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Fiuiilisincce.
DOCTOR APRICOT
OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
Zbc Stor^ of tbe
Ibangcbow HDebical riDisaioa (C.ni>3.)
BY
KINGSTON DE GRUCHE
Author of '* Beside the Red Mountain"
'^^ Edith Stanton's Opportunity "
MARSHALL BROTHERS, LTD
PUBLISHERS
LONDON & EDINBURGH
R. W SIMPSON AND CO., LTD.,
PRINTERS.
RICHMOND, LONDON.
'f'-'
YAVu.
FOREWORD
THIS story is written with the object of bringing the
Medical Mission work at Hangchow (" Heaven-
Below ") more prominently before the public in the
hope of arousing a keener and more practical interest in
the important and far-reaching work we have been
carrying on there during the last twenty-eight years.
It is written by a warm-hearted and enthusiastic friend
who was for some years in actual work among the
Chinese, and while in China visited Hangchow and made
herself well acquainted with the main facts of our work
and has ever since taken a hearty interest in it.
The incidents which are related as illustrating the
character of the work, as well as some of its results, are
actual facts, and are but specimens of the numerous
cases dealt with from day to day in its various branches.
It is hoped that the narrative of the work in this form
will interest many in Medical Missions, which are not a
mere adjunct to the preaching of the Gospel to the
heathen, but an essential and integral part of the church's
mission.
When we remember past years we are thankful for what
has already been accomplished, but there remains very
much yet to be done, not only in extension, but in con-
golidation, and we hope the readers of this book will
vi FOREWORD
encourage us by that form of sympathy which shows
itself in practical assistance.
We want more men and women to help us in the work ;
there is urgent need for all the buildings to be overhauled
(some rebuilt), brought up to date and fully equipped ;
and a large sum of money is required annually for the
support of beds, assistants, nurses, students, &c.
May God abundantly bless this book and grant that
it may be used to stir up some to consecrate their lives
to the work of the Medical Mission of which it tells, and
lead others who cannot themselves go to give of their
means to maintain and extend the work in this marvellous
day of opportunity in China.
D. Duncan Main.
Contributions for any of the above objects may be sent to
Dr. D. D. Main, c/o the Church Missionary Society, Salisbury
Square, London, E.C.
PREFACE
" A grain of mustard seed .... which indeed is the least of
all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and
becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the
branches thereof."
ABOUT fifty years ago a gentleman in Government
employ in India, an Inspector of Opium Manufac-
ture at Malwa, felt so pricked in his conscience
concerning his share in the traffic of opium, that he
resolved to resign his office and cleanse himself by
devoting the savings of his official career (something
over ;£'3,ooo) to the relief of opium victims in China.
In the providence of God this money came into the
hands of missionary workers in Mid-China just as a special
opportunity occurred of helping a number of poor
creatures thus victimised who desired to break the snare
which enthralled them.
This led to the establishment, ten years later, of an
Opium Refuge, at Hang-chow, which has expanded into
the splendid Hospital, with its numerous branch institu-
tions, where Dr. Main and his colleagues of the Church
Missionary Society, now carry on a most successful
Medical Mission ; like to the grain of mustard seed, which
grew until it became a great tree and a refuge to many
\vho took shelter under its branches.
viii PREFACE
The following story illustrates the work which grew
out of the above incident, and shows how the right action
of one man, over fifty years ago, led to the blessing of
many thousands in both body and soul.
The Chinese names of the European workers, as well
as the names of most of the natives, who figure in the
story, have been, for the most part, translated into
English.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Relates how the European doctor's olfactory organ gains new
experience during his first walk through the streets of
"Heaven-Below to the scene of his future labour. . . i
CHAPTER II
The new doctor begins work under difficulties, but decides that
each stumbling block must be made a stepping-stone to a
new hospital 9
CHAPTER III
Explains how Doctor Apricot succeeded in obtaining some funds
and then added to them by increasing his occupations. . 22
CHAPTER IV
The Hospital of " Universal Benevolence " has its foundation
laid with prayer, its walls rise with hope and its roof goes
on with praise 32
CHAPTER V
Gives some account of the opium trade with China and its
degrading influence on the people. The Honourable Li
gives his opinion and helps to provide means for enlarging
the Opium Refuge 41
CHAPTER VI
Explains why late hours are necessary though they beget
troubled days, with tears at midday and smiles at midnight. 48
CHAPTER VII
The consecrated home-life and home-joy acts as a " cheer up " to
a weary worker ; and Amah's message nerves her spirit for
fresh effort. 61
X CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIII PAGb
Shadow and sunshine visit the home and hospital, but by faithful
prayer to God above, and by the ceaseless work of man
below, the clouds pass, albeit homes are emptied and
graves are filled, ere the sun shines once more. . . 69
CHAPTER IX
Gives some illustrations of Chinese ideas upon the value of
human existence, and of the peculiar characteristic, which
shews itself in the losing of one's life in order to save one's
face 78
CHAPTER X
Shows how love and gentleness sweep away darkness and
superstition, and how young lives, begun in adversity and
sorrow, blossom into happiness and beauty when taken
into the Home 85
CHAPTER XI
Shows how the general working of the hospital has grown to be
a formidable undertaking, both practically and financially.
Tells also how the doctor's knee was massaged to the amuse-
ment of his wife, and how the doctor's wife was " warded " to
the anxiety of her husband. 95
CHAPTER XII
Gives some account of Chinese women, their social position, their
trials and sorrows ; and tells how Mrs. Apricot, aided by
some intelligent Chinese ladies, endeavoured to succour
them in their need 108
CHAPTER XIII
Contains some remarks on native doctors, and tells how easily a
man passes from a cook to a doctor, from a bottle-washer
to a druggist ; also gives some account of the Training of
students in Western Medicine ; and of a new treatment
which causes much astonishment to the natives. . .114
CHAPTER XIV
Gives some information concerning the Chinese opium reform,
and shews the connecting link between it and the affectionate
farewell accorded to Dr. and Mrs. Apricot on their return
home for their third furlough. Shews also the tree fully
grown. ^^9
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
D. Duncan Main
Dr. Apricot's House ....
Hospital of " Universal Benevolence," Hangchow
A Patient in Hangchow Hospital when he was eighteen
months old ....
A Group of Christian Lepers
Group of Patients ....
" Cock-a-doodle-doo," now Assistant Dispenser
Children's Home .....
Maternity Students ....
Seven Students Recently Graduated
New China. A Patient and Friend
Dr. Liu, Wife and Child.
"A great tree whose leaves are for the healing of th
(Chinese nation " . . , .
Frontispiece
FACIXG HAOE
ID
32
35
51
71
86
93
III
123
130
133
135
CHAPTER I
RELATES HOW THE EUROPEAN DOCTOR'S OLFACTORY
ORGAN GAINS NEW EXPERIENCE DURING HIS FIRST
WALK THROUGH THE STREETS OF ** HEAVEN-BELOW "
TO THE SCENE OF HIS FUTURE LABOURS.
THE winter day was drawing to a close when Dr.
Apricot and his wife were welcomed at the Mission
House in " Heaven-Below " by Mr. and Mrs.
Grey man.
After the discomforts of a long journey of many weeks,
it was some considerable relief to find themselves in the
city of their future work, albeit not yet in their own
home.
The cheerful fire and warm welcome accorded to them
by their fellow missionaries soon helped them to forget
the severe cold and other miseries which during the latter
part of their voyage had of necessity been theirs.
All things seemed very strange, nevertheless. The
large rooms, built for the great heat of the intensely
hot summer, struck the newcomers as cold indeed when
they were not in close proximity to the fire. The Chinese
men-servants in their long blue coats, and their warm
padded cotton-wool undercoats, looked fat and important :
with their shaved head and bland smile, long queue, and
dignified way of doing their work, they impressed the
new missionaries as wonderfully clever and awe inspiring.
They forgot for the moment that these servants had been
trained for some years in the routine they were now so
used to and more or less perfect in.
1 B
2 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
After a more than welcome wash, which had to take
the place of several ablutions which had been missed
owing to the severity of the cold and the lack of privacy
when travelling, the new arrivals returned to the sitting
room refreshed and hungry enough to enjoy the hospitable
meal which awaited them.
The English mail which had accompanied the Doctor
and his wife was perforce kept in the background by Mr.
and Mrs. Greyman, that they might play their part as host
and hostess to the tired travellers, who were glad to
shorten their evening by an early retirement to bed.
After breakfast the following morning, the Senior
Missionary begged to be excused while he went to inter-
view an importunate Chinaman, but when he was free
therefrom, he would b« at Dr. Apricot's disposal to shew
him the city of " Heaven-Below."
Mrs. Greyman also excused herself while she inter-
viewed her Chinese factotum and gave him the orders for
the day, he being the responsible person for buying
everything used in the establishment, as well as the cook
and general overseer of the other servants, when he had
spare time from his own particular duties.
So the doctor and his wife were left alone, and they
looked in each other's faces for a moment and read each
other's thought, which the doctor expressed by saying
with a smile :
" The letters don't come here every morning, you know,
Gertie ; we have left a morning post and daily newspaper
behind us for seven or eight years."
His wife was sitting on the fender trying to get warm,
and looked up at him :
" Oh, Charles, how funny ! Were you longing for
home letters too ? " she replied.
The shadow of something in his wife's face made him
say, " Cheer up, Gertie ! "
" Well, what shall we do ? " inquired his wife.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 3
" Let us be off to our rooms and unpack while we have
the opportunity," said the doctor, "for we shall probably
have to live here until we can speak the language
sufficiently to manage Chinese housekeeping for our-
selves."
They had just finished the unpacking and arranging of
their things when Mr. Greyman announced that he was
at liberty to shew the Doctor the Mission premises, and
especially the Opium Refuge which was to be the scene
of his future work.
The worst slums of Edinburgh, Liverpool, or London,
even thirty years ago, were paradise itself for cleanliness
and fresh air, compared with the sights and smells which
greeted the new comer in the slums of that Chinese city.
The older Missionary, now inured more or less to what
they were passing through, glanced round at the Doctor,
expecting to see disgust and discomfort depicted upon his
inexperienced face, but to his surprise he saw the new
recruit had his eyes very wide open, albeit a merry twinkle
lurked therein as usual, and his mouth severely shut, as
became a man who had just arrived with the latest
medical knowledge at his finger tips, and knew that
breathing such a loaded atmosphere, if it must be
breathed, should be through the nose, rather than
through the mouth.
I wish I could allow my readers a quarter of an hour of
these concentrated smells, that they might be able to
sympathise with the Missionaries who, " not counting
their lives dear unto them," go forth to live in the midst
of such conditions. But even if I could write the smells,
and even if a printer could print them, no publisher would
be allowed by our English Sanitary Authorities to publish
them, so I must try instead to describe the city streets
vividly enough to help people with an ordinary imagina-
tion to realize in some small measure what might be ex-
pected from such surroundings.
4 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
The city of " Heaven-Below " had a population of
nearly half-a-million. It had suffered much in the
T'ai-ping rebellion, and was taken by the rebels in
1862. Even in the eighties, the time when our story
commences, there were devastated parts of the city which
had never been rebuilt.
One waste area, commonly called " The crooked-large-
square-chief," must have covered some scores of acres,
having only an odd group of small mud huts here and
there.
Mr. Greyman gave the young doctor much historical
information of those never-to-be-forgotten times as they
walked along.
The name of " Chinese Gordon," as from time to time
it passed his lips, was evidently well known to the man
in the street, who would stop and nod his head, smiling
and saying, " Chinese Gordon. Ah ! Number one Great
General. Ah ! just so."
" And this is the city of ' Heaven-Below.' How vastly
below ! " the young doctor said to himself, as he followed
the senior Missionary often in single file through those
narrow streets.
The houses were of the usual Chinese style with curled
roofs ; the largest buildings, next to the temples, being
the Ya-Mens and the pawn-shops. In the latter, the
winter clothes of the majority of the inhabitants are
stored during the summer, and the summer clothing
during the winter.
Various shops, all open to the street, having no glass
fronts, lined each side of the narrow thoroughfare ; drains
(where there were any) were all open to eye and nose.
Men carrying pails containing sewage from the houses,
as well as other traffic, passed to and fro constantly ;
prisoners wearing the cangue {i.e., wooden collar) were
seen chained to the fronts of houses where they had com-
mitted some robbery for which they were thus punished.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 5
A man's head in a cage, hung up as a warning to other
evil-doers, looked and smelt ghastly in the sunshine.
Beggars, more filthy than any he had ever dreamed of,
knocked up against him in the crowd, or sat begging in
the more open quarters of the city, behaving more filthily
than he ever thought the human mind could have
conceived. Diseased people of every sort mixed freely in
the crowds ; open sores exposed to the cold and dust and
microbes, made him think of the Dublin jarvey who,
when asked to explain why doctors used formerly to send
patients to live on the banks of the Liffey, where the
odours were so dreadful that people in good health could
hardly endure them, said, "Ah! sure the smells is that
bad they kill all the germs."
Little children, maimed and lamed, seemed to fill any
crevices not already filled with adults ; and the streams
of people pushing and jostling one another were only
varied, and that for the worse, when sedan-chairs were
carried by, and the impact of the crowd increased.
The Church and Catechist were first visited, and the
young doctor heard how the original church had been
destroyed and the Mission work abandoned for a time,
and that the present building was opened in 1871.
Not being able to speak to Mr. Tse, the catechist, and
his small son, " Fragrant Lily," Dr. Apricot smiled and
bowed after the manner of Mr. Greyman, and patted
" Fragrant Lily " on the head. Mrs. Tse had not
expected visitors and hid herself, not having time to put
on the glory of her many-coloured best clothes.
Then they passed through more narrow dirty streets till
they came to the Opium Hospital or Refuge. This was
a small two-storied building having four wards in which,
small as they were, fifteen to twenty patients had been
treated at a time during the seventies when a resident
medical man had been in charge for a few years, while
some three or four thousand out-patients had been treated
6 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW"
annually in the room used below as a dispensary during
that time. The doctor had been obliged to return home
about three years previously on account of his wife's
health, but the return was, alas, made too late to save her
life.
So here was the little building, empty it is true, not over
clean, also, but when put into good condition as regards
the latter point, to what possibilities would it lend itself?
What would that building and its future occupants
become as a factor in his life ? thought the new-comer.
And as the young doctor, in the freshness of his first
zeal and consecration, stood looking at the sphere of work
he had come out to, and for which the devil suggested to
him "he had left what would have been a lucrative career at
home," he quickly repelled the evil suggestion by there
and then, in his own heart, reconsecrating himself to God
for the upraising and helping of the poor people among
whom he had come to dwell.
Mr. Greyman looked at his silent companion and wished
he would overflow and speak of his desires and aspirations
for the work ; but Dr. Apricot having much power of
discernment, saw that it would not only be premature on
his part to speak of alterations, but that his doing so
would probably prejudice him in the eyes of the older
workers who for so many years had been bearing the
" burden and heat of the day." " Time enough," thought
he, " when I feel my feet under me, and have climbed
some way up the Great Wall of the Chinese language,
which at present separates me from so many thousands of
my fellow-beings." " By my God must I leap over this
wall," he thought, adapting Psalm xviii. 29 to his present
need.
How long he stood there on the narrow path between
the frozen shrubs, gazing at the small building before him.
Dr. Apricot could not have told anyone. Mr. Greyman
had moved away to speak to a passer by, and when he
DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " 7
returned Dr. Apricot was making an entry in his note-
book.
" When can I begin the language ? " asked he of the
Senior Missionary.
" To-morrow morning — we have secured teachers for
both you and Mrs. Apricot. You can read on the verandah
outside your own room, a table and a couple of chairs will
have been put there to-day, and Mrs. Apricot had better
read with her teacher in the dining-room between break-
fast and tiffin (lunch), where she will be warmer."
When they returned to the Mission house, they found
the ladies had gone to see a Biblewoman who was in
trouble, and had not yet returned. They all assembled,
however, in time for " tiffin," as the midday meal was
termed.
In the afternoon the other Missionaries living in the
city came to be introduced to the new-comers, some
remaining to the evening meal and later still to evening
worship.
They all fell in love with the pretty bride with her blue
eyes and fair wavy hair, and wondered how the pink roses
in her cheeks would wear in the hot months of the coming
Chinese summer.
