The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-22
lently sheaf of grain, letting the kerr
nels fall into the box

1ClUIy q Suodl u L OAO AOA
nels fall into the box.
This is slow work to be sure, but per-
severance conquers where invention
fails. Along the paths which intersect
these fields we met men carrying, sus-
pended from each end of pole, heavy
basket of the threshed grain, which, af-
ter being famed, is poured in almost
any level place upon large strips of
mating, where men and women wade
back and forth through it, spreading it
evenly with their feet that it may be
dried by the sun. How much the Chi
nese depend upon their rice western ma
tions can hardly reaAze; it is more to
them than bread to US. In its different
stages, it is known by four different
names: While growing in the fields they
call it ten; after it is threshed, chioh.;
the hull being removed it changes to
mi, and boiling converts it into pWong.
We crossed the rice plains one even
ing and climbed the rocky hillside to
gather maiden 's-hair ferns and breathe
the fresh, invigorating air. On the op-
posite side of the plain, behind the misty
mountains, the sun was sinking in a
cloudless sky. Close beside us merry
brook was tumbling over the stones, and
very sweet and homelike was the gentle
music of its voice, so unlike the noisy
clamor of the crowded masses of hui
mainly by which we are so often sur
rounded that silence and solitude are
rare luxuries. Almost everywhere, as
we went among the people, we were
cordially received. We sat with them
in their dark, untidy houses, or on the
broad, flat stones outsidewhere they
were caring for the grain, and between
their curious questions found opportu-
nifty to weave in the grand truths of re-
demption through His blood, who came
to bear the burdens of the heavy-laden
and give the weary rest.
We entered house one day at the in
vitation of its occupant. Quite near the
door stood bedstead, and between it
and the wall she led us through mar
row passage to another room. In this
passage-way lay stretched at his ease a
large black pig. He seemed annoyed at
the unusual commotion, and little in
clined to dispute our right to thus dis
turb his slumbers, but before he had de-
cided what course to PURSUE we crowded
past him and went on our way. One
can become accustomed to almost any
thing.
AS we approached a house little
outside the village one morning, we
caught sight of bridal chair, a sedan
covered with bright red cloth and heav-
lily ornamented. In the yard before the
house were perhaps hundred people,
most of them seated at little tables and
partaking of the wedding feast. We
declined their invitation to eat with
them, and went our way, as the bride
had not arrived, the chair being pre-
pared to send to her home, some miles
distant, whence she was to be brought
on the following day.
In the afternoon we saw the BRIDE
groom, preceded by boy beating a
gong, on his way to sacrifice to the
" mother goddess - and thank her for
preserving him from childhood to his
wedding day. We called at the house
again after the brides arrival and
found large numbers of guests still
there. The festivities continue several
days, and the ceremony of marriage
embraces various forms, worshiplng
the parents, the tablets of deceased an
cestors, heaven and earth, etc. In the
darkest corner of the room, at the foot
of the bed, stood the bride dressed in
gay garments of bright red cloth, with
beautiful flowers and ornaments in her
hair. Poor little girl! she looked
hardly more than fifteen years of age,
but such sad and frightened face
made our hearts ache for her, alone
among strangers, all unconscious of
what her future life might bring.
Oh, these cruel heather marriage
customs of China! Betrothed often in
early childhood, or paid for, few years
later, according to her personal beauty
or the smallness of her feet, perhaps
never seeing her husband till the mar
riage day, oh, what anxious forebodings
must fill the mind of Chinese girl!
The mother-in-law often rules the
household with rod of iron, and the
husband may, if dissatisfied with his
wife, sell her, or if able to support two,
force her to yield her place to a strang-
er. And only so far as the Gospel
remolds the hearts of this people
will these heather customs give way.
God grant that the day so slowly dawn
ing, may soon break in midday bright.
ness upon these our brothers and sisters,
the millions of China! -Foochoao (Chi-
MAJ Letter to the Springfield Mass. }
Republican.