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
When all seated Dr. Ewing, invited, makes little prayer and the foreign
feast begin, of a formality not like anything we know. We unfold napkins
and spread them upon our laps to preserve clothes clean, and eat soup
from the side of spoons which we push away from us, watching our
Honorable Teachers with so great care because we know not what is the
polite or what is the impolite. At close of feast Boy bring cups of
smallness filled with coffee. Miss Sterling (our Adorable Teacher) put
hand over cup, we do likewise, and say:
"Before we drink of the coffee, Young Ladies, I will tell you of an
American birthday custom. It is called a Toast, and each one drinks to
it standing. I will now make one to the health and longevity of Dr.
Ewing."
All persons get to feet and Miss Sterling hold up cup and shake yellow
curls and say to Dr. Ewing with so great solemnity, "May your path be
strewn with roses and your husband meek as Moses." We all put cups to
lips when man's voice come loudly from doorway: "Impossible! The roses
are all right, but Moses would not stand a ghost of a chance with Dr.
Ewing." We turn as one people and behold the Community Doctor (Dr.
Wardoff) standing in the doorway, his arms also full of flowers. Our
Honored President grow much dignified then she regard Dr. Ewing all of
an adorable pinkiness, and she sink within chair and make much silent
laughter.
Dr. Ewing take from Dr. Wardoff the flowers he hath brought unto her and
cover her pinkiness of face in their blossoms of fragrance.
No. 1 Boy make entrance with yet another bouquet of flowers of so great
magnificence and say with much strength of voice, as he present flowers
unto the arms of Dr. Ewing: "From the Son of the Consul." Dr. Ewing drop
all flowers upon floor. Dr. Wardoff scowl, look see watch and say, "I
must be off!" making departure of quickness. We Chinese girls pick up
flowers and place them within the arms of Dr. Ewing.
3d Moon - 15th day - This morning the Chinese boys from St. Marks arrive
to Confirmation at Chapel. Upon left of aisle-centre they were seated,
all Chinese girls, on right.
Eng Muoi receive Confirmation and seem of so great humbleness, Cui Ai,
sitting at side whisper to me, "Can the change of heart of Eng Muoi be
of everlastingness?" I answer not, being much occupied with view of
Honorable Head Master of St. Marks; a man of much magnificence of
person.
For the past Moon Eng Muoi hath made offers of lendings, bestowing upon
other Chinese girls gifts of hairpins and bracelets and hath been of so
great meekness, unlike her disposition of naturalness, that all Chinese
girls say, "Unto Eng Muoi hath come the Goddess of Mercy." Now all know
it is the God of the foreigner that hath made the difference.
Cui Ai displayed unto me her Beloved Betrothed. A small man he seemed,
seated upon the bench before the Honorable Head Master of Magnificence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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