1 The Cotton lies on the floor A beautiful nest of white. A maiden chants "Mi to Fo," As she dries it in the light, All ready to feed, anon, to the ginning wheels' greedy bight. 2 Turns swiftly the spokes of the wheel, The maiden, musing the while. The hidden law of the reel She queries, the time to beguile, "Or busy or idle is life," and her face is o'er spread with a smile. 3 I draw, says the musing youth, Thro' the axles of wood and steel The lint by a silver tooth, As swiftly revolves the wheel. It builds as it falls, a snow white tower, on yonder side of the reel. 4 Could I thus build unto me A life as perfect and pure, The glory and fame would be Earth-wide and wont to endure; Like apple blossoms beneath the eye, as fair and bright to allure. 5 Like feather of down in the spring, So softly and lightly afloat, A fairy nymph dancing by rote, My hand and my foot, says the maid, alternate respond to the note. 6 My eyes must hold to their work, Nor body nor heart can now shirk; Though weary, the end shall make light; Thus steady and brave to the last, myself I thus urge and incite. 7 The cotton I gin to prepare, To thrum with the bow into fleece; The daily task is my care, Unceasing each fleck to release; That when the thrumming is done, without limit our gain to increase. 8 At last the snowy fleece lies, A white marble mountain, so pure A life all moulded like this, what holier, nobler, or truer ! 軋車轉撥撥 其中消息人自摸 規矩同軋手分勤惰 金木相交加 發輪長轉咬銀牙 細看來一座玲瓏塔 棉花緖成窩 地裏拾來念彌佛 晒乾了纔把軋車過 IN September 1854, the writer had the pleasure of welcoming the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Jenkins to Shanghai, the former on his return. to China, and the latter on her arrival for the first time. She was in the hey-day of youth, and full of life and spirit in relation to the work for which she had come out. It was pleasing to become acquainted with her, and observe the flow of soul and natural intelligence that marked her conversation and demeanour. She appeared to be a remarkable woman in this respect, and conjoined with her educational accomplishments, specially in the line of vocal and instrumental music, the well-ordered course of things in her own home, and the interest she took in what was expected to be the work of her life; all gave promise of eminent usefulness in the future. But even this was intensified in a high degree by what soon became evident in the matter of her deep spiritual convictions, not only her faith in Christ and love to Him, as her Divine Lord and Saviour, but her sense of union and fellowship with Him, as the animating principle of her life and character. She seems to have been imbued with this idea in early days, from her association with Christian friends in America, who professed and inculcated it in a most earnest manner, and as she thoroughly sympathized in it, so she urged it in the circle in which she was called to move. There are those still living who call to mind the earnestness of her appeals in this point of view, and which have left a deep and lasting impression on their whole moral being. From the first, she entered as much as possible into the work of her husband as a missionary to the Chinese, but owing to various causes, he was led to join himself to the American Consular Service, in which he continued for several years. This, together with his state of health and that of his wife, impressed the minds of many as an obstacle in the way of her development in spiritual things and religious work. She was thus for a time in a line different from what she had chosen for herself, and in which she expected to vie with such noble minded women in the missionary field, as the late Mrs. Judson of Burmah and others. When Dr. Jenkins died, she was during several months in a state of great spiritual depression, and went to America in the hope of meeting the Christian friends of her youth, and the change was blest to her in the restoration to health and peace and joy. On returning to Shanghai, she resolved on a plan of usefulness for sailors and others, who might be induced to come under her influence. The Temperance cause was then in progress, and furnished opportunity for her securing the object in view. Several connected with it were invited to meet together in her house, and this was the beginning of a great and good work, which was carried on most successfully for several years. She took the matter in hand, and conducted the services in a way most gratifying to those who attended them, as they proved also to be the occasion of blessing to many. She gave herself to this line of work, heart and soul, and was encouraged in it in a high degree, by the love and esteem of those who came under her influence, and by the success that followed her efforts. Certainly she showed a wonderful capability and adaptation for the purpose, and as she persevered in it, she was made to know that her labor was not in vain in the Lord. In 1874, Mrs. Jenkins became engaged to the