War— As Diamond Dust 65
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vim and interest. They had asked Ma-ma to translate a new Christmas song which only they would know, and now they must practise it in four parts so as to be able to surprise the guests.
Also there were two more weddings to be performed Enoch to Sarah and Tychicus to Chloe. Pastor Luke had brought his family over for a vacation (although he himself taught them each night) and married the two couples. The village buckwheat also was still being harvested, and as each family helps the other,
Mary would be called on now and again for exchange labour, as previously promised. Also Lu-seng left his New Year's suit of clothes for his little bride to sew, and clever Elizabeth (Luke's wife) helped her with the difficult parts. That was Lu-seng's favourite suit; long after it was in holes he insisted it be patched again and again that he might continue to wear it.
Then there was Lu-seng's household, with whom Mary must now live and work. Lu-seng-pa, with his funny puns, was a gentle, kindly man that everyone liked. Lu-seng-ma ruled the home—except when her son was present. His abihty to talk, organize and think quickly was undoubtedly inherited from his mother.
It was her clever planning and bargaining which really supported the family. Older than all of them (she was sixty when Lu-seng married) she ran around and superintended everything like a young girl. Mary must now learn Lu-seng-ma's way of feeding the pigs and chickens, cooking a hot mash for the cow when it calved, making bean and pepper pickle (Lu-sengma's skill was famous; others came to buy her pickle) and a hundred and one other things.
Also there were Timothy and little John, Homay's son.
Timothy, Lu-seng's cousin, herded the cows and helped with the ploughing. Big-hearted Lu-seng-ma had offered to take in little John, but now that he was walking he was beginning to be a problem. His father was so often away on long preaching trips, and not being her own child, the kind woman was slow to discipline him, with inevitable results. Mary had to share in unpleasant situations which arose, but for her first few years among them these burdens did not weigh heavily.
That Christmas festival was pronounced the best ever held.
The new arrangements for eating and cooking had worked
STONES OP
FIRB well. To Mary had fallen the job of being one of the cooks, for that was easily the hardest and least popular. The stoves, merely holes cut in a bank of earth, supported a big iron cauldron of water, into which the steamer of corn was placed, the fire burning underneath.
It took hours to get done and the cooks must rise at four in the morning, standing in the bleak wind to watch that it did not burn. It was hard to get volunteers for such a task, so Mary accepted it, and she was the only one who never had to be personally called for that early rising hour. Her quiet loyalty to Lu-seng and his ideals was one of the beautiful colours in this little opal.
Just one thing happened to cast a shadow of warning about the year to come. Chinese soldiers arrived from Place of Action on the last evening of the festival, came to the platform and reminded the church that there was a war being fought, and that they should be loyal to China. (Some of the heathen tribes at the border had welcomed the Japanese.) But no one dreamed it was so close to them. A vote of thanks had been given to the village of the Olives and a suggestion that everyone would like to come again next year. But as it turned out, five years passed before Ma-ma was able to celebrate Christmas with them again.
To Mary the word "Japan" was unpronounceable and of the vaguest import. Her thoughts quickly left the ominous warning to prepare with deepest pleasure for the February Girls' Bible
School.
The three brides from Olives all were going—Mary, Sarah and Chloe: their husbands would escort them and carry their loads. Brother Three was away on a trip and Lu-seng had been asked to teach on the staff until Brother Three got back. Great were the expectations and plans, but when the day of departure came it was stormy, a snow blizzard on the mountains. To walk a day's journey in the rain in cold February might lead to sickness, for Lisu have no umbrellas or raincoats and would get soaked through. There was no help for it, they must wait until the weather cleared. How anxiously they prayed on Sunday but still the skies were leaden. Lu-seng had gone on ahead to help
Ma-ma with the housing and dormitory problems and Mary thought about him all day—how disappointed he would be that
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they had not arrived. Both were looking forward to this their first school together—Lu-seng was planning to help her make up her sermon outlines when it came her turn to address the big Sunday noon service at Oak Flat. Would she be able to go now?
Already the first Sunday of the school was passing—this weather could keep up for two weeks; it often did in February.
It was still grey and dark-looking, all the grand jagged mountain peaks were out of sight, covered by a blanket of low hanging clouds, and even the lower slopes had that dull, drenched appearance which is so depressing ; but the little band started out.
How pretty Mary looked as she came in that afternoon. Her cheeks were rosy from the exertion and happy anticipations, and her pearly teeth glimpsed in her shy smiles. Lu-seng met them in the church kitchen, and after shaking hands a spell seemed to have fallen upon him, so that he could not tear himself from Mary's vicinity. One excuse or another provided him with jobs near where she was, so that he could see her.
