Seven Maids of Far Cathay | Page 8

one is hurt, only all so horribly afraid, so wet, and
cold."
At once Miss Sterling have Coolies make big fire on rocks, make all
dry and warm, get rice ready cooked then girls eat with long hair pins
for chopsticks like playing at feast when children.
After long time Miengs quite dry, Miss Sterling say all must try to
sleep, she so like Mother make all cover up warmly then no cover left
for herself, I see this and make her take one half of my blanket and we
lie down so closely I can hear poor Miss Sterling heart beat, O so fast
and loudly, then I know she have much fear, but too proud, too brave to
let girls know she also afraid; this all I cannot bear, so I put arms about
Miss Sterling and beg her to let me be good helper to her, I say
"Chinese girl very strong, American girl not so, our Chinese people
very strange and make you afraid; dear Miss Sterling not any one can
harm you while I live, believe me true."
Miss Sterling then say if any thing happen to her I must to write letter
to Dr. Richard Newman and tell to him all what happen here, and he
will of me take care because I her good friend. Then Miss Sterling tell
me all about this Friend also all about when she very little girl she go

live with old lady called Aunt because Father and Mother both die; this
Aunt only go Church, nothing play, nothing laugh, nothing happy look
see, always sad, always talk little girl some day go be Missionary. By
and By little girl grow up, then Aunt say, "Now time come go Mission
field."
That same time Miss Sterling very much love one man Dr. Newman he
no like her go Mission pigeon; What can do? That time Miss Sterling
break heart, but she say, No, I good girl, no turn back, no break promise
to Aunt. Dr. Newman angry to death. Miss Sterling nothing say, only
go away without good-by say. Long time Dr. Newman keep anger, no
write letter, now write much blue letter and say all time, "Come back,
Come back?"
This all give Miss Sterling too much sorrow, not know rest of heart, not
know what to do; I perish of thought about all this, and I say "I will all
well do for you that you may live and go back to this Doctor man that
you so truly love some day quite soon."
Before Miss Sterling can reply make, we hear sudden loud shoutings
from all parts of river, and because the light is beginning to come we
can a little see, and wonderful things we do see, hundreds of boats
come near our rocks. Miss Sterling cry with joyfulness, "O these men
have come to save us." Chinese girl know these men do not save, well
we know they come only to rob and murder and take slaves, for these
are river pirates.
Now I know the time has surely come when I must with life protect
Miss Sterling, so I cry to all people on rocks to take bamboo poles and
fight for lives, not one pirate must come on rocks or we die. Every girl
know this true, and our boatmen help and fight strongly; so fast do all
hit at men with poles that they much surprised, and after a little while
go away to talk and say - what do. Just that time Miss Sterling look see
how water rise swiftly and she well know that soon our rocks will be
covered and we all drown, so with face as white as paper she go to edge
of rocks and call to one of pirate band and say - "I give you $20 gold if
you will all to land carry." He only laugh and say - "$150 gold" she say
"$50" he say "$120" she say "$75" he say "$100" she say, "All right

$100" and in one minute all men begin work to carry us on shore.
Most girls very afraid and say pirates no keep word, no can trust to take
to shore safely.
Miss Sterling and I say not so, Chinese always keep word even pirates
do so.
Most strange, most wonderful when we land and turn back to look at
rocks where we spend the night we see nothing but swift water running
like wild horses over that place, and we know that so nearly had we
been drowned that nothing could have us saved if Miss Sterling had not
been so wise, so clever.
This letter is of too great longness already.
My Bing Ang to My Honorable Brothers and Sisters From Your
Utterly Contemptible Child