One lady, in sombre garments and an equally sombre
face, as gently as she could without as she trusted hurting
the young bride's feelings, " hoped all her dresses were not
so pretty ; for work among the heathen, the plainer the
material and make the better."
How little any of those present at all realized that a
new type of Missionary had arrived upon the scene, who
would introduce, not a different Gospel, or a new way of
salvation, but a more natural — healthily natural — life, a
more energetic outdoor life, more home-like than had yet
asserted itself in their midst. And who present that after-
noon could anticipate the new world of interest, medical
and religious, that would develop under the hard
8 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
work and indefatigable zeal of the new doctor and his
wife.
When at last they reached the privacy of their own
room, Mrs. Apricot and her husband exchanged confi-
dences.
"They are excellent people, Gertie, but need a little fun
to make them more natural."
" Oh ! Charles, how like you, and I have been admiring
them so much, and wondering if I could alter my dresses
and flatten my hair to look more like dear Mrs. Greyman,"
replied the young wife wistfully.
" Now, Gertie, leave your little head alone, and wear
your clothes just as they are, they suit you better so.
Think how it will rest me coming in from the sights and
the smells of my work to see my bright little wife sweet
and fresh as she always is."
" But, Charles, do be serious," she began —
** My beloved, I am as serious as I can be. Don't
worry your mind about these things, be the bright,
happy little woman God made you, and do the work that
falls to you in your own way, and in time your influence
will tell in its o^^ n line. It would not be natural for you
to be like Mrs. Greyman. She is an excellent missionary
and has her own sphere of influence which she exercises
in a way natural to her." " We must belong to the
'Cheer Up' Society from this day forth," he said, "a
secret society of our own."
" How like the Chinese, Charlie," and she laughed
softly — " I was told to-day China is honeycombed with
secret societies, and you are here only twenty-four hours
and have already started a secret society of your own."
CHAPTER II
THE NEW DOCTOR BEGINS WORK UNDER DIFFICULTIES,
BUT DECIDES THAT EACH STUMBLING BLOCK MUST
BE MADE A STEPPING-STONE TO A NEW HOSPITAL.
THE first three weeks had passed swiftly away for the
doctor and his wife ; each day had been filled with
some hours of language study, and if at times the
Chinese language seemed like an impenetrable wall be-
tween them and the natives, and their hearts seemed
to sink within them, the doctor would cheerily rise to the
occasion with some fun or jest and they would sit down
again more hopefully to the next lesson.
One day when a mistake of tone in saying a word
created some momentary merriment at the expense of the
doctor, he joined in the laugh as heartily as any one
present, and a moment later asked, "When do four p's
in succession lead to a fifth ? "
As no one could at the instant reply, he continued,
" By perpetual prayer and patient perseverance, pro-
ficiency is attained even in the Chinese language."
" Good ! " said the Senior Missionary " that is exactly
the spirit to maintain and you will wrestle through
in time."
The dispensary and small hospital were during these
weeks undergoing a thorough cleaning preparatory to
re-opening.
The house occupied by the last doctor who had worked
the hospital, was now occupied by a Missionary and his
9
10 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW
wife who were removing in a few weeks to an out station
further inland.
It was thought wise however that before the dispensary
was opened Dr. and Mrs. Apricot should take up residence
in the house in the medical compound. And as house-
keeping is so differently managed in China from house-
keeping at home, it was considered a good plan for Mrs.
Apricot to add to her Chinese study Chinese housekeep-
ing, that she might have less difficulty when the menage
would be under her own control.
As the language was his primary duty Dr. Apricot only
opened the dispensary twice a week, and the small
hospital wards above it were again opened for a few
Opium cases and some general cases, which it otherwise
would have been no use treating.
Mr. Steadman, their host, a kind brotherly man, acted
as interpreter, and Mrs. Apricot acted as nurse and
dresser to the women, and the out-patients.
After the spring day which saw the departure of their
host and hostess for their new sphere of work, the doctor
and his wife felt indeed alone. The servants who had so
far waited upon them accompanied the Steadmans to
their out-station aforementioned and some raw Chinese
young men, for a very small wage, agreed to come in, and
keep the house clean and make themselves generally
useful.
The cook, " Obedient Service," who had been highly
recommended by someone in the Mission, thinking the
young couple would take for granted all he did as correct
and proper, took advantage of their lack of the Chinese
language and inexperience of the country, and added to
their difficulties in numerous ways.
Ultimately " Obedient Service," having frequently
proved himself (i/sobedient and untrustworthy, was dis-
charged, and for a short time it seemed as if their
difficulties were increased.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" ii
At last an out-patient, who had quickly recovered from
some small wounds through the surgical help rendered
him by the doctor, heard of their need for another coolie
and offered to come and do his best.
" Arrived-late " (for such was the man's name) was a
willing, good-tempered, and obedient fellow, and must
have been born a cook, for he learnt so quickly and so
well to prepare European meals that he became a great
authority on English cooking among the servants of the
foreigners, and was for many years the reliable friend and
servant of the doctor and his wife. Much responsibility
has to be put upon the head-servant in a mission house
where both master and mistress spend all their time
doing the work of Him Who sent them. Chinese
servants are of course utterly raw and ignorant of
European ways and methods to begin with, but if
pains are taken at first to teach them firmly and kindly,
no better servants ca,n be found than they turn out
to be. The necessit}^ for cleanliness and tidiness, both
in their person and in their work, has to be taught.
Still, all things considered, the doctor and his wife were
often astonished how soon these difficulties were over-
come, and with what faithfulness their own servants
served them.
The Dispensary work in the mornings, though very
light during the cold weather, increased as the warmer
weather came by leaps and bounds, and became a very
formidable undertaking. As many as 200 or 250 out-
patients would crowd round the gate, long before it was
time to open the dispensary.
As the hours of those hot mornings passed swiftly
away, each individual was interviewed by the doctor,
his case diagnosed, prescriptions written, or dressings
ordered, all of which were attended to by the doctor's
wife and the native assistant, under the doctor's super-
vision. He was thus training his wife and the Chinese
12 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW "
helper, the former having a gift for doctoring and nursing,
and the latter showing much aptitude for copying any-
thing he saw done in the way of dressings, and having
developed the grace of obedience, a charming and
essential quality in a beginner, which was no doubt much
appreciated by the doctor, whose hands were more than
full at this time.
And to one and all of the motley crowd the Gospel was
preached by the catechist. No one passed in to the
doctor's room but through the waiting hall, where the
catechist faithfully expounded the truth as it is in Jesus.
General patients were cured ; by operation sight was
given to several persons who were blinded with cataract ;
others almost sightless through ophthalmia had their
vision cleared; many lepers had their sufferings alleviated,
though they were not cured. A dumb patient, whose
tongue was tied and who could have been relieved, failed
to come for the operation, otherwise one might have
added, the dumb were made to speak !
So many and great were the wonderful cures which the
Chinese beheld that on more than one occasion they even
brought their dead, as if to try if the great Western
doctor could raise them to life again.
Accommodation was appallingly meagre ; the odours
from the dirty people who thought it wise to wash their
bodies only on the seventh day of the seventh moon,
and from dirtier clothes, foul diseases, and malodorous
wounds, in a temperature of 93 degrees in the shade, can
hardly be imagined.
The work proved most exhausting, and as the heat
increased week b3Mveek, each day as it passed determined
the doctor that new premises must be available before
the hot season of another year. And great as the work
was which each dispensary day brought, it only revealed
to him the inadequacy of treating serious cases as out-
patients.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 13
" Heaven's First-born " was such a case. The doctor
after careful diagnosis prescribed, and the medicine was
made up, then he himself began instructions.
" You are in much pain, brother."
" Those words are true, much pain is my misfortune."
" You would be better lying down."
"Alas! my bed is in the cooking apartment, and the
smoke of the fire makes me cough the more — can the
foreign doctor not keep me here ? "
" Very sorry, but the beds of the hospital are full ;
I have no room for you."
" My heart is sad, and my body full of pain, can the
doctor not cure me ? " whined the patient again.
" Yes, yes ! I understand and am very sorry," replied
the doctor. " Now cheer up ! We must both try ; you
must be sure and take this medicine as I tell you. Here
it is — take it three times every day. Every day three
times."
"Just so," answered the patient, " but there is so little
here. Can I not have a bigger bottle ? "
" No, there is enough in this bottle for two days, come
back on the third day," said Dr. Apricot.
" But, doctor," argued Heaven's First-born," " that
man has only been a few times to hear the good doctrine,
and I have sat many times, yet he has a bigger bottle of
medicine than this one ! "
" That has nothing to do with the medicine," Dr.
Apricot replied once more. " His bottle is to wash the
sore on his leg with ; yours is strong medicine to take
internally, i.e., to drink. Now slowly, slowly walk away,
and take the medicine after food three times a day," and
the doctor smiled to himself.
"Is it not funny?" he said in English to his wife,
" that poor man thought the longer he listened to the
preaching the more medicine he would get. I fear he has
gone off now with the idea the more preaching he listens
14 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW"
to, the more efficacious (the stronger, I mean) his medi-
cine will be ! I hope he will not be disappointed."
Late in the afternoon of the same day the doctor was
sent for to see a patient who was taken much worse, and
thought to be dying.
He hurriedly rose from his reading, dismissed his
teacher, and went quickly with the man who had
brought the message.
It turned out to be " Heaven's First-born," who,
having taken his first dose of medicine, and feeling some
good result as he thought, decided if a little was so
beneficial, how much more quickly would he recover if
he drank a bigger dose, so he had taken the other five
doses intended for two days, and was now feeling the
effects.
Not unprepared for such a contingency, the doctor had
put an emetic in his pocket, and promptly administered
a dose which quickly relieved the sufferer. This incident
impressed upon him the absolute necessity of a bigger
hospital in which to receive serious cases as in-patients.
Two days of incessant rain and the doctor awoke one
morning to find the world a new place to him, the heavy
thunder of the previous night had cleared the atmosphere,
and a glorious day, fresh and cool, greeted him.
Not being a dispensary day he set off early to see his
private patients, who for the benefit of his medical help
were willing to pay fees, which he welcomed in so far as
they could be devoted to the extension of his work.
While the doctor was away two women were brought
to the hospital by their husbands from a distance, having
each of them the same complaint, and having come from
the same town called " Beyond-the-Stream," some thirty
miles away, and yet neither of them knew the other.
Mrs. Apricot went to see the new-comers, and found
both were suffering with ulcerated legs in a very severe
form. Her first business was to put them into beds in
DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " 15
the women's hospital (as the three unsavoury looking
rooms were called), which contained seven beds appor-
tioned to the severest cases among the female patients.
It was divided from the men's hospital by a short distance,
and had its own little dining-room for the patients. The
necessary kitchen and outbuildings completed its possi-
bihties in the direction of a hospital.
Having taken over the charge of these poor helpless
women, she proceeded to inquire what had brought them
so far from their home as " Heaven-Below." She was
informed that their husbands had heard of the wonderful
cures the Western doctor was making and had made on
other sick folk in " Heaven-Below," and they thought
they would see if he could cure their wives.
They had been brought in native sedan-chairs to the
hospital entrance, and then carried by their respective
husbands on their backs from there to the hospital ward.
When the doctor returned Mrs. Apricot had already
washed and prepared the patients for him to see them.
Mrs. Dang was suffering from an ulcerated leg of the
worst description. It was so offensive that no one could
be persuaded to go near her to render her any assistance,
so Mrs. Apricot with her usual patience and faithfulness
washed and attended the patient and dressed the poor
leg, which even with a plentiful supply of carbolic and
Condy, was a most repulsive performance.
" How old are you, mother ? " asked Mrs. Apricot.
" Four tens and a half have passed over my head,"
she replied, to Mrs. Apricot's surprise, for the woman
looked much older, probably owing to the extreme pain
she had suffered.
** Have you any children ? " asked the missionary.
** No, lady, all are dead, and our people are dead. I
have no one but my husband," replied the patient.
" Who attends to you ? " then asked the missionary,
wondering who could bear the awful smell.
i6 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW
" Only my husband. He is a tailor, and has to do the
cooking and washing and cleaning as well. I am a great
trouble to him. Do you think the great doctor will cure
me ? " she asked pleadingly.
" Your leg is exceedingly bad, little mother ; the bone
is exposed from knee to ankle. I dare not say you can be
cured the way you mean," replied Mrs. Apricot, kindly.
With the good food and special cleanliness and tonics
the woman's appearance soon changed in a remarkable
manner. Her very expression altered. During her
ministrations to the poor woman Mrs. Apricot passed
the time telling her of God's love and of the salvation
Jesus came from heaven to earth to bring.
Mrs. Dang became greatly interested, and loved the
gentle lady who so tenderly cared for her comfort and
spoke such marvellous words of the God who loved and
cared for her.
" Too good to be true words," she said.
With the other cases now in the wards and the
assistance she gave in the dispensary, Mrs. Apricot had
to secure the help of a native woman as nurse. She
proved, however, not of much service, and positively
refused to help Mrs. Dang. In time, probably from the good
example set by Mrs. Apricot, and having fortified herself
by stuffing orange peel tightly up her nose to prevent her
olfactory nerve from exercising its proper function, she at
last was willing to attend on Mrs. Apricot during the
process of dressing the leg. Finding her precautions so
successful, she vainly begged Mrs. Apricot to avail herself
of the like benefit !
One day, Mrs. Dang, having listened most attentively
to her kind and gentle nurse as she explamed the great
importance of prayer, begged to know " how it was at all
possible she could pray, seeing she could not kneel
down ? "
" Man looks at the outward appearance, Mother,"
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 17
answered Mrs. Apricot, "but the loving God looks at
the heart. If your heart prays, God will hear, for He
knows you cannot kneel down."
She was much comforted by this assurance. " Teach
me then to pray, lady," begged the patient, which Mrs.
Apricot most willingly did, feeling from the evident
sincerity of the woman she was groping her way towards
God.
Meanwhile her leg did not improve, and when her hus-
band came after six weeks to see how she was getting on,
he was much disappointed.
The doctor interviewed him, and told him that only
amputation would save her life. But to this he would
not listen ; and while both he and his wife were very
grateful for all the kindness and care she had received,
they said "Good-bye," and left the hospital, both of them
in tears.
Mrs. Ma, who had arrived the same day as Mrs. Dang,
was a more robust woman in appearance, and had not
been suffering with ulceration for so long a time.
Hence when the doctor saw her, he gave some hope of
her ultimate recovery.
In a few weeks her leg showed unmistakable signs of
healing ; the constant purification of it had not been in
vain. To hasten her cure, the doctor decided to graft
new skin on the leg.
Although considerably afraid, yet she allowed the
doctor to take a little nip of skin from her arm for the
first graft. When Mrs. Apricot looked round for the
nurse she had fled, being so afraid she might be asked for
a little skin also.
Mrs. Apricot assured her she also was going to give
a graft off her arm, and when she saw this done, the
nurse tremblingly held out her arm for the third graft to
be taken from her. Shutting her eyes as tightly as
possible, she exclaimed while it was being done : —
C
iS DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
"God, God, God," trembling all the while until the
bandage had been securely laid over the little raw place.
As the doctor wished to teach his wife for future cases
how to nip, he now had a graft taken by her from his
own arm, and the fifth she took under his direction from
the arm of the assistant.
In two days' time, when the leg was once more looked
at, the progress proved most satisfactory. In a few weeks
it was completely cured, and she was able to return to
her own home.
She was not so ignorant of divine truth as Mrs. Dang,
as she had frequently attended the mission-hall at
" Beyond-the-Stream," the out-station from which she
came. Still, during her stay in hospital, she was more
personally and definitely taught. She became so much
in earnest as to ask for baptism, but it was thought
wiser to delay her a few months for still further instruc-
tion.
Her absolute faith in prayer was very beautiful, and
it was no uncommon thing to find her kneeling up on her
bed in prayer when the nurse or doctor came into the
ward. She learnt the Lord's Prayer, hymns, &c., her-
self, and taught them to other patients in the wards.
What truth she herself received she endeavoured to pass
on to others. Her husband turned out, on inquiry, to be
a catechumen at his own home, and shortly after she
returned to " Beyond-the-Stream " they had the joy of
receiving baptism together.
One thing leads to another, and these women coming
from the small town of " Beyond-the-Stream " led to the
doctor going from time to time for a day's dispensary
work there.
