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Show 47 REPORT OF THE LYDIA LORD DAVIS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 1914. Far up in the mountains to the northward " Received Virtue " worked during; the vacation days out in the potato-ratch which was to produce the money for her board" and school books, helping her mother in the home to make their coarse food, and ripping up the old winter clothes and quilts, and washing them in the village stream, all preparatory to leaving the aged father and mother during the winter days when she should be back in school. Can you see those glances of pride and joy that pass between the two old folks as they watch their only daughter draw forth her old school books and read or recite long passages in the long summsr twilight? Not only these two old folks marvel at the child who has nearly reached woman's estate, but the neighbors of the little mountain top village all share in the joy of her presence during the vacation days, and the little folks gather around to hear her tall of the wonderful school in the city. At last the day arrives when the few coarse garments, the round comb, the small looking-glass and the bits of bright cord-her hair ribbon are tied up in a big kerchief, that serves as our school girl's suit-case. No father or n other in a Western land ever sacrificed more willingly to give their daughter a chance. When she had all unconsciously said farewell to her mountains, to the two roomed house, to the shabbily clad little mother and the neighbo s gathered at her door she with her bundle and her father with her roll of bedding started down the mountain pass. The little mother watched the two figures out of sight, and then turned back to ponder over the difference between her own gir'hood with its agonies of footbinding, and this wonderful life of her daughter. She could only feast over the word pictures ,; Received Virtue " drew for her during the vacation for she had never seen the city or had anyone point out to her the beauty of the mountains in which she lived. She knew that cnly with careful measuring of the flour could she and her husband pass over the winter days and not suffer from hunger. But even into this shadowed life crept a ray of hope now, for wasn't there .he prospect that this child who had once seemed only a burden would one day become a teacher, and be almost as good ,o them as a son in their old age ? The father and daughter exchanged burdens as they walked down the path, but the exchange of words was few, for they were both pondering in their hearts the hopes of age and youth. At last they entered the city gate, and followed the north wall to the city compound. Footsore and weary they entered and " Received Virtue " went straight to the foreign teachers home to pay her respects and then ran light hearted to join the other girls who had already returned to school. This is the story of the coming of only one of our girls. Some came in cowcarts, some on donkey back, and some as our Shangta girls-packed like sardines in a Peking cart, glad to be back and eager to tell of their home days, some timid, yet soon finding their place in the new girls school. |