CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER ONE
ANTICIPATION
, ) 'Ae I was accepted by the China Inland Mission, John Kuhn's letters began to have a personal note which meant only.one thing. But I had a question. I felt called to the Lisu tribe of Yunnan province, and John had been somewhat interested in the far northwest of Kansu—the opposite direction. So I wrote to John's sister, Kathryn Kuhn Harrison, telling her to warn him
not to propose until he had been designated! My letter crossed one from him on the ocean. Designations had taken place earlier than expected, and he was assigned to the tribes of Yunnan! And would I be his wife and go with him? He asked me to cable the answer. Cable Light if I accepted him, Dark if I refused.
There was no question in my mind as to what my answer was, yet as I spread that precious letter out before the Lord there was still a problem. John and I are of very opposite dispositions, and each likewise is rather strong minded. Now, Science has never discovered what happens when the Irresistible Force collides with the Immovable Object. Whatever would happen if they married one another? "Lord, it must occur sooner or later. Art
Thou sufficient for even that?" The verse He gave me was Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
So I cabled back Light, and then wrote a letter suggesting that our marriage motto might be: God first. The cable was directed to Shanghai Headquarters but John had to be sent for, as he was living in a house some distance away. When he read the word
Light he was so transported with joy that, getting on the street car to return home, he dreamily sailed right past the conductor, forgetting such a small earthly matter as paying one's fare! The conductor, however, being well rooted in the earth, gave a grunt
- and went after him in pursuit. The grins of fellow travellers brought John somewhat to his senses!
We were to be married in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan
ONE VISION ONLY
province. John was stationed down the railway line at a little town named Chengchiang. I was studying the language in Kunming. Originally we had planned on November 14, 1929,
Hastily I sent a runner to Chengchiang to ask if John could make the earlier day. He brought the answer by comirig himself— such an exciting arrival! Tongues flew as we discussed new arrangements, until the ring was mentioned. "Oh," cried my bridegroom, "didn't I go and forget the wedding ring! I left it in its box in Chengchiang!"" Well, in that big city we could borrow a substitute and we were not superstitious, so it was all right.
But even that oversight was corrected. Chu Yin-chang, the young Chinese who was John's cook, companion and "boy" arrived the next day, and—the wedding ring with him! After John left, Yin-chang had been going through his drawers and found the little box; knowing what it was, he had brought it along. John had always been loud in the praises of his wonderful cook, and now the encomiums soared sky high. It never occurred to either of us to ask what he was doing going through his master's bureau drawers after that said master had left—the world was all rosy and everyone in it a contributor to our joy.
That evening we went for a walk outside the city gate, where there were stretches of rice fields and not many pedestrians. ies think, dear,"' I said beaming, "this time next week we will be married!"
"Ye-es," answered my dearly beloved, but in such a gloomy voice that I cast him a seardlect look. "Yes, we will have been married. And then there will be nothing to look forward to!"
Anticipation! It had tasted so sweet he was reluctant to see it slip away ! After all, there is something to be said for anticipation.
It does fave its own special delight, never again to be exactly reproduced.