A few months after Mrs. Dang returned home, on one
such visit of the doctor's, he was surprised to see poor
Mrs. Dang carried in in a large flat basket in a very
exhausted condition to the dispensary.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 19
" Your leg is very much worse," he said, after looking
at what was by that time even more foul and loathsome
than it had been before.
" Can you do nothing, doctor ? " the husband asked.
" Nothing at all, except remove it altogether, and that
I should be afraid to do now, she is so very feeble," he
replied, sympathetically.
They told him that they had both become willing he
should operate.
But again he objected, saying he " could not take the
responsibility."
They pleaded so much that finally they prevailed with
him to undertake to remove the leg, and in a few days
Mrs. Apricot received her again into the ward.
The weather was still extremely hot, and the distress of
having such a case in such close proximity was indeed
great.
The operation was obliged to be deferred for a week or
more, as the patient was too weak to undergo the shock.
While tonics and nourishment were being freely poured
into the poor woman's body, spiritual food was being
freely given to her soul, and she frequently expressed her
faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of her sins, and
asked for baptism.
The day before the operation she was baptised, and
early on the following morning Mrs. Apricot ran across
the compound thinking to cheer and encourage her for
the awful ordeal before her.
To her surprise " Received-Love " (as her baptismal
name was) was as bright as possible.
" Do you feel fear, little Mother ? " Mrs. Apricot
asked gently, taking her hand.
" Only a little ; the good God has strengthened my
heart," the patient replied.
" Praise God for answered prayer," said Mrs. Apricot,
fervently.
20 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
This was by far the biggest operation which had yet
been performed ; and the doctor may be forgiven if he
felt nervous as he thought of the microby operation room,
no certificated anaesthetist, only a clerical missionary, to
give the chloroform, while his poor wife had to attend
to the patient and hold the leg to be severed.
In three-quarters of an hour the poor woman was com-
fortably in bed, and the result had to be waited for.
When she recovered consciousness her sense of relief
was intense. The operation was a complete success. The
patient rapidly recovered her strength ; indeed in a few
months she was much stronger than she had been for
very many years.
A wooden leg was made by the carpenter under the
doctor's direction and soon adjusted ; she was taught to
walk, and learnt to such good purpose that in a short
while after her first lesson she walked over a quarter of a
mile to the big Chinese church, to openly thank God for
her recovery and make her public confession of faith, and
to be received into the church as a member of Christ.
" It's no use, Gertie," said Dr. Apricot, when the
operation was over, "we must really write home and
represent matters strongly to the committee and ask for
funds to build a decent healthy hospital. We can do
much more work in a much better way if we have suitable
buildings and appliances. Besides, it is not healthy for us
to be shut up so very long with such foul smells. We
are sent out here to glorify God by our life's work, and we
must do it as far as possible under the healthiest con-
ditions we can get in such a land as this."
" I feel I shall not be able to go on much longer if we
don't get better buildings," she said, gently, " I have
not been so well lately."
" Cheer up, we will write and ask for funds, and we
will pray to God to touch hearts even now to provide the
funds to meet our request when it reaches home."
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 21
He kissed his wife's tired face and went at once to
write the letter.
The letter, when it was written, " was spread out before
the Lord," as one did in olden time and as the saints of
God have done many a time since, and God, who loves to
be trusted by His children, answered the faith of His
servants then, though they knew it not " till many days
hence."
CHAPTER III
EXPLAINS HOW DOCTOR APRICOT SUCCEEDED IN OBTAIN-
ING SOME FUNDS AND THEN ADDED TO THEM BY
INCREASING HIS OCCUPATIONS.
" X^HARLES, the mail has come in, do come as soon
I as ever you can, and let us read our letters to
V-. gether" ; Mrs. Apricot had put her head through
the half-open door of the dispensary.
There had been a larger crowd of out-patients than
usual, and it was past the ordinary time for the doctor to
have returned to his Chinese language study.
The temperature was over ninety-five degrees in the
shade and the waiting room was still full, though the
verandah was almost empty ; yet as the doctor looked up
at her eager face and knew how she had been longing for
her home letters he felt reluctant to disappoint her. If
he sent her back to read them alone the pleasurable ones
would only be half enjoyed, she had such a child's heart
this wife of his : and if there was bad news, she would
bear the brunt of it alone, before he could return to share
it with her.
" Come and help me, Gertie, many of those are simple
cases, which you know well, they are to be dressed the
same as usual. We shall get through them quicker if we
do them together, and I am very late as it is this
morning."
Mrs. Apricot had not been allowed in the dispensary for
a few mornings, as with the cases of sick women in the
22
DOCTOR APRfCOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW" 23
small ward, she had had her hands quite full in doing their
dressings and ablutions, in addition to her home duties.
In course of time the last patient was attended to, and
the last greeting was returned, and the doctor was told
" his goodness was so great and his compassion beyond
expression," the patient " had no words to describe it,
that he would live to a very great age and have dozens of
boy-children of his own."
And the good-tempered man, as he washed instruments
and smiled at the departing grandmother, devoutly hoped
these latter blessings might escape him, unless a salary
equal to the occasion came with it.
** There, that makes two hundred and fifty this morn-
ing— we really must have more air, and bigger waiting
rooms when we get our new hospital, it almost finishes
me," and the doctor wiped his head as he put on his sun-
hat and took the sun umbrella from his wife's hand to
hold it over her as they crossed the compound to their
own home.
" Charles, you must change first, your clothes are wet
through with the heat, it really is not safe for you to sit
down as you are ; run up and change your things and I
will sort the letters before you are downstairs again."
*' Now," she said, when refreshed by a rub down and a
dry change of raiment, the doctor looked a little less like a
boiled lobster, " home letters first in this pile, those are
from the Society, and this pile from strangers."
They read on for some time, at last she exclaimed,
" How delighted they all are about baby ! I knew they
would be, and what lovely things they are sending for him.
But oh, Charles, the sweet little blue silk socks will be
months too small for wee Ronald when they get here, and
they have quite forgotten he is five months old now."
" Well, cheer up, Gertie, you can give them to a
Chinese baby. They need not be useless."
" As if I should indeed," she said in indignant tones,
24 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW
" and his own dear grannie knitted them for his own dear
little feet. You couldn't expect that, Charles."
" Well, my child, you shall do as you like with them,"
he said, rising. " That is the last of the home letters,
and I must be off to see the European and American
patients now, there are a few down with fever and other
ailments. We will do the other letters after tiffin."
The doctor was into his chair and the coolies picked
him up and were out of sight with him immediately, and
Mrs. Apricet sat down to her Chinese reading with her
teacher.
After two hours steady study she dismissed that gentle-
man and ran in to look at baby Ronald, who was awake
and beginning to take notice of things in his baby fashion.
Sending Amah to get her midday meal, she played with
her child until seeing his little eyes heavy with sleep, she
put him back into his cradle and lifted up some little
garment from her basket and began sewing.
When the noise of the chair coolies lowering the chair
came up from the verandah below, Mrs. Apricot hastened
down to her husband, and Amah returned to her post in
the nursery.
At tiffin the doctor was in high spirits, all his patients
in the Mission houses were going on well. He had a new
patient at the Arsenal, and two important Chinese officials
had sent for him while he was out. Three big houses had
also sent messages that he was wanted : a child was ill in
one house, another was a young man, the disease he did
not know, and the third was a mid-wifery case of a
stubborn nature, so he must go off again at once and would
not be back for some hours.
" Poor Charles, you do have to work hard, and in this
temperature, too," said his wife, who could hardly touch
any food, the heat was trying her so much.
" What about the letters ? " she asked presently as the
doctor helped himself to some juicy lichi.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 25
" They must wait until I get back, but I don't know
when that will be. Be sure you lie down and rest, don't
wait tea or dinner for me if I am late. If you have time
get your letters ready for the mail, and finish my home
letter, you will find it begun. Don't worry about me ;
cheer up, and kiss my son for me. I have no time to look
in and see him. Now, good-bye, sweetheart, take care of
yourself," and in another moment Dr. Apricot was off again.
The chair coolies had let down the blinds of the chair,
so, though his wife watched him start away, it was no use
to wave her usual farewell.
She ran upstairs to look at baby, and found him still
asleep; Amah had tucked in the mosquito net safely to
keep off flies, and was fanning patiently beside the cot. If
she stopped for a few moments, great beads of perspira-
tion stood on the baby's face, head, hands, and arms.
*' I think lady much better go sleep all same as baby ;
this day too hot, lady look very tired," said the woman, as
she looked in her mistress's face.
** I think I will," replied Mrs. Apricot, and closed the
netting of the crib a little more securely, and then turned
to go to her own room. The shutters were closed to keep
out the sun, and she lay down on a long native cane
chair and closed her eyes.
In a very short time a great noise of shouting and cry-
ing was heard as from the little hospital or dispensary at
the other end of the compound, and in a few minutes a
knock at the door told her she was wanted.
** A woman had taken poison," the hospital coolie said,
** and was quite unconscious, indeed she looked nearly
dead."
So there was no time for rest, and Mrs. Apricot went at
once to try the usual antidotes found useful in such cases.
But alas ! when she heard how long the poor creature
had been unconscious, she realized there was very little
probability of her recovery, which proved to be the case.
26 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW "
The story was not an uncommon one. Ah-sing had
been displeased with his wife, and scolded her, the
" mother-in-law's fist," proverbially heavy in China, had
maintained its reputation, adding only fuel to the fire,
and the woman had, by taking a large dose of opium,
effectually ended her earthly troubles. But my readers
must not think all this was coherently explained in a few
words. It was only after much difficulty that this
pitiful story was pieced together, for the noise of crying and
scolding went on while all Mrs. Apricot's efforts were being
put forth on the poor creature's behalf, and although
entirely unavailing, there was no sorrow evinced by
the relatives ; only indignation at the mean way the
poor ill-treated woman had revenged the wrongs she
felt at last too heavy to be borne. At last, when some
amount of quiet could be obtained, the husband, who
had arrived late upon the scene, asked :
" May I leave the body here until night-fall, that the
coffin may be brought after dark to take her away,
lady ? "
"Yes, he might do that," Mrs. Apricot answered.
" Would she permit his mother and her aunt to remain
with the body ? " he asked anxiously, for in his mind was
the oft repeated rumour that the efficacy of Western
medicine was due to the fact that it was made of the
contents of the human stomachs of those who died in the
hospital, or were otherwise got hold of for the purpose.
Permission was willingly given, and Mrs. Apricot re-
mained for some time trying to make the two women
realize the sin of allowing " angry passions to goad a
young creature like that to take her own life."
But nothing of this feeling could be produced in the
mind of either relative. What they did think of was the
expense of the funeral, and later on the further expense
of buying a new wife for the now wifeless husband.
At last, leaving the Biblewoman to try and succeed
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 27
where she had failed, Mrs. Apricot passed once more
across the compound to her own home.
" Arrived-late," her cook and general man of affairs,
quickly made her some afternoon tea, and, placing it on
the now shaded verandah, she sat down to recuperate her
tired body before writing her home letters.
As she sat there taking tea alone, a couple of sedan-
chairs were carried across the compound, and very soon
Mrs. Greyman and her husband joined her on the
verandah.
"How is the good doctor?" began Mr. Greyman,
" busy as usual, I suppose."
" Yes, indeed," replied the doctor's wife, " we have not
had time to read the letters yet, except of course our own
home ones."
" Ah ! then you have not heard some good news. When
Doctor Apricot returns tired and worn out, while he gets
some food, advise him to let you read him the remainder
of his letters," he said kindly, noticing the young wife's
weary looks.
" How is the baby ? " asked Mrs. Greyman. " I hope
he does not feel this terrible heat too much for him."
" Baby is such a treasure, I must fetch him for you to
see, as soon as I have given you some tea," Mrs. Apricot
answered, her face lighting up as she spoke ; " and he is
so well, I am glad to say."
As soon as she had done her duty as hostess, she
ran off and fetched the baby, and then, as was natural,
a little baby-worshipping went on. Little Ronald
crowed and laughed in such a pretty way that for a
time he wiped out the sorrowful scenes she had so lately
been through.
After baby had gone back to his Amah, Mrs. Apricot
told them of her experiences since her husband had left
home, and they quite realized what a fatiguing day she
had passed through ; so, as soon as they could, the kind
28 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW »
people took their leave, begging her to try and rest a little
while before her husband's return.
She had, however, the mail to prepare, so as quickly as
possible she sat down to her writing.
A noise on the verandah roused her, and two Chinese
women nodded and smiled back at her.
*' Lady, have you leisure ? " asked one.
" Truthfully no, I have not," thought the lady, but
second thoughts quickly followed the first, and she
remembered these were some " of His other sheep " whom
she must try and win for Jesus the Great Shepherd, so
she rose up saying :
" Leisure, truly, if I can help you. Pray sit down."
" I have an ulcerated leg, lady," answered the younger
woman, " and a neighbour of mine came to you early to-
day, and you gave her much cloth and good medicine and
she has sent me. Will you heal my leg, too ? "
So Mrs. Apricot took them down to the dispensary and
did what she could, then invited them to come again in
two days, and returned to take up her writmg once more.
As she sat down and dipped her pen in the ink Amah
came in with baby. " Could the lady carry baby for a
while, and she would get her supper," she wanted to
know.
So taking baby to the nursery she undressed him,
sponging him and putting on his little night-gown ;
she then gave him his supper, and when he slept laid
him in his crib once more.
On Amah's return, she ran off to change her dress, for
the exertions she had just been through had left her
clothes damp upon her shoulders.
" Now once more for those letters," she thought, as she
went down to her writing table.
Alas ! for the best laid schemes of mice and men !
Before she reached the table she discovered the lamp was
smoking and the room filled with the consequent smell of
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 29
its having done so. It was the work of some time to have
it rectified, and then supper was ready, and as the doctor
might be some hours yet, she sat down to her soHtary
meal.
When one eats alone a meal is soon over, and as Mrs.
Apricot went once more back to her writing, she began
to feel that sickening weariness that warns one the last
straw has almost been reached.
Still the letters must be done. She sat down and
dashed off a few short notes, finished off" her home
journal, took up her husband's letter and added a few
lines and closed it ; then from sheer exhaustion she leaned
her head on her arms and dropped asleep.
An hour later she awoke chilled through, the wind had
sprung up, and she had been sitting in a draught.
At that moment Dr. Apricot's chair was put down on
the verandah.
" I am sorry it is so late, Gertie, but I am both tired
and hungry ; come and talk to me while I have a meal,"
he said.
He ran off to wash his hands, while " Arrived-late "
brought m the doctor's supper, and his wife wrapped
herself in a shawl and carried in the letters to read
to him.
Out of the first she opened dropped a cheque for £1,700
towards the new hospital from a liberal bequest left to the
Society for work in China.
The letter of permission to build and other instructions
were read. Both weary missionaries rejoiced so at the
good news and felt so " lifted " with joy they forgot their
tiredness and the troubles of the day and became quite
lively.
" Why, Charles, it has picked you up like a tonic," she
said, and he answered briskly,
" I must begin my plans to-morrow and secure that
waste piece of land." Then another letter was opened
30 DOCTOR APRfCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
and another " cheer up " was given by the promise of a
subscription later and most probably a few more to send
with the writer's own, " but how was it to be sent ? "
" We will soon write and tell them, won't we,
Charlie?" she cried cheerfully, "but will this be enough
to pay all expenses ? "
" Oh no, I fear not, but I mean now to appeal for help
out here from Chinese officials and the Europeans and
Americans both here and at Shanghai, and the fees I get
for attending these good people will help to keep us going
after we once get started."
" But, Charles, you won't be strong enough to keep on
like this?"
" Not like to-day, but every day is not as busy as this
one or as hot, thank God-"
" Now we must have prayer and thank God for all His
mercy this day and for answered prayer in sending these
funds, ay ! and the paying patients, too — for that also
means money for the relief of these poor suffering
people."
Then they went to look at baby, and Mrs. Apricot at
last had time to tell of her own busy day and ask after
the latest patients her husband had seen, and they
rejoiced that the poor woman had come safely through her
peril to the relief of herself and the thanksgiving of
her husband, seeing that the baby when it arrived
was a boy.
On his way to bed the doctor got out of his private
drawer the plans he had drawn up for his hospital and
looked longingly at them.
" Well, we shall have it all in time if we have patience,"
he murmured.
