Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 7

my poor language
can nothing show out of what my heart now hold.
Have patience with my dull and stupid writing while to you I give one
complete history.
On the fifth day of this Moon Miss Powers say - "Tomorrow morning
all girls in this College have clothing and beds ready packed, for river
fete. Ten boats wait at Short Bridge landing. Ten of the clock strike all
must be there. Each girl take one carrying basket, no more."
Next day two hours before rise of sun all girls run up and down make
large noise and excitement.
Matron and Cook make much shoutings, Coolies work very hard to
pack 30 food baskets, 20 bags rice, 20 live chickens, 60 carrying
baskets, 3 cot beds for teachers, just outside gate 60 man and women
Coolies wait to carry all safely to Boat.
This time every body talk at same time, most time shout, every body
say Hurry! Hurry! Cook, because head man, talk most loudly, part time
jump on table, wave long bamboo stick and command all to work
rightly. After two hours time, yet no make start. What reason? Miss
Powers come out and say very sternly, "Cook, why do you not send
baskets to Boats? it is long past time." Cook say "All ready" and open
gates, let outside Coolies come in, then sixty more Coolies shout and
begin to fight, because every body will to carry the light loads, and no
body will to carry the heavy ones! Again Cook climb on table and
compel every one to do his work rightly.
Twelve o'clock strike, all things on board boats, every body happy to
make start. River men have much trouble to get boats off because of

high wind and waves against Bridge. At last all started safely, every
body sing songs, play games, and enjoy to look see all things which
pass on river.
All day very good water, very much pleasure, all night good sleep by
bank of river placing Miengs on floor of Boats. Next day very happy
till noon then come very high winds, and much rough water, after long
time men begin loud shoutings, and take down high covers from
overhead. "What matter, What matter?" every body cry out, all fear
some trouble come, boatmen say - "Now come to rapids, very swift,
very dangerous, many bad rocks."
I well remember how many boats go to pieces on such rocks, so I hide
my head and see nothing, only shake with fear, only can hear screams,
and know some boat has already gone on the rocks.
Now our Captain began to shout to our men the awful shout - "Buy
your coffins," "Buy your coffins" and I know well that this means that
we too will soon be on the rocks. Then I could only pray to heaven that
we be not all drowned.
At last come one most awful crash, some girls catch hold of me and cry,
others make most awful screamings, and because the boat is fast filling
with water all try quickly to climb upon the rocks, only I am left in
Boat at last, and am much too afraid to move. Suddenly one Coolie lift
me by arm and throw me over on rocks with sacks of rice and baskets
of bedding.
Now we all very sure it is to die that we have come on this great river,
and so we wait.
Over us the sky shine in glory of sun set, nothing of this do we see,
only do we know of cold and great fear and of wetness, and pain most
miserable.
Where our other Boats, where our most dear Miss Sterling? We look up
river and down, some boats top-side, some bottomside, two boats on
rocks, like our own poor broken one. Now night comes swiftly, all

grows dark and we more and more afraid, every one say - "Now we
die!" "Now we die!" I alone think not so, but very sorrowful and cry in
my heart, but not with my lips.
Whole heart eat out with fear that our most precious Miss Sterling may
already be drowned, no body can to tell.
After long time we hear men calling loudly, one boat comes near to our
rocks in darkness, we could only see one little lantern like insect flash.
"Who comes near our rocks?" we say, and through the black night
comes Miss Sterling's voice to us. O what joy. Quickly I run to edge of
rocks and hold out arms to her with heart beating loudly for gladness,
all our miserable lives will now be saved we know this of a truth.
In one breath Miss Sterling cry out "Are all safe, Is no one hurt here?"
and we say, "No