Rev. Griffith John, of the London Mission at Hankow, whither she proceeded in due time. Her life there was thoroughly characteristic. She was then in an appropriate sphere, where she could devote herself to the work of her choice in early days, and she has left behind her, precious memories both among her fellow labourers and the Chinese. In the Chapels, the Hospital, and in the way of domestic visitation, she did what she could, while in the prayer meetings and other services held at home or elsewhere, her influence was powerfully and lovingly felt. As she was apt to teach, strong in her religious impressions, highly qualified in her musical talent, and otherwise well fitted for usefulness in the various duties of missionary life, all these elements were called into requisition and employed in promoting the work she had undertaken. While her health and strength allowed, she took an active part in the different services of the Mission, and was a great help to her husband in the conduct of them. Amid the engagements specially connected with the missionary work, she never abated in her interest in the Sailors; they were visited on board ship and invited to attend the meetings that were established on their account, and during her last visit to England, appeals were made by her in behalf of a "Sailors' Rest" in Hankow, which she was successful in erecting, and where the Sailors are in the habit of going and availing of the services held for their benefit. Many have been led to testify their gratitude to Mrs. John for what she has thus done for them, and date the beginning of a new life in their experience, to her instrumentality in this way. In the course of her stay in England a few years ago, she endeared herself to a large number of friends by her earnest and able advocacy of Christian work abroad. Gifted as she was by high spiritual, as well as intellectual power in this respect, and no less by a kind, gentle, and persuasive manner, she was called to use these to great advantage for the cause she had at heart, and her name will be long and lovingly remembered in many parts of the land. As to her bearing and deportment among European ladies in the foreign settlements, where she was well known, it required a sympathy of soul on their part to understand and appreciate her position, her sentiments and feelings. She had such deep and strong religious convictions, such views and experience of Divine truth, that she was ever ready to give such utterance to them, as to fail in attracting, where they might, as in other cases they did, prove an occasion of a saving blessing. Her Of late years she suffered much from ill health, but it was thought she had largely recovered from it, and till within a short time of her death, she was thought to be comparatively well. hour of departure, however, was drawing nigh, and a few days previous to it, she was confined to her room. Then she gave expression to her faith and hope in the clearest manner. Jesus was the name most frequently on her lips. He seemed very near to her, while she cried "Come, Lord Jesus." Hardly cognizant of the presence of those around her, she was heard repeating the word "beautiful," over and over again, as if she were already a spectator of the scenes on which she was about to enter. It could only be understood in this light. The heaven of which she had often sung and spoken, was now opening to her view, and she attempted to describe its surpassing loveliness in the language of the earth that she was just leaving. It was a comfort and joy to those around her dying bed, amid the sorrow they were otherwise called to endure. Her last words to her husband were "Don't fret, Griffith," and soon after, her redeemed spirit joined the great multitude before the throne. Such is the history from our point of view of our departed friend. Let us each in our way similarly follow Christ, serving Him with all our powers on earth, living in close and hallowed communion with Him, and looking forward to a still more blessed association with Him in heaven. The following resolution regarding Mrs. Griffith John was unanimously passed at the Committee Meeting of members of the London Missionary Society at Hankow, on the 8th of January:"Resolved, That the Hankow District Committee wish collectively to express to their senior Colleague their deep and heartfelt sympathy with himself and with Miss John, in their present sorrow and bereavement, and also their own sense of the heavy loss which the Missionary Body and the Native Church, have sustained by the death of Mrs. John. They pray that the recollection of the love and of the co-operation in every good work, which Mrs. John was ever wont to manifest toward her husband, may still encourage him in his work, and that the memory of her constant and earnest endeavors to spread the kingdom of Christ, may prove to every member of the mission a stimulus to a devotion like that which she herself displayed." |