There was a new member of the staff this year, Eva Tseng.
Eva was a Chinese pastor's daughter who had come to help Mama in the house in exchange for lessons in Bible, music and English. She was to be on the staff of this G.B.S., teaching them knitting, an art entirely unknown in that part of the canyon at that time. The first evening, after service, the young husbands sat around the fire in the girls' dormitory shanty and chatted for a while. Eva, wishing to get acquainted with everyone, joined them. When drum taps sounded, they all dispersed and Ma-ma asked Eva what they had been doing.
"Oh just talking—all but Lu-seng. He was writing. He wrote 'Mary, Mary, Mary' in English—a whole page of nothing else What would he want to do that for?" Eva was mystified, but not Ma-ma. Love has to have an outlet, and little Mary, who by this time knew her name in English, must have been thrilled to see that page and to understand the silent tongue which felt no freedom in public.
It was her welcome to school.
Obstetrics and Mothercraft were taught for the first time that February. The influence of these schools was undoubtedly great. The Lisu are animists and are taught from birth that sickness is only caused by the bite of a demon. If you propitiate
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FIRE the demon by a blood sacrifice, then you will get better. To teach them that disease comes from germs which breed best in dirt and darkness means a mental revolution of all their thinking and attitude toward life. There is still much to be accomplished, but personal cleanliness at least has greatly increased, especially in some districts like Olives, as a mere comparison of photographs, new and old, shows. And the mixing with other girls from both sides ofthe canyon has had a broadening effect upon all.
After Closing Day Mary had to hurry home, for a new venture was about to be started. A two weeks' school for teenage boys, the cowherd class, was to be tried, and Timothy wanted to attend, so Mary must watch the cows until he got back.
That school for boys was not without excitement—indeed, the staff wondered if there could be a school at all ! Those days the heavy drum-m-m of airplanes overhead intensified the rumours that the enemy was now only two days' journey away; the postmaster had fled into hiding and the Post Office was empty. Would boys be allowed away from home under such conditions? Friends and families were saying that if the Japanese got any nearer the ferry boat would be destroyed, and then return home for those on the west bank would be rendered impossible.
Everyone knew that Chinese soldiers were already at the crossing awaiting the order to wreck the ferry. So assembling day was one of interest and ended in praise
—thirty-six boys arrived ! Full to overflowing, for the last two had to sleep on Ma-ma's premises—the two little shanty dormitories had no room for them.
What blessed days followed.
Outside Lisuland was at its loveliest—snow-capped peaks still dazzling white from newfallen snow, but golden sunshine pouring down into moist brown earth and the peach trees putting forth their delicate pink, a spiritual metaphor of new life. And into those thirtysix young hearts, moistened (so to speak) by opportunity and with danger, the Word of God was pouring, and even though it was only for two weeks, at the end these human buds seemed to have put forth tokens of resurrection life at work within.
A litde growth was noticeable in this one and that one.
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They were allowed a Closing Day programme too and Timothy won the honour of being elected as conductor of music for the occasion ! His marks were high also, so, as he sped home over the long, winding trails, he felt a new exhilaration and desire to progress which he had never experienced before.
Always he had sat in the shadow of Lu-seng's knowledge and ability, which was discouraging to one so slow. But that same cousin's careful tutoring had produced something not recognizable until Timothy got away from Lu-seng's brilliance and among boys ofjust his own age. Now he felt that there was the power of accomplishment within him, and when he reached home his tongue flew so fast that (Lu-seng told Ma-ma) no one else could get a word in edgewise ! We can imagine that happy fireside : those three Bible students comparing experiences wmle the ruddy flames threw rosy lights upon their joy.
Timothy's experience was an indirect enrichment of Mary's life. More and more now the ploughing and planting fell upon these two, and as they worked together they would review
Bible verses or Christian songs.
The year 1943, which had begun so sunnily, was doomed to end in trial unthinkable and never before experienced.
During the spring and summer the Chinese guerilla forces had pushed into Burma, but by the end of September the Japanese had compelled them to retreat into China. The Japanese, having won the friendship of the heathen tribes around the Burma Road, had gained the lower reaches of the Salween in consequence, and were reported advancing up the canyon.
It was toward the end of October that word spread one afternoon that soldiers were approaching the Village of the Olives itself. Soldiers of which side could not be known until they drew closer, but in any case it was bad news for the Lisu.
