Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-23
SHEN HO /
BY FRED wHIsHAW !
coppriglit, ieos, bv T. C. MeClurs
By FRED wHISHAw

~
when Bernard Appleby determined
n devote his life to evangelical mis-
sonary work IN China he was as full
~ sanguine enthusiasm as any young
,olloy in the service. ''You are exact
), tbe kind OF man we want" they told
MIN AT the depot in Shanghai. "and we
sball expect to see you do wonders in
the great cause"
at won't be for lack of enthusiasm
yI fail" said Bernard. Il am igno-
rant and shall be useless for awhile,
Int hope to work into 1t by degrees"
you'll have plenty of time TO learn
the language down at Fuchow," said
member Of the board, who, catching
the eve Of another member, smiled a
B,tle. A third member sighed. but sti-
fed the sigh and pretended he had
yswned.
Bernard scraped acquaintance at the
mission house presently with a young
erl and walked through the town with
her She was devotee, like himself,
who had been In the service year and
knew something OF II. He would be
dull in Fuchow. she said; but, please
God he would be n successful mission
ary; he looked like man. The youth
and the girl looked steadily in one an
others eyes at parting.
81 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 year
he worked at 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 up or down the yellow riv-
er bound for wuchang or Yutse, as IT
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 Mt
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 II so?"
Bernard blushingly confessed that so
II was.
well" said the chairman, 1--WE like
our people to intermarry. Miss Tate is
at Hankow at this moment. You might
see her on your way back"
Appleby adopted his advice. He
found Christie Tate at the missionary
station at Hankow. and the two were
not long In fixing up matters. Within
a month Bernard carried OF a wife to
Fuehow.
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,
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 a 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 plalntive-
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
magnetism which had been the founda-
ton Of Shen Hos Christian aspira-
servant and was as honest and diligent
IN business as he was devout in his
Christianity.
Dulcie taught Shen Ho cricket. Shen
do thought the game a foolish one. but
would have played it gladly all day
ana all night to please his friend.
Nothing would induce him, however. to
Dowl In such a manner that the ball
reached the wicket otherwise than
uead slow for fear of hurting Miss
Duleie When Appleby was playing
ana bowled fast ball at his daughter
so "puiu SIpdn diUuu anu NUT
ns eyes with his hand.
In every way Shen Ho was Dulcie's
ueVoted slave and servant as well as
Playmate. He also acted as her escort
anu protector and her champion if oc-
casion offered,
The people of Fuchow We're not too
wen disposed toward the English mis-
slohary and his wife. Appleby had
never been attacked. but he was never
secure from hooking laughter and
;eers when passing through the crowds
IN the streets.
90 matters would doubtless have re-
I.alned TILL this day but that when Dull
", nc was about nine years old and Shen
no fourteen or fifteen and a Christian
u i've years standing the country be-
san 10 be convulsed by the Boxer ris-
.us IN Peking and the troubles that &C
sOlpahied the popular upheaval
ssalnst foreign residents throughout
sue land. Rumors of trouble soon
reached Fuchow.
- was but a week after this that