A CAMEO OF CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 306, 26 December 1936, Page 13

A CAMEO OF CHINA.

(By. MBS. CONSTANCE M. PATERSON.) We had spent such a happy Christmas, my husband, the three children and I, in a small, out of the way town in China. There had been Christmas in the mission hospital, Christmas in the little Chinese church, Christmas in the schools, Christmas in our own home, and we sat round the fire at the cltfse of day, a little tired perhaps, but very happy. It seemed as if all our friends had been happy that day, from the little lame oirl in hospital, with her pretty new doll to the old lady of nearly 80 who begged for one like it. The very room we were in looked happy we had even got real holly, discovered with great triumph when out for a walk. Suddenly we heard a loud knocking at the gate of the compound. Who could it be at that time of night The large bolts shot back, the heavy gates creaked open, and soon came the sound of excited chatter around the gate-house. "Let's, go and see what's the matter,' sqid I, running out into the dark garden, followed by the boys. "See! See!" called the gate-keeper, holding his lantern, "come and see what's here." . . "What is it" said I, joining the little ■group at the gate. A pitiful little cry from a small bundle on the ,ground answered me. A baby!" I exclaimed. "Yes," said one, "a newly-born little girl." "Not wanted," said another. "Someone must have dumped her here, knocked, and run off," chimed 111 a third. "What's to be done" asked the practical gate-keeper. "What's to be done" Only one answer seemed possible to the children. "Oh, mother, it's Christmas. Let us have the baby, do." So mother, with a glance at their liappy faces and a thought of the Baby of Bethlehem, who had made such joy possible, picked up the forlorn wee mite and carried safely to the warmth and love. _ There was soon a busy scene in 10 nursery—the cradle to be warmed, the babv clothes collected, a warm bath prepared. All turned to and helped with a will. It took some time for our own youngsters to settle down, but at last peace reigned, and there lay the wai , and cosy in the cradle by my sic e. Many were my thoughts that nigl t. We found out later that the mother, in disappointment at the anna , I °, T_ n unwanted girl, had given orders .that siie should be thrown into the livei. -But the.one deputed to carry out this deed had thought otherwise and given the baby a chance by leaving her a 01 How the mother eventually repented and took her wee daughter homo again is another story. — (N.A.N.A.)