Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 3

of Cui Ai's own make," when I see Fuku all of a shakiness and
am full of doubt.
Miss Powers ask of each girl to read in turn until there is but one
remainder, Fuku, who seems much offended that she comes at the last.
She take paper, open, throw on floor with great noise. First time like
little squeak of mouse, second time like Chinese Tom-Tom, and all

time kick at paper on floor with much strength of purpose. We at once
arise and when the foot of Fuku is high in air Da Hua make rescue of
paper. Miss Powers say, "Be seated, Young Ladies," and we sit down
with stillness; but Fuku keep most noisy. Miss Powers sit at telephone
and by and by Dr. Ewing come and try to introduce Fuku into
next-door room but she cry, "No, No, it is not my will to go! I shall of
the paper now read." Then she again squeak and Tom-Tom, and Dr.
Ewing draw up arm and put big slap in Fuku's nose centre. Fuku at
once come to self and say, "Where am I?" When she look see us - six
Chinese girls in a row sitting - she put up thumbs to cover face and it
seem as if she would cry to death, and all time she whisper, "Take me
away! Take me away! I belong not to the land! I am of the boat
people!"
We look at Each, full of dumbness. A boat child! Born of a people
without a foundation, whom the Gods had command to live all the
many moons to come on the water and never again upon the land!
Impossible! But Miss Powers put finger to lips and nod head, and we
know that it is of a truth that Fuku has spoken.
By and by Fuku go with Dr. Ewing and Miss Powers say one half to
ownself, one half to ourself, "Poor little girl," and look about at Each,
most earnestly.
"Young Ladies, you have much to give thankfulness for," she say. "It is
good to be well born. I shall tell you of Fuku that you may help her to
overcome these unfortunate attacks. It is as she said, she is of the boats.
When a little child playing on the deck of her boat-home, the rope
fastened about her waist, parted, and she fell into the water. She struck
her head as she went down, which I think partly accounts for these
attacks; when she came up, an American who happened to be passing
that point in a sampan, caught her by her long hair and tried to give her
back to her parents, but they said, 'Return her to the water. The Water
Gods have claimed her; she is theirs, not ours. We will not take her
back.' So he brought her to me. Here she has grown up and from here,
God willing, she will go forth into the world a noble woman!"
Then Miss Powers make a little prayer of Fuku and we drink of the tea

and eat of the cakes of much sweetness. The clock strike five times
before we leave the home of our Honored President.
When we arrive at her balcony a strange happening come to view. The
Chrysanthemum pots were all departed. In their place were our lilies of
China, nodding tiny heads in greeting as we pass over the walks to our
dormitory. I go most quickly that I may arrive at the English
Flower-book, for I know not the meaning of our lilies.

For five moons we play at game with greatest pleasure and much
gaining of English. All read aloud with more understanding and our
Honored President say we also write better. No Chinese girl know what
other Chinese girl have written, so we talk of papers most freely and
with great funniness.
One afternoon when we had complete our Readings and were drinking
the tea of our Honored President, she say, "Do you realize, Young
Ladies, that we shall meet together but once more, then our game is
finished?"
When we told her that we had not so realized and were full of sorrow,
she say, "I, too, am sorry for I have enjoyed the play." Then she look all
about and of a suddenness request - "How many girls wish to
commemorate our game?" We look at Each. Commemorate is an
Americanism uncommon; we not the meaning know, but Miss Powers'
bright eyes most kind and at once we hold up hands. She nod head and
say, "I thought so! All of you! Each week I have marked the papers
which you voted 'best.' If your Biographer will select and arrange them
I will have them printed in book form that each