Silently and anxiously, those out in the fields or watching the cattle on the hills returned to their huts. As the long file drew within recognition distance, the word was shouted by the town crier, "Chinese soldiers will bivouac here. Ju-kwey-tsai and Bo-tsai-yi will cut grass for the colonel's mules to eat!" and so
STONES OF
FIRE on. Demur was not only hopeless but would breed trouble; silent glances from one to the other were eloquent and a small source of comfort.
Gradually the word leaked out that the Japanese had arrived at the other side of the mountain (which is
Burma) and another group were only two days' south in the canyon. This regiment of guerillas would camp in Olives, and since there were no other dwellings, take over the homes of the Lisu.
Up the trail to Lu-seng's fields rode the colonel. He dismounted at the sight of their new house, walked in, looked around, approved its cleanliness and space, and stated, "This will be my headquarters/ ' Scared and shy, little Mary slipped in and tried to gather up her bedding, books, clothing—whatever she dared—with bold Chinese soldiers looking on. Where should she take them? The colonel's aide-de-camp had taken over Thomas' shanty, so all she could do was carry her things into Lu-seng-ma's hut and stack them on top of the grain cupboard in the small granary which led off the one main room. Two soldier servants were already in that one room, overhauling Lu-seng-ma's pots to see which to use for cooking the colonel's supper. They brought practically no equipment, so just "borrowed" the Lisu's. There are no stores in the canyon from which they could be replenished, for the iron pots are carried by the Lisu from a Chinese town four days' journey away to the south; with the Japanese already on that road, there would be no possibility of purchase or travel even in the near future. Mary just had to stand helplessly by and wait until the soldiers leisurely cooked and ate a meal, and then her pots, unwashed, would be free for her to use. This was happening in every other shanty in the village. These soldiers were all heathen, which meant dishonest.
Their one brass tea-kettle disappeared when these men finally left, but that is getting ahead of our story.
The colonel said he was sorry, but this was war. He did add that he intended to see that his men behaved themselves and that if there was any stealing or dissatisfaction the Lisu should report to him and he would punish the offender.
That night as the little Christian group met in their chapel, Chinese soldiers stalked curiously in and sat down to look and
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listen. Most of them did not understand the Lisu language, so the young people were free to whisper and compare their trials.
"You've lost your house, Mary, haven't you? Are you going to move up to the caves or live with Lu-seng-ma? There are three soldiers in our small shanty and I will have to sleep on the floor."
"Two practically live in Lu-seng-ma's house, though," said Mary. "They cook for the colonel and we cannot eat until they have finished—they use our fire and our pots.
Lu-seng-ma, Lu-seng-pa, Timothy, little John and I, all have to live there."
"You've got the granary and the porch, when it is not too cold."
"Yes; we're making do.
It might be worse."
"Will Lu-seng go to Bible School and leave you in conditions like that?"
"If he wants to.
I promised I would never hinder him," and her young jaw set firmly even while she lowered her head quickly to hide the tears. She never broke that promise. "Passion held by principle."
That year of 1943 the R.S.B.S. had been split into three separate months of study, April, August and November. The reason was the birth of Ma-ma's little son, Daniel, in August; and the date for gathering for the November school was only four days away.
That night, after the soldiers had finally departed and the door was barred, Lu-seng-ma brought the question up.
"You can't leave us now and go to Bible school," she said to her son in her decisive, energetic way.
"I'm praying about it," he answered evasively.
"These soldiers aren't likely to offend Mary with the colonel so close.
He knows that Ma-pa loves us very much, and an offence to us would be sure to reach Ma-pa's ears. I'm more worried about the rest of the Christians—and the chapel. It is empty during the day and I saw soldiers eyeing it to-night."
"Well, we are in such danger and such inconvenience I do not think you should go," stoutly declared Lu-seng-ma, who adored her son and always tried to keep him near.
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"You're not in clanger with one hundred soldiers to protect you. And one less person in this small room would be one less inconvenience, ,, replied her invincible son.
"You go across the river and you might never get back!" wailed the disappointed mother.
And so silent little Mary knew that her dearly beloved had decided to go.
The next day Lu-seng's fear for the chapel materialized.
He found some soldiers pushing the benches together and spreading out their bedding. Then it was he made up his mind.
To approach that Chinese colonel was not an easy thing. No soldier dared approach him carelessly; they must bow at each step they took toward his august presence. But the colonel was living in Lu-seng's house, so, with much inward prayer, like Nehemiah of old, this barefoot Lisu lad asked for an interview with the great man.
