Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 4

girl may possess a
Class book." We have haste to assure her that such a possession will be
most pleasurable, and Eng Muoi jump on feet and say out loudly, "Our
Honored President must also possess Class book." Fear comes at sound
of voice and at once she sit down. Miss Powers smile most graciously
and say, "Thank you, Eng Muoi, I would like one, but there is one
condition, it is necessary that I shall know which girl has the B - not in
her bonnet," she laugh, and we join with laughter, for we also have

knowledge of the bonnet - B.
Next morning I have honor to walk from Chapel with Miss Powers (our
Honored President) and tell to her of my troubles. By the Dictionary of
the Centuries, a Biographer speaks of one human in one book. How
then can I be a Biographer of correctness?
"But a Class book is different," Miss Powers say most polite. "It is a
chronicle of College life, Bing Ding." I am much puzzled. On steamer
days Cui Ai present Miss Sterling with American newspaper and say,
"Here is Chronicle!" Is newspaper in America all the same as book?
Miss Powers tell, in Class book must be something written by, and
about Each; also something about Residence and Doings. I will
therefore now make picture of our Adorable College. It is situate on
hills of Island grown from the shining bosom of river Ping. At left hand
the Monastery of Dreams stands of a whiteness of snow, from the tall
mountain - Kushan. At right hand, if eyes follow glistening trail many
Li (miles) by and by see blue of ocean of an unexplainable vastness.
And all time - of gold with shining of Sun - of silver with Moonbeams
play, sleeps the great, beautiful river Ping.
The seven buildings of our adorable College are of a brick and stand
quite at the top of hill. From their feet green lawns run away down to
hide their greennesses in shadow of wall which about the Compound
encircles. This wall, of a ten-foot height, from grey stone is made. At
top of stones, not too often, posts stand of a color like lawn, and upon
posts looking at sky, sits the balustrade made of stone of a redness to be
seen afar. When the wistaria is full of bloom many times have I wish to
sit upon balustrade that I might make rain of wistaria blossoms upon
Honorable Strangers making entrance through door in wall, but Sedia
(the keeper of the gate) is of much strength and bigness and I do not
dare.

Today when from Chapel we arrive, on breeze of morning come sound
of Tom-Tom from without the Compound wall. All Chinese girl run
down to gate. Miss Sterling enter in and Sedia at once close gate but

not too quickly. In opening I view Chinese all about box in
street-centre standing. On box, man; he make movement to turn face,
and to me alone I cry, "It is He of the Bridge of the Ten Thousand
Ages!" My soul is in darkness and my feet have wings. I fly far away.
When I wish no more to fly I cannot cease, but go onward. At last I fall
to earth and know no more.
When I awake it is in a place of strangeness - a room full of sunshine,
making entrance through windows of much number. The walls and
carpets are of the blue of the sky; the chairs, dressing-table and couch
upon which I lie are all of a whiteness; the Mieng about me is again
blue. I shut my eyes in wonderment; all is of beauty extraordinary! A
hand comes to my miserable forehead and Mother Heart (Miss Sterling)
give of sympathy to her unhappy child.
The memory of being like Fuku - not well born - smites my heart and
bids my tongue be still. I speak not. By and by Miss Sterling whisper,
"Why did you run away from the gate, Bing Ding?" I whisper return:
"It was He of the Bridge of the Ten Thousand Ages. Of his power I
have greatest fear. If He find, He will sell me to be a slave, for to him
do I owe my most miserable existence." Miss Sterling's eyes flash of
fire and she say, "No! No! I will have care."
Comfort to my heart creeps in, and I have speech with her of the Story
Teller of the Streets. How, seventeen years past by, He was telling tales
from box as now happen, and to Chinese all about standing, He say,
"Do good deeds! Be of unselfishness! Have of others care!" One
Chinese laugh and make large fun of Story Teller and say, "Why,