It was twelve o'clock as he wound up his watch ; he
noticed he had been up nineteen hours, and on the rush
all the time. Yet even so this energetic doctor said to
himself — " I will rest three or four hours, and be off early
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 31
to-day to treat about that waste land, for now we can lay
our foundations and begin to build, seeing I have not only
a prospect of funds for building, but by working hard at
my private practice I shall have funds to enable me to
keep it going to some definite extent." No wonder he
slept peacefully the sleep of the just !
CHAPTER IV
THE HOSPITAL OF "UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE" HAS ITS
FOUNDATIONS LAID WITH PRAYER, ITS WALLS RISE
IN HOPE, AND ITS ROOF GOES ON WITH PRAISE.
THE duties of the European doctor had now greatly
increased on every side. So much was his medical
and surgical skill appreciated that the natives often
said his deeds were like miracles and their mouths could
not speak for astonishment.
A native gentleman, who was an in-patient in one of
the private wards for some time, pressed a gift of money
($ioo) upon the doctor for his work, saying, " I have
heard of one of my own countrymen being sick using his
money for the benefit of his own country's poor people,
but never have I before heard of a man leaving his own
country and going to a foreign country to work beneficent
deeds. I have been lying here watching you, and I see
you help the poor and rich people all the same fashion.
This is very surprising."
Fortunately for the doctor, the medical student was
progressing so satisfactorily in his training that he was
now of real service to him. It was well indeed that this
was so, for even with the help of student and wife it
takes some hours to see and prescribe for over 280 people
in a morning, and that in a high temperature, inconvenient
buildings, and lack of up-to-date materials.
The doctor, while not neglecting his ordinary hospital
duties but by lessening his hours of rest, had now the
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 33
responsibility of architect, head builder, general overseer,
lecturer in theory and practice to his students, general
practitioner in the city and to the American and other
missionaries, while his practice among the more wealthy
Chinese was extending every year, and his influence was
felt throughout the city.
This being the case, it will not surprise my readers to
know that when in the month of October the day of the
laying of the foundation-stone actually arrived, Chinese
officials and gentry as well as Europeans, missionaries,
and native Christians all assembled to see the ceremony ;
and the services of thanksgiving were indeed the out-
pouring of grateful hearts, for all the missionaries at
least felt the impetus and blessing the medical work had
brought to the Mission.
In May of the following year the new hospital was
opened, and every one who by this time knew and loved
the good doctor, and had been blessed by his ministra-
tions, mustered upon the premises to congratulate him
and wish him good success in his future work.
Foreigners, from the Consul downwards. Mandarins,
and lesser officials, city merchants, and natives of every
class and distinction, Missionaries, and native Christians,
a goodly company indeed, were gathered together.
As the work had been planned with prayer, and the
walls had daily risen with renewed prayer, so on this the
opening day prayer and praise mingled and intermingled
in the special services of the day.
When the opening services were over Chinese fireworks
were heard going off in the garden below. Long streams
of these crackers tied to long poles are always let off by
Chinese at any special time of rejoicing ; and this was
not to be any exception, for was not the opening of the
hospital of " Universal Benevolence " a thing to be
greatly rejoiced over ? And amidst all the noise large
lacquer boards, having Chinese characters upon them,
D
34 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW"
*' grateful testimonies from recovered patients," were pre-
sented to the doctor and hung over the doorways on the
verandah of the new hospital.
Then the usual hospitalities suitable to such an
important function had still to be got through before the
friends departed.
Officials, English, American, and Chinese, were received
by the smiling doctor in the waiting-room of the new
hospital and served with refreshments by clean-coated
Chinese servants in the usual ceremonious way due to the
occasion, while all the ladies, English, American, and
Chinese, assembled in the drawing-room and on the
verandah of the doctor's house, and his wife there dispensed
afternoon tea in her own kind way.
During the last three months the old hospital had been
closed for alterations, there was therefore a great in-rush of
people who had been waiting for medical or surgical relief.
The new building was a large, commodious one, having
two stories and a basement for storage. There were four
general wards and ten private ones, able to take in seventy-
five male and twenty-five female patients. There were
besides dispensary, consulting-room, office, waiting-room,
chapel, and reception-room.
Meanwhile such parts of the old hospital as had not
suffered from wind, weather, and white ants had been
rebuilt for the accommodation of more opium patients, with
the needful kitchens and offices.
One of the first cases to be taken into a private ward
in the new hospital for women was Li-T'ai-tai, who
brought her little boy and had to stop with him while he
was under treatment. S-pao ('* Fourth Precious One ")
was a delicate little fellow, and gave them some anxiety
during the first few weeks.
How quickly Mrs. Apricot became, not the kind lady
doctor alone, but the loved friend of Li-T'ai-tai ! Their
common motherhood drew them together.
T,i faie p. .3.5,
A Patient in Hansrcliow Hospital when he was
ei)rhteen months old.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 35
Often sitting on the verandah in the cool of the day
gazing across the city of " Heaven-below," to the distant
hills, Mrs. Apricot, with her own baby in her lap,
would tell the old sweet Gospel stories to the Chinese
lady and her little boy.
" And we can bring all our troubles to Him," asked
Li-T'ai-tai, "this great God, He cares for us, even women !
it seems too good to be true. I cannot understand it."
** No," replied Mrs. Apricot, " that is quite true ;
it is so wonderful, and so comforting ; we cannot under-
stand such goodness and such compassion, but it is all
true, T'ai-Tai. Do not forget it, when you leave here,
remember that the God we foreigners have come here to
teach people about loves us and wants us to love Him.
He wants us to be happy, and we cannot be truly happy
until our hearts have learnt to know and love Him."
In course of time S. Pao recovered, and he and his
mother, with their attendants, returned home. Whether
the mind had grasped Divine truth was doubtful, but the
story of God's love had been faithfully told, and the result
had to be left for the future.
Many of the patients were chronic cases of all the usual
diseases, but their souls were of equal value and interest,
although the bodily sufferings of one might be greater
than those of another, and to each and all the salvation of
Jesus was proclaimed.
Four of the patients about this time accepted the truths
of Christianity, and after due preparation were baptised.
One woman who was blind could indeed praise God for
the light of the glory of God which had penetrated her
dark soul.
Another of the patients at this time became an earnest
Christian, and having no home claims and showing
unusual intelligence was trained as a nurse to help Mrs.
Apricot in the wards.
She was indeed a Dora, or gift, and became a true
36 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW
helper to many of her native sisters both physically and
spiritually.
Having now one reliable nurse, Mrs. Apricot watched
for other suitable woman whose hearts God had touched,
and began to make them useful in the wards as scrubbers
and cleaners, intending to advance them as they showed
aptitude for rendering more personal service to others.
One evening while Doctor and Mrs. Apricot were
resting after a ceaselessly busy day, and were playing
with Ronald, now grown a lovely child nearly two years
old, a call came for the doctor to see a patient who had
just been brought into the waiting-room.
It turned out to be a case of cut throat. Mrs. Dong
was a young girl newly married, who had quarrelled with
her husband and then in a fit of temper had cut her
throat.
When Dr. Apricot, with Mr. Pao's assistance, had
sewn up the throat and safely bandaged the wound, he
sent for Mrs. Apricot and Dora, the nurse, to get her
settled in one of the private wards.
The following morning, while washing her preparatory
to the doctor's visit, the young patient confided the story
to the kind-faced English lady who waited on her, in the
following way : —
" What made you hurt yourself so badly ? " asked Mrs.
Apricot, kindly, as she ministered to the young bride.
No answer. " You might have lost your life," continued
Mrs. Apricot.
" I would not have cared," came in a dejected tone
from the patient.
*• You are but just married ; are you not happy ? "
" Ah ! no, that is the reason. I had seen another, who
wanted me in marriage, and then I would have rejoiced ;
but it was fated otherwise, and I am not willing to live
with my husband, I cannot be happy with him. Why,
why ! are our customs so hard, that we must marry to
I
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 37
please our parents, and, as the custom chiefly is, to the
one who will pay most dowry for us ? " answered the
patient in low, heart-stricken tones.
The opportunity thus given, Mrs. Apricot, in her sweet,
gentle way, spoke on wifely duty and a power greater
than our own which would help us to do what was right
even when most difficult. Then she talked of the love of
God, and His power to help and comfort. The young
patient grew quieter, and listened.
As the doctor reported her going on well when the hus-
band called to enquire about her, and suggested she had
better remain a few weeks, Mr. Dong allowed " it might
be as well if she stayed," and so the matter was settled.
Dora, or Do-Ra, as she was called by the natives, was
much interested, and took great pleasure in teaching her
to read, giving her lessons every day, and trying to lead
her to realize herself as a sinner and Jesus Christ as the
Saviour her soul required.
A month or so passed away, and Mrs. Dong became
brighter and more reconciled to the life before her, so
that when one morning her husband came for her, they
made up their quarrel, and, with many thanks to the good
doctor and his wife, they departed happily together.
But my readers must not think that the work was
always successful, or that the ordinary trials and dis-
appointments did not come to the Missionary and his
wife.
On the contrary, they had a double share of anxiety
and of hard work ; but they were young and had a
constant flow of good spirits which, united to a keen
sense of humour, came to their rescue, and then they
rescued others in their turn.
One evening, as Doctor Apricot went round the wards
to see how one or two bad operation cases were going on,
he found the following among other causes of annoyance :
"Little-Cat" (a boy), who had been under some
38 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW
operation, had taken off his bandages to see the size of
the cut.
" Honourable-Life" had had his leg set, but the splint
felt uncomfortable, so "Honourable-Life" had taken it
off.
A breast operation case had felt no pain, so was sitting
up in bed and wanted to undo her bandage !
" Millions-of-Generations " had eaten his plaster ! He
was an old, half-starved man, and probably had not had
enough to eat for months.
So the tired doctor, calling an assistant, attended to
them one by one as patiently as if it were early morning
instead of the fag end of an overfull day.
" You have been a long time, Charles," his wife said,
as she looked up from the new frock she was making for
little Ronald.
When he told her the detaining cause, she looked up
brightly. " Who would believe it?" she said. "They
really are queer, dear things, aren't they now ? "
" Have you nearly done tying that business ? " he asked
presently.
Mrs. Apricot stopped to take some pins out of her
mouth.
" Do you know what that business is, Charlie ? " she
asked, answering one question with another.
" I am always afraid to guess ; you always make such
fun of me when I hazard an opinion," he replied,
laughing.
" Well, to-morrow is your son and heir's second birth-
day, and I am busy making a new dress for him, as he is
having a tea party."
" A tea party for Ronald ! " exclaimed the Doctor.
" Yes, for Ronald. Four Chinese ladies are bringing
their little boys — they have all been cured by you — and
we are going to have tea, cakes, and games, and so your
son must have his new dress smocked and finished before
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 39
we go to bed," and the proud mother held up a httle blue
silk baby frock, which she had almost finished, for her
husband to see.
** What a beauty ! " he exclaimed. " Won't it spoil ? "
" No, sir ; and if it soils, it will wash. But your son
must put on his best to receive your favourites, ' Sea-
hill,' and * Born in Orchid-time,' * Born-old,' and
* Heaven's Glory.' "
" What will such a fine baby's little mother wear to
receive her guests in ? " asked the doctor.
" Oh I let me see, my pink gown mother sent me is gay
and washes well if it gets soiled. It is only a cotton, but it
looks very pretty. The natives do not like us to
wear all white when we go to see them or they come to
see us."
The doctor got up to leave the room.
" Charles," called his wife, " I forgot to say our own
Missionaries are coming to tea, and the Consul and
some others probably. You must be sure and be on
hand to help me."
" Cheer up, then, and if no one sends for me, I will do
my best to be useful at home for a change."
The birthday party was a great success. Presents from
natives had been coming in all day for " Ba-bee," and
were arranged on tables on the verandah. The Mission-
aries were not behind the Chinese in their little gifts, and
a wonderful array of all sorts and kinds of presents was
on view all day.
The Chinese little boys, with Ronald in his high chair,
had a table on the verandah, and they being older than
their little host, were able to eat of the fruit and cakes
before them, and of the English birthday cake which
" Arrived-late " had made under Mrs. Apricot's direction
and iced in correct fashion, putting Ronald's name in
Chinese and his birth in the month and year of the reign
of the Emperor of China.
40 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
*' Of course Ronald is having some Chinese cakes "
began the doctor, seeing Amah feeding her charge.
" I hope not, he is too young, Charles," said his wife,
" Ronald will only have sponge cake and milk,"
"Not any birthday cake?" — the doctor was really
cutting it to hand round.
" No," said Ronald's mother in a decided little tone.
" Charles, Mr. and Mrs. Greyman are waiting for cake,"
she said aloud, and under her breath she added, " Don't
tease, Charlie, please, and do hand the cake round
quickly."
When tea was over, a pretty little scene took place.
All the Chinese boys presented Ronald with a little gift,
and then Ronald's father fetched in a tray with four nice
sized parcels on it, tied up with red ribbon, and gave one
at a time to Ronald, who toddled over first to one of his
little guests and then to another, giving each a present in
return from himself. As he ran about afterwards laugh-
ing and clinging to his father's legs or his mother's skirt,
he quite appeared to know he was in some way a person
of much importance who had acquitted himself with
credit.
The following day Ronald had another present from his
mother which he enjoyed best of all, for it was a baby
brother.
CHAPTER V
GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF THE OPIUM TRADE WITH CHINA
AND ITS DEGRADING INFLUENCE ON THE PEOPLE.
THE HONORABLE LI GIVES HIS OPINION, AND HELPS
TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR ENLARGING THE OPIUM
REFUGES.
THE scourge of opium smoking in China has been so
thoroughly aired in the public press during the last
few years, that little need be said here upon the
subject in the way of introducing one branch of the
medical work of the Hospital of Universal Benevolence.
While the opium traffic was not the sole cause of war
between England and China at the end of the " thirties "
and beginning of the " forties" of the last century, yet that
matters connected more or less with the opium trade, and
more rather than less, were intimately associated with the
culminating war-ultimatum no one can deny.
By the treaty of Tientsin, 1858, the Chinese were com-
pelled to admit opium into the Empire, and at the time
of which this chapter speaks thousands and thousands of
victims died annually as a result of the habit which had
grown upon them, and to cure which they knew no
remedy.
That the trade was an awful curse to China was a fact,
no part of the country being really free from it, though
the nearer the ports the cheaper the drug, and therefore
the more victims fell beneath its power.
And when once the country fell beneath its seductive
11
42 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW »
spell the inhabitants realized they could not get the opium
quick enough, or in sufficient quantities to supply the
demand, even though from thirty to forty tons a week
were being sent into the country from India. The Chinese
therefore took to making it themselves, giving up vast
tracts of country, used hitherto for rice production, to
growing the poppy.
The degrading effect of this drug upon the population
was soon evident. The rich and the poor alike suffered.
Officials who, as they said, " played with it," became inert
and lax in their duty ; merchants in like manner neglected
their business ; farmers grew careless about their fields,
artizans were useless and stupid with the use of the drug
as many days in the week as their wages of the previous
week were able to provide them with the poison.
Thousands were reduced to skeletons, who, having
fallen under the opium snare, preferred opium to food ;
and when absolute poverty overcame them became objects
of repulsion to all around them.
For the drug corrupts the moral sense, destroys every
virtue and good feeling, and leads men and women once
upright and virtuous to lie, steal and deceive every one
they came in contact with, if they can only thereby obtain
more of the poison or money to buy it. Men sell up their
homes, bring their parents to penury, sell their wives as
concubines and their children for lives of sin, if only they
can obtain money to buy opium.
Opium dens are sinks of iniquity, and opium smoking is
usually associated with all the lowest vices, of many of
which it is impossible to write.
Sir Thomas Wade, for many years minister at Pekin,
said to one of the missionaries when speaking on the
opium traffic, " I have only met one Chinaman who
defended opium smoking, and he was a non-smoker."
The ignorance evinced by people who defend opium
smoking among the Chinese is far beyond that of
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW 43
people (if there be any now) who defend drunkenness
at home.
In " China's Only Hope " an appeal by Chang Chih-
ting, one of China's greatest statesmen and formerly
Viceroy of Hu-peh, and Hu-nan, says: —
" Oh, the grief and destitution this drug has brought to
our people. Opium has spread with frightful rapidity and
heartrending results throughout the provinces. Millions
upon millions have been struck down by this plague.
To-day it is ruining like wild-fire. In its swift and
deadly course, it is spreading devastation everywhere,
wrecking the minds, eating away the strength and
wealth of its victims. The ruin of the mind is the
most woeful of its many deleterious effects. This
poison enfeebles the will, saps the strength of the
body, renders the consumer incapable of performing
his regular duties, and unfit for travel from one place
to another.
