Everlasting Pearl
A >> Anna Magdalena Johannsen >> Everlasting PearlNote: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
file which includes the original illustrations.
See 19365-h.htm or 19365-h.zip:
(http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365/19365-h/19365-h.htm)
or
(http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/9/3/6/19365/19365-h.zip)
EVERLASTING PEARL
One of China's Women
by
ANNA MAGDALENA JOHANNSEN
For Sixteen Years a Missionary in China
With Preface by Walter B. Sloan
Second Impression
[Frontispiece: EVERLASTING PEARL. The photo was taken after her
marriage to Mr. Lue.]
China Inland Mission
London, Philadelphia, Toronto, Melbourne and Shanghai
Morgan & Scott, Ltd.
12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E.C.
MCMXVIII
First Edition October 1913
Reprinted January 1918
Completing 5000 copies
PREFACE
Thirty-five years ago missionary work was commenced in the city of
Yueshan, situated on the Kwangsin River in Kiangsi, one of the central
Provinces of China.
The conversion of "Everlasting Pearl," which is the subject of the
following narrative, is a part of the harvest which has been reaped in
later years by the missionaries of the China Inland Mission, who still
continue to carry on the work in this city and neighbourhood.
In April of last year I had the privilege of spending ten days there,
and of addressing the Church on the Sundays. On the first Monday
morning we watched, with great interest, the departure of some of the
country Christians to their homes. The party consisted of a
simple-looking company of men and women, clad in the plain blue
garments that the country people usually wear. The men were walking,
but the few women, with their diminutive feet, were perched on barrows,
and one of them was pointed out as being "evangelist, pastor, and
Biblewoman, all rolled into one," in the district from which they all
came. This was the woman, a part of whose life-story is told in this
book, and after reading the many striking incidents which it contains,
I gladly welcome the opportunity afforded me of writing a brief
introduction.
Even as a study of human life, the story is one that is full of
interest. It takes us far away from the ordinary beaten track right
into the heart of China; and so intimate is the writer's acquaintance
with the habits and customs of the people, that there are few, even of
those who know Chinese life well, who will not be able to learn
something from reading these pages.
The Chinese are a people of strong character; and although this woman
stands out as being possessed of marked ability and determination,
there are other lives of which we catch a glimpse in which similar
features can be clearly discerned.
It is, however, as an illustration of the power of the Gospel, in the
heart of one who was brought up in heathenism, that the narrative
possesses its supreme interest. In this case from the time when the
great decision was made, after long resistance, to yield to Christ and
trust in Him, there was no going back. We read of many trials,
sorrows, testings, but the onward and upward course is steadily
maintained.
The religious devotee, when converted, always makes a better disciple
than the person who has been entirely indifferent to the concerns of
the soul; and so it was in the case of "Everlasting Pearl." She clung
strongly to the vow that she had taken when she became a vegetarian,
and on this account she long withstood the claims of the Gospel; but
when at last she heard the call of Christ, then she turned to Him in
full surrender and whole-hearted obedience, and became a burning and a
shining light amongst her relatives and neighbours.
The reader will observe the record of not a few dreams and visions in
the story; but instead of these tending to discredit its truthfulness,
they will only confirm it to those who know the life of the people of
this class in China.
The statement is constantly being made that the Gospel spreads more
through the life and testimony of the converts themselves than by the
work of the missionaries. The way in which this woman was brought to
Christ, and the way in which she led others to Him, illustrates this
fact; but truth is many-sided, and here we also see how large a
ministry there still is 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 the little girl was a
year old, the relatives assembled again. The grandmother had brought
another lot of presents, among them some beautifully embroidered shoes,
as the time had come for the child to learn to walk. She was old
enough to notice things, and the baby eyes looked delightedly at her
feet, that had never worn shoes before, now so beautifully adorned in
the gayest of colours. Again a thank-offering was given to the gods.
The grandmother carried the child forward, and this time the baby
fingers had to hold the incense that was lighted before the sacred
picture.
Thus, instead of being brought to the living, loving Saviour to be
blessed, the little Chinese boy or girl is led before the dead idols,
and dedicated to them. Do not say, "Oh, it will make no difference,
the idols are nothing." The idols _are_ nothing, but there is a
fearful power of darkness behind them. The longer one lives in China,
the more one feels that in a true sense the Chinese child is dedicated,
not to the idols only, but to the prince of darkness himself. And oh!
how one longs to lead the parents into the light of Christ, so that
they may bring their little ones to Him, who is waiting to bless them.
