The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-06-11

through that hole How ever large my feelings
were gathered my body into as small compass
as possible feet first. body, head, then came
shake to get the clothing down, then TO slt
down In came one foot of Mr.. Davis. IN came
another. then he sat down. and there we were
as snug as two bugs in rug. But bear In
mind we we're on the ground-the litter had not
vet been raised This was something quite
thrilling to our inexperienced minds and feel
ings One end of the litter was lifted and the
poles placed on the wooden saddle on the mules
back. You may imagine h1w we sat while one |
erd was up and one down.
There was Duke of Y Yorkshire,
He had thousand men;
lie marched them up the hill. |
snd he marched them down again; |
When they're up-they're up, |
And when they're down-they're down.
And when they're only half way up.
They're neither Up nor down.
We we're soon in mid air and how strange we
felt-as if every moment were going down
but in a few hours we were quite accustomed to
it There was some motion forward and back,to
if, and occasionally it seemed to move all ways
and then it was tiresome.
We started, and when we passed from DIR.
Merrett's court, it was to leave foreign civili-
zation behind until eleven days later, when we
arrived in Tai Ku 1t had been showing
trfi , but was beautiful weather. The snow
had gone from the roofs. but such mudi " by,
you would almost think the roads were bottom
less! Shops, where goods of all kinds were for
sale-cabbages, sweet potatoes. grapes, pears
cloth of all colors. native shoes. fur garments.
foreign clocks (lor which they have great ad-
mira ,ion, the wealthy having two or moro in
one room probably none running), meat shops,
where good mutton can be had. eggs, also 10000,
bad. indifferent). Chinese books. American or
En- glish needles, SC From the shops and from
the street. faces, e! es. noses and mouths peered
into the HtteTs 10 see Such expressions Oh
longing to see what foreigner looks like as
we saw on their faces! Children and even
grown men would look in mot coming close of
eourse) and then run ahead to place where
Eey would have a good view. We soon passed
through the gates OF the city and were out upon
an open plain The country is level and here
and there clumps or groves of trees. much re-
sembling our willows. only much larger than
those we see by the waters edge, here and
there were graves-and Gow we pass through
little village. 1t is the same day by day dirty,
ragged children. men bearing burdens. or
smoking the inevitable pipe as if time were to
last always AID there was to be no future.
About F. m. zs we rode along the street of
village, we turned abruptly and passed
through gate into the gard of the inn where
we were to remain over Sunday. We had heard,
as you have reed from that poetry in the June
N issi"n Stidies. of the rats and bed HI, ha,
as Louis says, have no wings at all. but get
there just the same.'') and were prepared as we
thought for almost anything. We passed into
an enclosed yard where the mules which had
carried the packs wee already relieved Of
their burdens and were feeding. We were put
down, one end at time. mind you. but how TO
get out-a pnouse goes in easily, but not SO get
ting out There was that window 1ex20; there
was Mr.. Davis; there was l. He. brave man.
put both feet out, one hand on the muleteer's
shoulder. drawing of the body and he was on
the ground. Then he put his arms round my
body and mi ne around him, and putting my
head out first. ne literally drew me out as you
would draw q creek from shelf. and finding
my feet. was upon them, and glad we were to
stretch. As We used to say, we could stretch
a mile - We looked about; in front of us and
facing the gate where we entered was build
ing (brick, tile roof with four large rooms.
we ascended the stone steps and entered the
rooms. They were ciean-stone floors. chairs,
table and kang, which have described as be-
ing platform built across one end of the room
, alb Ut : leet from the floor. These are made of
brick and in some inns u Gre can be built under
the k'angs, and that makes them warm. That
is their mode of heating their houses and they,
especially the women, live almost entirely upon
these Hangs. We looked about and prepared
supper. We did not wish to eat the Chinese
food prepared at the inn, so had our own little
charcoal stove. We ale supper, and spreading
our m attress upon thek'ang, and after asking
Gods blessing and watchful care. were soon
asleep.
Sunday was another beautiful day. Dr. Mer-
ritt talked to some people who came in 10 see
the foreigners. We were sitting out upon the
porch in front of the inn and they just came up
and looked, and he talked to them of Jesus
Some who were troubled with their eyes, came
to him ard he put medicine on Them. We had
Ii tie service in the afternoon and went early
to bed to be ready for start before day light.
We spread some crackers the night before ard
left the coffee pot, co nee milk ard cups out for
little lunch. and ate this before starting
Then we put little lunch in some tin boxes we
had, for we did not stop until noon. We rolled
up our bedding, drank our coffee ana were on
Such nice moonlight mornings we had We
started sometimes at half past 6, once or twice
at g. Such beautiful sunrises. to the eastern
SKY grow pink then deep and deeper red until
the sun slowly comes up above the horizon and
the ~ oonli&ht is lost ! the bright rays of the
sun
q 1t was as on the opening of door
BY one that in his hand lamp doth hold.
Whose flame is hidden by the garments fold;
The still air moves, the wide room is less dim
From rose to red the level heaven burned;
Then sudden, as if a sword fell from on high.
8 blade of gold flashed on the horizons rim.''
Often the gentlemen would walk One day
DR.. Merritt walked about 81 miles. We usually
travelled about a5 miles q day, stopping two
hours for dinner at an inn. and resting at night
stopping about Or 6 p m. l would sleep some
of the time; could read only little because of
the motion of the litter
Wednesday night we reached Whilo VIII 'ch is
at the foot OF the mountains. Here is living a
China Inland Missionary He is living at an
inn. We supposed there was another man and
his wife there. and we had visions CT a supper
which they would prepare for us. but we found
only this one man. He was very ! ind and his
servant cooked some eggs and meat for us, and
we did not go out until the next morning so
we had good rest
Then commenced the ascent Whilo being at
the foot of the mountains on the esst Tho rise
is gradual and the riding easy. The mountains
reminded me OF the Alleghenies in size and
proportions. but there is one feature we do not
see at home. The hillsides are all terraced. so
that crops can be raised on every available inch
Sometimes there are as many as eighteen ter
races on one hill. The road was up and down
all the way. often quite narrow. For n long
distance we followed stream which is dry ex
cepting in the summer. For p rt Of the time
we were in the bed of the stream. We passed
through four large archways which were on the
tops of high hills. The road is paved on either
side for some distance. So smooth the stones
were, and in places were ruts where the carts
had passed over. These arches are surmounted
by little temple containing idols. These are
called the " Heavenly Gates.' The good or bad
state of repair of these temples indicate The
prosperity of the seasons. When they have had |