Notable Women of Modern ChinaBurton, Margaret E. (Margaret Ernestine)
History
Notable Women of Modern China
Burton, Margaret E. (Margaret Ernestine)
China -- Biography; Women -- Biography
Her use of words, too, was almost as accurate as her enunciation of them,
although occasionally the intricacies of the English language proved
somewhat mystifying. For example, when she was at her doctor's office one
day he asked if he had given her any medicine when she was there before.
"No, doctor, you gave me a proscription," she answered. The doctor's smile
showed her that she had made a mistake, and as soon as they were outside
she asked the teacher who was with her what she ought to have said.
"_Pre_scription, _pre_scription," she repeated. "I must remember that. What
was it we had in church last Sunday? Was that a prescription or a
proscription?"
"That was a subscription," the teacher told her.
"Oh, yes, a subscription. But what did you call the writing on the stones
in the graveyard? Was that a prescription or a subscription?"
"That was an inscription," was the answer, and perhaps it is small wonder
that Anna exclaimed in despair, "Oh, this terrible English! Can I ever get
it!"
On the whole, however, she was very much at home with the English language.
One morning as she was going down to breakfast some one asked, "How is our
little China girl this morning?" "Neither cracked nor broken!" was her
instant response.
During all her stay in America she was in great demand as a speaker, and
did as much of this work as her health permitted, always giving her message
in English, and everywhere winning friends for herself and her loved
people. "Those who have watched her as she held the attention of large
audiences with the simple story of her own people, will not soon forget the
modest, unassuming girl who touched their lives for a brief hour," says one
who heard her often.
When she entered Folts Institute it was thought that it would be a good
thing for her to take vocal lessons to strengthen her throat and lungs.
This training was given simply for the sake of her health, and with no
expectation that she would ever sing in public, but it soon became evident
that she had musical ability of no small degree. Her voice was very sweet,
and had such a power to capture the hearts of her hearers that she was
given the title of the "Sweet Singer," and was in great demand for meetings
large and small. The whole energy of her life was so given to her Master
that this newly discovered gift was at once consecrated wholly to His
service. "You may think me narrow," she said earnestly, when her teacher
proposed that she should study some nature songs, "but I feel that I must
be the girl of one song." And into the one song, the Christian hymn, she
put her whole soul, as any who heard her sing, "I love to tell the story,"
"Faith of our fathers," or the one that she perhaps sang most often, "Saved
by Grace," will testify.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account