want her to have a +good outfit," replied the parents, "so Mr. Hsue must give at least $40 +and some good clothes." The list was then made out--$40, ten articles +of clothing, a ring, two bracelets, a pair of earrings, and three +silver hair ornaments. The indefatigable middleman took the list to +the Hsue family, who looked at it critically. After some time of +haggling over the different articles, they finally agreed to furnish +all, and preparations were begun in full earnest. + +The day appointed for the engagement arrived, and there was great +excitement in the two homes which were filled with visitors and +well-wishers. The feast on both sides had to be provided by the young +man's family. About dinner-time, on the day appointed, a party, headed +by the middleman, was seen advancing toward Kucheng, carrying a sort of +wooden box or basket, with several trays, one piled on top of the +other. One tray carried all sorts of sweetmeats and the half of the +money, twenty dollars, wrapped in red paper. Another tray was filled +with pork and fish; again, another with different kinds of expensive +vegetables. Another carrier brought the engagement cake, and five +articles of clothing, and all the silver ornaments. Everywhere, +scattered among all the things, were cypress leaves, a symbol of +longevity and good luck. + +On reaching the Tu home, the men with their precious burdens were +received with fire-crackers, and eagerly all the things were examined, +some of them meeting with approval, others with disapproval. After +dinner the party started off again for the Hsue home, taking the return +presents. These consisted of the following articles--a hat, a pair of +shoes and stockings, a sash, a number of embroidered purses, with a few +dollars in them, also some vegetable seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, +etc. Most of these things were graciously received by the young man +and his family, and the parents on both sides were satisfied. + +The Engagement Agreement, as binding as a marriage certificate, had +been signed by the two families, and Everlasting Pearl's parents had +returned it to Mr. and Mrs. Hsue. The girl of thirteen had her future +settled for her before she had any idea of what such a future might +mean. Her little girl-friends teased her, but there was an added +respect in their treatment of her. She dimly realised that somehow she +had risen in their estimation and that of others. The change was +rather a pleasant one, the new clothes were a welcome addition to her +scanty wardrobe, and she was too young to worry about the future. + +[Illustration: Writing the engagement document. As binding as a +marriage certificate.] + + + +[1] The Eight Cyclical Characters appertaining to the hour of a +person's birth. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +MARRIAGE--PART I + +Again we pass over a few years. Everlasting Pearl had now reached the +age of seventeen, and her future husband was twenty-nine years old; +therefore the day of the wedding was drawing near. The intervening +years between engagement and marriage had been busy ones. Little by +little the trousseau had been prepared, and was all ready. A lucky +day, the third of the eleventh moon, had been chosen for the +approaching wedding; and already, a few days before that date, some of +the guests began to arrive, each one bringing a present of some +garment, or hair flowers, shoes, etc. for the bride. A present of 120 +lbs. of pork, 60 lbs. of fish, 12 chickens, and a good supply of +expensive vegetables had been sent by the young man, and the guests, +with many of whom luxuries were rare, set themselves to enjoy the good +things. + +The evening before the wedding the middleman arrived with the bridal +chair, which was covered all around with red cloth, and embroidered in +gay colours. Now the feasting began in real earnest. The pipers +struck up their usual melody, and with each hour the excitement grew. + +The following morning the trousseau had to be packed, but the bride had +nothing to do with it. She did not rise from her bed at all. Her +breakfast was brought to her by one of her relatives, and she was +exhorted to eat heartily, as that would be her last meal till the +following morning. Towards dinner-time she was coaxed to get up, but +she persistently refused to do so, and began bemoaning her fate, in +having to leave her parents and her own home to go to strangers. Every +now and again the mother joined in the wailing, and the relatives stood +round them crying, trying in vain to comfort them. After dinner the +bride was again urged to get up, but maidenly modesty and her +dutifulness to her parents still forbade her to obey. No one should +have any reason to say that she was anxious to go. She wanted to show +how loath she was to leave her parents, and every one was praising her, +and saying that such a dutiful daughter would make a filial +daughter-in-law. + +But even the most ardent filial piety could not put off the hour of +separation much longer. At last she was dragged from her bed by the +women who had to prepare her for her journey, and she reluctantly +submitted to the preparation. Her hair was shaved all around the +edges, the hair in front, which used to make the fringe for the +forehead, was pulled out. Then her hair was combed straight back to +show that she was now to enter the ranks of the married women. Then +she was powdered and painted, and dressed in her bridal attire, which +consisted of a red skirt, and red cloak, beautifully embroidered in +bright colours, but rather the worse for wear, as it had accompanied +the bridal chair on many another journey. The box with the mitre was +brought forth and the crown was placed on her head, already too richly +adorned with artificial flowers. And now the wailing broke forth +beyond all bounds, the young bride and her mother vying with each other +in making the greatest possible noise; at times beating their heads +against the wall, the bed, or the table in their self-imposed +manifestations of sorrow. + +Outside, the trousseau was being sent off, as it had to reach the +bride's future home before she entered the same. Two men carried a +cupboard between them. Others followed with some chairs, and a table +covered with candlesticks and all kinds of utensils. A pair of the +bride's shoes might also be found, placed within those of the +bridegroom's, for, as every one remarked, "The two must now walk +together till old age." Others carried a couple of red wooden boxes +filled with the clothes and personal belongings of the bride, also a +wadded bed-quilt, a bed-curtain, and two embroidered pillows, etc. The +whole procession made an imposing show, and the relatives of +Everlasting Pearl looked after it with pride. The girl had been well +provided for, and could lift up her head without shame before her +husband's people. + +The bride herself was at that time kneeling in her bedroom on a large +sieve (a token that all evil influences are "sifted out" and all good +luck and riches "sifted in"), bidding farewell to all her relatives. +One by one they were led to her, beginning with her parents and +brothers, and ending with the distant relatives, neighbours, and +guests. To each one she clung in despair, clutching their feet, and +vowing she could not leave them; and she did not let go her hold until +a coin, wrapped in red paper, was dropped into the sieve; then, with a +few words of comfort, the giver would move away to make room for +another, and all the time the red paper parcels increased in number. + +When the farewells had nearly come to an end, the middleman urged a +speedy departure, and at last, when she still delayed, he entered the +room, lifted the weeping girl into his arms, and carried her out into +the guest-hall. Standing on the table before the ancestral tablet, she +worshipped her dead ancestors for the last time, for from henceforth +they were nothing to her, as she would bear another's name. This +performance over, the middleman again lifted her up like a child, and +placed her in the chair. The little bride was then locked in, the key +to the chair resting in the pocket of her guide. Fire-crackers were +let off, the pipers piped, and the bride, loudly wailing, was on her +way to her future home. + +Her brothers followed her for a short distance. After having escorted +her for about a mile, they handed her the keys of her boxes and +cupboard, bade her a last farewell, and returned home, leaving the +middleman and his assistant to escort her all the way. Some ragged +little boys were carrying the large lanterns, on which was inscribed +her husband's name, in front of her chair; others carried red banners; +again, others were beating gongs. One carried the big red umbrella, +which only a bride or a Mandarin is allowed to have carried in front of +the chair. + +It was a proud day in the young girl's life. Everywhere the people +crowded round to get a peep at her through the glass windows of her +sedan chair. And she, sitting motionless and with bent head all the +way, was conscious of the deference paid to her. All the people turned +respectfully aside for the procession to pass, and even if a Mandarin +had happened to meet her on the way he would have had to turn aside. +For once in a lifetime the simple country girl was to be honoured by +him, to whom all others had to bow, for, as he would have said, "Who +knows if the bride of to-day may not bear a son, who shall far exceed +me in position and power?" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MARRIAGE--PART II + +Meanwhile the bridegroom's family had not been idle. They had prepared +and decorated their house; had put up new red scrolls, and draped the +guest-hall and the outside door with red cloth. Large red candles, +painted with gold, were burning on a sort of mantelpiece at the top of +the room, and new lanterns were adorning the hall. + +The bedroom for the bride had also been prepared. A man who had been +prosperous in his life and home decided where the bed was to be placed; +and a woman equally prosperous in her home made the bed, and took good +care that no ill-luck should come near the dwelling of the young couple. + +When about a mile's distance from her future husband's home, +Everlasting Pearl suddenly ceased her wailing, for it now behoved her +to show the right submission. The old life lay behind her; she had +mourned for it, but must now prepare for the new life ahead. + +She was met by messengers from the Hsue family. The chair was put down +and some superstitious rites were performed to drive away the evil +influences which she might have encountered by the way. And then, as +it was getting dark, the lanterns were lighted for the last stage of +the journey, and soon she was carried into her new home. She entered +it to the sound of fire-crackers, music, beating of gongs, and the +shouts of all the people who had gathered in great numbers, each one +present trying to catch the first glimpse of the bride. + +The bridal chair was put down in the guest-hall, and there it remained. +After what seemed an exceptionally long waiting time, the door was +unlocked, but still the bride could not move. At last, a woman, the +proud mother of several sons, came forward and helped her out of the +chair. Two little girls, richly adorned with flowers, were waiting, +one on either side of the chair, to offer her some tea. After that she +was led into the room prepared for her. Her own furniture had already +been placed in the room, and the bridegroom, clad in official robes, +was standing near the bed, waiting for her. Then they both sat down, a +table was placed before them with two basins of rice, some eggs, +vermicelli, and a chicken leg for each. Not much of it was eaten, +however; the little bride, still veiled, could touch nothing, but the +guests, who had crowded into the room to stare at her, helped +themselves freely to the rice. + +After a short time the bridegroom left the room, and a little later the +bride was led out to the public guest-hall, supported by two women. +The young man was waiting for her. They took their stand in front of +the ancestral tablet side by side, and now the real wedding ceremony +began. + +A wadded quilt, covered with red, was spread on a mat on the floor, the +bride and bridegroom knelt down on it, and three times worshipped their +ancestors, their heads touching the ground each time. Then they turned +round and worshipped "Heaven and earth" in the same way. Afterwards +two cups of wine were brought from the table. The man who was +supporting the bridegroom offered the latter one of the cups, and the +second one was held to the lips of the bride by the women in charge of +her. Then the wine from the two cups was mixed, and each one took a +sip from the same cup, indicating that from now on they were united, +and must share life together, whilst some of the bystanders laughingly +chanted: + + Together they walk, each other aid, + The knot is tied, the covenant made. + + +The first ceremony had come to an end. Bride and bridegroom bowed to +each other, and then the latter lifted the veil, and beheld for the +first time the face of the girl who had been given him to wife! The +crowd was getting excited, and from all sides the shout arose: + + Oh, with what joy the hour we hail, + When time has come to lift the veil. + +The poor little bride was getting weary, and her bridesmaid led her +back to the bedroom, closely followed by the bridegroom. For a few +moments they took their stand together in front of the bed, but soon +the young man went out of the room, threw off his wedding garments, and +began to help in looking after the guests. Soon all of them were +feasting around a number of square tables, the bridegroom being one of +the busiest in ministering to them. + +But the bride had not got over her ordeal. The whole evening she was +made a gazing-stock to all. Any one might go in to stare at her, and +acquaintances of the bridegroom and even strangers who crowded into the +room were allowed to make any remarks they liked. The children were +dancing around her singing: + + Little bride, little bride! + You climbed the wall from the other side! + +Every now and again this refrain was started, and sometimes a more +mischievous boy or girl would take it up, adding another line: + + Little bride, little bride! + You climbed the wall from the other side! + And to steal our potatoes moreover tried! + +Later on, a table was spread in front of the bride, and a few intimate +friends and relatives had their supper with her, but she herself could +touch nothing. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to keep +calm and composed; no smile lit up her face, no word was uttered, and +it was very seldom that a sentence was addressed to her. + +In the middle of the many courses, her mitre was placed on her head +again, and she was led out to the guest-hall. With a wine cup in her +hand, she went from table to table, and bowed low to her husband's +friends. Their cups were filled afresh, and each one took a drink in +honour of the bride, while the band played vigorously. After she had +finished her round, she went back to her bedroom till the feasting was +over. + +[Illustration: Adorned as a bride. A proud day in the young girl's +life.] + +It was then getting late, and the young bridegroom entered, accompanied +by his friends, who were carrying big red candles in front of him, and +sending off fire-crackers. They did not leave the young people till +after midnight, and not before having tried to get hold of as many of +their belongings as possible. These they endeavoured to hide, and a +good thing it was that the bride had got plenty of sweets, peanuts, +beans, etc., for all the stolen articles had to be redeemed the +following morning. + +After a few short hours of rest, the young people had to get ready for +breakfast, and soon afterwards the second part of the wedding ceremony +began, the part which is called _Fen ta siao_, which, literally +translated, means "To distinguish between great and small." Bride and +bridegroom were arrayed once more in their wedding robes, and proceeded +to the guest-hall where all the relatives were assembled. Again the +two knelt together on the red quilt, bowing their heads three times to +the ground before Mr. and Mrs. Hsue, who bowed in return. Mr. Hsue threw +down the keys of the household before the young people. He had, +however, no thought of giving them any responsibility, and every +intention of getting the keys back into his own pockets and keeping +them there. + +Then the uncles and aunts were led forward, to whom was paid the same +respect. The brothers, cousins, and other relatives came next, but +being of the same generation as the bride and bridegroom, they also +knelt down and "worshipped" them in return. Each relative put a piece +of money, wrapped in red paper, on a tray placed there for that +purpose, and, when filled, it was carried to the bride's room until a +more convenient time was found for the counting of the money. + +The whole party, headed by the bridegroom and the bride, then proceeded +to the kitchen for the purpose of worshipping the kitchen god. The +bridegroom carried a rice measure with a lamp placed in it, the bride a +brush for cleaning the cooking pan. Many superstitious rites are +connected with the worship in the kitchen, the smallest detail has its +own meaning, but it would be too tedious to relate all. + +The dinner came next, and this time the bride had to take the seat of +honour at the top table, but once seated there, she remained as silent +as the night before, and ate nothing. Again she went round to bow to +the guests at the different tables, who all stood up and solemnly drank +her health. + +After dinner she was allowed to put off her bridal attire, and wear +some of the clothes sent her by her husband. She was also permitted to +throw off some of the reserve of the past days, and could talk more +freely to those around her. + +The following day a messenger arrived from Mr. and Mrs. Tu, inviting +the young couple to return to the bride's home for dinner. They were +both carried in sedan chairs, and had to wear most of their wedding +garments again. They were very careful and modest in their +behaviour,--young Hsue especially was afraid of offending in word or +deed,--and they were not sorry when, soon after the formal dinner, they +could once more return home. Another formal visit had to be paid, +about two months later, at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, to +the bride's home, but then a more free and natural relationship was +established between the two families. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DARK DAYS + +The home Everlasting Pearl had entered was not a rich one. The members +were all simple, hard-working people, ordinary country farmers who had +to earn their living by the sweat of their brow. But they were honest +and peace-loving, and the five brothers worked together in unity. +Although one of the Chinese sages had said: + + Let brotherly love in the home abound + And to gold will be changed the dust of the ground, + +the gold seemed a long time coming to the Hsue family. They were able +by steady work to make a comfortable living at their farming, but there +was little over to make a fortune. On the whole, Everlasting Pearl was +moderately happy. Her husband was quite satisfied with his bright +young wife, and treated her kindly. The mother-in-law was rather hard +on her and inconsiderate, but the father-in-law loved her as a +daughter, and made things as easy as possible. Her husband's brothers, +too, were kind, and she went about her common task cheerfully, quite +ready to take her share in the household work. + +Four years passed peacefully, but no child came to gladden the home, +and that was a sore disappointment to the young people. The +mother-in-law too was disappointed, and did not look very kindly on the +young wife who was trying so hard to do her duty. Old Mr. Hsue had left +this world. For three days and nights the Taoist priests had come to +chant their formulas, promising to cleanse the house from evil spirits, +and to break open the door of hell and rescue the soul of the departed +father. There was real sorrow in Everlasting Pearl's heart as she +knelt near the coffin wailing. The old man had been like a father to +her, and had helped her over many rough places. She knew things would +be harder without him, but little did she realize what heavy trials +awaited her. A merciful God had hidden the knowledge from her sight, +or her inborn courage might have failed. + +During the fifth year of Everlasting Pearl's married life her sorrows +began. Twice within a few months she was summoned to the deathbed of +her loved ones. She first knelt mourning at the grave of her father; +and then, before that sorrow had had time to lose its sting, she was +throwing herself in agony over the body of her dead mother, the mother +who had always loved her so tenderly. And death was fearful to her. +The "three souls and seven spirits" had evidently all taken their +departure. Where had they gone? If only she knew, the separation +would not be so hard. But there was no one to solve the mystery for +her; no ray of light to dispel the darkness and fear that crept over +her; no hope of a reunion; no Resurrection Morning to look forward to, +and therefore no comfort to lighten her sorrow. + +But greater trials were yet in store. The brothers did not work quite +so well together after old Mr. Hsue's death, and decided to divide their +fields between them, which they did equally and peacefully, and each +one set up for himself. Everlasting Pearl and her husband worked +harder than ever, as now all the profit they made would be their own. +The harvest promised to be a good one. In the beginning of the sixth +moon, after the early crops of rice had been cut, they ate their new +rice on the day appointed by the Mandarin. Before touching any of the +food they took it to the temple near by, and earnestly invoked the +blessing of the gods on the new grain, after which they sat down to +partake of it without any fear of sickness or trouble coming to them +that year. + +But alas! Only a few days later the husband was taken ill, and day by +day became worse. The wife was naturally anxious, and when his illness +deprived him of his reason, her cup of sorrow seemed full. For three +years he was raving mad, and often, when in one of his fits of rage, he +would ill-treat his wife. These fits might come on without any +warning, day or night, so that she was kept in constant fear. + +These were dark days indeed for the young wife. Not only had she to +nurse her husband, but she was obliged to do a great deal of his work +in the fields, although it required a man's strength. Bravely she +plodded on, but often lost heart and gave herself up to her sorrow. If +only her parents or her father-in-law had been alive, they would have +comforted her. If only she were not so alone in the world. If only +she had had a child of her own to love and to work for, she could have +borne it better. Many a time she would repeat the sad cry of the +childless wife: + + No son, no daughter to call my own, + Thus daily my pitiful lot I bemoan! + +How hard it was to be all alone, without a refuge to turn to, without +some one to share her sorrow. How her heart longed for comfort, but +there was none to give it. How she needed a friend to stand by her, +but none was found. Alas! no one had told her of "the Friend that +sticketh closer than a brother." She was so weary and burdened, but no +one had ever whispered in her ear the sweet and tender invitation of +the great Rest-Giver: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy +laden, and I will give you rest." No one around her knew of that +blessed invitation, for the messengers to whom it had been entrusted +had been sleeping and taking their rest, neglecting their Lord's +command, and forgetting that "the King's business requireth haste." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +MISERABLE COMFORTERS + +The case of Everlasting Pearl's husband was a hopeless one, and despair +took possession of both mother and wife as time went on. They +exhausted all the means in their power, but very soon realized that +vain was the help of man, for the doctors could do nothing for him. +They then turned to the spirits and implored their help. In these +surely they would not be disappointed. + +First of all they sent to a medium to ask what was the matter. She +told them that the sick man had lost a soul, and they would have to go +out and find it. A party of them, therefore, quickly set out, carrying +a measure of rice, which they strewed by the way to show the spirit the +direction home. At every step Everlasting Pearl frantically called +out, "My husband, come home, come home." Each time, when her cry +arose, the rest of the party answered with assurance, "He has come +home, he has come home." But when they returned, after their weary +tramp, the lost soul had not found its way home, and there was no +improvement in the condition of the patient. + +A few days later, the mother decided that they would have to call in a +Taoist priest for a ceremony called _kan tong_, or "influence." In the +middle of the afternoon, when the spirits were supposed to have come +out of their hiding-places, the priest started his work. Three men +were beating the gong and drum most vigorously, while he himself took +three sticks of incense and worshipped the idol hanging before him. +Then he drew a tiger on two pieces of paper, put them down on the +ground, and called for the chosen medium. A relative of young Hsue, +with a red turban round his head, stepped forward, and took his stand +somewhat reluctantly on the tigers. He had seen other mediums return +with their bodily and mental health impaired, and he had no desire to +risk his own; but his duty and brotherly love bade him perform this +service for his young kinsman. + +The priest now began chanting his formulas to the beating of the gong, +keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the medium, watching for the +latter to show signs of being mesmerized. After a time, when the +pupils of the eyes began to dilate, and when the man started jumping, +as the tigers were unable to keep his feet quiet any longer, the priest +asked, "Have you seen light?" The medium answered in the affirmative, +and off he dashed, whilst a number prepared to follow him. They were +horribly painted and armed with pitchforks. On and on they rushed, +calling for the soul. Anything more devilish can hardly be imagined. +Suddenly the medium stopped in one of the fields, and declared that +that was the place where the soul had been lost. Lighting their +incense, they called loudly for the soul, till the medium rushed off +home again, telling them the soul would return with them, and the sick +man would recover. But again the gods had played them false, for the +sick man got worse instead of better. + +What was to be done next? An astrologer's advice was sought, and +readily given. He informed them that they had made a mistake the first +time, when they called in the Taoist priest, and that the wrong +ceremony had been performed. They must call in four Taoist priests to +perform for a day and a night, so as to drive away the evil spirits +which had taken possession of the sick man. The house was accordingly +decorated with idols on all sides, and the four priests began their +work. The noise in the house was almost unbearable, and thus it +continued for twenty-four hours, after which time the priests announced +young Hsue to be out of danger, as the evil spirits had taken their +departure. In reality there was only one thing that had taken its +departure, and that was the money possessed by the Hsue family, which +had now found its way into the roomy pockets of the priests. + +The young wife was almost in despair. But it never occurred to her, or +to any one else in the family, to blame the idols or the priests. Very +likely they had not done enough for the sick man. They would call the +Taoist priests again, and let them go on for three days and three +nights. But where was the money to come from? A consultation was +held, and it was decided to mortgage the fields in order to get the +money needed. Of course it would mean poverty afterwards, but that +point could not be considered just now; all that mattered was to get +the young man well again. So the fields were mortgaged, and the +priests were more than pleased to come again. Needless to say they +succeeded no better than before, but that did not trouble them. + +At last the whole family gave up in despair. It was true there was +still the rite called "The turning of tables," but that was too +expensive, and there was no money left for it. Nothing more could be +done. Young Hsue would have to be left to his fate, and they had to +resign themselves and make the best of their difficulties. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BROKEN CISTERNS + +Time dragged wearily on in that afflicted household, and Everlasting +Pearl walked about with a heavy heart. Her brothers-in-law felt sorry +for her, and several times offered to kill her husband, or get rid of +him somehow, thinking they might do the young wife a service. But she +refused to accept their offer, and said she would much rather do his +work, and earn what was necessary to supply his needs as well as her +own. He had been kind to her, and had worked for her in earlier years, +and now, in his weakness, it was her turn to work for him. + +Day after day and month after month she toiled on, through hard work +and sorrow and trials, often suffering herself both in body and mind; +and all this had to be borne without a shadow of comfort. She knew +nothing about the "God of all comfort," and had never heard of Him who +"day by day beareth our burden." No wonder she was at times almost +driven to despair, and cried out for a ray of light in the darkness, +for a flicker of hope amid the hopeless condition and sad chaos of her +life. Through all the bitter days of suffering her mind was turned to +the things hereafter, and she determined that if she had to toil and +suffer here she would, if at all possible, do something to escape the +suffering in the life to come. But how should she begin? What was she +to do? Was there anything that could give her aching heart some +comfort, her despairing soul some hope? Was it possible to flee from +the suffering in the next world? for that such existed she was sure, +and her heart cried out for deliverance. + +In the neighbourhood a great many vegetarians resided, and one day, +when Everlasting Pearl was engaged in irrigating the field, a woman, +one of the leaders among the vegetarians, passed by. Of course she +knew all about the trouble of the young wife, and stopped to speak to +her. Everlasting Pearl instantly ceased her work. The sun was just +then at its hottest stage, and as she had been standing the whole +morning exposed to its scorching rays, doing work which was far too +heavy for any woman, her tired body was glad of a moment's rest. The +kind words of the woman went to her heart, so she soon confided all her +troubles to her. The listener had only one way of helping her, and +began to exhort her to become a vegetarian for life. She offered to +look upon her as a daughter, and declared herself willing to instruct +her in the vegetarian doctrine. + +Everlasting Pearl eagerly reached out after the comfort promised. The +necessary rosary was bought. She went to the leaders of the vegetarian +sect, and told them of her decision. They gladly welcomed her among +their number, gave her a book and the necessary instructions, with many +exhortations to be steadfast in the way she had begun to walk. If she +remained firm to the end, they promised her what her heart desired, a +life hereafter without any suffering. Through her life as a vegetarian +she would be accumulating merit day by day, and would be able to lay up +such a large store for herself that she would not have to pass through +all the usual stages of transmigration in the next world, but would be +able to go straight to the goal she had set before her, the "Western +Heaven," or "Paradise." + +Everlasting Pearl started as a vegetarian when she was twenty-two years +old, at the advice of the woman whom, from that time on, she adopted as +her mother. She did so in uprightness of heart, seeking after the +truth, and as determination and steadfastness were two very strong +traits in her character, she found it easier than many others to keep +to what she had promised. + +Seldom had the vegetarian cause had a more decided and devout follower +than she was, and Everlasting Pearl soon won a name among the members +of her faith, and far beyond that circle. She was deeply respected, +not only for her steadfastness of purpose, but also for her general +conduct, which was in the eyes of men blameless. Every evening, when +her day's work was done, she would take down her beads, and, kneeling +down before the picture of Buddha, would repeat over and over again +_O-mi-to-fuh_--"In Buddha do I put my trust," counting her beads all +the time. Sometimes she continued till far into the night; thousands +of times she would count her rosary, trying to persuade herself that +she had found relief from her suffering. In reality her heart remained +empty and devoid of any true comfort. The longer she went on, the more +her assurance grew. After all, it was the next world she was working +for, and all things would come out right in the end. + +But God, who looks upon the intents and motives of the heart, saw this +poor, struggling soul trying to grope her way in the darkness, and +determined to work out her own salvation, since she had no one to show +her the true way. In His love and pity He had laid up a better +inheritance for her, and in His own way, all unknown to her, He began +to lay His plans for bringing her into contact with His children and +the messengers of Peace. Slowly, but surely, all things worked +together for her good, and for the salvation of her soul. