It was a busy morning for Jennie Crawford. As in most hospitals, there
seemed to be more work than there were people to do it. She assisted
with two operations, she made a visit to every bed, sometimes saying
only a word of encouragement, but oftener lending a hand in a delicate
dressing or superintending the bathing of a very ill patient. She
was an expert nurse, and the poor women and children looked at her
affectionately, knowing that when her tender hands were compelled to
hurt them, it was because she loved them.
As Miss Crawford looked down the street, she could tell the houses of
Christians because on them were no hideous pictures, but, instead,
beautiful verses from the Bible giving God's promise to care for those
who trust in Him.
Everyone goes calling on New Year's Day in China, and many callers came
to bring good wishes to Miss Crawford. Little Mrs. Tsao, the wife of
the Chinese Christian pastor, came early. Her hair was brushed until it
shone like folds of black satin.
"Oh, that the light of God may this year shine upon China just as the
sun shines today!" she said.
Next came Miss Crawford's Chinese teacher, who was so dressed up for
the New Year that she scarcely knew him. He did not lift his hat as
he came in, for that would have been most impolite. From the long,
full sleeve of his coat, he took a package wrapped in a yellow silk
handkerchief. He unwrapped the package and handed one of his large,
red paper calling cards to Miss Crawford.
A procession of fifteen men from the Christian Church came together.
Their hair was plaited in long queues which hung down their backs. The
queues were tied with long black silk tassels which almost touched
the floor. All wore their longest and handsomest gowns. The bright
red buttons on top of their black satin caps meant that they brought
congratulations, for red is the color of happiness in China. Each man
bowed very low and shook his own hand instead of Miss Crawford's to
wish her a happy New Year.
All day long the callers came and drank tea and ate Chinese sweets. In
the evening Miss Crawford and her friend Jennie Cody, a teacher in the
Bible School, sat down together.
"The people in Hanyang are learning to trust us and to really love
us," said Jennie Crawford, happily. "Better still, they are learning
to trust and love God. Did you notice how many of the doors had Bible
verses over them today instead of those hideous gods? I'm glad every
day that I came to China."
"Would you still be glad if we had such fighting and riots here as they
had across the river in Hankow last week?" asked Jennie Cody.
Jennie Crawford laughed. "I've never had a chance to find out what I
would do in a battle," she said. "I'll tell you about that later."
"Things look as if you might have a chance to find out very soon," said
Jennie Cody.
Presently a native Bible teacher came in and sat down with them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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