their doors to bow to him, and implore his
blessing and protection. For the little girl this yearly visit of the
idol was a very solemn occasion, as she was a firm believer in his
power. As yet she had not heard of any greater power; she had never
heard of the true and living God. The ugly idol she saw carried
through the streets of Kucheng embodied the highest object for her
worship, and to him she gave unreserved reverence.

Surely the messengers of Christ had been a long time in reaching
Kucheng,--yet it was situated on one of the main roads in China. They
had indeed been slow in obeying their Lord's command, "Go ye into all
the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."

CHAPTER IV

ENGAGEMENT

Everlasting Pearl was now thirteen years old, and by many relatives and
friends her parents were urged to make arrangements for her future.
"You can keep her a few years before you marry her, but she certainly
ought to be engaged," was the advice given generally.

A middleman, therefore, had to be found. There are always numerous
applicants for that office, as not only is a good fee usually given,
but it is considered an honour to be entrusted with the future
arrangements for a young couple. On such occasions a great many
untruths are often told, which are only discovered after the marriage,
when it is too late to mend matters. In Everlasting Pearl's case, the
middleman was a relative, one of those who had been urging a speedy
engagement.

He took the girl's _Pah tsi_,[1] and went with these to a family of the
name of Hsue, who lived in a village four miles distant. The Cyclical
Characters were closely examined, and put in front of the ancestral
tablet, incense being lighted before them morning and evening. There
they remained for a month, and as nothing happened to disturb the peace
of the family during the interval--no child was hurt, no pig died, no
rice basin was broken--they were thought to augur only good luck, and
to promise well for the alliance of the two families. So Mr. Hsue made
out the "Cyclical Characters" of one of his sons, a young man
twenty-five years old. He then called in an astrologer, and asked him
to compare the two papers and give his verdict as to the advisability
of the two young people being joined in marriage. With an important
air, this gentleman examined the two papers put before him, and
announced that everything was in favour of such an alliance. Several
of thei