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WAYS NOT KNOWN + +As mentioned previously, Everlasting Pearl's husband was raving mad for +three years. Then he took a turn for the better, but was still insane +and unable to do any work. For seven years he remained in that +condition, and then, when death knocked at the door, it seemed to bring +relief to the members of the family. + +A few months later Everlasting Pearl was persuaded to marry a widower, +a quiet, honest tailor, who lived at Kucheng. So she returned to the +place of her birth, and found a real home awaiting her. Mr. Lue, her +husband, was a man of sterling worth, and soon a real affection sprang +up between them. Mrs. Lue, for as such Everlasting Pearl will now +appear, was very happy, and fully appreciated her change of +circumstances. + +Mr. Lue had three little children when his new wife entered his home; +but about a month later one child died. He had been ill for some time, +and Mrs. Lue's motherly care could not save him from death. A second +son died three years later, apparently from the same illness, both +seeming to waste away. Their mother had died from consumption, and +evidently her weakness had affected the children. Only one child, a +brother's son, remained, and Mrs. Lue took him to her loving heart. The +lad, in his turn, lavished all his childish affection on her, for she +was a real mother to him. + +About two years after her marriage to Mr. Lue, the latter was asked by a +neighbour, who was a seeker after the Truth, to accompany him to the +Gospel Hall. We were then holding meetings in the house of a +Christian, who lived in a village about two miles' distance from +Kucheng. But Mr. Lue, being a very nervous man, felt shy about going +and shrank from meeting strangers, especially when these appeared in +the form of foreigners. Moreover, he was loath to give up his time +without having a sure compensation for it, as he was hard-working, and +did not like to spend an hour in vain. So he refused to go. + +Another two years passed by. The Boxer troubles had quietened down, +and the workers who had returned were again holding meetings in the +little village near Kucheng. The place was very hard, the Christians +cold, and the man in whose house the services were held was not on good +terms with the other Church members in the village. One Sunday, when +the writer was there, her heart was specially heavy. The coldness was +appalling, and she came to the point where she said, "Lord, I cannot go +on with the work here. If Thou dost not show forth Thy mighty power in +doing a new thing in this place, I must give it up!" The spiritual +battle was a fearful and exhausting one. Returning home to the central +station, she told her fellow-workers how she felt, and all set to pray +for that place as never before, claiming victory from the Lord. A +month later, the writer visited that centre again in fear and +trembling; but the Lord had already begun to work. He was manifestly +in the midst, and it was easily realized that God had granted a real +answer to prayer. + +In one of the meetings one of the Christians humbly confessed his sin +before God, and asked for forgiveness and for strength to walk in +newness of life. Another Christian gave a bright testimony. Life was +beginning to get into the dead bones. That Sunday morning, too, a new +enquirer came to the meetings, and stayed for the whole day. His +presence there seemed to be a promise of coming blessing. And this +impression was not wrong, for the following month a few others came +with him, some of them from Kucheng. One of these enquirers invited +Mr. Lue to the services, and this time he consented. Well does the +writer remember the first Sunday he came. His face and manner alike +were altogether out of the ordinary, and somehow, from the very +beginning, a conviction was received that God had chosen him for +Himself. From that very day a work was begun in his heart. + +Soon the little meeting-place became too small for the congregation, +and a house was rented at Kucheng. Many enquirers had gathered around +this centre, some with mixed motives, it is true. There were those who +only came for worldly advantages, and these soon dropped off. Others +were touched by the Spirit of God, and a real work was begun in their +hearts. But two or three years later, when they had to make their +decision for or against Christ, when they had to count the cost, which +in some cases was a heavy one, they were not willing to pay the price, +and gradually grew cold and indifferent. Some of them caused real +disappointment, as they had been so bright and promising. But there +were a few who went steadily on, and among them was Mr. Lue. He never +wavered, never missed a Sunday. Although in the beginning he used to +do some pressing work after the Sunday meetings, it was pointed out to +him one night that it was not only he who should keep the day of rest, +but all within his house. He listened and understood, and the next +morning, being Sunday, he brought his son to the services. From that +day he never sent him to work again on the Sunday. To those who knew +that Mr. Lue had never wasted an hour before, or let his work stop for +any pleasure of his own, it was a real miracle that he should now be +willing to allow his whole household rest on Sunday. What had happened +to the man? What power was there in that strange religion that could +make him forgo all the money a weekly day of rest meant to him and his +family? What was it that had given the timid and reserved man courage +to speak out freely about the new life that had opened up before him, +and had made him strong to stand against all the ridicule that was +heaped upon him in many of the houses where he worked? A God who could +bring about such a change was a God indeed. + +From the very beginning, Mr. Lue showed unusual understanding about +spiritual things. Was it not because he believed God and took Him +simply at His word? He never attempted to bring in his own wisdom, +never leaned to his own understanding. Very often, when asked +questions about spiritual matters, his answers would cause astonishment +and surprise. The Spirit of God was taking of the things of Christ, +and showing them unto him, and day by day his faith grew stronger and +his trust in the Lord firmer. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE + +When first Mr. Lue began to attend the services his wife did not like +it. She exhorted him to continue in the old way, living a quiet and +respectable life lest he should be involved in difficulties and trouble +because of his friendship with the foreigners. But when she saw that +his mind was made up, she left him alone. + +The writer's first acquaintance with Mrs. Lue dates back to the spring +of 1902, when the out-station at Kucheng was opened. The house that +was rented adjoined that belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Lue, and when the +writer, in company with a Christian woman who was to fill the office of +chapel-keeper, arrived in Kucheng late one evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lue +were there to receive us. The enquirers had had the house cleaned up +and prepared for our coming, and the key to the house had been given to +Mr. Lue. His wife's mind was rather in a state of confusion. She tried +to persuade herself that the coming of this strange religion, which +seemed to take a wonderful hold on the minds of people, could be +nothing to her, as her way was the only right one. But, of course, she +must be neighbourly. Moreover, the strangers were friends of her +husband, and her loyalty to him bade her do all in her power to be kind +to the new-comers. Thus it came about that she, together with her +husband, gave us a hearty welcome, and informed us that supper had +already been prepared. Our heart went out to Mrs. Lue, and very soon a +firm friendship was established. She was exceedingly kind, but there +she stopped. She was very pleased to see her husband and other members +of the family becoming Christians, and even exhorted them to be +steadfast and give their whole hearts to what they believed. But they +were not to ask her to accept their creed. She must go her own way, +and pursue the path she had marked out for herself for so many years. +The doctrine was very good, she said, and she did not mind attending +the meetings. That could not do her any harm, as she intended to go no +further. Thus everything went on smoothly, Satan left her in peace, +whilst others kept on praying for her and claiming this precious soul +for the Lord. It was impossible not to realize what a power this woman +would have for good, if only she were won for the Master, and very soon +some of us received the assurance that one day she would become a +trophy of His grace. + +[Illustration: The out-station at Kucheng. The place where Everlasting +Pearl was converted.] + +All during that summer Mrs. Lue continued to attend the meetings, and +she enjoyed them thoroughly. In spite of herself she got more and more +interested in what she saw and heard. In the autumn of that year the +writer stayed at Kucheng for a fortnight, and while there held Bible +Study for the men twice a week, and although visiting some of the +villages around, gave a good deal of time in teaching the women and +children to read. Mrs. Lue came as usual, and as she was more +intelligent than the average Chinese woman, she not only obtained a +good deal of knowledge concerning salvation in Christ Jesus, but +learned to read quite a little and enjoyed it with all her heart. + +Something happened at that time which made a great impression on her +mind. Early one morning a dreadful quarrel broke out in Mr. Lue's +house. It seemed incredible, as they were a very affectionate family. +But there was no doubt about it; Mrs. Lue had completely lost her temper +with her brother, and was scolding and swearing like any other Chinese +woman. For a while the writer kept quiet, but as the quarrel continued +and increased, we dressed quickly, and made our way to the place from +which the angry voices came. Mr. Lue was sitting there, meekly +listening, and evidently on his wife's side, but not opening his lips, +while Mrs. Lue could not control her voice for anger. The writer, +putting her hand on Mrs. Lue's shoulder, said, "Mrs. Lue, what are you +doing this morning? I never heard you like this before." Then she +narrated all, and added, "If only he would keep quiet and not answer +back, I would get over my anger; but when he retaliates, I lose my +temper altogether, and he ought to have done what I told him!" We said +it was quite true, but she was wrong in saying all these things against +her brother, which she really did not mean, and which would only rile +him instead of bringing him to his sense of duty. After being exhorted +to keep quiet, she calmed down. + +When returning home, we met the brother, who had been hiding in the +kitchen, and had evidently been listening to what had been said to his +sister. Going up to him we said, "Look here, you know you are in the +wrong. Your sister has your good at heart, and has only asked you to +do what it was your duty to do. Now say nothing more about it, but go +and do it, and you will all have peace again." He looked very +shamefaced for a moment, then he got the victory and said, "Very well, +I will do it." And with that he went out to do his work, and the +quarrel was ended. + +But the best result was yet to follow in two hearts. Towards noon Mrs. +Lue appeared, looking very sad and dejected. She said how miserable she +was because she had given way to anger; that after all these years of +trying to live uprightly and do her duty by all, she had no control +over herself when she was roused to anger. "So that is all your many +years of vegetarianism have done for you," the writer added. The tears +started to her eyes, and she answered, "That is all. I have no more +control over myself than I had seventeen years ago, when I first +started as a vegetarian." Solemnly and tenderly we pointed her to the +cleansing and keeping power of Christ. She listened eagerly, for her +heart was sad and weary. + +Her brother, as yet, had not been willing to come to the meetings, +although his brother-in-law had tried earnestly to persuade him to do +so. But that night he walked in and smiled happily, evidently glad +that the little domestic scene had ended so well. So there was a +double victory won, for from that time he came off and on, till about a +year later, when he started to come regularly, and ultimately became a +real enquirer after the Truth. When the writer left for home in +November it was impossible not to praise God for all the blessing He +had given in Kucheng, and to hope and pray for greater things. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT + +A few weeks went by, and then Miss M---- paid a visit to Kucheng. On +her return she said that Mrs. Lue had stopped coming to the meetings, as +she was frightened. At night she was haunted by horrible dreams, and +was afraid she had sinned against her cause in learning our doctrine, +and in listening to the preaching of the Word. So she stayed away +altogether, and began reciting her prayers to Buddha more diligently +than ever before. She determined never to give up her vow, but to go +steadily on, and to be even more earnest in the future, so that if +possible she might find peace and rest for her soul. + +In that state we found her when next we visited the place. She was so +unhappy. Till late into the night she could be heard counting her +beads, and reciting her _O-mi-to-fuh_, in earnest and pleading tones. + +One Sunday, after the meeting, her husband took down the idols and +burned them publicly. Even to please his wife he could not leave them +any longer. The ancestral tablet was destroyed the same day, and some +Christian scrolls and pictures were hung up, to show that henceforth +the Lord Jesus was to be Master in the house instead of Satan. His +real power was to take the place of the imagined power at the disposal +of the idols. Mr. Lue was so happy when his house was cleansed from +everything idolatrous, and we heartily rejoiced with him, praising God +for his salvation and for his bright testimony. + +But as for Mrs. Lue, her face was a picture of sadness. She had not +dared to come to the meeting, but came privately afterwards. We asked +her why she had been sitting alone and miserable in her own house, when +she might have been gathering with others joyfully before the Lord. +The tears started to her eyes, as she answered, "I do want to come, oh +so much, but I dare not, I dare not!" When asked what she was going to +do now, as all the idols had been burned, she said she would have to +recite her prayers without a Buddha to burn incense to. + +"What about your beads? Where are they going to be hung?" + +"Oh, I don't know. My husband says they cannot be hung on the wall +beside the Word of God." + +"You will have to put them in the bedroom." + +"That will not do either, for my husband shares that with me, and he +will not have them there." + +"Well, then, you must make a corner somewhere in the house, all to +yourself," we told her laughingly, but not laughing in our heart. + +Her suffering was evident to all; and one day one of the enquirers +suggested that her husband should secretly give her an egg to eat, and +so break her vow. Turning round, he said, "No, I do not want to do +this, but will continue to pray for