"Well, Lu-seng, what do you want?"
"Sir, you said we might report if your men did anything untoward. Some are moving into our chapel. I am sorry, but we cannot let them have that. They are in our homes and using our things and we have said nothing, for we realize that this is war.
But our chapel is different. It is holy, the place where we worship God and the only place where we can gather for that purpose.
We use it every night."
"I will see about it." The colonel's words were curt and Lu-seng's face as he left the house was grim and set. As Mary went to draw water at the water-hole, she whispered the news to the other girls there, and soon most of the Christians in the village knew that their chapel was in peril, knew too of Luseng's brave request, and much heart prayer poured up to the Father all day. There was absolutely no place in their homes now to pray or read, and there were such constant trials. A spoon was missing from this house, a chicken had disappeared from that—things too small to report to the colonel, but someone must obviously stay in each hut all the time to watch what was done. For instance, while Teacher Thomas was away that next month, the soldiers occupying his hut took out his Bible notes of the years and tore out the pages, some from each notebook,
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to roll their tobacco into home-made cigarettes.
Such a loss was irreparable, as those notes were not in mimeograph, but hand written. Daily there was loss and grief and tension. The buckwheat was not yet cut; whatever would they do when harvest time arrived and they must eat early to be out in the fields at the first break of daylight, for days were shorter now?
The soldiers always would eat first. They must have the comfort of their nightly gatherings for prayer at least. "O Lord, spare our chapel!" was their inward cry.
That evening, as dusk fell, the chapel was speedily occupied.
Every Christian was present, and that meant an audience mainly under thirty years of age.
After the first song, the door was darkened by the tall form of the Chinese guerilla colonel, who stalked up the aisle to the platform followed by his interpreter.
Lu-seng silently stepped off the platform and left it to them.
"I have said to you, Villagers of the Olives, that I would do my best to be just and fair to you," began the colonel pleasantly, his interpreter turning it quickly into Lisu. "Now we all realize that this is a time of war and things cannot be as comfortable for anyone as in normal times. My men need housing and they would like to borrow your chapel here.
I am not going to force it, but I am going to ask you—all of you who are willing to lend us this house, which is empty during each day, for the time we are here, please put your hand up !"
There was silence while the colonel waited expectantly. Not a hand was raised. The colonel, somewhat nettled, thought his interpreter had not made it clear. "Put it this way. Everyone who is not willing to lend us your chapel put your hand up
Immediately every hand in the room was raised, the young faces scared, but set, the hands silent but determined. "Stones of fire."
The colonel was obviously chagrined, but he had trapped himself. He had said that he would not force it. He had been sure that they would consent, if only to curry his favour.
With grim countenance he answered, "Well, then, the chapel is yours.
I will give orders." And he stalked down the aisle and out of the' door.
Oh what relief ! Oh what praises to God, guarded and quiet,
STONBS OP
FIRB for Chinese soldiers were still at the back watching. So it came to pass that through the long months of strain which followed there was always the heart consolation, "At eventide there will be peace" ; peace in His presence, joy of fellowship, comfort of mutual consolations. Before long the colonel issued a second order. "The close of the Christians' chapel service is to be curfew for this village. Anyone found on the trails after the Christians have retired will be taken as a spy." His men watched all the trails into the village now, night and day, for the Japanese were only two days' journey to the south and a second group of them had reached the other side of the mountain on whicn
Olives lies.
With conditions thus, Lu-seng and Thomas set out for the November Bible School. We can be certain that somewhere, sometime, Lu-seng had had a talk with Mary. He had assured her of his love, told her of the Bible verse God had given him assuring him that she and the family would be safe until his return. So the night of October 30th saw Lu-seng and Thomas cosily esconced in House of Grace telling Ma-ma this thrilling story.
And now little Mary was left to the difficult task of life in overcrowded quarters, the buckwheat crop to harvest and many another trial. But He who has promised that we shall not be tempted above that we are able to bear sent her a consolation.
Her silent but shy, wistful look at parting had haunted her husband, and as soon as he had opportunity at Oak Flat, he typed a long, three-page letter to her and his mother, telling of his love, and ifhe had been wrong to insist on coming, to forgive.
It was signed, "Your worthless Lu-seng." She carried that letter tucked in her blouse next her heart all the time as she went about her work. He made mistakes sometimes, her impetuous, strongheaded boy, but he wasn't worthless. Oh no.
During the day the boom ofdistant cannon brought an anxious look to her eyes. She had never seen a cannon. They said that this one belonged to the Japanese on the Burma Pass, which was three days' journey away.
