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Show with service and patriotism as its theme, and with cur Mrs, Heininger singing the obligate, the music was as sweet as it ever was in an American church. The graduates had composed an original song of farewell to staff and school, which I set to "Aloha Oe," and they were justifiably proud of their feat. One hundred potted plants, rented for the occasion, while not numerous as to blooms, made a pretty setting of massed greenery tor the graduates, hospital, staff, and speakers, on the platform, and the pupils just below. We marched in, Miss Jevne leading the women., and self the men., singing Onward Christian Soldiers, to that fine Gould-Pugh processional, that we used so much at Alexander-Chapman meetings, back m 1910. The number of invited guests more than doubled that of last year, there being over five hundredl in the church, showing the increased interest of the city people in our work. To the indignation of some, the presence of small children was prohibited ! but the orderly sacred service resulting was a delight. On the Sunday previous, at morning prayers, I gave the outgoing class the verse. "It is more precious to give than to receive," for their motto, red inking it in their new Btbies, a parting gift. I had just returned from my vacation, and this was my first service with the school. I was surprised, and touched, when voluntary consecration prayers were called for, as preparation for our fall work, to have a man nurse lead who was at the time under suspension for sleeping on night duty! ! Under the circumstances it could not have been ami easy thing to do, especially in view of the sensitiveness of this race under' so called "loss of face." Rules will never be kept under mere pressure of authority,-only when conscience and loyalty come to the fore can pupils combat with temptation. Four more nurses take their national examinations this December, and finish their course at varying times during the following year. They haunt my office this fall with lists of questions they want discussed in open class, that have cropped up, as they review the four years' work by themselves. Perhaps I shouldn't tell, but if I didn't who would ? I t isi said that probably one of the lads just graduated!, will hold the highest record in both practice and theory, of any nurse; taking the N.A.C. examinations this year. One of our' girls won this honor three years ago. She now is in Shansi province, a happy wife and mother. Mr. Juno- is head nurse in a men's hospital there, and she carries as many duties' of matronship in the women's side, as her home duties will allow. They were married from our hospital chapel, and a happier love match you never saw ! ! The missionaries at their station have written me what a lovely little mother Te Chih is, keeping her baby as sweet, and clean as an American child, "so that it is a' joy to hug her! !" On© of the most important items of news for this letter, perhaps; the most, important to the writer, is to report the coming to the station from a successful year of language work at Peking, of our new nurse, Miss Grace Jevne. She is a most welcome partner at Wee Hoose, (as our own especial quarters on the second floor of the private ward pavilion are called). Pier time will of necessity be given largely to language study this year, but she has begun to do her bit this fall with the nurses, in taking over the bandaging class, and in many another way, together with her "understanding sympathy and advice," she will lighten our burdens. The residence compound sees two empty houses open this fall with the coming of the Matthews and Eliises. The latter may be really termed "new-olds", as they were long at Lintsing, and now are just returning from a prolonged health furlough. We are glad to welcome them to the hospital staff. Mr. Ellis will temporarily fill the vacancy made when our hospital business manager left us, and be pastor for our sick men in the wards. His wife will do likewise to the limit of her strength in the women's wards, and as 1 laughingly put it, "look after my manners and morals." To be with her means to be better, and to hear her, whether in English, or 'her lovely Chinese, is to want to be more like that One of whctm. she tells so beautifully. Baby Alden Matthews and Jean Heininger make a lively span this winter. Frankie Tucker will have to seek a Chinese playmate! for Arthur has gone to Tungchow school, incredible as it seems. Margaret finishes High School there this year, and so can be big sister to our "Honey Boy." He is made of the stuff that thinks a heap, and says little, and that busy little brain same day will be a credit to the dear old man whose name he bears, Dr. Arthur H. Smith. William Tucker, dear lad, instead of going to Oberlin, as planned, is here at Tehchow, convalescing from an attack of infantile paralysis (I will not bore you with its technical name!) I t was a hard blow for him and all who love him, but we are prayerfully |