CHAPTER II
FOOTBINDING
The name given to the little girl was _Ch'ang-Chu_, which means
"Everlasting Pearl," and a little treasure she proved herself to be to
her parents. She was good-natured and kind-hearted, full of life and
spirit, and gave much joy to those who watched over her. But it was
very seldom--indeed, only on state occasions--that she was called
Everlasting Pearl in her home and among her little friends. More often
she went by the name of _Nue-ku_, or "Girl-dog." Her parents, afraid of
losing her, had given her this name in order to deceive the evil
spirits who might be seeking her life, but who were not likely to
trouble themselves about a "dog."
One day, when Everlasting Pearl was about six years old, she saw her
mother working on a pair of small shoes, and asked for whom they were.
Her mother informed her they were for her, as it was time she had her
feet bound. "Your feet are getting so big and clumsy," she said, "and
you are running about far too much for a girl. It is high time that
you had them bound." Everlasting Pearl made no protest. She knew all
girls had to have their feet bound, and, of course, she could not be
different from the rest.
So when the shoes were finished the footbinding was begun. But oh, the
suffering of it! The mother took a long strip of calico, and wound it
tightly round the little foot, bending the toes right under the sole.
She did not succeed at once in getting the right size, so she undid the
binding and tried again, whilst the little girl cried aloud for pain.
Over and over again the process was begun, but not finished, as the
shoes were so small that the feet could not be squeezed into them. But
at last they were made to fit the shoes, and Everlasting Pearl walked
about with sore and aching feet, wondering if they could ever become as
small as those of some young girls she knew. Night after night she
cried herself to sleep, wondering whether the pain would ever come to
an end, and how she could possibly endure it much longer. But there
were compensations. Month by month and year by year her feet grew
smaller, until her shoes were tinier than those she had worn in her
babyhood. Her little girl-companions admired the tiny feet, and
respected their owner, and both she and her mother received a great
deal of praise from the older women. Her small feet were a sign that
her mother cared for her, and meant to marry her well: so the future
looked bright and promising.
CHAPTER III
CHILDHOOD DAYS
A few uneventful years passed by; happy ones for the little girl, as
she was loved and appreciated by all. Two little brothers had been
born in the home, and Everlasting Pearl might often be seen with the
younger of them strapped to her back, rocking herself to and fro, and
softly cooing to the babe. Or she might be found crouching before the
cooking-stove, feeding the fire with brushwood, dried bracken, and
fern, trying to use as little fuel as possible; for strict economy had
to be practised in that home. At other times she would be sitting on a
low stool beside her mother, spinning hemp, not with a spinning-wheel,
but separating the threads with her fingers, and afterwards winding the
thread into balls. Or she would be learning to sew, to embroider, and
to make silk braid. By all these occupations she could only earn about
a farthing a day; but that small sum would pay at least for her
vegetables, salt, and oil, and even leave a little balance.
[Illustration: Plaiting silk braid.]
During the summer and autumn she often had to take her low stool and
work outside, so as to watch the grain, which was drying on a large
bamboo mat in front of the house. On such occasions a long bamboo
stick lay at her side, and this she used most vigorously, and with as
much noise as possible, whenever the inhabitants of the poultry-yard
paid her a visit.
But her life was not all work. There were some variations. Her little
brothers were a source of great delight to her. Her love for them was
intense and motherly, though she would often tease them. When one of
them happened to be dawdling over his food, she would do her best to
coax him to eat, but often without success, until she playfully
exclaimed:
Who first shall be satisfied may do as he wishes,
But the last one to finish must wash all the dishes.
[Illustration: A source of great delight. "Is there too great a burden
on the shoulders of the Chinese Christians? Surely not. A little girl
once was carrying a little boy on her back. Some one said, 'I see you
have a big burden, haven't you?' 'No,' replied the little girl, 'that
is not a burden; that is my brother.'"--Rev. Cheng Ching Yi, Edinburgh
Missionary Conference.]
Her ready wit often helped to keep herself and others in good temper.