It must be a tremendous gun which could make such a big sound from such a distance. Of
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course, as a bird flies over the mountains it was not so far, but the Lisu never think of distance that way. Then the soldiers who cooked for the colonel told her that the Japanese in the canyon had retreated two days to the south, though the group on the Pass were still there, so she felt a little more easy.
About this time another matter brought joy and happiness.
Martha had also received a like-letter and old Father Jiu, after stuttering all over the village about losing two good-looking daughters to Christian husbands who would not pay him any dowry, at last consented. Manasseh, the prospective groom, was well off as Lisu go. He and his family were among the highest tax-payers in the village, and as he had been a Christian since he was small he was a clean lad, grown strong and tall. The wedding took place that autumn, and Mary and Martha were knit together in a new bond, which only grew stronger as the years passed. Manasseh was Lu-seng's first cousin, so the relationship was pleasant. Running into Martha's new little house, which was close by Lu-seng's, was a new experience and the days passed quickly and happily until Lu-seng should return.
But the sunshine of life was doomed to have many a cloud those days. Into Village of the Olives came a new menace in the person of a Chinese man named Tsao. He announced that he had been sent by the Government to open a school and teach
Chinese to the Lisu. The Chistians did not pay him much attention, because the Lisu church had opened its own school over at Oak Flat, but he was very active and went everywhere in the village urging the need of the knowledge of Chinese and trying to get students. With Chinese soldiers in their homes to whom they could not talk, the benefit of a knowledge of Chinese was felt, and Tsao's exhortations were certainly timely.
Into this situation walked Lu-seng on his return. How glad he was to get home to Mary! That morning he had arisen at dawn so as to be able to start out at the first streaks of daylight, and he had arrived by noon. One of the first things that met Lu-seng was this village talk of Tsao. He had noticed that no Christian came to study under him and he had deliberately set himself to win them. He invited them to meals with him and held up the opportunities of Government service to a Lisu who
STONBS OP
FIRE could read and write Chinese. He could get them free education in Tali city, he urged, if they would first come and learn the elements under him.
Now, ever since he had become a Christian, Lu-seng had thirsted for more education. Ma-pa and Ma-ma knew this, but they had also noticed that knowledge of Chinese was often a hindrance to a Lisu Christian. The feudal lairds immediately laid hold of such, pressed him into their own personal service, perhaps to keep their trade accounts, writing letters for law cases and so on, and that Lisu was lost to the Lord's work.
Moreover, those lairds' feudal castles were hotbeds of sin; it was a rare Christian who could live in that atmosphere without harm. Ma-ma had suggested that Lu-seng learn English as an approach for further education, but he had not made good progress. He did not know the discipline of study, would not bother to try to understand the grammatical constructions (of which the Lisu language has very few) and thought he should be able to get along with just memorizing nouns and verbs. He had become discouraged over English and was just ripe for Tsao's invitation.
The only time the matter could be discussed was late at night after the soldiers had had their leisurely smoke and retired. So it was on one of those nights that Lu-seng, poking the hot ashes out from under the blazing flames and popping corn in them, started on the subject that was closest to his heart. Lu-seng-ma and Lu-seng-pa were in bed, little John slept on the floor under Lu-seng-pa, and possibly Mary had retired to the top of the big wooden granary in the end room.
"I've about made up my mind to stop preaching for a while and study Chinese," began Lu-seng casually. Mary, from her dark corner, pulled the blanket off her face and listened.
"I cannot get anywhere until I know something more than Lisu. English has the most educational books, but I see now I am not getting enough to be able to read them. If I had more
Chinese," (he spoke a bit of trade Chinese already), "I would have the whole Bible. I can only have the Lisu New Testament now. Who knows when the missionaries will get the rest translated ? And if I knew Chinese, I would not be afraid to go
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to more distant places to preach. As it is now, with this war on, and soldiers on the roads cross-questioning you every few miles,
I dare not go afield.
I've been thinking it back and forth and I've about decided to drop everything and just concentrate on Chinese/ His mother was alert and listening now, too.
"Well, then you could do that right here in the village," she said, delighted at this prospect of keeping her beloved son close at hand. "Mr. Tsao would be glad to teach you."
"Yes," answered Lu-seng a bit impatiently, for he penetrated her secret thoughts. "But I would soon have to go off to Tali city, and that would be for five years. You have to promise to stay five years, and it would take that to really get Chinese ingrained into one, which is my desire."
Now his mother was awake for certain. She pushed herself to a sitting posture with those quick decisive movements so characteristic of her.