" It consumes his substance, and reduces the miserable
wretch to poverty, barrenness, and senility. Unless
something is soon done to arrest this awful scourge in its
devastating march, the Chinese people will be trans-
formed into satyrs and devils ! This is the present con-
dition of our country."
As mentioned in the Preface, the origin of the
great Medical Mission now carried on in the city of
*' Heaven-below " was a small Opium Refuge established
in the year 1870, though, some ten years earlier, efforts
more or less transient were made to cure the opium
habits of those willing to undergo treatment.
And the original purpose has never in the succeeding
years been lost sight of, for alongside the general work
of the Hospital there has been carried on the work of
seeking to rescue the slaves of the opium pipe from this
soul-and-bod3'-destroying curse.
In this chapter some illustrations will be given of this
44 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW"
branch of the work as carried on in the Hospital of
Universal Benevolence.
One of the first lady patients who asked for the opium
cure was Sen T'ai Tai. When she found that her little
baby continually cried and would not be satisfied until it
had a few whiffs of the opium pipe, she realised the
appalling inheritance she was transmitting to her
children, and became herself willing at all costs to give
up what she saw would be a curse upon their young lives.
She heard the Gospel and learnt passages of scripture
and hymns by heart. The music of the latter attracted her
greatly, and she managed, with a little help, to make some
of them out on the harmonium.
A gentleman who was cured of opium smoking in the
Men's Refuge was converted in no half-and-half method
during his stay, for in the following months and years he
regained, we do not say the position he had lost, but
something far in advance ; he became a minister of
the native church in connection with one of the other
Missions, and an able "fisher of men." So one man
sows and another enters into his labours and reaps the
harvest.
What a tale of saved lives, saved to save others,
could the walls of that Opium Refuge unfold ! In the last
day, when the books are opened, we shall know what can
never on earth be fully told — the story of that work.
That the women of China (as well as the men) are
addicted to the habit is, alas ! too true. One lady mis-
sionary wrote to her friend Mrs. Apricot : '* Of the many
ladies' houses I visit in this city (' Heaven-below ') only
four are free from the use of the opium drug."
" In one house as I entered, the opium divan was all
disarranged, and I asked my hostess if she had been
smoking.
" She made excuse, her brother-in-law had been
smoking.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 45
** After reading and explaining the Bible to her, she
asked if I would buy her a Bible, such as the one I had
on a previous day lent to her, and in which she professed
much interest.
*' One day she came to church ; it was the first time at
that little church we had had a real Chinese lady. She
stayed quite a long time. I had been told since my visit
that she smoked opium.
"'You must call me by my name,' she said, 'and let
me call you God-mothsr.'
" I took her hand, saying kindly, * You would not
deceive me. Tell me, do you smoke opium ? '
" She smiled, but said, in a frightened voice : * You
will not come to see me if I tell you.'
" ' Oh yes, I will,' I answered.
" She then told me she did smoke opium, and had done
so for three years."
Mrs. Apricot sighed as she laid down the letter. " So
many do it, so many do it," she said, sadly, as she rose
up to begin work once more.
In the Men's Opium Refuge much patience and courage
were needed in dealing with the cases which came for
cure.
During the early period when the drug was first
stopped, the patients in their anguish were often rough
and abusive. Even that was easier to combat than when
they were subtle and ever on one pretence or another
breaking rules and bribing some one to smuggle the
opium in to them.
What hours of patient teaching and wrestling in faith
for God's power to be manifested in these helpless victims
often went on ! Missionaries and Catechists alike
would be worn out before the patient, exhausted with his
struggle, would fall asleep. Alas ! sleeping only for a
while, then waking to go through struggles as severe
many an hour longer before the final victory was won.
46 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
Most difficult are some cases when the craving is upon
them and the victims feel unable to persevere in the
course of treatment. Chiefly is the victory won by
prayer and by drawing the attention away from their
passionate longing for the drug by some means or
other.
But the fight against the craving is often nothing less
than an agony.
The length of time the opium cure usually takes is one
month. By the time these four weeks are passed the patient
may safely return home, being free from the desire for it.
Scores of cases, even in the early days of the work, had
been permanently cured, and, better still, through the
cure they and their friends first heard of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, and many believed on Him to the saving of
their souls.
Over a hundred such cases were in the hospital in one
year. Of these a few left in despair, unable to stand the
suffering of giving up the drug. Over eighty were under
treatment the whole month and left cured. A few were
unsatisfactory in other respects, but were cured when
leaving ; whether they were strong enough to continue
in well-doing one could not tell.
The following year as many as 127 opium smokers
were treated the full term of cure. Here again, how many
of them stood fast on returning home it would be difficult
to estimate. The doctor often told people : " These poor
patients were like half-burnt sticks, easily rekindled."
" In what way does the giving up of opium affect
them ? " one interested lady once asked Dr. Apricot.
"The drug-taking produces intense weakness, and
when the craving has departed, the system needs many
months of good food and tonics to build up the constitu-
tion, and you know well, the ordinary Chinaman cannot
afford that. Also it takes considerable grit and back-
bone to break off so formidable a habit— and many a
DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " 47
Chinaman has a very gelatinous something in place of a
backbone, and some fall with a very faint struggle."
One case in hospital told the doctor that his average
earnings (he was a poor man) were about 100 cash a day,
about 2id. of our English money. He said he always
spent 70 cash a day on opium and gave 30 cash to his wife
for providing the family with food ! His poor wife had to
eke out the money by winding silk.
Another time a gentleman asked Dr. Apricot " how
much he thought people used in a year on opium ? "
*' There are many in this city of ' Heaven-Below ' whose
opium-smoking costs them not less than 400 dols. a year ;
some families, and that not a few, whose opium bill is over
2,000 dols. ; and at least 10,000 dols. a year is consumed in
many of the yamens."
A Mr. Li, an official who felt grateful for attentions he
had received during an illness, pressed a donation for the
work upon the doctor at the close of his illness, saying
" You need more room. The work is hard and the good
you try to do is great, and for the good of my country
people. We know this drug smoking is all bad work,
and leads to no good in any one, but for poor people it is
ruin, nothing less. I admire your work, and wish you all
success with it."
Here we must leave the work at present, but before our
story closes we shall see a further stage in the history of
this demoralising drug, which has been the wonder of the
world.
CHAPTER VI
EXPLAINS WHY LATE HOURS ARE NECESSARY, THOUGH
THEY BEGET TROUBLED DAYS, WITH TEARS AT MID-
DAY AND SMILES AT MIDNIGHT.
IN China lepers are numerous, more especially in Mid-
China and the South. They are frequently allotted
a dell in which to build their mud huts and live in
company ; in other cases a street is given over to
them, or a village ; but in some places asylums are
provided by the authorities. One thing is in all parts of
the country evident — the unwillingness on the part of the
clean to have anything to do with the unclean.
The Chinese themselves cannot tell the cause of the
disease. That it is contagious seems very certain, though
it comes in many cases without known contact. Some
Chinese think that it is due in some instances to people
having sheltered through showers of rain under the Chee-
king-fa tree. They assert that the rain-water, dropping
from the leaves of this tree upon the exposed parts of the
body cause leprous eruptions.
In such cases the disease follows the ordinary course
of leprosy ; the face and ears, or the hands and feet of the
sufferer become enlarged, swollen and glossy; finally
running sores follow, and the bones of the fingers and toes
drop off and the patient loses the limbs one by one."
It is a sad fact that lepers marry amongst them-
selves and often have families, though the children of
such unions do not always themselves develop leprosy
48
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 49
The occupation of lepers is very limited ; in some parts
they are herded together in a small village or hamlet and
have a little ground which they are allowed to till so as to
provide rice or sweet potatoes and beans for their own
use. Where the land is dear, and ground not available
near their hovels, a tax is levied upon the people, and a
fixed sum per head is paid to them for food. In cases
where the grant, always small, rarely ever sufficing its
allotted time, fails, ere the day of payment comes round,
lepers frequent shops and refuse to leave, thus preventing
any trade going on, until the shopman pays out what they
consider a sufficient gratuity from one of such a standing.
In other cases they frequent cemeteries and beg from the
mourners, who know that if they do not freely respond the
bodies will be unearthed and, as they superstitiously
believe, the disturbed spirits will return to molest and
trouble them in one or all of the four scourges, viz., fire,
water, disease, or death. Little wonder, then, believing
such to be the case, they give, though unwillingly, to the
leper suppliants.
Dr. Apricot, one morning in the summer following the
opening of the hospital, had been seeing patients in his
consulting room for some hours, and rose, as one patient
left the room, going out into the garden where the early
summer flowers, roses, lilies, lemon, orange, wisteria, and
syringa, were making gladness for all in the compound by
their beauty and sweetness.
The doctor's last case was one of the most awfully
diseased lepers he had ever seen, or indeed smelt (for the
smell of these poor outcasts is often most appallmg), and
he had come out into the fresh air for a few moments
while the small room was disinfected with some carbolic
acid, and the fresh air was allowed to blow through it by
opening the Venetians which were on the sunny side of
the room, and had been closed on account of the heat.
As he paced up and down once or twice between the
E
so DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
flowers, his thoughts passed from their purity to the pure
and holy Saviour, by whose precious blood the soul,
leprous with sin, could be washed and made sweet for
the kingdom of God. What must sin look like to the
pure all-seeing eye of God ? thought he, as he compared
the loathsome disease he had just been considering, to a
sin-stricken soul.
" I must have a leper-house for men and women," he
said. *' I could alleviate their sufferings and tell them
of Jesus Christ as a Saviour from sin, and thus lead
them to the joys above — for here, there is neither health
nor joy for them, poor outcasts."
Having decided this in his own mind, Dr. Apricot
returned to his consulting room, took up his case-
book, made an entry of the last case in red ink instead of
black, blotted it with extreme care, and, though the page
was not finished, left it blank, turning over to a fresh
page as the next new sufferer presented himself before him.
After all the work of the day was over, the tired doctor
sat down in his private room to write letters, which took
so long that the small hours of the morning found him
still begging for money to buy a piece of land over the
v^'all of his own garden which could be utilized for both
men and women lepers, for the time being at any rate.
It was a convenient block, having two buildings in two
different yards with an enclosing wall, and would be very
suitable, he thought, for beginning operations for the
relief of these afflicted people.
He was therefore very late going to bed, and, over tired
in brain and body, could not sleep when he did get there.
Morning dawned all too soon, and with it the noise and
hum of city life was once more afloat. Weary, the doctor
rose to begin a fresh day without fresh vigour, and the
usual duties hung wearily as the hours wore away.
At tiffin, when the doctor and Mrs. Apricot met, she
noticed the grey, weary appearance of her husband.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOVV" 51
" Charlie, I am sure you are not well," she said.
" No, not quite," he replied, and yawned as he sat
down in his chair — another yawn following hard after.
" Are you sleepy, already ? "
" No ! I really don't think so," he said, but he yawned
again. "I know I did not sleep well last night, I was
too late getting to bed."
The doctor served his wife, and then leaned his head
on his hand.
" Do try and eat, Charlie," said Mrs. Apricot ; " fasting
won't improve your health, working as you do so hard
every day."
" I really don't think it possible to touch food just
now," and he shivered from head to foot. " Perhaps I
have an attack of malarial fever coming on."
She rose and fetched her thermometer, and took his
temperature at once. It was over 103°, and she did not
wonder he was out of sorts.
" You must go to bed, Charlie, at once, and I will give
you some medicine," she urged gently.
" I think I will," he replied. " I must have been fight-
ing it for a day or two past."
There was much consternation as Mrs. Apricot
called *' Arrived-late," and told him the doctor was
ill with fever. He ran upstairs, closed the Venetian
shutters, and helped his master into bed — while Mrs.
Apricot got hot-water bottles and medicine for her
husband.
Her tears fell fast for a moment as she realized all he
meant to her and the natives around them, and prayed
God to raise him up quickly to again carry on the work
He had given him to do.
She found that " Arrived-late " had sensibly taken away
the sheets and wrapped the poor shivering man in
blankets. Then, leaving her with the doctor, he went
down, prepared a tray with some luncheon for his
52 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW"
mistress, and carried it to the bedroom, that she could
finish her lunch beside him.
Amah crept in quietly when Ronald was having his
afternoon sleep to see if she could do anything to help
her dear mistress.
" I think you not very much fret — doctor number one
strong man. Fever very bad one two days, but then one
day come some better," she said, trying to comfort her
with hope that in a few days the worst would be over.
At night the doctor's temperature was 104^, and Mrs.
Apricot and Amah gave a wet pack, for now the fever was
running very high, and the head was exceedingly trouble-
some.
But two hours later the temperature was higher still,
105^ and the doctor was unconscious. " Arrived-late "
never thought of going to bed ; he was in and out of the
room in his bare feet, silently fetching and carrying, only
too happy to be of service.
" Fetch water from the well, very cold," Mrs. Apricot
said, " several pails full, and fetch bath here beside bed."
In a short time the other coolies were roused, and,
between them, they lifted the unconscious doctor wrapped
in the wet pack into the bath.
After a few moments he was lifted again in the cold,
wet sheet on to the blanket and wrapped in mackintosh
and a little brandy was given.
After another hour the temperature was again taken and
found to be lower, but still 104°, so Mrs. Apricot again gave
a cold water bath as before. After a fresh period of waiting
the temperature was found to be still lower, only 103°,
and the doctor appeared to sleep. In twenty minutes
a heavy perspiration, much more free than the
former ones, broke out, and the doctor became conscious
again. After due waiting he was rubbed down and put
into dry warm flannels and fresh warm blankets. Having
taken some brandy and milk he fell asleep, and at mid-
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 53
night awoke feeling much better, and praised his faithful
wife for her clever treatment, promising her a diploma as
soon as he was well enough to present it!
This gentle raillery relieved the tension and brought
smiles to her face once more.
In the morning the doctor's temperature was 102°, and
he felt a great deal better, but weak and drowsy. After a
few days' rest he recovered a normal temperature and
pulse, and went off on the sixth day for a few days' stay
on the hills, where the remains of his illness took to
themselves wings and flew away.
The mail from England which brought replies to the
doctor's letters re funds for a leper refuge carried with it
subscriptions from his friends in Scotland, members of
the Leper Mission, which enabled him, with other funds
he had already raised, to buy the land on the other
side of the garden wall of his own compound and adapt
the buildings he found there to a small refuge for women,
in one yard, and for men in the other yard. A wall
enclosed both yards and made it a convenient annexe
to the general hospital grounds.
To secure suitable attendants and a cook and coolie
was the next business, and when that was done the
buildings were consecrated by prayer to the Glory of God
and the good of lepers.
Once the hospital was secured there was no lack of
patients for either the men's department or the women's.
The Women's Leper Hospital had accommodation for
six patients.
The patients did not pay anything here, as in the
General Hospital, for board, but were taken in free of
charge, being supported by the Mission to Lepers, and
allowed to stay as long as they liked, or until they died.
One patient, a school-girl, had been in one of the
American Mission Schools for over seven years. Leprosy
developed when she was fifteen, but the symptoms were
54 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
not recognised, and she was kept on at school. She
was an earnest Christian and a very bright, amiable
girl, and Mrs. Apricot gladly utilised her to teach her
companions in affliction to read and knit, and above all,
those divine truths which she herself believed.
" Cloud," another leper patient, younger than the
others, gave her benefactors trouble of rather an unusual
character. This poor young woman had a great desire
to be married, and as the nature of her disease was only
marked by her hand, which appeared like a bird's claw,
and a small patch on one cheek, she could not, or would
not, understand why for her to contract marriage was
such an undesirable thing. True, many would see her
and not, 'at that stage of the disease, know she had
leprosy. Her parents wanted money, and had been, it is
believed, the first to suggest this means of obtaining some,
but the girl herself was more than willing to oblige them.
So after Mrs. Apricot had striven vainly with her she at
last left the shelter which otherwise might have been hers
while her life lasted.
One woman in the hospital, a Christian called
"Beautiful" (so-called because she was good-looking
when young), was a very sad case ; though not old she
had suffered so much as to have the appearance of a very
aged woman. Her leprosy became worse and worse until
she seemed to be a mass of disease and decay. Yet, as
the earthly house of her tabernacle dissolved, her spirit
became more and more bright and happy.