her. When the Holy Spirit opens +her understanding, she will break it herself." This gave us an +opportunity of telling him and all present that the Lord would not +compel any one to serve Him, but wanted a willing people. We must +wait, until in His light she would see light, and realize her +nothingness and the utter vanity of her own striving after +righteousness. So she was left with Him who was able to remove the +veil from her face, and lead her into the true and living way, fully +assured that He had already begun a gracious work in her heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER + +At that time the Lord began to prepare Mrs. Lue's heart through dreams +and visions, as is so often His way in heathen countries. Once after +her husband had forbidden her to have idols and burn incense in his +house, she was sitting alone in the evening, feeling dejected and +forlorn, and sadly counting her beads to herself. At last she grew too +weary to continue and sought her pillow. That night she dreamed that +some one she had never seen before came to her, put his foot on her +breast, and said, "And still you will continue to recite your prayers +to Buddha!" She awoke terrified, and for a long time was unable to +shake off the fear that had laid hold of her heart. + +Another time one of the Biblewomen had been telling her about the Lord +being the great Physician, and that He was able to heal her from the +infirmities she had had since the time she had been working too hard +for her strength. When she went to rest that evening she dreamed that +she saw a rope, in the shape of a circle, swinging between heaven and +earth, and on it an old man was standing. After a while he came close +up to her, and said, "Trust me, I have come to heal you." When she +awoke, she was wondering if it was God who had appeared to her in a +vision. + +Time after time, when we visited Kucheng, she would tell us of her +experiences, her dreams and visions, her fears and conflicts. Night +after night she would dream that somebody was setting meat and fish +before her, tempting her to eat, whilst she turned away determined not +to be tempted, not to defile herself, not to lose the merit she had +stored up for herself all these many years. Day and night her mind was +in confusion. She dreaded the night with its visions, and could not +welcome the day that would only bring her unrest. In her agony she +cried out, "No, I will never go back. I will be steadfast to the very +end, and keep my vow till death. Others may walk their different ways, +but no one shall make me change. I have never doubted, have never been +vacillating, and am not going to be so now." + +Oh! how she longed for peace, but none came to end all her struggles, +for they only increased. But God had chosen her for Himself, and could +not give her heart rest until it rested in Him for whom it was made. +But she did not see that all her struggles were "cords of love" with +which the Father was trying to draw her to Himself. One day she said +to me, "If you only knew what I suffer. But it is impossible to put +into words what I have been passing through. It is as if two mighty +powers were fighting about me, and I am just torn between the two." +"Quite true," we answered; "two great Powers, God and the Devil, are +fighting for you; both want you, but God will conquer." It was pitiful +to behold her sufferings. We had never seen any conflict like it in +China, and our heart cried out to the Lord for the deliverance which we +knew must surely come. + +The following day she spoke again about her two dreams. She dreamed +that with many others she went to worship a removed idol, the one she +had so often looked upon with awe in her childhood days. One after +another went to kneel down before the idol, worshipping it, and praying +for health and happiness. But when, after some time of patient +waiting, her turn came, something strange happened. She was just about +to kneel down, when the idol took off his hat, and showed her his head, +which was bald from a loathsome skin disease. He told her he was false +all through, and she was not to worship him. Why should he reveal to +her what he had hidden from the other worshippers? When she awoke she +kept pondering over the meaning of it all. + +Another dream was that she was trying to settle a quarrel, and in doing +so received a wound in her leg. She looked down to where the cut was, +and to her horror she saw no flesh revealed, but only straw. She +examined it closely, but it seemed to be the same all through; she had +nothing but straw inside, and she turned from the sight that had met +her eyes in horror and despair. She was not able to get away from that +dream, feeling quite sure that it had some special teaching in it for +her, and she turned to the writer to help her understand what it might +mean. Recognizing that the dream was from God, that He was teaching +her through these visions, we lifted our heart to God in prayer. We +were standing beside a stack of straw in Mrs. Lue's yard. Pulling out +one straw, and showing it to her, we said, "Do you see that straw? +Now, how much is it worth? You just touch it and it is broken. There +is no real value in it. Suppose you take a match and set fire to this +whole stack of straw, in a few minutes all would be burned up, nothing +but ashes would remain. As with this straw, so will it be with all the +merit you think you have stored up for the life to come. The Word of +God says that everything which is not built on Christ as the foundation +is wood, hay, and stubble, and shall be burned up. So all your +supposed merit will vanish when the day of reckoning comes. There is +no real, lasting value in it; it will all be burned up, only the ashes +will remain, and you will have nothing with which to appear before God. +But all that is built on Christ Jesus will abide." + +This interpretation may not appeal to Western minds, but it made a deep +impression on Mrs. Lue, and we believe it was the message God meant for +her. That night she came again to the meeting. She could stay away no +longer, the time of her deliverance was drawing nigh. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS + +Quite a few weeks elapsed before we went to Kucheng again, and during +that interval nothing had been heard of Mrs. Lue. But we had not been +silent before the Throne of Grace. When we reached Kucheng, several +met us at the gate, shouting, "We have good news for you, which will +give you great joy; Mrs. Lue is now your friend indeed, she has broken +her vow, and has been eating meat for the first time to-day!" That was +good news indeed, and there is no need to tell what joy this news +brought; indeed, it would be impossible to do so. How we did praise +God for having answered prayer and given such a glorious deliverance. +And that song of praise rose higher when we heard from Mrs. Lue's own +lips the full story of God's dealings with her. + +She met us with a radiant face, and began immediately to tell how it +was the Lord Himself who had constrained her to yield. No other power +or person could have done so. The story must be told in her own words. + +"After you had left me," she said, "I was still restless and could find +no peace. As the days passed by, I became more and more miserable, and +at night my sleep was disturbed by all kinds of dreams. I knew I ought +to trust God and break my vow, but I could not. I felt I must go on in +the way I had walked for so long, and I determined again not to turn to +anything or to anybody else. But one night, in my dream, I saw the old +tailor who is living with us and who is earnestly seeking after God, +standing before me in new, beautiful garments. He was altogether +changed, and oh how glorious he was. At that moment, when I was +overwhelmed with the appearance of the old man, I caught sight of some +blood which seemed to flow from his heart, and I cried out, 'That is +the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, which has cleansed away his sin. +That is why he is so beautiful.' How I wished I were like him! + +"After that I awoke, but soon went to sleep again, and then another +vision came. Some one with supernatural strength caught hold of me. +His grasp was so firm that I had no power to move a finger, and I +screamed out, asking him to free me. But he answered, 'Unless you +promise to give up your vegetarian vow, I will not let you go.' Now I +knew it was the Lord speaking to me, and in my terror I cried out, +'Yes, Lord, I will, I will give up my vow.' Still He kept His hold on +me, and said, 'Unless you promise that you will not only give up your +vow, but repent with your whole heart, I will not let you go.' Again I +replied, 'Yes, Lord, I will repent with my whole heart, only let me go, +and I will serve Thee.' As soon as I had promised, He let me go, and I +awoke, feeling so free and happy. My chains were gone, my fetters +broken, and all my unrest had departed. + +"The following day I kept repeating, 'Lord, I have repented. I have +promised to serve Thee, and I will keep my promise to the very end.' +My heart is filled with joy and peace, and now I want to tell you that +you may not worry or be anxious about me any more. You have fought the +battle with me, you have prayed much for me, you have often felt sad +and anxious about me, but now you can be at rest. It is God Himself +who has made me take this step, who was too strong for me, and there is +no turning back." + +That was Mrs. Lue's story. What joy it brought to us as we stood and +listened to that testimony. She had spoken truly, "there was no +turning back," and so there was only grateful praise in our heart, no +fear for the future, for the victory had been won once for all. Mrs. +Lue's conversion was like that of the Apostle Paul, a radical change; +and like him she began to preach boldly the Truth in Christ Jesus. All +who saw and heard her marvelled and could not understand what had +brought about such a change. Over and over again she had to tell the +wonderful story of her conversion, and it made a deep impression on +many. + +The vegetarian leaders were angry, and came time after time to try and +win her back, sometimes by earnest pleading, at other times by threats +and denunciations. But she remained firm, and to each party confessed +that it was God who had called her. It was in His almighty power that +she had been constrained to give up her vow and seek salvation in +Christ Jesus, and she could not resist Him. He had done for her what +no human power could ever have accomplished. She told them it was no +use trying to persuade her to go back, for she would never serve any +one but the Lord Jesus, so they might as well leave her in peace to go +her own road. Her old friends and instructors did not like it, but +while they threatened, she remained calm and spoke kindly to them, and +even suggested that they too should believe; whereupon they began to +curse her in their rage. + +Steadily Mrs. Lue went on growing in the knowledge of Christ. She +continued her reading, and soon began to teach others. About six or +seven months later she and her husband were baptized together into the +Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They returned to their home, +full of joy in the Lord, and with the earnest desire to live for Him +who had died for them, and to show forth His salvation from day to day. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SAVED TO SERVE + +But the story does not end here. It is possible to go on to tell a +little of the life of Mrs. Lue as a follower of Him whose Name she +bears. The more we saw of Mr. and Mrs. Lue the more we loved and +appreciated them, and many happy hours were spent in true fellowship +with them and a few other Christians at Kucheng. We felt indeed that +we were one family, united in one Lord and Master and in His service. +As they lived next door to the chapel they had special opportunities +for service, and the way in which they took up the responsibility of +the place, and of the people there, often awakened surprise. At times +it seemed as though they were taking too great a share in the burden. +But they did it so joyfully that it was not easy to restrain them. + +When any newcomer attended the meeting, who did not know the rule that +each person must bring his own dinner with him, Mr. and Mrs. Lue would +invite him to their house, "just to make him feel at home the first +time"; and they did it in such a way that the visitor did not feel that +he was receiving any grace from their hands. If, after some of the +Christians had gathered together on a Sunday, it began to snow or rain, +Mr. and Mrs. Lue would persuade them to stay with them for dinner--"Just +that we may be able to have the afternoon meeting together," they would +say quietly. When remonstrated with about doing too much, they +answered cheerfully, "Oh, we like to do it. We put two or three loads +of rice aside for that purpose every year. We give that to the Lord +who has blessed us so greatly." What more could be said? They were +doing it joyfully for the Master, and He who "is not unrighteous to +forget the labour of love" done for Him and for His sake, will surely +reward them "according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." And He +did reward them even here. + +When they had been coming to the services for about a year, they were +asked if they had any want, or if they had lost that year, seeing they +had given all their Sundays and many evenings, whereas they had worked +hard all the time in former years. They replied that they had lost +nothing, but had a greater surplus at the end of the year than +formerly. And the following year that surplus increased, and they +declared laughingly, "Why, we are richer than ever." Is not this a +practical testimony to the way in which God keeps His promise--"Seek ye +first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things +shall be added unto you"? + +They also taught some of us practical lessons, which will not soon be +forgotten. One year they had some building and repairs done, and had a +number of workmen working for them by the day. When Saturday came, the +question was what was to be done with all these men for the Sunday. +The men said they must go on working, or leave for a few days, as they +could not begin work somewhere else for one day. Mr. and Mrs. Lue were +in great need of their house; and yet what were they to do, for they +felt they could not let the men work for them on the day of rest? The +whole day they were ill at ease, but towards evening Mrs. Lue said to +her husband, "I know what we will do. We will just give them their +food and their wages the same as any other day, but tell them they need +not work. And then those who are willing can come with us to the +meetings." + +"But what about the money for all these men?" + +"The Lord is able to give that back to us in some other way," she said, +"and, at any rate, we shall have the assurance that we have done our +best to let them have a chance of hearing the Gospel." So it was all +settled, and their hearts were at rest. + +The writer arrived at Kucheng that Saturday evening, and was surprised +to see some of the workmen in the meeting, listening very attentively. +The following day, Sunday, three of them came again, but others went to +some of the shops for a talk and a smoke. + +"But why are you not working to-day? How can you play about like +this?" thus some of the shopkeepers addressed them. + +"We were working at Mr. Lue's house, but he told us not to do any work +to-day." + +"But how can you afford to lose a day's money like that?" + +"We do not lose anything. Mr. and Mrs. Lue give us our board and wages, +just as if we were working for them the whole day." + +"Well, that is strange. They used to be careful over their money, and +they seem to be so even now." + +"That is quite true, but they say they will not sin against their God +in making us work for them on Sunday." + +"That doctrine about Jesus is really good: surely there must be +something in it." + +Thus the people reasoned, and it need hardly be said that Mr. and Mrs. +Lue, through their steady and careful walk with God, gained a respect +among the people which only few in their position could attain. It was +to them that the people came in sickness and sorrow, counting upon +their help and prayers. It was from them they sought advice when in +perplexity and uncertainty. And it was in their home the Christians +often gathered for a helpful talk before or after the meetings. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +PERSECUTION AND TRIAL + +Things did not always go smoothly for Mr. and Mrs. Lue, and the narrow +way was not always easy to tread. As followers of Christ they had to +share in His sufferings, in His being rejected and despised by the +world. They had to learn by practical experience that "the servant is +not above his Lord," that if they had persecuted Him, the Lord of +Glory, they would also persecute His followers. A share in His +rejection must, in greater or smaller measure, fall to the lot of every +true believer, and Mr. and Mrs. Lue were not excepted. Persecutions, +threats, and even cursings were not lacking, but as those who uttered +them received only meek answers and kind treatment in return, some of +them, at least, very soon became ashamed of themselves, and left Mr. Lue +and his wife alone. The Lord was on their side, and did not allow +their persecutors to go a step beyond His control; and His servants +found that it was easier to go all lengths with Christ, than to serve +Him in a half-hearted way, as they saw some others doing. + +When the annual theatre was held in Kucheng and every one subscribed to +meet the expenses, the collectors came as usual to Mr. Lue's house. Of +course he and his wife refused, saying they had given up idolatry and +could not subscribe to the theatre in future. The collectors began to +curse, but found Mr. and Mrs. Lue steadfast in their refusal. + +"We are quite willing to entertain you," they said, "we are quite ready +to provide dinner for you to-day, to show you that it is not a question +of money, but we cannot and will not give money for idol-worship and +stage-playing." + +The people left enraged, but came again next day, and for many days, +but they had always to return empty-handed. In such cases where the +money is refused, those who will not contribute invariably get into +trouble. The collectors, aided by others, take such things as chairs, +tables, etc., by force. Some of these things are used at the play, +others are sold to make up for the money the owners have refused to +give willingly. Day by day Mr. Lue and his wife were threatened by the +collectors, who had gathered in great numbers, and when threats failed +to achieve anything, their tormentors began to curse them, and declared +they would beat them and soon teach them what it meant to turn from +idols to a new religion. But the Lord kept His children calm and +joyful in Himself, and they answered quietly: + +"Very well, if you take our chairs and tables and break them to pieces, +as you say you will, we cannot hinder you. And if you beat us, as you +threaten to, we cannot help that either; but we are not going to give +you any money for the play, as it is against our conscience and we will +not sin against God." + +Some of the persecutors still threatened, but others listened to the +promptings of their better nature and gave up the quarrel. These, +thoroughly ashamed of themselves, restrained the rest from going any +further. Soon all of them scattered, and Mrs. Lue and her husband were +left in peace, thanking God for the way in which He had undertaken for +them. + +The next year the people threatened them worse than ever, and then Mr. +and Mrs. Lue, with some other Christians, almost lost heart. They began +to look at the difficulties. They feared the storm that was +threatening, and like Peter, as soon as they turned their eyes from the +Lord and began to look around at the wind and waves, they lost faith, +and were tempted to look to the missionaries for help. We told them, +however, to cry to their Master. They did so, and soon realized that +He was still the same as in His days on earth, that the hearts of men +were in His hands, and that He turneth them according to His own will. +At a word from Him the tempest ceased, and there was a great calm. The +enemies, evidently restrained by the hand of God, did not even come to +the house of His servants. The Lord was fighting for them, and they +could afford to stand still and see His salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +LABOUR AND FRUIT + +Mrs. Lue was faithful in using her opportunities for service, and not a +few precious souls have found Christ through her. Some had been coming +to the meetings before she had given up her vegetarian vow, and were +still halting between two opinions. Mrs. Lue helped such to break +through and fully decide for Christ. She did not believe in half +measures. Others first heard the Gospel message from her lips, and +were not able to resist the power with which she spoke. Amongst the +latter was an old woman, called Mrs. Hsiao. + +The first Sunday Mrs. Lue brought her to the meetings the writer +happened to be at Kucheng. A collection was being taken for the Bible +Society, and this old woman wanted to give thirty cash. We did not +wish to receive it, fearing that she did not know what she was giving +it for. But she pressed us to take it, and Mrs. Lue said, "Please, do +take it. She understands quite well. Although she is at the services +for the first time to-day she knows the Gospel already, for I have +spoken to her several times, and she has quite made up her mind to +serve the Lord. If you do not take it, she will be disappointed." And +when Mrs. Hsiao herself was asked, she said she wanted to give the +money so that others might hear the "Good News" Mrs. Lue had been +telling her. + +Mrs. Lue went on teaching her about Christ, and helped her to learn some +hymns and to read a little. This latter work seemed a hopeless task, +as Mrs. Hsiao was not young; moreover, she was half blind. When the +writer saw her next time she had, however, mastered quite a few hymns. +Patiently she was plodding on, using every spare minute, determined to +learn as much as possible, but lamenting her own stupidity. Mrs. Lue +showed herself a patient teacher, and it was touching to see how +persevering they both were, never losing heart, even when the hymns +were specially difficult, and one sentence had to be repeated over and +over again before it had any meaning at all to the student. The +catechism did not prove easier, but little by little some real progress +was visible. + +When Mrs. Hsiao had learned several hymns she longed to possess a +hymn-book of her own. She asked if she might buy one and pay for it in +instalments, as she could not afford to pay for it all at once. We +gladly assented, and gave her the book. She made Mrs. Lue her +treasurer, and whenever she had been able to save ten cash she brought +them to her. About a month or two later she had paid the whole amount, +and Mrs. Lue handed the money over to us. Gladly would we have given +the book freely, but felt that Mrs. Hsiao would prize it more if it +cost her a little, and at the same time it would afford us a better +chance of seeing how far she was in earnest. + +When the theatre collectors arrived that year at Mrs. Hsiao's house, +they were met with a decided refusal. The time had been when she +believed in their false gods, and rejoiced with them in the play they +got up to honour their objects of worship, but it would never come +again. She had changed Masters, and her desire was to have His favour. +So she remained firm, even when the men threatened to take away the few +things she possessed, which were indeed few enough, and most necessary +for her daily use. That day the men left peacefully, but came again +after a day or two, determined to take some of her things if she +refused to give the money. When they arrived she was in the +guest-hall, and as soon as she saw them enter, she knelt where she was +standing and cried to the Lord for help. In her fright she forgot she +was in a public place and lost sight of her surroundings. She only +realized that the test had come; they meant to take away the little she +possessed, and so she cried simply and earnestly, but with intense +fervour, that the Lord would undertake for her and show that He was +mighty to deliver. + +When the collectors saw her on her knees praying they got frightened, +and said, "She is going to ask Heaven and her God to punish us. Let us +go!" But some of them said they were not going to be fooled by an old +woman and her God, so snatched the cooking-pan from the stove and went +hastily out. When she had finished praying, Mrs. Hsiao found them all +gone, but she was minus her cooking-pan. She was glad to have got off +so easily, but even that one article was necessary to her. How could +she do without it? She had no money to buy another. After a few +moments' perplexity she made her way to Mrs. Lue's house, and told her +story, and together they prayed that the missing article might be +returned to her. + +We heard about her difficulty, and one of the missionaries suggested +that as the woman was so very poor we might give her a new cooking-pan. +But some of us answered, "No, let her fight her own battle. It will be +better for her, as it will strengthen her faith. Even if she does not +get the article back (which we believe she will), it will only show her +that we have to be willing to suffer for His sake." So we remained +silent, that is, silent before men, but not before God. We prayed +earnestly that the Lord, who understood how much this small test meant +to the poor woman, still a babe in Christ, would restore unto her what +she had lost, if it were for her good. And God did undertake for her. +Day by day Mrs. Lue prayed with her, and expected the Lord to work for +them. And He did not let them ask in vain. In His love He pitied His +children, and in His power He touched the hearts of those who had made +Mrs. Hsiao suffer, and soon the lost cooking-pan was restored, and the +hearts of the two women overflowed in praise to God for His goodness +and care. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT + +In a former chapter Mrs. Lue's brother was mentioned. Although he came +off and on to the meetings, and gave up idol worship, he did not take +his stand for Christ for a long time. Mr. Lue had tried earnestly to +lead him into the way of salvation; and after Mrs. Lue had yielded to +the Lord, she joined her husband in his efforts, and they soon had the +joy of seeing him on the Lord's side. + +A few months later he was married to a young woman who professed to be +an earnest enquirer. That was the beginning of trial for him, for the +woman had only been pretending to seek after God, as she knew he would +not marry her unless she professed to be a Christian. She would have +ruined him perhaps spiritually and financially, had not the Lord taken +him to Himself. The year before he married he had been seriously ill, +but had been healed in answer to prayer. Now the malady returned with +redoubled force. It was a great trial to Mrs. Lue to see his suffering, +for she loved her brother. Her heart was sad when he poured into her +sympathetic ear the sorrow he felt in not being able to hinder his wife +and her relatives having idolatrous performances for his recovery. He +knew he was not going to recover; he longed to go home to the land +beyond the shadows. From his wife he received no kind treatment. When +almost at death's door he asked in the night for a cup of tea, but she +refused to move from her bed. At last some neighbours, who heard his +pitiful moan, got up and brought him the desired drink. He prayed that +God might call him speedily, and his prayer was answered. Mr. and Mrs. +Lue mourned for their brother, but could only thank God that He had been +merciful enough to take him to Himself, for his sufferings in this +world would have been prolonged. + +Another one to whom Mrs. Lue was a great help was an old lady of eighty +years, her father's step-mother. The old lady had been coming to the +meetings since the first night we arrived at Kucheng, and was very +intelligent and quick of understanding. There had not been much love +lost between her and her grand-daughter, but when her heart was +touched, and the light of God began to shine in, things began to +improve. Mrs. Lue had hitherto been patient with her, but out of duty +only. But when she herself learned something of the compassionate love +of Christ, there was an added tenderness in all her dealings with her +grandmother. Her kind words and loving deeds did much toward hastening +the day when the old lady stepped out into the light of God, and began +to shine for Him. For several years she bore a bright testimony to His +redeeming grace, and each Sunday was a real feast day to her. Even +when on her sick-bed, her heart was with the loved ones gathered around +the Word of God, and she prayed for His blessing upon them. On her +last Sunday morning on earth she asked, "Who is coming to preach +to-day?" They told her, and she nodded, satisfied. That day she was +gathered to the multitude of worshippers around the Throne in Heaven. +What a trophy of God's grace! Her life had been a hard one. For many +years she had toiled and laboured; sorrow had not been lacking, and all +those weary years she had served and feared the powers of darkness. +But Christ had set her free, and at eventide there was light and peace. + +Soon after their conversion Mrs. Lue and her husband were much concerned +about the parents of their little daughter-in-law. The latter came +into their home the day we opened the chapel at Kucheng, and was from +that day brought under the influence of the Gospel, as she was allowed +to come and go as she liked. She was bright and affectionate, and soon +learned to read. Unlike many girls who come to their mother-in-law's +home while they are still children, she was treated with great +tenderness and consideration, and her heart soon warmed towards Mr. and +Mrs. Lue. But although she was won, that was only a small step, and +greater difficulties had to be overcome. The girl's parents were +entirely heathen, and clung to their beliefs and customs with great +zeal. They had no interest whatever in the Gospel, nor had they any +sympathy with those who believed it. + +The first difficulty started when the girl became ill, soon after Mr. +Lue had decided for Christ. His wife was not yet converted. The +parents came, and demanded that the Taoist priests should be called in +to perform their rites for the recovery of the girl. Mr. Lue told them +he was now a believer in God, and could not allow anything idolatrous +in his house. He would spend all the money that was needed in doctors +and medicine, but could not sin against God. The parents of the girl +were angry, but it was of no use--Mr. Lue remained firm. After a long +time of argument on both sides, the parents said they would take their +daughter home with them and do all they could for her, but Mr. Lue +refused to have anything to do with their practices, and would not bear +the expenses either. The girl did not want the Taoists. She had lost +all faith in the idols, and was learning to pray to the living God and +to trust Christ; but she was still a child, and too young to stand out +against her parents. Her illness was not serious, and she soon +recovered. + +But when Mr. and Mrs. Lue were both on the Lord's side, they were very +much exercised in their minds about the future arrangements concerning +this girl. She was ailing again, and the parents began afresh to +trouble them. Mr. and Mrs. Lue felt that, according to the law of the +land, she now belonged to them, and they had the responsibility for +her. The girl, too, loved the Lord, and objected to have anything +idolatrous done for her. Yet, what were they to do? It was not a +cheery outlook to think that every time the young girl was not well +they should have to quarrel with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wen. They +were peace-loving, and dreaded any disagreement and strife between +themselves and their relations; and yet such seemed unavoidable. + +It was at this point that the Lord showed them a way out of the +difficulty, and reminded Mrs. Lue of the power of prayer. So she turned +to her husband and said, "We cannot sin against God by calling in the +Taoist priest; we cannot allow anything in our house which would be +dishonouring to the name of our Lord and Master; but He has showed me +that there is one thing we can do--we can pray; and we will pray, that +the Lord may open the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Wen, and lead them to +Himself. If they are led to repentance--and why should they not +be?