8 Stones Op Fire
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FIRE Third Sister ! So you came after all, praise God," and she shook her hand in such surprise that Third Sister felt guilty—evidently
Ma-ma herself did not know yet. But Lu-seng was already inspecting the two small dormitories and choosing the better.
"Here, girls, put your bundles in here. Yes," testing the woven bamboo mats tied to short posts driven into the earth,
"these beds will do all right. Two in a bed—choose your partner.
Maybe the fifth one of you can sleep with Esther." And so he went around arranging for their comfort.
That night after service Lu-seng told Ma-ma.
"You enigma!" said Ma-ma. "Here you led me to think that you were interested in Sarah, and I was so concerned, for your two temperaments would never have harmonized. Third Sister?
I am delighted. She was my choice of them all. But you never showed the slightest interest in her?"
How Lu-seng laughed. How he threw back his black curls with a joyous toss as he said, "It wasn't convenient to let you know. And I don't want it known now ! And I want to pay for her study books, please," as he laid two dollars on Ma-ma's knee.
Now Ma-ma knew that Lu-seng had very little spending money, so she said, "Oh I would be glad to pay for her."
"No; you do not understand. I want to," and his face glowed so unmistakably that Ma-ma understood.
"All right then. But I am giving the girls Bible names—those who do not have them. Wouldn't you like to choose Third Sister's?"
Once more his face beamed, then sobered as he thought.
"The Lisu translation of girls' Bible names does not appeal to me—with one exception. Mary is a nice name."
"Then she shall be Mary," announced Ma-ma, and that is how Third Sister got her Bible name.
They wanted their engagement kept secret and Ma-ma really meant to help, but yet it was Ma-ma who unwittingly let the cat out of the bag, She was so busy that morning. Lu-seng was leaving with the mules, and the girls were all clamouring to buy notebooks and pencils, pens and ink. Not having the time to speak to Mary previously when that little maiden shyly
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produced a dollar, Ma-ma said to her, "You do not need to pay, Mary. One of the Christians in Olives is paying for you."
The idea of helping a Christian student through Bible School is such a common one in America, that it did not occur to Ma-ma a Lisu would never think of such a way of serving the Lord, and that by her remark she had publicly announced that the giver was Lu-seng! But so it was.
That afternoon Ma-ma called Mary aside.
"Mary, would you like to join me each evening when I go for my prayer walk? We could pray together for Lu-seng; you know he is going to Stumpy Stream district to evangelize among the heathen this month. That is a difficult territory and he will need special upholding/ ' Now Ma-ma had hoped to get to know her better through these times together, but the little girl was so in awe of the tall white woman that she did not speak a word except when asked a question. Her prayers for Lu-seng, however, were free and from the heart, showing that communion with the Father was not new to her.
It was on the playground, in after study time, that Ma-ma really learned to know her. If she made a mistake or caused others to lose a game, she was humble and very quick to ask pardon.
And she loved her fellow villagers devotedly. At every prayer meeting, then and in succeeding years, she was always one of the first to pray and never closed without a yearning "and God bless the dear brothers and sisters in Olives." In her studies she did not top the list that year, but in later schools she did excellent work; and in the last school Ma-ma was able to teach in the canyon, Mary turned in a perfect paper in Ma-ma's subject, the whole month.
Closing day was thrilling. Lisuland saw its first line of twentyfour girl students take their places on the platform. Two girls gave short messages, and for the rest the programme was singing and Bible memory work. The possibility of the women of Lisuland teaching the children had been introduced, and to help them, some action songs were translated. These the girls did together, and being a new thing in Lisuland, made a great impression, even the adults enjoying them to the full. Many
STONES OP
FIRE guests had arrived for the closing exercises, among them a contingent of young men from Olives. At the end as the girls marched out, Enoch said beaming, "Why, it was almost as good as ours, wasn't it?"
Ma-ma smiled and inwardly answered, "Masculine vanity.
J think it was better !"
On their return to Olives, everyone was waiting to see what a month's Bible study had done for girls. So night by night the girls were summoned to the platform to teach what they had learned.
Sarah had been impressed with a message on Joseph, on how the Lord had to deal with his youthful pride.
Mary remembered a talk on the mother ofJesus and the danger of the daily round, the familiar task dulling the memory of the heavenly vision. And so on. And everyone enjoyed the action songs.
Only a few nights had passed when, lo and behold ! Lu-seng arrived. He really had not planned to return so soon, but, of course, his imagination pictured what was going on; he wondered if Mary could preach in Christian Endeavour better now, and what new songs she had learned and so on until he found himself going home. He explained it to everyone by saying it was because he had torn his trousers and had had to come home to get them mended. But as he prepared to return to his field he wrote to Ma-ma, "They have all come back new girls!"
And so the yearly Girls' Bible School came to stay.