All the Missionaries and native Christians loved, in
spite of the distressing appearance of the woman, to go
and see her, and came away rejoicing in God's power
manifested in her.
She was often a real blessing to Mrs. Apricot, cheering
her amid much that, in the nature of her work, would at
times cast her down, or bring a shadow of anxiety upon
her usually happy face, One morning she said " Shadows,
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEX-BELOW" 55
lady, only last during this life, so we may well be brave ;
in the kingdom of God the Sun of righteousness shines
in all His glory and no shadows cross the brilliance of
His shining.
" True words, * Beautiful,' " replied the Missionary,
** God does indeed use you to teach me to have more
patience and trust in Him."
" Speak not such words, lady beloved," replied
"Beautiful," " I am truly the least of those He deigns to
call His children."
" How is it, ' Beautiful,' you are so happy and contented,
with all your affliction ? Many would worry and fret con-
tinually," asked Mrs. Apricot gently.
" Ah, beloved lady, perhaps it is because I am so
loathsome here, and am going so soon now, to have a
clean, pure body, like Christ's own glorious body, and to
have His beautiful robe of righteousness to clothe me.
When this burden-of-diseased-flesh is quickly put out of
sight to sleep in the garden of God, ' Beautiful' herself
will be awake and praising God in His kingdom above."
Tears rolled down Mrs. Apricot's cheeks, as she thought
" out of the mouths of babes .... hast Thou per-
fected praise."
The evening shadows were falling when the doctor
came in to see " Beautiful " and found her so weak he
thought she would not live through the night.
" Doctor," she whispered faintly.
" I am here, ' Beautiful,' " he replied.
" When I was young," she said, " they called me
Beautiful because I was good-to-see in their eyes, but this
affliction has made my body foul, my face — much-
ashamed."
The words came slowly and faintly, but the doctor
waited, praying in his heart for the passing soul of his
patient.
" Soori — over — now," she continued, " one — look —
56 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
Jesus — all forgotten — pure — and clean — for — ever —
more."
"When you wake up you will be fully satisfied," said
the doctor gently, " satisfied when you awake in His
likeness."
The other patients had crept in softly — the leper nurse
sobbed in a subdued sort of way in the corner of the little
ward, the last rays of the sunset fell across the bed, and
Dr. Apricot bent down to catch the words, if possible, of
the quickly stiffening lips. The arch enemy of souls
was having a last battle with the poor departing spirit.
" True — a — leper — once, but — washed — made — clean —
in — Jesu's — blood.
The doctor knelt down and prayed distinctly, hoping
she could hear, if not yet loosed from her body.
" Our loving Father, look in Thy loving mercy on the
departing soul of this Thy child. Suffer not the devil to
harass her mind with doubts. We praise Thee for her
patience and trust ; for her courage and hope, and all the
lessons Thou hast taught us through her. Oh grant her
even now as we wait a peaceful passage into Thy presence
and may fulness of joy be hers for evermore. Amen."
When they rose the ward was in darkness. Nurse
Do-ra brought a lamp and they saw " Beautiful " had
reached " her Father's house in peace."
A small room capable of holding all the lepers was
arranged as a chapel, and here, morning by morning, the
catechist would hold a service for all who could get there.
The bedridden lepers were taught daily beside their
beds, and evening prayers closed the duties of the day in
each ward. So from their entrance into the hospital
gospel teaching was a regular feature of the routine of the
day.
As a rule these services were much valued and enjoyed
by the patients. Of earthly hope there was none, and
the desire of missionaries and catechists alike was to lead
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 57
these poor outcast men and women to fix their hopes on
things above.
Often discouraged in the work, but never giving up
hope, the seed was day by day faithfully sown, and brought
forth fruit in greater or lesser degree, according to the
faith of the recipients.
Some asked for baptism, and after giving evidence of
their faith, were baptised and received into the Church of
Christ.
Among the men lepers good results were also seen from
the general behaviour and example of those who became
Christians. By their cheerfulness and amiability others
were won for the Christ whom they themselves had but
lately begun to trust in.
Of these " Beseech-Mercy " was the most beautiful
illustration ; his case was most pathetic.
He was in the Leper Home, but when that Home became
too small, Dr. Apricot secured, through the kindness
of friends, a large piece of land by the West Lake, outside
the city, some three or four miles up among the hills?
where he built a beautiful Home which would accommo-
date forty or more lepers, and " Beseech-Mercy " was
one of the first transferred there. He was led to Christ
during the first years of his residence under the care of
the Hospital doctors.
Always a favourite because of his simple faith and
contented spirit, he grew to be a dear friend to the
Missionaries, strengthening their patience and faith by
his own during the years he tarried with them.
The leprosy gained steadily upon his poor frail body,
but his spiritual strength increased month by month.
One Christmas he was asked what he would like to
choose for a Christmas gift from the kind doctor and his
wife who while they could gauge the desires of those who
were less afflicted found it hard to imagine what would
give most pleasure to one so grievously burdened.
58 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
" Beseech-Mercy " replied: —
" Lady beloved, I should like a hymn-book of my own
and a hassock to kneel upon."
He had no doubt as to his wants !
Wondering if the hymn-book would be of any service
to him as he was quite blind, they got him a red one,
knowing the pleasure red things give to the Chinese, and
the hassock also was presented.
Before he died the hassock was well worn by this
faithful Christian, who prayed continually, with all faith
and expectation, for himself and the work and his fellow
lepers. He ever tried, by teaching what he had himself
learnt, both by precept and example, to lead others to
Christ, and was successful in several cases.
The hymn-book he utilized by getting the lepers who
could see to sit by his bedside and read his favourite
hymns over to him until he learnt many by heart. He
was very fond of singing, and was often heard teaching
the others to sing.
When the ladies went up with the doctor or his wife to
see the lepers it became a usual thing to assemble in
" Beseech-Mercy's " room and say:
" Now ' Beseech-Mercy ' sing to us before we go."
And turning a radiantly bright (although diseased) face
to his friend, he would sing, meaning every word of it,
" There is a happy land, fair fair as day."
One day in the hot summer months when the doctor's
wife was nursing some one in the Missionary's Convales-
cent bungalow, she received a message that " Beseech-
Mercy " wanted much to see her.
"Well, 'Beseech-Mercy,' what can I do for you?"
Mrs. Apricot asked tenderly of the leper saint.
" I want you to care for the son of ' Willing Service,'
he has been as a son to me in my much troubled and
afflicted life, and he is anxious about him, and I would
beg this favour for him before I die,"
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 59
" Yes, I will do what I can, and try and arrange to
take him into my Children's Home, if that will ease your
mind."
" Great thanks, lady, great thanks ; I wanted to arrange
this relief from anxiety for * Willing Service ' about his
child before I passed over."
As Mrs. Apricot sat beside him he said :
'* I do not wish any unnecessary expense when I die ;
any old box will do for my body and this old suit of
clothes."
Another time he said :
" I shall be glad if God will take me home soon."
He had no fear ; he only longed to be free from earth
and present with the Lord.
Just before he died in the autumn, when the Lake side
looked glorious in its autumn colouring and the leaves
were beginning to fall, Mrs. Apricot saw him again.
" Willing Service " was lovingly ministering to him as of
old, but sorrowfully now, realizing that the time his
father in Christ would be with him was daily growing
shorter.
His request this time was to be buried in a fresh white
suit.
Mrs. Apricot waited till the dressings were finished and
then read to him from the Bible.
"Sing me the 'Happy Land,' lady beloved," said
the saint.
And with her heart aching for him she sang the song
he loved so, of the home above, the sorrows over, and the
victory won. The lepers had all gathered in and knelt
reverently as prayer was offered up for " Beseech-Mercy "
that he might have an abundant entrance into the Life
Eternal.
All the lepers were hushed in their spirits — they realized
that the friend who had loved them, and had tried to lead
them to the place whither he himself was going, was even
6o DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW"
now at the crossing of the river, and would soon be
passed out of their sight.
Two days later, surrounded by them all, he passed over
at midnight to meet the Lord of Glory in His Home so
fair.
They laid his body in a white suit and wrapped it in a
white wadded quilt and enclosed it in a plain coffin, on
the lid of which one of the lepers wrote in Chinese :
"Beseech Mercy."
Aged 34.
Died in the Lord.
Nov. 14, 1905.
Mrs. Apricot and the other ladies, with the doctors,
assembled in the leper chapel for the first part of the
service, which was taken by the Chinese pastor.
They had plucked handfuls of chrysanthemums, pure
and white, as they came from the Pagoda Convalescent
Home, and these they placed upon the coffin as it was
carried to its last resting place. Here another native
pastor finished the service, and after singing the sainted
leper's favourite hymn. Dr. Apricot prayed. Few who
heard it will forget that touching thanksgiving for the life
of the leper who had passed away, for the lessons of
patient hope and courage learnt at his bedside, and the
prayer that his life might still influence those left behind
to follow in his footsteps as he followed Christ.
So within sound of the lapping waters of the lake,
amid the beauty of the autumn day, they left the tired
body to sleep until "the daybreak and the shadows flee
away."
CHAPTER VII
THE CONSECRATED HOME-LIFE AND HOME-JOY ACTS AS A
" CHEER-UP " TO A WEARY WORKER; AND AMAH's
MESSAGE NERVES HER SPIRIT FOR FRESH EFFORT.
OUR story is of the medical work of a Mission, and
therefore few workers other than the Medical
Missionaries come into the narrative.
Other Missionaries, however, clerical and lay, married
or single, had come out year by year in increasing
numbers to join the Mission circle of " Heaven-Below,"
and to work in the surrounding towns and villages.
The home-life of the married Missionaries was
especially helpful to the native Christians, who marvelled
to see the equality'of husband and wife, and their mutual
helpfulness in the Mission work.
The presence of the ladies and their efforts in the
Mission-field also greatly strengthened the general work of
the Church, for women as a rule in China do not attend
places of worship where there is only an unmarried
Missionary or unmarried Catechist ; and where the women
in the home are not secured for Christ and the Church,
they are an added weapon in the hands of the devil to
hinder the men from entering the Kingdom.
So the work and responsibility of Dr. Apricot had
considerably increased from a medical point of view in
the care of health of the Missionaries.
** Gertie," said Dr. Apricot one morning when he sat
62 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
down to lunch, " could you do with a visitor for a short
time, say a couple of weeks ? "
" I think so, Charlie ; who is coming ? " she replied.
" No one, unless you will promise to take care of your-
self, and not let the extra work be too much for you."
" Well, I promise to do my best. Now, who is it? "
inquired his wife eagerly.
" I thought it would do Miss Floymer such a lot of
good to spend a little while here and play with the babies,
and learn to laugh again. She has had fever, and does
not pick up quickly enough, and things worry and try
her."
" All right," said his wife cheerily, " we will put her to
sleep next door to the nursery, and then she can hear
their happy chatter, and baby laughter, when I have to
be busy."
" You had better try and do a little less, and have a
ride after four every day ; you get sadly too little exercise,
Gertie, yourself."
" I get such a lot up and down steps at the hospital, up
and down here, looking after patients and babies, home,
and refuges — my dear Charles, I truly don't know how I
am to get any more," and his wife shrugged her shoulders.
** I know you do wonderfully, my wife, but I often
grieve that your life is passed so much in serving ; you
must pull in a little and get out-door air more."
The next day Miss Floymer arrived in time for lunch,
and Mrs. Apricot took her into a pretty room, where she
saw many little evidences of her hostess's thoughtful
care.
" Now, dear, this is your room while you are with us.
Lie down whenever you feel tired on the long chair out
there on the verandah. These books are all pretty stories
and will rest your head from Chinese work," Mrs. Apricot
said, as she pointed to a little bookcase she had placed on
the mantel-shelf.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 63
" Ah ! those flowers ! How lovely they are ! " cried
Miss Floymer, burying her nose in some freshly-picked
syringa blossoms. " There are such a lot of bushes in
my father's shrubberies of syringas just like those. It
was kind of you to put them there for me."
"Now we shall just have five minutes to unpack your
things into these cupboards, and then you will feel at
home," said Mrs. Apricot.
When the luncheon bell sounded they had finished
putting things tidy and went down to lunch.
The fun and laughter at lunch was quite new to the
young Missionary, who had been living with others
engrossed in their work. She had been feeling very
lonely for some weeks lately while she had been wrestling
with the language previous to taking her first year's
examination. Then fever had pulled her down, and while
she was ill the loneliness was emphasised still more. So
the good doctor, who always saw farther than most
people, knew his wife's brightness and love and his
babies' merry talk were really the little bit of home life
that would hearten up the invalid more than his medicine.
The children, in their spotless white clothes, came in
after lunch to see "Daddie"; and little Ronald and
Baby Fergus had just a quarter of an hour of fun and
games with their father and mother before he began his
work once more.
" Daddie, let me walk up you to see the shining place
on your head," cried Ronald, who had played that game
before.
So he began holding himself stiffly on to his father's
hands, and after several fruitless efforts at last reached
his father's shoulders, where he sat as proudly as any king
upon a throne.
" How big is the place now, Ronald ? " asked his
mother, who pretended she could not see it, and
depended anxiously on Ronald's examination for a daily
64 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
report of the wee bald patch that had begun to shew
itself on the Doctor's head.
" It's velly big now, Musser," cried the child.
" How big, Ronald ? " she asked.
" One money's big," he replied.
" As big as a cash ! Oh ! Ronald, what can we do for
poor Daddy ? "
" I'se give him some of my curls to put on, Musser,"
and as he spoke the child tore a little handful of
his own curls from his head and held them out to his
mother.
" Ronald has really pulled quite a lot of hair out of his
head to cover up your wee patch, Charlie ; do look,'' said
his wife.
" I never saw such a child," said Miss Floymer. " Did
you not hurt yourself, Ronnie ? "
" Didn't hurt nothing," said the child, flushing.
"Oh! Mums, it won't stick on," and Ronnie began to
cry. "Won't stick on. Mums," he sobbed.
The Doctor lifted the child down from his shoulder.
" Never mind, Ronald, come and see father get on
gee-gee. Where is that piece of bread you were going to
give the brown gee-gee ? "
The Doctor pulled the verandah bell, and the ma-foo
brought round his horse, and then held Ronald up to give
the bread.
" Now, good people," said the Doctor when he had
mounted, " these are my orders. Take the babies to
Amah, and both of you lie down and rest for an hour.
Then you can amuse yourselves as you like till three-thirty,
when I have ordered two horses to come round, and I
want you to ride out to the Sanatorium and make tea for
me; I shall be there about four-thirty. You can send
one of the coolies over with the things now, and tell him
to have boiling water and tea ready for us."
"Good-bye," shouted Ronald. "Bye-bye," cried
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 65
Fergus, waving his baby hands, and the doctor was soon
out of sight.
"Where has the Doctor gone to?" asked Miss
Floymer.
" Oh ! I really don't know," Mrs. Apricot replied, " to
see private patients, probably, among the Chinese or
Americans, or Europeans. He must have a good round
to do if he won't be at the Sanatorium before 4.30. Now
we must obey orders," and, picking up Baby Fergus, and
taking Ronald by the hand, she said, " Off to see Amah,
and the nursery gee-gee. Children, come along."
*' Now, do turn in and rest yourself, or read, until it is
time to get ready. Have you a riding habit with you ? "
asked Mrs. Apricot.
" Yes, the Doctor told me yesterday morning to get
the tailor to make one for me, as I should want one
here, and the man really got it done and brought it this
morning."
"Are not the Chinese quick about things like that?
Well! good-bye."
The ride out to the West Lake Sanatorium was always
a treat and in the lovely clear afternoon both ladies much
enjoyed it. There the doctor soon joined them, and
after tea they all rode back together, arriving just before
dark.
" Now run in and have a hot bath and put on dry
things both of you," said the doctor as he made off to
take his own advice, for they had ridden back very
quickly.
The days went by all too swiftly for Miss Floymer, who
enjoyed every minute of the time.
" Could you do the flowers for me this morning ? "
Mrs. Apricot asked her guest one breakfast time.
*' With pleasure," Miss Floymer answered.
" ' Morning Glory ' has brought in whole traysful, but
I have no time this morning.''
66 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW »
So while the Women's Hospital was receiving Mrs.
Apricot's attention and the weekly stores and accounts
were being attended to, Miss Floymer was busy making
the house beautiful and sweet with fresh flowers.