Not only was she full of life and humour, she was also kind and
generous, and had sympathy with those who suffered. When, for
instance, a poor, blind beggar came to her home, chanting his doleful
refrain:
Oh, friends who can see, in heaven you dwell;
To have sightless eyes is like living in hell,
her heart would be touched, and she would beg and obtain permission
from her mother to give him some rice.
Mrs. Tu was a home-loving and industrious woman, who did not often
leave her home, or allow her children to run wild. Once a year,
however, there was a big dramatic performance at Kucheng, and then
Everlasting Pearl, dressed in her best, was taken to the theatre.
These were red-letter days in her life. Chinese plays are mostly very
stupid. Often immoral, and almost invariably connected with idolatry,
they are a snare to some of the people when they want to break with
everything idolatrous. But to the little country girl the theatre was
all that could be desired, and gave her much pleasure. She understood
little of what she saw and heard there, but was carried away with the
excitement and noise.
Another great occasion was that on which the famous god from Tanyoh
passed through Kucheng. This deity was supposed to have his abode in
Tanyoh, and called it his paternal home; but his maternal home was in
Hongtsun, a few miles off, and to that village he paid yearly visits.
He was carried with great pomp through Kucheng, and as he passed along
all the people came to their doors to bow to him, and implore his
blessing and protection. For the little girl this yearly visit of the
idol was a very solemn occasion, as she was a firm believer in his
power. As yet she had not heard of any greater power; she had never
heard of the true and living God. The ugly idol she saw carried
through the streets of Kucheng embodied the highest object for her
worship, and to him she gave unreserved reverence.
Surely the messengers of Christ had been a long time in reaching
Kucheng,--yet it was situated on one of the main roads in China. They
had indeed been slow in obeying their Lord's command, "Go ye into all
the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."
CHAPTER IV
ENGAGEMENT
Everlasting Pearl was now thirteen years old, and by many relatives and
friends her parents were urged to make arrangements for her future.
"You can keep her a few years before you marry her, but she certainly
ought to be engaged," was the advice given generally.
A middleman, therefore, had to be found. There are always numerous
applicants for that office, as not only is a good fee usually given,
but it is considered an honour to be entrusted with the future
arrangements for a young couple. On such occasions a great many
untruths are often told, which are only discovered after the marriage,
when it is too late to mend matters. In Everlasting Pearl's case, the
middleman was a relative, one of those who had been urging a speedy
engagement.
He took the girl's _Pah tsi_,[1] and went with these to a family of the
name of Hsue, who lived in a village four miles distant. The Cyclical
Characters were closely examined, and put in front of the ancestral
tablet, incense being lighted before them morning and evening. There
they remained for a month, and as nothing happened to disturb the peace
of the family during the interval--no child was hurt, no pig died, no
rice basin was broken--they were thought to augur only good luck, and
to promise well for the alliance of the two families. So Mr. Hsue made
out the "Cyclical Characters" of one of his sons, a young man
twenty-five years old. He then called in an astrologer, and asked him
to compare the two papers and give his verdict as to the advisability
of the two young people being joined in marriage. With an important
air, this gentleman examined the two papers put before him, and
announced that everything was in favour of such an alliance. Several
of their characters were alike, the two young people were both born
under the "Tiger," and other things agreed as well. Whereupon the two
families expressed their satisfaction, and declared themselves ready to
arrange for an engagement.
But now the middleman had a busy time of it, for there were many things
to settle before the engagement could take place. First of all, he
went to Mr. and Mrs. Tu, and asked how much money they would want for
their daughter. "As she is our only daughter, we want her to have a
good outfit," replied the parents, "so Mr. Hsue must give at least $40
and some good clothes." The list was then made out--$40, ten articles
of clothing, a ring, two bracelets, a pair of earrings, and three
silver hair ornaments. The indefatigable middleman took the list to
the Hsue family, who looked at it critically. After some time of
haggling over the different articles, they finally agreed to furnish
all, and preparations were begun in full earnest.
