Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-22
JAMES AND DORCAS.

A school for Bible study and the train
ing of young people for missionary WORK,
both in homo and foreign fields, is not ex'
actly the place one associates with no.
nance. But n contrary state of affairs has
been often known to exist, as can be ver1-
fed by Il certain school of this character
not far away, where so many OF the young
women are either engaged to young min
listers or, if they are training for work in
foreign fields, do not expect to go there
alone.
To this school there came a few years
ago a man and a young woman. We Will
call the young man James, because he was
of the stalwart type of manhood usually
associated with tina apostle of good works,
and let us call the young woman Dorcas,
for she was known for her charity and
made many garments for tho poor.
The Bible training school follows closely
tho lines laid down by the university or
college. There is a two years course of
hard study and practical work among the
poor Of the city. james and DOrcas met
regularly each morning in the lecture
room, while in the Sunday school James
had il class of sturdy boys and Doroas
taught the infant class of girls. AS a mat
ter of course they came to be well ao-
quaintod, and after awhile when Doroas
had been given tho care of a street James
went with her in the evening to lead ths
prayer meetings, and as they walked home
together evening after evening and talked
over the day. events what could be more
natural than that they should fall in love,
which they did.
The weeks and months sped quickly by,
and the course of true love for James and
Doroas, contrary to the old adage, ran
smoothly enough, and the end of the two
years course was approaching. They both
rejoiced that they had entered the school
ut the same time and would receive their
diplomas together. In the days Of their
long courtship they had decided to give
their lives to the work of saving the heath
en- and made their arrangements to go to
New York at the end of the term and offer
their services to the board of foreign mis-
sions.
When the time came and they received
their diplomas they babe goodby to their
friends in this city, and in company with
a small party Of fellow students, who, like
themselves, were candidates for the foreign
field, started for New York.
There did not seem to be a cloud on the
horizon Of their happiness. Their record
in the training school had been of the best,
and they were recommended as most de-
sirable candidates and had no fear they
should not be appointed.
One of the requirements of the board in
sending young missionaries to the foreign
field is perfect health. James, strong and
rugged, was, of course, accepted. Dorcas,
always slight and now pale and worn by
two years Of hard study, had her applioa-
ton refused by tho board.
What could be done9 All their hopes
Of happiness were shattered. But they did
what the conseorated young Christian al
ways does-they prayed and promised each
other to abide by the direction and inspi-
ration that should come through prayer.
They parted for a time and spent the
days in prayer. At the end of a week they
met again, James looking pale but reso-
lutte and Dorcas like a dropping flower,
but patient and resigned. Each read the
decision in the others eyes. The conflict
between love and duty had been Inevitable
and duty had triumphed. 1t was decided
that James should go alone to the foreign
field and Dorcas return to the training
school to take up the work of city mis-.
sions.
Then they babe each other a fearful fare.
well, with no hope Of ever meeting again
in this world, james going to a mission in
China and Dorcas returning again to the
work she had laid down.
Time will speed quickly, even for bro.
ken hearts. Good reports came from James
across the sea, and Dorcas became known
and loved in the homes Of the poor in the
district she tended. The pain Of her ex-
p%erience gave a gentleness and patience to
her dealings with others not there before,
and her name became a synonym for love
and sympathy with those to whom love
and sympathy had been unknown.
1t had been almost three years since
James and Dorcas parted. Dorcas' strength
had been SO far restored that at the sug'
gestion Of friends, and, longing to take W
the work she had trained to do, she deter
mined to make another application for q
foreign post and, presenting herself again
before the board, was accepted.
When they asked her to what field she
wished to go, Dorcas answered very gen.
tly, ITO China"
Then she set about making the simple
preparations for her departure. A letter
came from James full Of joy and hope, say
ing he would have home waiting for her
The rest of this story could best be TOLD
by Dorcas' own letters to her friends. A
fellow worker received a letter from heI
about two months ago telling Of her safe
arrival in China and describing 1t thus:
The ship cast anchor al considerable distance
from the land, and friends came out in a boa
to meet us and take us to the shore. I Leaned
over the deck, watching eagerly for James, bu
to my disappointment ha was not among thos,
who came on board. Then they told me he wa
ill and they would take me to him. When
stood by his bedside and held his land IL
mine, the three long years Of cruel separa
tion were swept away, and it seemed only yes
terday we had parted in New York. / coul(
see no change in him. but James, looking VI
into my face, said softly, "Dear Dorcas, 20,
are very changed" and my hope is that thu
} change is for the better. We are to be married
at Christmas time, and now l must bid yor
j gcodby, for getting ready for my wedding il
China is almost as much work as if / were 60
ing to be married in America and have 4
church wedding and half a dozen bridesmaids
Lovingly, DoRCAs.
1t takes a long time for letters to conn
!, from friends in the foreign field. Mission
uIloS uIe Dusy poopic, ouu IL OAo bVovIOA II
an inland n the posts are slow, and ther
there is the waiting for ships. 1t was only
a few days ago that friends in this city re-
oeived the letter from Dorcas that an
nOunced her marriage to James:
We had such a pretty wedding. We wore tn
national dress, and, dear girls, China is tn
land where brides can be fitted out with leas
8 expense. My wedding dress was the beautfu
: silk that is woven in this country and wa
made by q native dressmaker. If you shout,
ever be married in China, 1t will cost you onl
about Is cents to have FOUR wedding dres
made. We will adopt many Of the quaint AMI
; pretty customs Of the land and are very happ,
in the little home James made ready for me
Our hopes for the future are very bright. Civ
my love to all the dear friends at home ant
t ever remember me as your loving DoRcAs.
: Chicago Tribune.