Ronald, escaping from the nursery while Amah put
Fergus to sleep, came " to see the velly pletty fowers."
" Musser puts the red ones in them glasses, Mum's
does," he informed her critically.
" I think these white flowers would look well in that
tall glass, don't you, Ronny ? " asked Miss Floymer.
" Yes," doubtfully ; " but the most beautifuller ones
goes on Daddy's desk and some like them goes on Mum's
desk, too, they does, all same fashion."
*' Oh ! Ronnie, you Chinese child," laughed Miss
Floymer.
" Ah ! those isn't deaded ones, you frow away some
what isn't deaded. Miss Floymers," continued Ronald,
" Those is breaving (breathing), them is, and it hurts
dreffly to be throwed away when you isn't deaded," and
the child picked up the hardly faded flowers tenderly
one by one.
" My gee-gee likes fowers to be in his stabul, he likes
to see them when they is just breaving, then when they
stops breaving he eats them up," announced Ronald.
" Amah want Ronnie, come to by-bye," said that good
woman, picking up the child and waiting a moment to
pass a word or two with Miss Floymer.
" Your body nearly well," said Amah, " cheeks no use
any paint now."
" Oh, Amah, I never use paint," exclaimed Miss
Floymer, righteously indignant.
" No, your cheeks you come here all same like that lily,
now look like this red flower. Lady know what you just
want, have plenty eat, much happy time. Lady number
one good, all same fashion Jesus good ; the Doctor good
all same fashion too."
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 67
" Do you love Jesus, Amah ? " Miss Floymer asked,
looking at iier strong, iiappy face.
" Many years love Jesus, many years Amah serve
Jesus, copy Lady and the Doctor, and tell other people
that Jesus love them much and comfort their hearts,"
replied the woman."
*' I don't wonder you are happy living here, Amah,"
said Miss Floymer, as she began the last jar of flowers.
"Jesus live everywhere, noplace Missee go work, no
find Jesus' love comfort her heart. Now, Missee, go lie
down and Amah bring Ronald go by-bye and then bring
Missee some food."
When Mrs. Apricot looked in once during the morning
she found her guest fast asleep.
Later in the day when they returned from their ride
Miss Floymer told them she was going home the next
morning as she felt quite well. She also told them of
Amah's comforting message to her " she could go to no
place to work where Jesus did not live, and where His
love could not comfort her heart."
" Amah is a very happy Christian, she told me your
white, sad face made her pray for you every day to
quickly get well and rejoice in Jesus."
** Does it not teach us how much the natives take
knowledge of us, even when we don't speak," said the
Doctor. " I am always trying to impress it upon you young
missionaries that you can work for God far more truly
when you keep your bodies in health and your spirits
bright."
" I can never tell you how much I have enjoyed my
visit to you both," said Miss Floymer, as she said good-
bye the following morning.
" It is sweet of you to say so, for we have really done
very little for you, we are always so busy," said Mrs.
Apricot, kissing her. " Come and see us sometimes,
don't forget."
68 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
" Good-bye, — remember you have joined the Cheer-up
Society," said the doctor as he helped to raise her chair
to the coolies' shoulders.
As they turned into their own room again the doctor
put his hand on his wife's shoulder saying, " Your medi-
cine has cured her completely — love and brightness were
really all she needed, and you gave it freely."
" Ah ! Charlie, you and the babies helped, too," she
replied, " but it was worth while, she was so very happy
while she was here ! "
Many such "cheer-ups" were given by the doctor and
his wife during the years as they sped by, and many a
useful life was kept out in the field for active service by a
brief but bright and happy visit to Dr. and Mrs. Apricot
just at the right moment.
CHAPTER VIII
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW VISIT THE HOME AND HOSPITAL,
BUT BY FAITHFUL PRAYER TO GOD ABOVE AND BY
THE CEASELESS WORK OF MAN BELOW, THE CLOUDS
PASS, ALBEIT HOMES ARE EMPTIED AND GRAVES ARE
FILLED ERE THE SUN SHINES ONCE MORE.
AS the years passed the doctor's work continually
increased in the large Mission Hospital.
Native attendants were trained, men for the
Men's Hospital and women for the Women's Hospital.
Students had been received in the Medical School for a
course of five years' training, and had passed out fully
qualified to be a blessing to their fellow men both bodily
and spiritually. Others had stayed on to help in the
Hospital as house surgeons or assistants in the Dispensary
and native work.
These students were drawn from the Mission schools
and colleges, and as some were sent to the doctor who did
not appear suitable, from the intellectual point of view,
to train for medical work, he urged *' that only the best
young men were of any good for his work."
"This work," he wrote, "is not easy for intelligent
men, and is altogether beyond stupid ones ! The students
who come to be trained in medicine and surgery must also
be earnest, intelligent Christians and able to teach the
gospel as well as live it ; loving unto all men, unselfish,
patient, honest and reliable. None of your " stickit
ministers " are any good for medical missionary work, so
please don't send them."
yo DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
Dr. Apricot had about this time the help of a
European colleague, who, however, ultimately went into
Government employ.
The well-earned furlough of the doctor and his wife
was passed in the homeland, and among the heather
breezes their health was restored, their souls revived, and
courage was renewed.
On returning to their work they took out a governess
for the little children whom it would otherwise have been
impossible to have with them in a land where natives
know no reserve in their conversation, and where children
pick up unconsciously the language which has cost their
parents years of weary toil, and so understand more than
is good for them.
Years followed in quick succession, and Ronald and
little Fergus grew up to be merry laughing boys, filling
their parents' hearts with gladness and enjoying life as
only children can. They won all hearts wherever they
went ; the Chinese were delighted to have them come in
and out and make merry for them.
Nothing brings the smile to tired faces and rests the
weary brain more quickly than the innocent fun and
wholehearted laughter of young children, and during
their busy life, overflowing with care of others, the
merriment of the boys was ever the speediest rest to their
devoted father and mother. Nevertheless, the burden of
souls was ever pressing on the hearts of the doctor and
his wife as they walked amid the sick and suffering
beneath their care.
Great help was rendered by their trained medical
assistants and the female nurses, especially Do-ra, who was
nurse, Biblewoman, and friend to Mrs. Apricot, and an
example and support to the other nurses in their frequent
trying situations.
For women who have not much power of resistance, it
was often difficult to obey the rules and regulations of
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 71
hospital wards, and not wink at the disregard of the same
when pressed by the patients to do so. Their good
temper and strength of character were often greatly
taxed.
Mrs. Apricot on her part found things no less trying
when irregularities of this kind took place. If a nurse
was reproved before the patients for some fault which may
have proved very injurious to the recovery of the patient,
she would at once take umbrage that " her face had been
shamed."
For Chinese servants, in whatever capacity they serve,
would rather at any time lose a situation which from
every point of view it was to their benefit to retain, than
retain it after they had "lost face " before a third party.
The number of in-patients in the men's wards of this
large Hospital kept increasing year by year. From 400
in one 3'ear it became 500 the next year and 600 the year
after. This shows what the work was in one department
only of this beneficent mill.
In the women's wards as many as one hundred patients
were nursed through illness or operation in one year.
The out-patients had continued to increase in like pro-
portion. One year 10,000 new patients were ministered
to, not counting old patients who came over and over
again, now that they knew and loved the friends who had
been so good to them in previous illnesses.
Another year 13,000 new patients were registered on
the books, again not counting the thousands who paid
numerous visits as old patients with new diseases.
The difficulty of the doctor and his wife was not to get
near to the Chinese ; they could never get away from
them, except they went for a holiday completely out of
their own district ; for the hospital was the centre to
which the Chinese gravitated perpetually.
They still had to be careful of letting their medicines
go too cheaply, even to the poor ; for what the Chinese
)2 iDocTOR Apricot o'f "Heaven-Below»
get too easily they regard as inferior and value as lightly,
thinking what is given freely has cost little to those who
give it. So those who were able to pay were charged for
their attendance and medicine, and they valued it the
more in consequence.
Through the kindness of many friends, a very large
number of the very poor were, however, treated abso-
lutely free of all expense. This again tempted others to
plead poverty who could really afford to pay the very
small fee of fd. which was charged to the ordinary poor,
but of course the fee for medical help varied with the
social position of the sufferer.
As an instance of the above, an old man begged very
hard to be excused paying the three farthings, as he was
in great poverty.
" Are you really so very poor ? " asked the kind-hearted
doctor, looking at the dirty ragged patient before him.
" Indeed, truly, doctor, this old one is exceedingly
poor," replied the patient, " have compassion upon me
and excuse the fee, for I am sick and old."
" Very well," replied the all-too-compassionate doctor;
now let me see what is the matter with you."
After the case was diagnosed, on account of his poverty
and disease, he was entered as an in-patient and forwarded
to the Men's Hospital.
The following day the sum of four dollars (equal to
eight shillings) was found under the man's pillow.
" Freely ye have received, freely take,'" is the Chinese
way of proceeding, but it is not good for the funds of a
medical hospital which has to pay its own way to some
considerable extent.
Another set of eight students were now under training ;
medical books were being translated into Chinese ; men
were being trained as ward helpers ; opium smokers were
cured ; lepers cleansed (partially at any rate) ; children
rescued ; to say nothing of the scores of women who were \
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW* 73
attended in the Women's Hospital and men in the Men's
Hospital ; and to one and all the Gospel of the Grace of
God was lovingly preached. The heathen all heard,
many believed, and asked for baptism, believers were
strengthened in their faith, while their bodies were under
healing treatment, and God was honoured in their midst.
The good news of the arrival of Dr. Fairfield to share
their labours came to Dr. and Mrs. Apricot when their
hearts were bowed down with a more intimate sorrow of
their own.
The time had arrived when they felt it wise to send
their children home to share the education of other boys
of their own age and ability.
What this trial was in anticipation was as nothing to
the pain of separation when the time actually arrived.
God, Who knows all things, and parents who have under-
gone a like trial, can alone fully gauge the bitterness of
the cup they drank in the hour they said " good-bye."
As the little tender stood below at the side of the big
P. & O. ship, which was to carry the laddies and their
governess to the home-land, the parents had all they could
do to endure the pain, which well-nigh broke their hearts.
The cheery doctor fought hard for the boys' sakes as well
as his wife's, and his last words as the tug parted from the
steamer were as characteristic of their father as could be
imagined.
" Good-bye, Ronald, cheer up. God bless you both,
don't forget to say your prayers and take care of little
Fergus."
The soul anguish of the next few hours, when only God
could speak comfortable words, passed at last ; but the
children's happy chatter, their merry shouts at play, the
evening hour ere bedtime, these could never come back
again. When next they saw their lads they were manly
young fellows, holding their own among other boys.
Well it was for the doctor and his wife that things had
^4 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
to be reorganised and rearranged when they returned to
their work a few days after the separation from their
children.
They were accompanied on their return by Dr. Fair-
field, who had just arrived in Shanghai, and who had, of
course, after the first day or two of settling down and
being welcomed was over, to put his chief energies into
learning the language. He could, however, for an hour
or two a day, do much as a recreation to himself, which
was at the same time an immense relief and help to Dr.
Apricot.
The native helpers who had been a little less under
supervision for a week or two while Mrs. Apricot had
made preparations for their children going to England,
now had to be brought up to the mark, and this led to a
reorganisation of much of the internal working of the
hospital and ultimately to Mrs. Apricot, in addition to
all her other labours, taking over the care and disburse-
ment of all the stores for all the many buildings now under
their care. The extra time and attention and hard work
which this added duty necessarily involved was heavier
than could possibly be understood by any one who has
not had experience of hospital life in its many varied
departments.
The recreations of missionaries has not come much into
this story hitherto, but it is well here to understand the
clear line which Dr. Apricot took upon the subject.
" We have been sent out here," he said one day to a
missionary who was knocked up with overwork and lack of
fresh air recreations, "to live and work. Now your
Missionary work will be far more effective if you keep
your body in good health and your spirit cheerful."
" But, doctor, there is so much to be done," replied the
overwrought worker.
" Quite true, my friend, and we want you to help to do
it," he replied, " but you will do much less than your
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 75
share of it, if you do not take more exercise and more
rest."
Writing home that year to the Society which had sent
him out, he said, " In my opinion the inside of a
Missionary is all the better for the outside of a horse! "
There was no place inside the city walls where fresh air
and pure breezes could be had to refresh the tired minds
and bodies of strenuous workers, and therefore the doctor
encouraged them to find their recreation outside.
For many years he kept a number of Chinese ponies
for use in his work, which lay six or eight miles in one
direction, and seven to nine in another, and in addition
he also kept ponies for the Missionaries who used to ride
over with him when he went to visit professionally the
Lake-side lepers, or convalescents in one direction, or the
Consulate down near the landing in the other.
On one occasion cholera visited the city of " Heaven-
Below," and raged north, south, east, and west.
Thousands were stricken, and the European doctors and
assistants had their hands full, with hardly a free
moment to themselves.
The doctor, in writing home to his friends at this time,
said : " I should like to impress you with the vast amount of
work always going on, and the insanitary state of this city,
which compels me to state it is not a fashionable health
resort or a much frequented watering place, yet lack of
people there is none."
One fatal case was that of one of Dr. Apricot's own
servants. One da}^ the doctor had to go seven miles
into the country to see a patient, taking with him his
horse-boy, both of them mounted. After four miles of the
journey had been passed the coolie called out to him that
he was in such pain he could go no further.
Dr. Apricot took him to a house close by and arranged
he should be sent back at once to the hospital in a sedan
chair. When the doctor arrived home a few hours later
76 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
he was shocked to hear the poor fellow was dead. All the
efforts put forth to save him had been unavailing.
Dr. and Mrs. Apricot were uable to take any holiday
that year. The work was incessant, people were dying
on every side ; the days were hot, but the nights were
hotter, and weary though they were, they could not
sleep.
Most mercifully the foreigners were all saved from this
scourge as it swept by. But coffin makers made their
fortunes, and many were able to retire from business when
the epidemic was over.
After a few months another alarm upset for a while the
ordinary routine of the hospital.
Scarlet fever, hitherto unknown in " Heaven-Below,"
broke out in one of the women's wards. It was supposed
to have come in some way from the port of Shanghai,
where it had been very prevalent the preceding year.
A young Christian woman, " Increase-faith," had been
received as an out-patient with her baby. The baby
was suffering with fever and swollen glands, for which it
was treated ; two days later sign of peeling was to be
seen, when on examination the doctor pronounced it to
be scarlet fever, and the case was isolated at once.
By this time the infection had been carried into other
wards by the mother, who when her child had slept had
gone to chat with the other women. In one ward two
patients took it badly. In another a slave girl who had
been in hospital some months with diseased bone in the
foot, and who had been operated on some little time
before, took it rather badly also.
Another case was a little girl called " Sweet Plum " ;
she was the daughter of nice people who had friends
among the hospital staff. She had only been a few days
under treatment for some trouble in her foot, but got
infection and had scarlet fever very badly.
Three other women had the symptoms well developed,
DOCTOR APRl'COT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 77
and so the only thing was to utilise the old empty Opium
Refuge as a fever hospital.
This entailed another cook being obtained and an extra
washerwoman, while Mrs. Apricot did much of the nurs-
ing herself, with the help of one assistant.
The constant disinfecting had to be done entirely by
herself, as the natives do not see the necessity of attention
to detail in this department, on which it depends whether
disinfecting is efficacious or altogether a failure.
Some cases died, some gave much concern during
tedious convalescence; ultimately the last case recovered
and a last fumigating and disinfecting having been
accomplished, life returned once more to its normal
round.
During this autumn many turned to the Lord and were
baptised, after due preparation, as a direct result of teach-
ing they had received during their stay in hospital. This
was a cause of rejoicing before God.
CHAPTER IX
GIVES SOME ILLUSTRATIONS OF CHINESE IDEAS UPON
THE VALUE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE, AND OF THE
PECULIAR CHARACTERISTIC WHICH SHEWS ITSELF
IN THE LOSING OF ONE's LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE
one's FACE.
THE cheapness with which the average Chinaman
holds human Hfe is shown by the fact that in one
year over eighty suicides were treated at the
Hospital of Universal Benevolence.
Some years later the figures ran to nearly two hundred,
and later again in one year two hundred and twenty-two
cases were brought under hospital notice and treated by
the doctors. The ages of this large number varied
greatly — from children of ten years of age up to old
people between sixty and seventy.