Those were happy days for the young group, unconscious of the dark cloud of war that was slowly but surely gathering over their heads. Two more like-letters were written, Enoch to Sarah and Tychicus to Chloe. Jonah, the middle man, said to Ma-ma, "It is strange, but I noticed that Sarah's answer to Enoch was written in Mary's handwriting." And thus began her long role of village like-letter scribe. One is tempted to linger over the picture of those two maidens, in a hidden corner of the wooded mountainside, their turbaned heads together as they whispered and concocted that important small missive. Ma-ma saw it later. There had obviously been writings erased and onsecond-thoughts put down in their place.
It had a sweet, winsome note which betrayed the identity of the composer even
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more than the handwriting! But Enoch was satisfied and the engagement announced.
And now for those dark clouds. Ma-ma had gone to Kunming for dentistry and Ma-pa for another one of those conferences, but Brother Three and a friend were still in the canyon.
Two months after Girls' Bible School the Japanese were at the China-Burma border.
In May, without notice, they bombed the city of Paoshan at noon on a market day. The carnage was unspeakable, but in the Lord's loving-kindness the missionaries all escaped with their lives, and on May 9th five of them arrived at Oak Flat ! This upsurge of war had blocked Ma-pa and Mama's return, but here were all these refugee missionaries; so Rainy Season Bible School had plenty of white teachers. These new voices were much appreciated, but, of course, none of them spoke Lisu and prayer was made constantly that their own missionaries might return. God answered in an unexpected way.
The Chinese military found that they needed a dependable liaison officer who understood the Lisu language and customs, and who would plead with the tribespeople not to befriend the Japanese. For this office Ma-pa was chosen; and Ma-ma with him, they were allowed in past the line of American soldiers
(who were longing to get closer) and by the end of August were back in the canyon again. Lisuland was now considered the front line of battle, so it was like a miracle. They were learning what
God can do when people pray.
But Mary's thoughts were not often on the war. Lu-seng had said in his proposal that they would be married in a year or two, and she had replied, "In three or four years", but now, she was told, he wished to be married that autumn!
Fearful lest her heathen father change his mind, the date was set for November 13 th. There was no trousseau to be prepared, but the clothes for New Year could be hastened on, and for Lu-seng a pair of cloth shoes. Like all other Lisu, he usually went barefoot.
But from the Chinese, Village of the Olives girls had learned to make cloth shoes and beautifully embroidered sandals, which were the envy of other villagers. Lu-seng should have a pair of these. As little Mary was not especially good at sewing, she doubtless sought advice from clever-fingered Rhoda or Lydia.
STONES OF
FIRE From now on, according to native custom, the labour of making all Lu-seng's clothes would devolve upon his wife. So Mary, pleased with the prospect, as she had occasion to go back and forth through the village, secretly watched the married women cut out their men's clothes, hoping to get hints.
For about a month before the wedding Father Jiu had travelled north and south inviting his friends and relatives to the marriage.
This important role he enjoyed to the full, for he was allowed to invite as many as he liked, and he intended that the guestroll should be at least one hundred. Ifhe gave away his daughter for nothing, at least there should be a properly expensive affair, and a good audience to witness his generosity. Lu-seng, of course, must feed them all. The only drawback to this proud joy was that he had to tell everybody that there would be no liquor served. These Christians—well, you know that is their custom.
But Lu-seng says there will be plenty of rice and pork, enough to take some home with you—so bring a big square of cloth to wrap it in ! Of course, wherever he went Father Jiu had to stay overnight, and we can imagine the covert laughter as the old stutterer tried to expatiate proudly on the beautiful new house which was to be his daughter's. There were sliding shutters for the windows, which, of course, were open, glass being an impossible luxury, and Lu-seng-pa had a plan to fasten them against thieves. The board floors were held down by nails; in fact, the whole house was built with nails instead of being tied together with vine in the usual Lisu manner. The nails were the wedding gift of Ma-pa, whilst Ma-ma's gift, two cupboards, were large enough to do duty as beds, as well as being containers.
Father Jiu had lots to talk about. Lu-seng's desire for a large house was in order that church guests could have a good place to sleep both at Christmas time and for the present occasion. The wedding guests were to sleep on the new board floors which would accommodate over a hundred people. This was something new, being father-in-law to a man who did things so differently from anyone else. Then, he would end—everyone be sure and come
Back in Olives, Lu-seng was in a quandary. Whom should he ask to be his best man? This or that one might feel slighted if not asked, so finally he decided he would have no best man
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6l at all. Word was sent to Mary of this decision, but it was added that she could do as she liked about a bridesmaid. She too was having her problem. In Lisuland it is not customary to ask one's sister to be bridesmaid, so there was no difficulty about Martha.
(Second Sister had now been named Martha.) But there were Lydia, Rachel and others. One must be careful not to offend, because this was not just Mary's wedding. Oh no. This was
Lu-seng' s wedding \ So when the message was brought that Luseng had decided to go unattended, that relieved Mary. She would go unattended too.
