The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-18
'sFAR CATHAY.o
An Interesting Letter from Miss
Rankin, of the China
Mission.
Western Methodist.

The subJoined letter, addressed to
Mrs. McGavock, was forwarded by
her to Mrs. Lupton, to be read at the
September monthly meeting of the
McKendree Woman's Missionary So
ciety:
Mrs. D. H. McGavock--My Dear
Friend: Leaving my school in Shang-
hal in Mrs. Lambuth's charge, last
Wednesday | came up to Nantsiang,
where scores of women are ready and
anxious to hear, if not to believe. 1t
was raining quite hard. but Mr.. Lam
buth accompanied me to the boat,
whereon l was TO take my first trip
with natives only. The rain contin-
ued all day, with slight intermission
in the afternoon, during which the
boatmen ran ashore and spent an hour
hunting crabs. These they put in
jar for the morrow's dinner. Owing
to the rain, we escaped the usual
amount of observation, and once,
when some rude children commented
on the "foreign monkey" the boat
man babe them be silent. x r x
The first afternoon / went out | took
the pastors wife and the Bible-woman.
Both exclaimed against my putting
on hat, saying it was too warm. AT
the first house, which is owned by
woman who makes shoes, we were
kindly received, and a crowd quickly
collected. The Bible-woman seems
very Jealous, and commenced imme-
diately, reading few verses from the
gospel of Matthew; then, beginning
with the creation, as briefly as posi-
bic she told the story of mans fall
and redemption. l was not a little
startled to hear her say that Ewes
apple went down into her stomach,
consequently she became wholly vile,
whereas. Adams lodged in his throat,
therefore men are much better and
wiser than women. l dare not say
anything there, lest l do harm. In
the midst of the subject girl walked
across the room to ask me why | did
not wear earrings. One, who had
seen me before, asked for my watch
to show her friends, but l paid no at
ton to her extraordinary request.
They spoke of Quay Ia Ta, and asked
if our doctrine was the same she used
to teach.
Yesterday l held my first reception.
We have fitted up a room with Chi
nese furniture only, to avoid exciting
so much curiosity, and now its doors
are open every afternoon. Fourteen
came to hear, among them two who
had heard us the first time we went
out. One woman had a dreadful
cough, and wanted to see the doctor.
We told her to wait and listen to the
gospel first. Some brought their
children, and l am likely to remem-
ber my first effort to pacify crying
Chinese child. 1t merely trebled its
screams, and insisted on being carried
home at once. / was ever so sorry,
for the woman in charge was very
old, and / did so want her to hear.
There is an invalid's chair in the
room, and one youth deliberately
pulled off his shoes, took a book and
laid down. One girl hung around my
chair and teased to know how old l
was, until, in self,defense, l told her.
All acknowledged that it was a good
doctrine, but, like the hidden guests,
excused themselves from full ac-
ceptance. One said she hadn't time
to keep the Sabbath; another was too
old to change, but wanted her daugh-
ter to unite with the Church. Some
nursed their children while listening,
and one girl, whose feet seemed to
have been recently bound, stood on
her heels and munched fruit the
whole time. The balls attached to
the fringe of my dress were objects of
curiosity, as well as its close fit. |
can never say anything about bound
feet, for the Chinese say | bind my
waist. Sometimes l almost resolve to
have loose-ftting garments made, but
Mrs. Lambuth says there is no need
of doing so-they will soon learn
better.
Last Saturday and Sabbath there
was a grand processson of gaily painted
boats. Quite number of idols were
placed OH the canal bank to see the
sights and hear the horrible music. If
the noise at Babel was any greater than
that which accompanied this heather
band, I'm truly glad was not there.
We find the people here hospitable
to fault-so much that one question
of the hour is how to dispose of the
choice viands they are continually
placing on our table. Sometimes it is
a plate of fish whose odor is more
than sufficient; basket of fruit that
was evidently pulled green and left
to ripen as best it could, or plate of
cakes saturated with rancid oil. To
refuse them would be very impolite,
to eat them almost impossible; so some
we bury and the rest give to the cook
and the chickens. Yours with much
love, LoCHIE RANKIN.
Nantsiang, China, June %, 1879.