Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-06-08

The Missionary OF AMMAN: A Chinese War
Translated from che French of Pierre
Lott for the Outlookl
In the sinister yellow country OF the
extreme Orient, during the worse period
Of the war our boat a heavy ironclad
was stationed for weeks at her post in the
blockade in a bay on the coast.
With the neighboring country with its
impossible green mountains and its rice
fields like velvet prairies, we had almost
no communication. The inhabitants of
the villages or the woods stayed at nome.
defiant or hostile. An overwhelming heat
descended upon us from a dull sky, which
was nearly always gray and yelled with
curtains of lead.
One morning during my watch, the
steersman came to me and said:
There is a sampan, Captain. that has
just come into the bay, and which seems
to be trying to speak to u.s."
'Ah, who is in it?"
Before replying he looked again through
his glass.
There is, Captain, a kind OF priest
Chinese or l don't know what who is
seated alone at the stern"
The sampan advanced over the slug
gish, oily, warm water without haste and
without noise. A yellow-faced young girl
clad in black dress, stood erect and
padded the boat, bringing us this ambig-
uous visitor who wore the costume, the
headdress, and the round spectacles Of
the priests Of AMMAN, but whose beard
and whose astonishing face were not at
all Asiatic.
He came on board and addressed me in
French, speaking In dull and timid way
Il am missionary" he said, from
Lorraine, but have lived for more than
II
from here, in the country, where all the
people have been converted to Christian
ity. I wish to speak to the commandant
and ask for aid from him. The rebels
are threatening us, and are alredy very
near. All my Pensioners win be massa-
cred, 1t is certain, if some one does not
come promptly TO our aid"
Alas! The commandant was obliged to
refuse aid. All the men and guns that
We had had been sent to another place,
and there remained on board just enough
sailors to guard the vessel; truly we could
do nothing for those poor Pensioners
"over there" They must be given up as
lost
The overwhelming monday hour had
arrived, the daily torpor that suspended
all life. The little sampan and the young
girl had returned to land, disappearing
in the unhealthy vegetation on the bank,
and the missionary had, naturally enough,
stayed with us, a little taciuurn, but not
recriminative.
The poor man did not appear brilliant
during the luncheon he shared with us.
He had become such an Annamite that
any conversation with him seemed diff
cult After the coffee when the cigarettes
appeared, he seemed to wake up and asked
for French tobacco TO fill his pipe; for
20 years, he said, like pleasure mad
been refused him. Then excusing himself,
because Of his long journey, he sank
back on his cushions.
And to think that, without doubt, we
should have to keep with us, for several
months, this unforeseen guest that heaven
had sent usl 1t was without enthusiasm,
l assure you, that one OF us went to him
to announce on the part Of the COM
mandant:
"They have prepared a room for you,
father. 1t goes without saying that you
will be one of us until the day when we
can land you in a safe place"
He did not seem to understand.
But am only waiting for nightfall
to ask you to send me to the end Of the
bay In small boat. Before night you
can surely have me put on SHORE can
you not?" He asked uneasily.
LANDED! And what will you do on
landP"
II will return to my village" he said,
with sublime simplicity. II could not