Everlasting Pearl: One of China's Women

earl 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 t

ingers, 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

n: Plaiting

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

Her love for them was intense and motherly, though she would often tease them. When one of them happened to be dawdl

be satisfied may

to finish must wa

A source of g

rrying a little boy on her back. Some one said, 'I see you have a big burden, haven't you?' 'No,' replied the

ped to keep herself and

rous, and had sympathy with those who suffered. When, for instance,

can see, in he

ss eyes is like

would beg and obtain permission fr

st, 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 w

ly 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 fi

situated on one of the main roads in China. They had indeed been slow in obeying thei