"Five years! O my son.
I'd be dead before you got back.
Remember, I'm an old woman—I'm sixty-two this year!"
A smile flickered over her son's face as with his chopsticks he dexterously flipped a popped corn into his hand and then into his mouth.
"But you're quite strong yet, Mother.
It is only ten days' journey away. Ifyou were really ill, I'd come home—they'd give me leave of absence for that."
The old lady moaned. "But you're married! You wouldn't take Mary with you?"
The silent little listener on top of the granary cupboard was also sitting upright now.
"No, of course not. There aren't any women in that school.
Besides, you need her help and she would get homesick for Lisuland. We would have to separate for five years. She is only nineteen now. We are both young. We belong to one another
—that is settled. We have no children. This is the time to do it.
In five years' time she will be twenty-four and I will be twentynine—just right if we are going to have a family. As I see it I must go now or never."
In the dark little granary Mary put her hand to her heart to
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FIRB hold quiet its loud beating. "We've no children." Was it really true now? Lu-seng did not know yet. She wasn't sure herself.
She could not be absolutely sure for several weeks yet. Oh what would she do? Not see Lu-seng for five years?
No sun in her sky for five long years? Oh how could she live.
She lay back quietly and prayed, "Lord, I promised I would not hinder his study. Oh help me ! Five years. O Lord, how could I live? But it is true—Oh I thank Thee—it is true that he belongs to me and I to him ; nothing can change that. Should I tell him about .
.? Maybe it would change his mind. Oh I dare not. If I were wrong, he would blame me always.
I'd be the one who hindered his education and—I promised, O Lord, help me to endure." "Passion held by principle." Long years afterward
Lu-seng spoke of his wife one night in these quiet words: "She had wonderful powers of endurance." But they were won by prayer, the gift of the Spirit of God. How the Lord must love
His little opals; hearts of fire held fast by clear, translucent stone. Deep in His pocket where no one can see. How His fingers must close around them and love each touch of them. And they too, when they quieten themselves, can feel His Hand. "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him
: and the Lord shall cover him all the day long." Mary was to learn through the tempestuous days ahead the quietening peace of the touch of His Hand.
Christmas was now rapidly approaching. To hold it in Olives with soldiers overflowing the place was impossible, even if permission could have been obtained for such large numbers to cross the river. So it was voted to have two celebrations. But a quotation from the letters of the time will make it clearer.
"December 29th, 1943.
It was the week before Christmas, a bright, sunny morning with hope and expectation in the air.
Suddenly Eva came running in, 'Ma-ma, go look !' she cried, 'Luchang is burning. Japanese maybe?'
I rushed outside and from the brow of a mountain on the opposite bank of the canyon to us a column of smoke was rising high; soon it was followed by a second column, then a third and then flames were visible. The town of Luchang is our county seat and the
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Japanese had been in its vicinity for nearly two months. Then as we watched, the roar of cannon belched forth and the fight was on.
"Previously the fighting had been low down, on the banks of the river probably, so the sound of it had reached us as muffled and far-away. But Luchang is on an altitude level with us, only a few miles away as the crow flies, and the firing sounded very close. The great rocky crags above us caught up the cannon roar and grumbled it angrily to one another until that belch of death seemed a continuous sound swirling around our heads.
It was rather awful.
"We wasted a morning packing for flight! Then, as the next morning greeted us with still more vivid flames from a third burning village, we wasted ( !) a second hour or so discussing where to flee
; then as everything has continued quiet ever since, and our side say the others have retreated, we wasted a third hour unpacking to stay ! Such is life in the midst of war.
"But that was the start of Christmas. As the river has been uncrossable except by military order, we had decided on two celebrations, one on this side at our village, and one on that side at Sandalwood Flat.
Unfortunately, both places are uncomfortably near to Luchang, so we wondered how many would dare to come. Brother Three has not felt strong since his rheumatic fever, so it was decided that Ma-pa take the festival on that side and Brother Three the one on this side."
Luchang is only a long day's journey from Olives. Some thirty-three miles? And news of its burning and the shooting was soon brought to Mary by the colonel's spies.
But the Chinese seemed to have been victorious, so Mary planned to go along with Lu-seng and other young people to Christmas at Sandalwood Flat.