It was really going to be an important affair. Ma-pa was coming over from Oak Flat for the ceremony, and bringing a distinguished Chinese guest with him—Dr. Wesley May, who had been trained in America and spoke English; he wanted to take their picture.
November 13 th dawned a beautiful day. Golden autumn lay upon the mountains. The rice had been harvested and the buckwheat was reddening in the fields. Blue skies overhead, snowy peaks to put a tang in the air, pine trees to lend their perfumed needles for a carpet for the chapel, and the wineplush flowers of buckwheat glowing out from between the cornfields, where the stubble lay a pale gold in the sunshine.
It was good to be alive.
Up in the centre of the village Lu-seng and his hundred guests were sending merry sounds down the village slopes as they fixed the bridal arch in place. In her father's hut at the bottom of the village Mary waited nervously.
It is Lisu custom for the bridegroom and his friends to come for the bride ringing a gong as they travel over the high trails. Her family then give them a meal, after which they return to the chapel in the bridegroom's village and the ceremony takes place. Being in the same village, there would be no feast at Mary's house, and Lu-seng, unattended, would go down alone for her. Hour after hour she waited patiently whilst her girl friends fluttered in and out with bits of news. None of them guessed the rea reason for the delay.
It was that Lu-seng who had so often lectured other young people as to what was the proper behaviour at a wedding, when his own hour arrived was suddenly seized
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FIRE with panic! He had a terrifying desire to run away! He kept making one excuse after another to delay that journey down the hill for his bride. He said that this must yet be done and that was necessary, until at length no subterfuge was left.
It was inescapable. A white man, a noted Chinese physician and one hundred guests—he must go through with it. So ten o'clock in the morning saw Lu-seng, his mouth firmly set, descend the hill to Father Jiu's shanty. Gathered near the doorway was a group of heathen who nudged one another, tittered and whispered.
Looking grim, the young bridgeroom entered the house, turned to the little bride sitting there timidly and said, "Let's go!"
Whereupon they started on the climb to the chapel, the man first, according to Oriental etiquette.
Thus it fell out, as so often in human life, that he who had lectured others on how to be married was nervous and fidgety, whilst she who had feared that her inexperience might lead to a faux pas sat trim and correct, answered in a sweet, clear voice easily heard, and was the most perfect bride the district had i seen But all things, even the embarrassment of being married in church, come to an end. Lu-seng, who afterwards told Ma-ma of this inward conflict added, "But as soon as the ceremony was over the joy returned! The rest of the day was gloriously happy
—it was only for that little while/ And thus two stones of fire were set together.
There is a common and fallacious idea abroad in young Western minds that God chooses two such lives for the one and only purpose of human happiness.
It would be wiser to acknowledge the truth that God, although He delights to give happiness, has also something much higher in view. The analogy might make it clearer.
The opal is usually cut with a smooth surface called en cabochon, but the fire-opal is frequently faceted. This brings out greater beauty in light and colour. To facet, each stone is set in a cuplike instrument called a "dop", and then they are rubbed against each other until the facet is produced. This is the work of a lapidary and requires great care and skill. For instance, the famous
Cullinan diamond took nine months to cut. God often does a .
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similar work with His stones of fire, if He sees that they warrant facets. And as the trials and pressure of two lives adjusting to one another, together with circumstances from without, are brought to bear on these two, do not forget the Master lapidary as He bends with skill and love and care over them.
•*'>•
War—as Diamond Dust DIAMOND dust mixed with oil is the only material used in polishing precious stones.
It is put upon fast rotating wheels called "skaifs"
(2,500 revolutions per minute) and the gem is held against them. In other words, a quick succession of hard, unconquerable particles pressed against the jewel will polish it. The spiritual counterparts, as God brings them into human lives, especially at certain periods, are sharp painful events that follow fast one upon another, all of them irresistible, cannot be pushed away, must be accepted and endured. When the skaif is removed, one sees the beautiful lights of patience, self-sacrifice and humility shining forth.
Mortals call it war.
Those who watch it from above, see it as the Master lapidary's diamond dust pohshing His stones of fire.
And now the greatest happiness of human life had come to Mary—a husband she adored, a comfortable private home and an ideal to work for together. The service of the Lord was a passion in both their young hearts. And the first thing on the horizon was the Christmas festival.
This was the first year that Village of the Olives were hosts to the church at Christmas, and it entailed a lot of work. Last Christmas there had been one thousand Lisu to the festival; this time the guerilla soldiers in the canyon would cause many to hesitate about leaving their homes, but at least hundreds would come. Much firewood must be cut and certain jobs of cooking, cutting meat, serving tables and so on, apportioned.
In previous festivals the eating arrangements had not been well organized, Lu-seng thought, and he had other ideas how to make everything go faster, taste better and occupy less time.
Nightly the little chapel meetings overflowed with youthful