Everlasting Pearl | Page 2

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