--all the difficulties will be at an end." + +With a steadfast purpose, therefore, these two servants of God set +themselves to pray for those who were on their hearts. And the God of +Israel heard the cry of His chosen ones, and soon His Spirit was at +work in the heart of the mother of the girl. Sooner than they had +dared to hope, Mr. and Mrs. Lue rejoiced in the answer to their prayers, +and could praise God for His wonder-working power. Mrs. Wen opened her +heart to the call of the Spirit; she began to enquire after God, and +very quickly, through the instrumentality of Mrs. Lue, she was brought +into the light. + +From the first it was evident that the Lord Himself had touched her +heart. She sought salvation most earnestly, and her former +indifference gave place to an intense longing after God. When once she +had started out, there was no turning back, and nothing was allowed to +hinder her in the race. She seemed to have imbibed something of Mrs. +Lue's earnestness, and was altogether changed under the new influence +that had come into her life. She became bright and energetic, and with +a will set herself to learn as much as possible. She bought a +hymn-book and catechism, and began to read, Mrs. Lue being her teacher. +Through storm or rain, cold or heat she would tramp to the services; +nothing could keep her at home. It did one good to see her appear with +her bright smile, which had almost become part of her since she had +learned where true happiness was to be found. Now and again her family +would say, "We are so busy, you might stay at home for once." "No," +she answered, "I will not stay at home, but I will get up early in the +morning and prepare all I can for you before I leave." And she had her +way. + +In the beginning her husband laughed her to scorn, sometimes he scolded +her and called her a fool. But very soon he had to acknowledge that +Christianity was no mere fancy, but a reality, and he could not but +admire his wife's earnestness. So he left her in peace, and did not +allow the sons to trouble her. After a while he began to take an +interest in the daily prayers to God, and would try to help her, in +securing for her all the quietness and comfort possible. That made +home life pleasanter and easier for her, and she praised God for this +token of His grace and favour. + +How Mrs. Lue rejoiced, and what a bond there was between the two +relatives! They were one in the Saviour whom they loved, and both were +filled with the one desire to please Him. Mrs. Lue had to share in the +new-found joy of the one she had been leading to Christ, and every one +who has been used in winning souls for the Master knows the blessedness +of such hours; an abundant reward indeed for prayers and labours. + +Advice and teaching had still to be given, and Mrs. Lue not only began a +good work, but tried to carry it on to the best of her ability--to help +the new believers by counsel and intercession, and to strengthen their +hands in the Lord. And the one who had so recently passed from death +unto life was not idle either. Especially in her own home she began to +witness for Christ, and found a willing listener in the wife of her +second son. This young woman gladly accompanied her mother-in-law to +the meetings and heard the Word with joy. Her father, who heard of her +attending Christian services, was furious, and declared he would disown +her and bring severe punishment upon her and her home if she continued +to go to the meetings. He insisted on her husband forbidding her to +go. So with a heavy heart the young woman had to stay at home. She +knew how hard and cruel and unforgiving her father was, and she dared +not disobey him. But she determined to continue in the worship of God, +for even her father could not hinder her in that. She asked her +mother-in-law to buy her a book so that she might go on learning at +home. She never dared to brave her father's anger, and step right out +for Christ, but she never worshipped idols again, and when she had a +very serious illness, she trusted the Lord for healing instead of +turning to the Taoist priest. She only lived for a few years, but her +mother-in-law had the full assurance that she died trusting in Christ +Jesus and His redeeming Love. + +After a while old Mr. Wen started coming to the meeting, and his wife +was full of joy. But trouble arose in the home, and their eldest son +had to suffer through an unrighteous law case. He wanted us to +interfere on his behalf, which we could not do, so Mr. Wen and his sons +turned away from us in anger for a time, and Mrs. Wen had a hard test +in her home. But she and Mrs. Lue, and some of us, prayed through, and +Mr. Wen soon saw that he had been too hasty in his judgment, and came +back. From that time he went steadily on, and husband and wife were +once more walking together on the same road, but this time it was +leading them upward into light and glory. + +For Mr. Wen the journey was soon ended. Even before he had been +baptized and had his name put on the Church roll, he heard the +roll-call from above, and gladly answered. Mrs. Wen pursued her lonely +way, faithful to the last. She, too, has left for the Home with the +many mansions. A short serious illness brought her suddenly to the +brink of the river, but there was no fear in her heart as she had to +ford that stream. She gave her last bright testimony to the saving +power of Christ, and told her loved ones that she was going to be with +Him, and they were not to be anxious about her future after death, for +she was going to the home of eternal blessedness. For the last day or +two she was more or less unconscious, but always at peace. She had +lived and walked with Christ, and He carried her gently through the +chilling waters to the other shore. + +Mrs. Wen will be one of the jewels that will shine brightly in Mrs. +Lue's crown, when she receives her reward from the hand of her Master. +May none who read this be found starless or empty-handed in that day! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE + +We must go back again to the time when Mrs. Lue had her heart's desire +in seeing Mrs. Wen beginning to seek after God. In the midst of that +joy the testing time began, and the Lord brought His child through deep +waters. For days and weeks she was lying on her sick-bed, with, +humanly speaking, no hope of recovery. These weeks were hard and +trying, especially to her loved ones, who watched her anxiously. The +native doctors had given up the case as beyond their ability, and said +there was nothing more to be done; Mrs. Lue would never get well again. +Many friends crowded around and entreated her to make her peace with +the gods she had offended, and to let some Taoist ceremonies be +performed for her, as that was her only hope of restoration to health. + +She, of course, would not hear of it, and to one and all testified to +the joy and peace she had in God. "Do not worry about me," she said +brightly, "I am not afraid to die. I rather long for death, for I +shall then be at home with Jesus, which is far better." Weak as she +was, she used every opportunity for pointing the unsaved ones to +Christ. When asked if she did not feel anxious about leaving her +husband, and the children who were still young, she replied, "The Lord +will take care of them." She was anxious about nothing, but was +longing for her heavenly home, although she said she would be glad to +serve the Lord a little longer, if He wanted her here. + +Many went away wondering what the treasure was that she possessed, +which they knew nothing about. A wonderful treasure it must be, they +reflected, to keep her so calm and peaceful, yes, even rejoicing in the +face of death. But others insisted that the gods were punishing Mrs. +Lue for having left them; and as she would not take their advice and try +to reconcile the idols, they were furious and loud in their +denunciations of her. One of Mrs. Lue's relatives came to her and said: + +"I am so frightened for you, all the people are cursing you. They +declare you are now reaping your punishment for leaving the idols." + +Mrs. Lue only smiled and answered, "Let them curse, they can do me no +harm, neither they nor their gods of clay, for my God does bless me." + +"But they say, you will surely die." + +"Even if I should die, there is no punishment. I shall be most glad to +go to my Saviour, and I have nothing to be afraid of. I shall only +have the greater happiness and glory." + +It need scarcely be said that we pleaded earnestly and constantly with +God to spare Mrs. Lue's life, if it would be His will, as we felt that +she was so much needed for the work at Kucheng. He graciously heard +and answered prayer, and Mrs. Lue began to take a turn for the better. +Slowly, very slowly the improvement showed itself. She would insist on +being carried to the services every Sunday, her husband fetching her +from her bed, and seating her in a chair in the little chapel, which +had become a sacred spot to her. There she would sit with closed eyes, +listening to the service. She could not read or sing, as she had no +strength to open her eyes even, but she said softly, "I can pray." At +the close of the service she was carried back to bed again, entirely +exhausted. But God, who knew her motives and saw the longings of a +heart full of love to Him, kept her from taking any harm through what +might otherwise have been considered very unwise. + +What a joy it was to see her well! She had only gained, and not lost, +in her spiritual life during the time the Lord had laid her aside. She +had been chastened through her pain and suffering, through the +temptations from without and within, and would be more meet for the +Master's use than formerly. And so her later service proved. Often +when she went out shopping, or when any other business took her to the +street of the village, she would get an opportunity of witnessing for +her Lord. The shopkeepers and their wives would say, "Now, sit down +and tell us something of the Jesus doctrine first, and then we will +serve you." To that she gladly assented, and with pleasant manner and +convincing words, she would tell of the love of Christ, and what it had +done for her. It often happened that others came to listen to the +message; indeed, many went to her home for that very purpose, and to +each and all she related the story of her conversion, giving God all +the glory for having conquered when she had determined never to yield. +She told them of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power, and of +the great privilege of being a child of God. Mrs. Lue did not get +discouraged when they did not believe at once. "I do not wonder you do +not believe," she would say, "I was just the same once, and worse than +you. No power on earth could have made me leave my old way; but the +wonder-working power of God did it, and that same power will still +bring you into His fold." + +Many strong opponents of the Gospel, many full of arguments and worldly +wisdom sought her out to argue and reason with her, fully assured that +their clever and witty speeches would soon bring ridicule and shame +upon her and her belief. But quietly and earnestly she silenced all of +them, often even outwitting them in arguments; at other times just +telling her simple story, but with such power that all mouths were +closed. The Lord indeed gave her "mouth and wisdom" according to His +promise in Luke xxi. 15, and very often, when the husband and wife were +telling their experiences, the former would say, with a proud, fond +look at his wife, "They are never able to get the best of her in +argument. The Lord always helps her to overcome them all." How he +loved her, and how united these two were in heart and mind! Day by +day, as they both followed Christ, they were drawn closer to each other. + +Mrs. Lue was always ready for service, and whenever the Lord called her +to do something for Him, she did it joyfully and with all her might. +When some days had been set apart for the worship of a famous idol +visiting Kucheng, the people, especially the women, streamed together +from all quarters. A good many of them were strangers in the place, +and all sights worthy of notice had to be seen. The "Jesus Hall" was +one of them, perhaps the most important of all, for the women had heard +strange tales of the foreigners with their new doctrine, and they +wanted to see the place with their own eyes. + +Mrs. Lue saw them coming, and realized that here was work for her to do, +as the old chapel-keeper was little good at preaching. That morning +Mrs. Lue had read in her daily text-book: "Be of good cheer. Speak, and +be not silent, for I have much people in this city." Now the message +came back to her, and it seemed to be the voice of God Himself, so she +answered joyfully, "Very well, Lord, if Thou dost want me to preach, I +will preach. I will put down my own work, and only work for Thee +during these days." So without delay or regret, she put everything +else aside, and for three or four days witnessed from morning till +night to all the women who came, so that each one might hear the glad +tidings of salvation before returning to a distant home. Could such +faithful work, done through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and +through the constraining love of Christ, be in vain? + +She would say in her own bright way--"I am glad and willing to work for +the Lord, even if it should mean great loss; but the Lord does not let +me lose anything, not even in worldly things. I give my time to Him, +and He so often helps me to do a piece of work that makes up for all +the time I have given. Do you know what happened last week? I gave my +time to preaching the Gospel during the week, and then on Saturday +somebody brought a pair of shoes to be mended. It was a difficult +piece of work, and few were able to do it. I undertook to mend them, +and in that one day I earned 100 cash, when others were only able to +earn 20 or 30 cash a day." + +Does not this story give a striking example of how God rewards glad and +willing service for Him, even here, in addition to the greater +recompense above? "Therefore be ye steadfast, immovable, always +abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your +labour is not in vain in the Lord." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +DAYS OF SHADOW + +Reference has already been made to the death of Mrs. Lue's brother. +This had been a great trial to her, as he was the only one left who +bound her to the home of her girlhood. It was in June 1904 that he +left them for the better world above, and already in July death called +another one from the immediate circle. This time it was the old tailor +Chang who was summoned into the presence of the King. + +He was, indeed, a brand plucked from the burning. He had been pretty +well off, and was a good tailor. When a child, Mr. Lue had been +apprenticed to Chang by his parents. Chang was fond of the quiet, +conscientious boy, and treated him well, and the two grew fond of each +other. But soon their ways parted, and later on Chang sunk very low on +account of his opium-smoking habit. He kept an opium den, lived with a +woman who was not his wife, and became more and more a slave to opium, +until he had wasted his last dollar and sold all he possessed. It was +then, when he was landed in utter misery, and knowing not where to +turn, that his former apprentice, Mr. Lue, came forward, and offered him +a home and shelter. + +Chang's body was ruined through former sins, and when trying to +diminish his daily supply of opium, he suffered acutely, and was often +ill for weeks together. It was during one of these attacks that the Lue +children told him to pray to God for healing. He did so, as he said he +could not withstand the pleading of the children, although he had been +very displeased with Mr. and Mrs. Lue being Christians. The Lord did +raise him up the next day. Chang realized it was an answer to prayer, +and set himself to seek the Lord. Little by little he was led on to +know the true way of salvation, and decided to serve Christ. Having +taken the first step along the narrow way, he went steadily on and +never wavered in his decision. It was touching to see his earnestness +in worship and prayer, and in listening to the Word. He left off +smoking opium, and was only swallowing one small pill a day as +medicine. He tried hard to reduce even that small pill, and several +times decided to do without any opium, but he got so ill that he had to +take the pill again. + +In the spring of 1904 he tried again to do without opium altogether, +and we gave him some anti-opium medicine, but he could not take it. +His poor body was altogether ruined. Soon he had to keep to his bed, +and Mrs. Lue looked after him as if he were her own father. The old man +loved her, and could not bear her out of his sight. The children, too, +cheered him greatly, as they would come to his bedside and talk to him +about God, and sing their hymns to him. During his illness he drew +nearer and nearer to the Lord, and was constantly in prayer. Often +during the day, and especially during the long sleepless nights, his +voice could be heard in praise and prayer. For the last few days he +refused to take even the smallest pill of opium. They told him that it +was only as medicine he needed it, for he could not take any food; but +the old man firmly resisted, saying, "I will go to meet my God +altogether free from opium, and from any other of my former sins. The +blood of Christ has cleansed me, I will not defile myself any more." +Although suffering all the time, he awaited his end joyfully, and +continually repeated to those around him that he was trusting in the +merit of the Crucified. + +One day shortly before his death an old vegetarian leader came to call +upon Mrs. Lue. His chief motive was to point out to her that all the +sickness, sorrow, and trials, and the deaths of some of her family had +come to her as a result of her breaking her vegetarian vow. He +finished up by saying, "You see how wrong you were. Your God does not +care for you, He only sends you trouble." Mrs. Lue felt tired and weary +that day, and being downhearted did not answer so quickly and brightly +as was her wont. + +Old Chang, lying on his death-bed in the next room, could hear all, and +noticed not only the man's cruelty, but Mrs. Lue's depression. Feeble +as he was he managed to get out of bed, and stumbled into the room, to +the great distress of Mrs. Lue. She knew he had not walked a step for +days, and was afraid he might fall, so prepared to help him back again. +But he took no notice of her, and confronting the vegetarian, said, +"No, she is not wrong; you are wrong, our God is worthy of our trust. +He does care for us, He does love us, and the trials are only for a +short while." He asked for a New Testament, and began looking for a +text. His eyes were dim, and he wanted to put on his glasses, but had +not the strength to do so, and his fingers were almost unable to turn +the pages of the book. Mrs. Lue remonstrated, telling him that he was +ill, dying, and must go back to bed. But he heeded her not, he must +show the vegetarian in black and white on Whom their hope was built. +At last he found what he wanted. His trembling fingers pointed to the +Word, and in a weak, but glad voice, he read out--"Be ye also patient, +stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." His +eagerness and earnestness, even when at the very door of death, made a +great impression on all around, and the vegetarian leader took his +departure. A few days later old Chang was called Home. He was never +enrolled on the Church register, but no one ever doubted that his name +was registered in the Book of Life. His faith kept firm to the last, +and he gave instructions that no heathen rites were to be performed for +him. He said, "I am going straight to my Saviour. I do not need any +Taoist priest to break open the door of hell, or to bridge the gulf, +for the door of heaven is opened wide for me through Jesus and His +blood." + +Mr. Lue bought a coffin for him, and his own relatives were to take the +coffin to the home of the old man, three miles out in the country. The +relatives came, but not to do their duty, only to make trouble. They +declared the Lue family must have received a lot of money from old +Chang, and demanded it back. They refused to bury their relative, so +Mr. Lue calmly called others to bury him, and paid all the extra +expenses. Then the shop-keepers at Kucheng got enraged, and made the +relatives ashamed of their behaviour, for they knew in their hearts, +and all others knew, that Mr. and Mrs. Lue had pitied the old man in his +poverty and sickness, when his own people had spurned him. + +Again the Lord had been glorified through His servants, and although +they did not receive much gratitude here for many of their loving +deeds, they will not lose the reward laid up for them in the Father's +Home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE SHADOW DEEPENS + +So far reference has only been made to the trials connected with the +illness and death of two in the family circle. But another storm was +already pending, and a great dark cloud was yet to break over the heads +of these two devoted servants of God. Did the Lord not have compassion +on them, or had He ceased to care? Why did they not prosper in +everything as before? Had the Lord changed in His love for them, or +had He forgotten to be gracious? They did not think so, neither did +they murmur. They were ready to take what He sent, and could say with +Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." They knew they +could trust Him; and their faith was kept firm and bright, and the +presence of their Heavenly Guide grew more precious as He led them +through the valley of shadows. + +Mr. Lue had not been strong for years, and every now and again, +specially during the winter and spring, he had a bad cough, with some +slight haemorrhage. As he got better as soon as the warm weather set +in, they had not considered the attacks dangerous, and Mr. Lue would +work as hard as ever, often doing night work by the dim light from the +Chinese oil-lamp. On Saturday they would all come to the prayer +meeting, and then go back home and work till long after their regular +bedtime, so that they might be free for the Sunday. Mr. Lue was a very +hard worker, and never spared himself. + +In the beginning of 1905 he took a more severe cold than before; his +cough became very troublesome, and he was constantly spitting blood. +He believed everything was owing to the exceptionally cold winter we +were experiencing, and hoped to be better as soon as the spring set in. +But before spring came, he gave every evidence of serious consumption. +Knowing that he had been ailing for years, it was hoped that he might +possibly improve again, and perhaps live on for some time. He was +therefore invited to come to the city Mission Station for a while, so +that he might get proper medicine and better nourishment than he could +have in his own home. As soon as his strength allowed him to take the +journey, he came and stayed with us for a month. During that time all +was done that love could do. At the end of the month he felt better +and seemed stronger, but soon after his return home he began to get +worse again, and his cough grew more violent. Soon it was evident to +all that there was no hope of his recovery, but he and his wife were +the only ones who remained calm about it. Many doctors came to ask if +they could do anything for him; some out of kindness, others to enrich +their own pockets. But Mr. Lue only replied, "No, you are not able to +do anything for me. I am going Home. The Lord is calling me." + +His wife was blamed by everybody for "letting him die," as they put it. + +"Why don't you try to save him? The Taoist priests would restore him +to health. Why do you not call them?" + +"Because," she replied, "what you and the priests trust in, is all +false and powerless. Life and death are alike in the hand of God, and +He will do what is best." + +The people shook their heads at her obstinacy; others declaring it +served her right. Her husband's death would be at her door, for had +she not angered the idols in leaving them? Mrs. Lue heeded them not, +for her heart was fixed. The Rock upon which she had built was the +Rock of Ages, and upon it she stood secure, firm and unshaken in the +time of trial. She knew whom she had believed, had proved His +faithfulness, and that He would remain though all else were taken from +her. + +Mr. Lue, though glad for his own sake to go to the Home above, would at +times feel sorry for his much-loved wife and son, and would express his +regret at leaving them while the boy was still so young. But Mrs. Lue, +instead of complaining or murmuring against her fate, as others would +have done, gently encouraged her husband in the Lord, saying, "Never +mind about us. You just prepare yourself to meet your God. We have +Him, and He will take care of us. Do not worry." With words like +these she would comfort his heart, although her own was bleeding. But +she knew where to take her sorrow, and every day, and many times a day, +she fled to her safe and happy refuge. + +When Mr. Lue was staying in the city and she was left alone, her heart +often went out in longing after him, and she was wondering anxiously +how he was. She felt lonely without him, and, try as hard as she might +be to cheerful, sad thoughts would come. Just then one of the +evangelists went to Kucheng to take the Sunday services. He was led to +speak on John xiv. 1--"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in +God, believe also in Me." That was the message Mrs. Lue needed. She +felt comforted, and, after the meeting, she started to read the whole +chapter. What treasures it revealed, and how precious it became to +her. She heard, while reading it over and over again, the voice of Him +who first spoke these words to His beloved disciples, and that voice +had lost none of its former power. Eagerly and joyfully she drank in +the beautiful words and precious promises, spoken to those other sad +ones when the loving Master was about to leave them, and in her quiet +room her heart was filled with "the peace that passeth all +understanding." Needless to say, John xiv. became her favourite +chapter henceforth. + +When the writer went to see Mr. Lue for the last time, we arrived late +one Friday night. He sat up joyfully when he heard our voice, and +greeted us with the words--"Our next meeting-place will be in Heaven." +It did not need more than one look at the wasted form to realize that +for him, at least, that happy place would soon be reached. It was with +a sad and husky voice we replied, "Yes, Mr. Lue, it will be with our +Lord in Glory." The native evangelist who had accompanied us now +entered the room, and after some talk we had prayer together. Although +our hearts ached and the tears could not be kept back, we were filled +with praise to God for His saving grace, for the hope of glory, and for +the eternal inheritance laid up in heaven. Oh, how near Heaven seemed! +Christ was in our midst, and the humble room seemed hallowed by His +presence. Having commended our brother to our Father's tender care, we +separated for the night. + +The following day he was much the same. In the evening the prayer +meeting was held in his house, as we had a message from the Lord we +wanted to deliver to him and his wife. He insisted on being helped out +into the public room, and remained there while the meeting lasted, +which was consequently shortened. It was a blessed hour we spent +together in communion with the Lord, and in hearing His voice speaking +through Psalm xxiii. + +The following day, Sunday, the meetings were held in the chapel, so Mr. +Lue could not be present. But he was present in spirit, and during the +prayer meeting his heart was lifted up to God in his lonely chamber. +In the evening the little praise meeting was held at their home, and we +shall never forget the picture that met our eyes as we entered. Mr. Lue +was lying on a low couch, his wife sitting close beside him, holding +his hand. Their little son was sitting close to both of them at the +end of the bed, leaning against his mother, and gently stroking his +father's feet. It was the most touching and home-like thing we had +ever seen in family life in China. But, if the shadows rested over +that united and loving home, the Sun of Righteousness was shining also. + +Everybody seemed to choose bright hymns about the Heavenly Home and the +coming again of our Lord in glory. Mr. Lue was lying there with a happy +smile on his face, and the last hymn he asked for was "Oh, thou my +soul, bless God the Lord." As we sang our praise to God our souls were +lifted above the sufferings and trials of this life, and seemed to +realize already something of the glory which was to be revealed. One +of our fellow-workers had sent a card for Mr. and Mrs. Lue with Romans +viii. 28 on it, and as we read it, it seemed as if we already saw +beyond the veil, beyond the "workings" to the blessed result--"The joy +unspeakable and full of glory." Mrs. Lue said after a while, "The +longer I sing, the happier I get. My sorrow has quite departed, and is +no more." Oh, how little does the world know what real joy means! +What are all the pleasures this world can offer, yea, even the choicest +ones, compared to one hour's real joy in fellowship and communion with +Him who is the Fount of every Blessing, and in whose presence there is +fulness of joy? Would that the poor souls hungering for rest and +happiness, dissatisfied with the worldly pleasures, tired of their +empty show, might turn to Him who is the source of all true and lasting +joy. How abundantly they would be satisfied with the fatness of His +house, for He would make them drink of the rivers of His pleasure. How +much richer their lives would be already here, to say nothing of the +life hereafter. + + Take the world, but give me Jesus, + Other joys are but a name, + But His love abideth ever, + To eternal years the same. + Oh, the height and depth of mercy, + Oh, the length and breadth of love, + Oh, the fulness of salvation, + Pledge of endless life above. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ENTERING THE VALLEY + +The following morning there seemed to be a change in Mr. Lue, and +thinking that the end would come that day we stayed on until the +afternoon, for which he was very grateful. Several times he would say, +"I know quite well why you are staying here, it is only for my sake. I +shall never be able to repay you for what you have done for me, but God +will." And yet it seemed so little that one had been able to do for +him, and he had been such a help to us, and to the work in Kucheng. +Towards evening we had to return to the city; so after a parting prayer +and a last farewell, or, rather, a hopeful "We shall meet again up +yonder," we left him smiling his bright farewell. The evangelist +remained with them till the end should come. + +Mr. Lue lingered on till Thursday night. During those days many came to +see him, and expressed their regret and pity at his not getting better. +But he answered brightly, "No, I am not sorry that the end is near. +Although I am loth to leave my family, I am still full of joy. There +is no fear of death in my heart, I am prepared for it, and I know my +Saviour is coming to take me to my Heavenly Home, to be with Him, which +is far better. What about you? Take heed and prepare quickly for the +day when you, too, may be called." With these words and many others, +he would testify to the joy he had in Christ, and exhort his neighbours +and friends to seek salvation before it was too late. + +The day before his death he had a visit from a Christian distantly +related to him. He greeted him brightly, and said, "Jesus has not yet +come. I wish He would come quickly and take me Home. Our teacher left +the evangelist here to help us, and I know she has other work for him +to do." Up till the very end his thoughts were for others and not for +himself. + +Towards midnight he called for his wife. "Please wash me quickly and +put my old garments aside, and help me into my new clothes, for I am +soon going: the Lord is calling me." + +"Do not say this," she remonstrated. + +But he answered, "Do not hinder me, do not try to delay me. My time +has come, my God is calling me." + +So she did as he bid her, and prepared him for the journey. Some days +previously he had asked her to make him a long white robe, as it was in +pure white, within and without, that he wanted to meet his Lord. When +their preparations were ready, his wife wanted to call the evangelist, +but even then Mr. Lue was thoughtful enough to say, "No, do not wake +him; he is getting old, let him sleep. I am all right and need +nothing." He was called, however, and soon stood at the bedside of his +friend, praying for him for the last time. Before that prayer was +ended, Mr. Lue called out, "I am going, Jesus is here," and with that +word upon his lips his spirit had left the mortal body and taken its +flight to God who gave it. There was no pain, no sorrow, no last +struggle. Gently and peacefully he passed over