The day appointed for the engagement arrived, and there was great
excitement in the two homes which were filled with visitors and
well-wishers. The feast on both sides had to be provided by the young
man's family. About dinner-time, on the day appointed, a party, headed
by the middleman, was seen advancing toward Kucheng, carrying a sort of
wooden box or basket, with several trays, one piled on top of the
other. One tray carried all sorts of sweetmeats and the half of the
money, twenty dollars, wrapped in red paper. Another tray was filled
with pork and fish; again, another with different kinds of expensive
vegetables. Another carrier brought the engagement cake, and five
articles of clothing, and all the silver ornaments. Everywhere,
scattered among all the things, were cypress leaves, a symbol of
longevity and good luck.
On reaching the Tu home, the men with their precious burdens were
received with fire-crackers, and eagerly all the things were examined,
some of them meeting with approval, others with disapproval. After
dinner the party started off again for the Hsue home, taking the return
presents. These consisted of the following articles--a hat, a pair of
shoes and stockings, a sash, a number of embroidered purses, with a few
dollars in them, also some vegetable seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds,
etc. Most of these things were graciously received by the young man
and his family, and the parents on both sides were satisfied.
The Engagement Agreement, as binding as a marriage certificate, had
been signed by the two families, and Everlasting Pearl's parents had
returned it to Mr. and Mrs. Hsue. The girl of thirteen had her future
settled for her before she had any idea of what such a future might
mean. Her little girl-friends teased her, but there was an added
respect in their treatment of her. She dimly realised that somehow she
had risen in their estimation and that of others. The change was
rather a pleasant one, the new clothes were a welcome addition to her
scanty wardrobe, and she was too young to worry about the future.
[Illustration: Writing the engagement document. As binding as a
marriage certificate.]
[1] The Eight Cyclical Characters appertaining to the hour of a
person's birth.
CHAPTER V
MARRIAGE--PART I
Again we pass over a few years. Everlasting Pearl had now reached the
age of seventeen, and her future husband was twenty-nine years old;
therefore the day of the wedding was drawing near. The intervening
years between engagement and marriage had been busy ones. Little by
little the trousseau had been prepared, and was all ready. A lucky
day, the third of the eleventh moon, had been chosen for the
approaching wedding; and already, a few days before that date, some of
the guests began to arrive, each one bringing a present of some
garment, or hair flowers, shoes, etc. for the bride. A present of 120
lbs. of pork, 60 lbs. of fish, 12 chickens, and a good supply of
expensive vegetables had been sent by the young man, and the guests,
with many of whom luxuries were rare, set themselves to enjoy the good
things.
The evening before the wedding the middleman arrived with the bridal
chair, which was covered all around with red cloth, and embroidered in
gay colours. Now the feasting began in real earnest. The pipers
struck up their usual melody, and with each hour the excitement grew.
The following morning the trousseau had to be packed, but the bride had
nothing to do with it. She did not rise from her bed at all. Her
breakfast was brought to her by one of her relatives, and she was
exhorted to eat heartily, as that would be her last meal till the
following morning. Towards dinner-time she was coaxed to get up, but
she persistently refused to do so, and began bemoaning her fate, in
having to leave her parents and her own home to go to strangers. Every
now and again the mother joined in the wailing, and the relatives stood
round them crying, trying in vain to comfort them. After dinner the
bride was again urged to get up, but maidenly modesty and her
dutifulness to her parents still forbade her to obey. No one should
have any reason to say that she was anxious to go. She wanted to show
how loath she was to leave her parents, and every one was praising her,
and saying that such a dutiful daughter would make a filial
daughter-in-law.
But even the most ardent filial piety could not put off the hour of
separation much longer. At last she was dragged from her bed by the
women who had to prepare her for her journey, and she reluctantly
submitted to the preparation. Her hair was shaved all around the
edges, the hair in front, which used to make the fringe for the
forehead, was pulled out. Then her hair was combed straight back to
show that she was now to enter the ranks of the married women. Then
she was powdered and painted, and dressed in her bridal attire, which
consisted of a red skirt, and red cloak, beautifully embroidered in
bright colours, but rather the worse for wear, as it had accompanied
the bridal chair on many another journey. The box with the mitre was
brought forth and the crown was placed on her head, already too richly
adorned with artificial flowers. And now the wailing broke forth
beyond all bounds, the young bride and her mother vying with each other
in making the greatest possible noise; at times beating their heads
against the wall, the bed, or the table in their self-imposed
manifestations of sorrow.