The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 8, August, 1887 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 8, August, 1887Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 8, August, 1887
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
The story which I have to tell this month may startle our readers
east of the Rockies, though the hard fact underlying it has long
been known to us on this Pacific slope, and especially in San
Francisco.
On Sunday, June 5th, among seven Chinese who were baptised and
received to Bethany church, was one young woman about fifteen
years of age. She was the second female Chinese received to our
fellowship, for out of more than 120 of that nation whom I have
baptised, all but two have been males.
This young woman is remarkably beautiful in person, pleasing in
her ways, and interesting in character. Her father is in China.
Her mother, quite in accordance, perhaps, with the moralities of
Chinese heathenism, had taken to herself another husband for the
time being, and had gone to Arizona to ply her trade, the nature of
which I do not _certainly_ know, and therefore will not suggest. To
raise funds she had _pawned_ this girl for $250, but had paid $100
on her debt. A very estimable Chinaman, not a professed Christian,
but one of whom we have hoped much, knowing the parties and hearing
that little Ah Yung was being harshly treated, advanced the balance
of the debt and took possession of the child. He placed her in the
family of our helper, Jee Gam. Thus she became known to the lady
teachers in our Central Mission, one of whom went up-stairs each
evening to the apartments occupied by Jee Gam’s family, to give her
a lesson, and also (as always) to speak to her of Christ.
At first indifferent and even hostile, she softened at length,
and began to wish that she might become a Christian. With this
softening of the heart towards Christ, there rose, of course, an
abhorrence and dread of the destiny which, according to heathen
customs, awaited her. She did not, however, at first open her heart
fully to her teacher, but said that she would like to earn some
money, and to work for wages in some American family. A place was
found for her which, as being a little remote from the city, was
likely to be a safe refuge. But when the time for her removal came,
unexpected obstacles were interposed. Jee Gam, while quite willing
to have her go, felt that it would be neither honorable nor safe
for him to deliver her to any one except the man who entrusted her
to him; and this one shrunk from the responsibility of letting her
go where it might be difficult for her mother to resume possession
of her. Meanwhile the case became more urgent because of a report
that her mother would soon be in San Francisco, for, with her
arrival, all possibility of legal protection for the child would be
gone. Miss Jessie S. Worley, the principal of our Central School,
suddenly cut the knot by causing herself, with no one’s consent
except that of the child, to be appointed her legal guardian, and
she holds her under such protection now.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account