Jordan into the +presence of the King. + +The funeral took place a week later. Our hearts were sore and the +tears flowing fast as we remembered we should see his face no more. In +some measure we could sympathize with those who were nearest and +dearest to him, and who had lost so much. But through the whole +service a joy note rang out clearly. We felt the very presence of the +Lord, and even all the outsiders were awed and listened attentively to +the message given, in which the evangelist sought to bring home to +their hearts the necessity for receiving Christ and His redeeming +grace, so that their end might be like the one they had so recently +witnessed. Many of them never forgot the peace that kept Mr. Lue's +heart at perfect rest, even when he stood on the brink of the river. +His joy in the Lord under such circumstances was a surprise and a +mystery which would again and again force itself upon their minds. +They asked each other, and they asked us, where that joy came from. + +On the morning of the burial, a heathen man came and told us that he +had seen Mr. Lue in his dream the night before. He was walking on a +beautiful shore which must be Heaven, and was so joyful and beautiful. +Mr. Lue had called to him, begging him to come across, and he decided to +go to that glorious place. When starting to go he felt some change +come over him, and at last reached the glory-land where he conversed +with Mr. Lue. This was his dream; but was it not a clear call to that +man to seek the things above? God grant that he may heed the call. + +In other ways, too, the Lord spoke to some of the ignorant, idolatrous +people around. He knew just the state of their minds, and what would +appeal to those who as yet had no light. In His tender mercy He sought +their lost souls, and spoke to them in a language they could +understand. Some of them said to one another, "Well, it is strange, +the God of the Christians does seem to care for them. They refuse to +choose days like we do, and yet every Christian has died on a lucky +day. We can choose our days for the funerals, but we cannot choose +lucky days for those dying. But God does that for those who worship +Him." + +Poor benighted souls. They do not know that to the God of the +Christians all days are alike, but in His love He teaches them +according to their understanding. How great is His long-suffering! It +was a great help to me to see how the Lord did not despise their +ignorance, but fitted His voice and doings to their understanding. +While we should have got impatient, God took the trouble of teaching +them in this small way. What a good thing it is that our Father is +more patient than we His children are. We want light and full +understanding straight off; but He does not despise the very smallest +beginning, does not reject the poor soul in darkness, who shows, +perhaps, only a feeble groping after the light. May He make us more +like Himself! + + +It is true that the "tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." While +Mr. Lue was lying on his death-bed, one of the idols was having its +birthday celebrated, and again the people of the place were collecting +money for the theatre. Mrs. Lue replied again that she would be glad to +give her share for anything which would benefit her fellow-men, and was +even willing to give a double share, but could not give them any money +for idolatry. The men threatened that she should ask them in vain for +help when her husband died. They would not carry the coffin, neither +would they lend her the things needed for carrying it to its +resting-place. She did not reply, but came and told us. We advised +her to act as if no word had been said, for we believed the men would +think better of it, and not carry out their threats. And if they did, +the Church members from other villages would gladly do that service for +her. So she said nothing till after her husband's death, when all of +them came without any refusal. Only one man said that he would not +carry a Christian's coffin, but the others soon made him ashamed of +himself. None could keep up his displeasure with Mrs. Lue for very +long, for she was too much respected by all. + +As the funeral procession passed through Kucheng the streets were lined +on both sides with onlookers. But even there a hush seemed to have +fallen on the people. Here and there a quiet remark was heard, "Oh, +the Christians do pay proper respect to their dead. Even all the +missionaries and preachers follow them to the grave, and wear mourning +for them!" Some little boys were walking ahead of the coffin, beating +the gongs and carrying four banners, with the inscription, "He shall +certainly rise again," and, "He shall ascend to heaven and dwell +there." One long banner showed the text, "For there is one God and one +Mediator between God and men." And another, "For God so loved the +world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in +Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." One boy carried a +large white umbrella, then followed the coffin, carried by eight men, +behind which the wife and nearest relatives went weeping and wailing, +recalling all the virtues of the one who had gone from them. Further +behind, other relatives and friends followed, ourselves among the +number, all with white headgear. + +The remains of Mr. Lue were put to rest on the quiet hillside, beside +his first wife. Before he died, we had chosen the words for his +gravestone--"He that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he +live," and also the word of the Apostle Paul, "For ever with the Lord." +Yes, for ever with the Lord, separated from us for a little while, but +not for ever. Here the short time of warfare apart, there the long +eternity of victory and blessedness together. What a glorious hope is +ours! + +God's ways are wonderful, and His thoughts past finding out. To our +finite minds, Mr. Lue seemed needed here. The Lord had put him in a +place where he had many opportunities for service, and those +opportunities were not left unheeded or misused. "Oh, that he might be +spared to us!" that was the cry in the beginning, but already we began +to see the purpose of God in taking His servant away, as so much was +accomplished through his death. God, our God, does not make any +mistakes. He buries His servants but carries on His work. May it be +said at the end of the life of each one of us, as I think it might +truly be written over Mr. Lue's service--"He has done what he could!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST + +"Old Grandfather, you are early this morning at your worship." Thus +Mrs. Lue addressed an old man who was earnestly worshipping at a shrine +she was passing. Her heart went out in compassion for the old man, who +was nearing the end of life's journey without God and without hope. So +she addressed him kindly, hoping she would be able to point him to +Christ. The old man was hard of hearing. After having finished his +worship, he slowly turned round and looked at her, and again she +repeated her greeting. "You are early at your worship, old +Grandfather. You are very earnest about it." + +"Well may I be in earnest," he replied, "for herein my only hope lies. +I am an old man, without kith or kin, without anybody to care for my +soul when I die." + +"But you are wasting your money on worshipping these false gods, and +you are spending your energy in vain. I know of a better way." + +"A better way! What might that be? I never heard of any better way. +And as I have no sons or grandsons, I must look out for myself. I do +not need my money. I have buried my wife and my children. Now I have +been preparing for my own burial. For twelve years my grave has been +made and is well lined with bricks. My coffin is in my house waiting +for me. I have prepared many boxes full of paper clothes, and many +thousand paper dollars to be burned for me when I am gone, for I do not +want to go hungry and naked into the next world." + +[Illustration: Another jewel for Christ. "You are early at your +worship, old grandfather. You are very earnest about it."] + +"But all these things will be of no use to you in the next world. The +priests are deceiving you. You ought to come and worship God." + +"You say I ought to worship God. I do worship heaven. We all ought to +worship heaven and earth." + +"I do not want you to worship heaven, but the Creator of heaven and +earth. There is no God beside Him." + +"But I have not seen Him. I do not know Him." + +"No, you cannot see Him, for He is a Spirit; but He sees you, and He +supplies your need every day by sending the rain and sunshine when +needed. And better still, He will forgive your sins. He is the only +one who can forgive sins." + +"The only way to get your sins forgiven is to do good deeds, and +accumulate as much merit as possible." + +"That way, too, is false. You know I was a vegetarian for many years." + +"Yes, I remember you when you lived in my native village, in my +relatives' home, and when your first husband was ill. Ah, you were a +strict vegetarian then!" + +"That is true, but God taught me the better way, and now I am serving +Him. There is no need for me to lay up merit for myself, for I trust +in the atoning Blood of Christ and stand upon His merit. Indeed, I +have merited only condemnation, but God in His infinite grace has +forgiven all." + +"The doctrine you preach is good, and it is quite true, but I am too +old to obtain such happiness as you speak of." + +"No, you are not too old--the Lord Jesus wants you to come to Him. And +the older you are the more important it is for you to believe quickly, +so that you may escape the sufferings in the next world." + +"I should like to do that, but I do not understand. What am I to do?" + +"If you will come to see me in my own home, I will tell you more about +Jesus and His teaching." + +With that invitation, Mrs. Lue left the old man, but she began to pray +for him and for his salvation. She realized that it would not be easy +for his darkened mind to understand the good news she had been telling +him, and yet she felt that he would be saved. A few days later, old +Grandfather Hsue appeared in her home. He had been thinking about the +strange doctrine, and wanted to know more. Gladly Mrs. Lue explained +the way of salvation to him, and pointed him to the Crucified and Risen +Saviour. + +The next Sunday he came to the services, and it did not take him long +to find out that he had at last come upon that which would satisfy his +heart, and for which he had been longing in vain for many years. The +old man, who had been bowing down to wood and stone for eighty years, +was brought into touch with the Living God, who soon became a bright +reality to him. He who had done his utmost to prepare himself for the +world to come, learned to rejoice in the eternal inheritance laid up +for him in heaven. His faith was so simple that it gave no room for +doubt or reasoning. Like a child who, weary with chasing the shadows, +nestles down to rest in his mother's arms, so old Grandfather Hsue +turned from his weary search and vain strivings after peace, and +pillowed his head on the loving breast of his Saviour, and there his +heart found rest. + +A year later he was baptized, being then eighty-one years old. How our +hearts rejoiced when we looked upon his shining face and listened to +his bright testimony. Some months before his baptism we asked him, +"Grandfather Hsue, what about your boxes of clothes and all your paper +money?" + +"Oh, these false things are burnt. I fetched them down from the loft +and made a bonfire of them." + +"Were you not sorry to see them burnt, seeing that you had prepared +them so carefully, and had spent a lot of money on them?" + +"Oh no, I do not need them now, for Jesus has prepared all for me. +When I die there is nothing left for others to do but to lower the +coffin already prepared, and complete the grave. Some one will do that +for me. My heart is at peace. I have nothing to be anxious about, but +am just quietly waiting till the Lord Jesus calls me Home." + +And so he kept on waiting till he was eighty-three years old, without a +shadow of doubt darkening his simple, child-like faith in the Lord. +One Sunday he gathered as usual with the Lord's people at the little +chapel at Kucheng, and only bade them good-bye after the afternoon +meeting. No one thought that Grandfather Hsue had been amongst them for +the last time in this world. The next morning he was found dead in his +bed, with a happy smile on his face. Evidently there had been no pain. +Death had been a messenger from God, calling him Home, and not the +"king of terrors." Could the Lord have dealt more kindly with the old +man, who would have had none to lovingly care for him had he passed +through a long illness? Quickly and gently he had been lifted up into +the Everlasting Arms. There was joy in Heaven, for another priceless +and precious jewel had been brought into the King's Treasure Chamber. +"They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make +up My jewels." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + +Mrs. Lue is still living and working for God. But her name is no more +Lue, for she has been married for several years to an earnest Christian, +and the two are serving the Lord together. + +When we first heard of her contemplated marriage we were loth to let +her leave Kucheng, but in talking to us about it, she said, "Do not be +anxious about this matter. I am seeking the Lord's guidance. You say +you are afraid it is the devil trying to get me away from the work +here. But I promise that I will not leave unless it is the Lord's +will. If He says I must go, I will go." + +We had to leave her future with the Lord, and we knew that one of the +Christians was right when he said, "The work in Kucheng may be harder +without her, but as for her she will be a light wherever she goes." + +She has remained faithful to the Church at Kucheng. Sunday after +Sunday she is to be found there, and tries her best to bring others. +Through heat or cold, rain or sunshine, she walks the four or five +miles cheerfully, showing in word and deed Whose she is and Whom she +serves, buying up the opportunities God gives her. + +"Everlasting Pearl" is still seeking jewels for her Master, and the +first one given to her new home was her husband's mother, a dear old +lady, seventy years old, who was baptized two years ago. The two are +firm friends. They have gone through sickness, persecution, and other +deep waters together, but joy in the Lord and in His Word has been +their strength. When the day's work is done, the three who love God in +that busy, worldly home have a quiet hour together for the reading of +the Word and for praise and prayer. There at the Throne of Grace they +gather strength and courage and patience. All these are needed, for +the other members of the family are strongly opposed to the Gospel. +Their sister-in-law weeps for their hardness of heart, and prays +earnestly for their salvation. + +We have followed "Everlasting Pearl" on her life's journey for nearly +fifty years. She has aroused our pity for her in her heathen darkness, +and has claimed our sympathy in her sufferings and trials. She has +excited our admiration for her steadfast devotion, and stirred our +hearts through her loving and zealous service. What is the outcome to +be? Her voice is raised as eagerly as ever in testifying to the grace +in Christ Jesus and salvation in His Name, but it is only able to reach +a few of that vast unsaved throng. Shall we not unite our voices with +hers? Her heart is lifted up in prayer to God for a lost world; shall +we let her wrestle alone, and let the cry of many a despairing soul go +unheeded? What is our part to be? + + A cry as of pain, again and again + Is borne o'er the deserts and wide-spreading main; + A cry from the lands that in darkness are lying, + A cry from the hearts that in sorrow are sighing. + It comes unto me; it comes unto thee; + Oh what, oh what shall the answer be? + + It comes to the soul that Christ has made whole, + The heart that is longing His Name to extol; + It comes with a chorus of pitiful wailing, + It comes with a plea which is strong and prevailing. + For Christ's sake to me; for Christ's sake to Thee; + Oh what, oh what shall the answer be? + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVERLASTING PEARL*** + + +******* This file should be named 19365.txt or 19365.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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