They had a good time with the 120 others who met for that celebration. Lu-seng, of course, was watching for an opportunity to have a talk with Ma-pa over his new plans, and he found one time when Ma-pa was alone for a few minutes. Ma-pa was immediately alarmed as he listened to the eager young ambitions, but was too wise to show it. "Tsao is a heathen," he said
STONES OF
FIRE slowly. "I hate to see you have to study under such—and you would soon find their godless atmosphere intolerable. Why not come over to Oak Flat and study under the Mr. Yang in the church school? You would have to sit with the six-year-olds to begin with, but with your mind you would soon be far beyond them, and it would be good to start right from the beginnirj and get a proper foundation. Then when you have gone through all their readers you are ready for higher education.
We of the China Inland Mission have a hospital at Tali—you could take your five years of Chinese under us.
I think that would be better."
Lu-seng was delighted. He had expected Ma-pa to object!
Dreams of becoming a fluent Chinese scholar, of travel, of new knowledge, new experiences, thrilled him. He was gay and voluble all the way home as the little band from Olives went down the steep hillside together. Mary watched him anxiously.
She was beginning to know her beloved.
She had seen him talking with Ma-pa; then Ma-pa must have consented, or Luseng would not be so happy. Well, she would know to-night.
And so she did.
It was hardest for Lu-seng-ma. She knew she could never change her son once he had made up his mind, but she had hoped that he would be home for a year, studying under Tsao right here in her own village. Now he had said he must pack up immediately and go right over to Oak Flat. Lu-seng-ma groaned and sighed, but no one paid any attention to her. Mary was busy getting ready to go to Girls Bible School in February.
At least she and Lu-seng would have that month together in Oak Flat, he in the Chinese school and she in the Bible school, and he had promised to help her with her sermon outlines again for week-end preaching.
War news was not very good. The Japanese had returned to Luchang! But the Chinese guerilla soldiers were still in the village of Olives and Mary would soon be coming over for G.B.S., so Lu-seng started out for his new experience as a student of Chinese with an eager happy heart.
February 5th was the date set for the Girls' School to assemble, and Ma-pa sent word by soldier reporters that he and Lu-seng
WAR— AS DIAMOND DUST
would meet them at the river bank and see them across, for no one might cross without military permit now. Ma-pa had obtained that for all of them.
It was a merry party that set out.
Sarah and Chloe each had babies so could not come ; but Martha was coming for her first time, and Mary, Lydia and Rachel for their third time. Rhoda also came, and Anna, Miriam and Susanna—Olives girls in all were eight. Then they must wait at the river bank for Sandalwood Flat girls and those from Little Olives.
It was fun on the rocky shore waiting for all to gather. They could see Lu-seng and Ma-pa on the eastern bank and they hallooed back and forth. When they saw the ferry start out, they saw Lu-seng get in. "Is he going to row?" asked one. Yes, Lu-seng knew how to row and the boatmen were glad of his help, for the current was strong and it took all their might to swing the ferry out of it. Now the swift current ofmidriver had caught the frail craft and was whirling it downstream.
How the boatmen yelled and bent their strong backs to guide it over and through the swirling waters. The girls who had never crossed before were scared, but Mary and the others comforted them.
It is true that more than once the ferry had capsized and drowned most of those on board, but not usually at this season of the year. Soon the boat was approaching their rocks, a man in the prow with a hook on a long stick was holding it out to catch hold of a jutting rock, and then with a shout they were anchored.
Lu-seng was the first one out. He leaped from the boatside before it beached and landed on the soft sand. Then came the handshaking and Lu-seng's exhortations to the new girls.
"Wait until everyone is out of the boat before you try to jump in; then, when you do, be careful not to step on their oars or !" that will bring them bad luck Such a happy band and such a waggle of tongues. Everyone wanted to see Ma-ma's baby son. They heard he had red hair and just could not imagine what red hair was like on a human being! Lu-seng, who thought it pretty, had been allowed to give the baby a bath.
"Bath him—you mean spit water over him like we do?"
"Oh no," says Lu-seng. "He goes right into a zinc tub, under
STONES OF
FIRE It the water—all but his face.
It is warm water. Ma-ma has heated."
"Oh how cruel !" cried one of the girls. "The poor little fellow/ "Not at all," grinned Lu-seng. "He is not a bit scared. In fact, he loves it; kicks and splashes and cries when he has to come out!"
Then the tongues did wag, "He got a bath like that every day? And he did not catch cold nor get sick? Well the marvels of these white people will never be all told." No one noticed how steep the climb across the river was, that day. The white baby was a sufficient theme to take them all the way to Oak Flat.
