ere still is for the missionaries to exercise, and how much
they are needed to help the people in the midst of their struggles,
perplexities, and sorrows, by their counsel, kind sympathy, and their
prayers.

I have only to add that the account of the early years is given just as
it has been told by the woman herself, and the account of the later
days is a simple narrative of the facts as they have come under the
observation of the writer.

WALTER B. SLOAN.

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I. BIRTH AND INFANCY.
II. FOOTBINDING
III. CHILDHOOD DAYS
IV. ENGAGEMENT
V. MARRIAGE--PART I
VI. MARRIAGE--PART II
VII. DARK DAYS
VIII. MISERABLE COMFORTERS
IX. BROKEN CISTERNS
X. WAYS NOT KNOWN
XI. THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE
XII. THE BEGINNING OF CONFLICT
XIII. THE BATTLE GROWS FIERCER
XIV. LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS
XV. SAVED TO SERVE
XVI. PERSECUTION AND TRIAL
XVII. LABOUR AND FRUIT
XVIII. FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT
XIX. PREPARATION FOR FURTHER SERVICE
XX. DAYS OF SHADOW
XXI. THE SHADOW DEEPENS
XXII. ENTERING THE VALLEY
XXIII. ANOTHER JEWEL WON FOR CHRIST
XXIV. CONCLUSION

ILLUSTRATIONS

EVERLASTING PEARL . . . . . _Frontispiece_

A PRECIOUS BUNDLE

PLAITING SILK BRAID

A SOURCE OF GREAT DELIGHT

WRITING THE ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENT

ADORNED AS A BRIDE

THE OUT-STATION OF KUCHENG

ANOTHER JEWEL FOR CHRIST

EVERLASTING PEARL

CHAPTER I

BIRTH AND INFANCY

It was a warm, close day in May, in Central China. The summer heat had
just set in, and the inhabitants of Kucheng (Ancient City) were
somewhat weary and languid, when a woman brought the news to her
neighbour--"A daughter has been born to the Tu family." The news soon
spread from door to door. All languor was shaken off, for curiosity
got the better of lassitude, and the women, now fully alert, hobbled on
their small feet to the little house where farmer Tu lived with his
young wife and parents.

The house was a small, unpretentious building, with mud walls and a
tiled roof. The interior was like that of all the homes around. If
you had seen one, you had a good idea of the appearance of the rest.
You entered the guest-hall, where on the wall at the farther end hung a
large centre scroll, representing the "Ruler of Heaven," before which
incense was lighted morning and evening. On either side of the idol,
and on all the pil