The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-11-03
SHEN HO
By FRED wHISHAw
Copyright. isos. by 7. e. Mcclure

"hth Dthhhfu -tpplebN uettTlulueu
TO devote his life to evangelical mis-
sionary work in China he was as full
of sanguine enthusiasm as any young
fellow In the scrN .ve. You arr exact
ly the kind of man we want" they told
him at the depot in Shanghai. and we
shall expect to see you do wonders in
the great cause
1T won't he for lack of enthusiasm
II l fail" said Bernard. Il am igno-
rant and shall be useless for awhile.
but hope to work into it by degrees"
You'll have plenty OF time TO learn
the language down at Fuchow." said
a member of the board. who. catching
the eye of another member. smiled a
little. A third member sighed. but sti
fled the sigh and pretended he had
yawned.
Bernard scraped acquaintance at the
mission house presently with a young
girl and walked through the town with
her. She was devotee. like himself
who had been In the service a year and
knew something OF IT, He would be
dull in Fuchow. she said; but. please
God, he would he successful mission
ary; he looked like a man. The youth
and the girl looked steadily in one an
others eyes at parting.
Il hope we shall meet again" he said.
As for her. she smiled back. but when
he had gone she allowed her eyes to be-
come dimmed.
Enthusiasm dies hard In people Of
Bernard Appleby's stamp. For a year
he worked NJ his Chinese. He was the
only European In the place. excepting
for an hour or two in each week when
the clumsy. noisy steamer would come
laundering mp or down the yellow riv-
er bound for wuchang or Yutse. as II
happened to be travelling up or down
stream
At the end OF two years Bernard
could stand his solitary life no longer.
He went up to Shanghai and bashfully
inquired OF the chairman for news Of
the young lady whom he had seen at
the depot ON his arrival. The chair
man smiled paternally she Is still
unmarried he said. replying to Apple
by's thoughts. You are finding 1t dull
and would marry. Is It so?'
Bernard blushingly confessed that so
II was.
WELL said the chairman. I've like
our people TO intermarry. Miss Tate Is
ut Hankow at this moment. You might
see her on your way back"
Appleby adopted his advice. He
70
station at Hankow. and the two were
not long in fixing up matters Within
month Bernard carried OF wife 10
Fuchow.
The following year the arrival Of a
daughter added new happiness. The
baby girl who was called Dulcie, grew
and prospered. She was pretty. curly
headed. fascinating little person, a
thing OF wonder and amusement to
many OF the natives OF the place, an
object of alteration and love to one.
Shen Ho. the. son OF former. "con-
vert OF Appleby's. who had long since
relapsed TO the religion of his fathers.
"Shen Ho." Appleby would some
times say. smiling somewhat plaintive-
ly, lis the only real convert we have
ever had. Chrissie. and he Is Dulcie's
not ours"
This was perfectly true. From Dull.
Gle alone had proceeded the personal
ma magnetism which had been the founda.
ton OF Shen Hos Christian aspira.
tions. Shen Ho lived in the house as
servant and was as honest and diligeni
in business as he was devout in his
Christianity.
Dulcie taught Shen Ho cricket. Sheu
Ho thought the game foolish one. but
and all nigh: to please his friend
Nothing would induce him. however. tc
bowl in such manner that the bal
reached the wicket otherwise thar
dead slow for fear Of hurting Mis-.
Dulcie. When Appleby was playing
and bowled fast ball ut his daughtel
/ Shen Ho would groan aloud and hid,
his eyes with his hand.
In every way Shen Ho was Dulcie'i
devoted slave and servant as well N
| playmate. He also acted as her escor
and protector and her champion IL oc
casiOn offered.
The people OF Fuchow were not to-
well disposed toward the English mis-
sionary AMI his wife. Appleby ha'
never been attacked. but he was neve
secure from mocking laughter ant
! jeers when passing through the crowd
in the streets.
So matters would doubtless have re
mained till this day but that when Dull
Gle was about nine years old and She
Ho fourteen or fifteen and a Christian
OF five years sf-niing the country be
gan TO he con 10y the Boxer ris
ing in Peking au,i the troubles that &C
companied the popular upheava
against foreign residents throughou
the land. Rumors OF trouble 500
reached Fuchow.
1t was but n week after this that
party of half a dozen Boxers cam
into the town. They inquired frs
whether the place contained any '.fol
eign devils" and were informed OF tn
Appleby family.
I'VE want neither the foreign devil
nor their gods" said the Boxer. an
he went forthwith to spy upon tn
Englishman's compound.
Huan Ii, the gardener, happened {
be coming out OF the place. going hom
for his midday rest.
What are you doing In the house 9
the foreign devilsf" he was asked.