Ma-ma took advantage of this new interest to continue lessons in mothercraft. The girls were brought in, three or four at a time, each morning to observe baby Danny have a bath, be dressed, and put to sleep by himself in a native basket under the shade of the gnarled old oak trees. No baby in that part of the canyon ever slept by himself, so it caused much wonder and comment. The value of proper feeding, sleeping hours, fresh air and cleanliness were pointed out, every single one of those items being an entirely new idea to them.
During these talks together Ma-ma definitely aimed at what St.
Paul termed "the transforming o£ your minds" and the casting out of heathen thoughts and attitudes often unconsciously retained. The announcement of the birth of a little one invariably brought titters from some girls and looks of shame from others. Both were definitely not Scriptural. Children are the gift of God and girl friends should not avoid a young mother as if she had done something wrong (which is heathen custom) but give her joy that God has entrusted her with a little life to be trained for Him.
To this end Ma-ma had composed words to the tune of "Sweet and low" based on "Where did you come from, baby dear?" turning the thoughts on the unspoiled purity of the little ones as they come to us fresh from God. This met with instant acceptance from Mary, whose secret Ma-ma did not yet know, but she could hardly have helped her more if she had known.
WAR— AS DIAMOND DUST
Putting the precious life on such a high plane, making it an ideal toward which one should reverently strive, was a deep and blessed joy.
But Mary received still another spiritual gift from this particular school.
First Peter the third chapter was being taught, and when it came to "holy women of old", Ma-ma had each girl take a different Bible character for Closing Day presentation. They must give at least one spiritual lesson from each "holy woman's" life, and to Mary fell the study of Mary of Bethany. The Bible Mary's quiet insistence that spiritual things come first in this life of ours was a new angle, also the importance of times alone with God just worshipping. She knew that Lu-seng made this a rule, but the value of it had not fully come home to her before. Martha had insisted that physical things a good meal for instance—were of equal importance, but Christ
Himself had definitely sided with Mary, saying, "But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen the better part." From this year forward this Lisu Mary chose the better part, and six years later the difference in her life and influence compared with other classmates, who did not persevere but soon slipped back into Martha-ways, was very marked.
"Let her alone; she hath wrought a good work," said the Lord, and it never fails to be so even to-day.
• • • The return journey was not sunny as the coming to school had been. A cloud had fallen upon Mary which had taken the smile from her face.
Lu-seng had had a difference with his beloved missionaries, had thrown up study under Mr. Yang, and gone back to Olives to study, where he could do as he liked. Mary was ashamed and worried.
She knew Lu-seng's impetuosity, but also his deep repentance afterwards when he came to himself.
It would be good to have him home, but she wished it had been under different circumstances. She did not know what the discussion had been about, and she knew that in the crowded little shanty at home, with Chinese soldiers about who now understood some Lisu, it would not be wise to discuss it or ask questions. Once more her part must be patient
STONES OP
FIRE waiting until it was all revealed to her. Perhaps now Lu-seng would give up the idea of going so far away from home? And her secret she could not keep for ever. Would Lu-seng be glad?
Or annoyed? And so she slipped back into her place in the life of that little farm home, inconspicuous, faithful, anxious to please, but alert for every sign that might tell her what was going on within her loved one's hot heart.
Lu-seng had gone over to Tsao, spending much time with him. At home he was short-tempered and his face dark; her loved one was not happy within; that Mary was sure of from the very first day. But he talked volubly about signing up to go to Tali for five years' training under the Government. He persuaded several others from Olives to sign up too; Jason, Manasseh, Gideon and others said that if Lu-seng went they would go too. They also were studying every day under Tsao.
Recently an honour had come to Lu-seng.
In the village elections for head man almost all the villagers, heathen as well as Christian, placed their hands on his head as token that he was the one they preferred! Lu-seng only twenty-five. Mary did not remember any other villager so young nominated for that position. He refused it, but carried his head a little higher now, and in her heart Mary was anxious for him. He was not spending the time with the Lord as he did.
Quietly and anxiously no doubt, she tried to help him by placing his New Testament near at hand, and in other ways made it easy for him to keep up that habit of early fellowship, which, if life was to be kept from taking a wrong side-path, was of first importance. Her own quiet time had to be at night after she went to bed. But morning, noon and night her heart was sending up prayer-cries for her dear one.
Two days after returning home she heard astonishing news —there were American soldiers at the laird's yatnenl The American army, long anxious to push into that front line of battle were deterred. Now, however, Ma-pa having suggested to the colonel that a medical unit be brought in, as the Chinese soldiers were suffering—even dying—from the dread malaria of the Salween canyon, the colonel had consented, and they were here!
A week later when Mary was returning from a long day in