Seven Maids of Far Cathay: Being English Notes From a Chinese Class BookLedyard, Mary Forman
General
Seven Maids of Far Cathay: Being English Notes From a Chinese Class Book
Ledyard, Mary Forman
Chinese in literature
One day very strange thing happen. Nurse go out and say I am to watch
all what Miss Sterling do? if she call out or move to rise I must give
to her of large bottle one portion. A very long time I watch every
breath, then all suddenly Miss Sterling try to sit up, and cry out:
"Where am I, What has happened? O yes I remember I am in China" - and
she sink back on pillows, like one little baby she fall asleep, all so
full of peace and so quiet and still. When Nurse come back and I tell
her of all this, she say - "O yes the climax, now Miss Sterling will
surely live I think." That moment such a joy, too great to bear, come
into my heart, I could to shout for gladness, and all the other girls
too glad also.
Now every day Miss Sterling one little bit stronger grow, so that Miss
Powers promise us she soon will be able to go on beautiful river fete,
for that day all wait with heart of gladness.
Bing Ang. Bing Ang.
From Your Detestable and Foolish Child.
Neuchang, China.
March 20th.
Most Honorable and Wise Mother, Moy Sen, Greetings. Bing Ang. Bing Ang.
So wonderful thing happen since last time I write, 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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