The why and wherefore of the attempted suicide can
usually be ascertained. After much sifting of information
it was discovered that two hundred and eighteen were the
result of quarrels. Four only of the number were un-
accounted for by their relatives.
A woman who is badly scolded by her husband will
take it meekly enough if no one has heard the scolding
but herself ; but if there have been witnesses to the
quarrel, the humiliation is more than she can bear ; she
has " lost face," and therefore she will contrive to obtain
opium or some other poison wherewith to end her life; or,
failing money to buy poison, she prefers to end herself
DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " 79
by drowning in the family well rather than live down
her discomfiture.
A young woman, who was brought on one occasion to
the hospital from a country place some distance away,
was rather a curious case because of two unusual features.
The first was the unusual agreement which was made
between her future husband and the girl's own family
before her marriage, which agreement was duly written
out and signed in the presence of witnesses, and by which
the bridegroom promised after marriage to live at the
girl's home with her, and not take her to his father's
house, as is usually the case.
After marriage, when all had gone on happily for some
time, the bridegroom suddenly carried off the bride con-
trary to agreement to his father's house.
Being thus disappointed, she resolved to take her own
life rather than submit to be tricked into what she had
determined not to endure.
The second unusual thing about this case was the girl's
method of destroying herself.
Being unable to get opium, and being watched in
order to frustrate her running away to her old home, and
so having no opportunity to drown herself, she told the
household she had swallowed a silver chain three feet in
length. They at once gave her medicine to dissolve
the silver chain, but she still said she felt uncom-
fortable, and, finding the native doctors could not
relieve her, they grew alarmed and brought her to the
hospital.
"Love-honour" (this was the girl's name), when her
friends left her in charge of Mrs. Apricot, was quickly
given " the order of the bath " and warded. Then began
suitable treatment, which went on for two months, but as
nothing more was seen or heard of the chain, the doctors
came to the most probable explanation, viz., that the girl
had concocted the story as a means of escape from the
8o DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
home she was determined not to live in, and had never
swallowed the chain after all.
During the months in hospital, however, she was not
free of her relatives' surveillance, for not only was her
mother staying in hospital with her, but her husband's
people also kept vigilant watch.
Poor " Love-honour " ! It did not seem improbable
that all her trouble would prove to be in vain.
Whether the idea originated with the girl herself or
with her mother is not known, but towards the end of
" Love-honour's " stay in hospital the mother appealed to
the Chief Magistrate to- settle the case for her. He
decided in " Love-honour's " favour, and the matter
came to an end, so far as was known for some time.
During her retention in the wards, the mother and
daughter had both had much opportunity of hearing
about God, and when they returned home, they were
passed on to the visiting list of one of the Biblewomen.
Another case will now be described. One hot summer
night, when not a breath of air stirred and sleep was
difficult to obtain, and when secured was light and un-
refreshing, a terrific noise awakened all in the hospital
compound.
It came from a big house shut in with a high wall, just
opposite the entrance to the hospital. The noise was of
women shouting and yelling at the top of their voices,
and above it all, a man's voice weeping and wailing, as
only Eastern people do.
The Amah, or nurse of the household, had poisoned
herself with opium, because her mistress had found fault
with her for letting one of her charges fall down.
The Amah could not bear the reproof, probably given
before others, and, to spite her mistress, had taken
poison, so as to bring trouble on the family. The woman
was brought over to the hospital, but it was too late to
save her life.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 8i
Thus we see that revenge is considered more important
than either life or death.
The next day the mistress had a large hole made in the
wall of the garden to take the coffin in for the body to be
put into. When the coffin had been brought out again
through the hole the latter was built up. All this trouble
was taken to prevent the coffin going through the gate of
the garden, and being seen by the Evil Spirit leaving the
entrance of the house ; thereby it was supposed he would
not know the way into the house where the poor suicide
had taken her life. In this way the mistress thought to
prevent all evil consequences being visited upon herself.
Another instance occurred which illustrates how cheaply
life is held from another point of view. Some men were
working on the boats of one of the rivers and one fell into
the water ; as he could not swim he was drowned.
" Could not any of you swim ? " asked the missionary
to whom the incident was related.
**0h, yes, we could all swim," calmly replied the
narrator.
" Why, then, did you not try to save your companion ? "
asked the missionary once more.
"Teacher, I did not wish to be drowned, and if I or
the other men had rescued ' Tu'die ' we should have been
pursued by the Water-Spirit until our lives had been
taken in forfeit for the one which had been rescued from
him."
Our readers will remember the brave old Chinese
admiral who lost his ship during the war with Japan, and
could not face the humiliation, so destroyed himself rather
than lose face with his country.
Another instance was that of a man who was accused
falsely of theft, and though the case could not be proved,
the man felt he had "lost face," and did not, therefore,
care to live, so he took poison, and was found dead in his
room.
G
82 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
Two hours later the missing things were found in some
out-of-the-way place, having been put there by mistake
by a member of the household.
Strange to say, though the man held his life cheap, his
family, under these circumstances, did not do so, and
pressed and obtained compensation to no inconsiderable
amount.
Another case is that of " Early Virtue," a little boy
of six years of age, who was found one mid-winter day
in the streets of " Heaven-Below " by one of the hospital
assistants with his toes quite frozen off.
The Chinese father was a wretched man who had lost
all parental feeling and sense of responsibility towards
his child through the smoking of opium. While he
went off to the opium den to smoke himself into false
dreams of bliss and temporary comfort, he had left his
little boy to beg in the streets from passers-by.
During the father's absence the child had been found
and put into a bed in one of the wards of the Hospital of
Universal Benevolence, so that when on his return the
father inquired for the child and found out where he was
he made no objection to his remaining in such comfort-
able quarters.
From the fact that he seldom came to see him, and
ultimately ceased to do so, one believes that he felt greatly
relieved to be quit of the even nominal responsibility he
had previously shown.
While in the ward " Early Virtue " quickly learnt
Gospel stories, texts, and hymns, some of which he was
able to sing very nicely.
After some months he was more or less adopted by a
lady missionary who had shown much interest in him,
and when he was able to leave the hospital, she arranged
that he could live with one of the catechists and thus
have a happy home life. When last he was seen he was
a merry child running about at play and going to a
DOCTOR APRICOT OF 'HEAVEX-BELOW" 83
day school, where he showed some promise for the
future.
Another case of singular interest is that of Mrs. We,
who was far in advance of her time in ambitious desires
for the welfare of her own countrywomen. She was a
Tartar lady living in the Tartar Settlement, but she
was broad-minded, and had visited the Hospital of
Universal Benevolence and some of the mission schools
in the city of " Heaven-Below."
She thought much of what she had seen, and felt so
strongly that something ought to be done to raise the
condition of her own countrywomen educationally and
socially, that she collected from the officials money to
open a school for girls.
After some months she tried to collect money again for
the school for the second year, but failed. This grieved
her to such an extent that she wrote a letter explaining
that she felt so strongly the urgent need of her country-
women that she was prepared to die to prove her
sincerity. She then took a large dose of opium, but was
discovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors and
nurses worked hard to save her life.
After many hours she was out of danger and able to
return to her own home.
She utilised her recovery to make another appeal to
the officials, and failed once more. Her disappomtment
and defeat in the object of her ambition was so great she
again took opium, and this time she died.
Her object, however, was gained ; so impressed were
her people by her death that they set about obtaining a
school for Tartar girls without delay.
A new school house was built, teachers secured, and it
is now one of the best administered schools in the city of
" Heaven-Below."
The pupils are taught to march past a large picture of
Mrs. We and make obeisance as they pass, as a
84 DOCTOR 'APRfCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
sign of their gratitude to her for her efforts on their
behalf.
As Christianity spreads through the country right views
with regard to life and death will become more widely
known and appreciated, and such cases, instead of being
common incidents in every-day life, will become things of
the past.
CHAPTER X
SHEWS HOW LOVE AND GENTLENESS SWEEP AWAY DARK-
NESS AND SUPERSTITION ; AND HOW YOUNG LIVES,
BEGUN IN ADVERSITY AND SORROW, BLOSSOM INTO
HAPPINESS AND BEAUTY WHEN TAKEN INTO THE
HOME.
CHINESE life is often spoken of as one of dignity
because so little fun and merriment enters the
ordinary conversation of the average Chinaman.
Life with the working classes is a constant struggle to
make ends meet ; with the literati, life is too serious for
fun, a reading man must be dignified ; so the lighter
moments enjoyed by the average European find little
place in the lives of the Chinese.
But that they see jokes and can enjoy them if someone
else troubles to make them is often noticed by those
working amongst them.
There was a little boy belonging to an attendant in one
of the Lake-side homes who did not seem as if he could
laugh as merry-hearted English children laugh at the age
of four or five years, so whenever Dr. Apricot went up to
see the Lake-side patients he would call the solemn little
man to come forth and greet him ; and would then teach
him some funny saying, or throw him up in his arms as
one would a European child. One winter day something
made the doctor think how like a little bantam this child
was (his fat little person being stuffed out with winter
86 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "TiEAVEN-BELOW"
wadded coats), and so he commenced to teach him to
crow ! Bending slightly forward, then gradually straight-
ening himself and arching backward, he said in English,
" Cock-a-doodledoooooooooooo ! "
" Tot-a-doodil-dooooooo ! " imitated the solemn child
and then broke out into the prettiest laugh a Chinese
child ever gave. So after this, when the doctor took his
wife or some of the lady Missionaries or visitors, who
came from time to time, up to the Sanatorium, all had
to go and see the " Tot-a-doodil-doo" boy.
The writer saw this funny performance one fine winter
day and laughed heartily to see the solemn little man do
it all so gravely, and then break into the sudden merry
laugh at the close.
Love for children begets love in return and the Cock-
a-doodle-doo child has grown up a remarkably useful
lad since those days.
He has passed through day and boarding schools, has
been baptised and confirmed, and has still a great love for
the merry doctor who tried to play with him as a little
boy, so when his future life work had to be decided, who
can wonder that he elected to take up a branch of
hospital work? He is now an assistant in the chemist's
department of the Dispensary.
Those who love children are the best suited to adopt
them and bring them up, and we are not surprised that
those whose hands were already filled with work for adults
soon found that children, here one and there another,
claimed their notice who had either to be rescued to love,
truth and happiness, or left to poverty, sin and shame.
When homes for leper men and women were founded,
it was a difficult problem what to do with their untainted
children.
To save them for some years at least from the blighted
lives of their parents seemed to Dr. and Mrs. Apricot the
only thing they could do,
'Cock-a-doQdIe-doo," now Assistant-Dispenser,
Tu face p. 8G,
i
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 87
So Mrs. Apricot opened a Home for Untainted
Children.
One by one six little ones were gathered there ; and
later six others, for one cause or another left destitute of
guardian care, were added to them.
Once these littleones were gathered into the Home with
its sheltering care and the Christian influence of matron
and nurse, new vistas of life opened before them ; vistas
of love and light and usefulness.
One boy called " Nathaniel " was the son of a very poor
couple, whose mother became insane. The father was
too poor to be able to bring the child up properly, so he
was adopted by Mrs. Apricot. He soon became a
delightful child, always happy and contented, and anxious
to help anyone and every one who needed help.
In time he went to the day school which was opened
for the Home Children.
After passing through that with some credit, he was
sent on to the Boys' Boarding School. But he always
looked on the Home as his home, and spent his holidays
there, being quite happy if he only might do something
for the Lady Mother who was always so good to him.
" Can I do anything for the Lady Mother ? "he always
asked, as soon as the half-holiday came and he was free
to run over to the Home or Hospital. Then his joy was
full if he heard Mrs. Apricot's voice saying:
" I want Nathaniel to typewrite for me this afternoon."
Or, if new boards were wanted for the heads of cots,
and Nathaniel was asked to print them for the Lady
Mother, his delight knew no bounds. We shall hope in
future years to hear that he is still in the work of the
Medical Mission.
The brief story of another child — little Moses — is very
touching.
Found on the road-side near the Mission Compound
late one night, where he had been deserted by his parents.
88 DOCTOR APHrCOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW "
he was taken in for the night and passed on to the ever-
tender mercies of the Medical Mission party the following
day.
Moses was truly named, for he was only a baby, and
'" drawn out" of the dirt and filth of a Chinese street, in
which he would certainly have died had he been left there
long.
He was an object of great interest to the women in the
hospital who heard all about him and to the other
Missionaries of " Heaven-Below," who were always eager
to know some of the interesting things which were
the daily portion of those in hospital work.
The Missionaries and hospital women vied with one
another in making Baby Moses' pretty little baby
coats and trousers, after the orthodox Chinese baby
fashion.
His little smile and tiny gestures were very fascin-
ating ; hardly less so were his infant efforts to talk the
little words every one tried to teach him.
But when he was most lovable and interesting he
sickened of some inherited disease, and during many
days and hours willing nurses watched beside his cot,
hoping to save the little life ; but it was not to be, and
one day he passed over to the Children's Home in
Paradise the Blest, and left behind him a vacant place
in many hearts.
"Valuable-Bravery" was the daughter of an old
patient who was in the hospital at one time as a mental
case, which illness had been brought on by trouble and
sorrow.
Poverty, and the selling of her little girl against her
wish, had been such a sorrow to the poor woman that her
mind had for a time given way.
Mrs. Apricot, who soon found out the secret sorrow of
the poor woman's life, sent Do-ra the nurse to find the
little daughter, which after much trouble, she was able
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 89
to do, and brought '' Valuable-Bravery " home to Mrs.
Apricot.
She was sent to the Home and to school, and became
an earnest Christian girl, letting her light shine for Jesus
wherever she went.
After leaving school she took up work in the hospital,
and became a " right-hand help " to Mrs. Apricot.
She was trained as a nurse and afterwards as a mid-
wife, and later came to England to perfect her training
by taking her L.O.S. certificate. For ten years she
worked in the hospital, and often Mrs. Apricot would say
to the doctor, " Truly that case was as bread cast upon
the waters, and it has returned to bless us after many
days."
The coming of " Little Orchid " was very different
from that of Moses. The mother of "Little Orchid"
was a baptised Christian, but like many a Christian so-
called in our own country, she was not a very worthy
professor.
One night she and her husband had a terrible quarrel,
which came to blows, and so frightened " Little Orchid "
that he tried to undo the door of the house and call in
the neighbours.
This was, however, prevented, and the mother was
killed.
The father was seized and taken off to prison, and the
little son was taken, though only seven years old, to wait
upon the father.
When in prison the father remembered that the son,
tiny as he was, had tried to save the mother, so in revenge
he broke the only thing he could find, which happened to
be a tea-pot, and, with the broken pieces, stabbed the
child so badly that he was brought in a state of high fever
with blood poisoning to the Hospital of Universal
Benevolence.
In the women's ward this poor child lay for two months
90 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
without a smile passing across his face, though Dr.
Apricot made numerous efforts on his daily round to raise
one.
At last the whole hospital rejoiced one day when word
was passed round : " ' Orchid ' has smiled at last." The
doctor had succeeded !
When the child recovered no home was forthcoming for
" Little Orchid," yet everyone was anxious the child
should not be lost, so he too was put into the Children's
Home.
His father had been sentenced to banishment, and
thus was well out of the child's life.
In the Home, where love and gentleness reigned, the
child became quite lively, and ultimately developed into
a regular piece of mischief.
He is now attending school, and in the process of
learning to read a Chinese child learns decorum, so
" Little Orchid " is now sobering down and trying to be
good. He is hoping soon to be baptised.
Our readers will remember the story of " Beseech-
Mercy," the leper who made a dying request to Mrs.
Apricot that she would care for the son of the leper who
had so kindly waited on him during the last years of his
illness.
This child, a boy called " Fragrant-Lily," was at once
taken into the Home for Children. He was an extra-
ordinary looking child with a wild appearance ; but
bathed, and shaved about the head as other Chinese
boys are, and clothed in clean, well-fitting clothes, he
looked more presentable and began to respect himself
accordingly. Before coming into the Home he had run
about and lived like a waif upon the streets.
When he was being bathed one day it was found he
was remarkable for having six toes on each foot !
Whether this will make him in any way notable in later
life remains to be seen,
DOCTOR APRrCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 91
** Fragrant-Lily " is of a kind disposition, and seems
to be honest as far as can be judged. If he goes on well,
Mrs. Apricot hopes to train him for ward duty in the
men's hospital by and by. This child has been supported
by the Mission to Lepers.
" Olea-Fragrans " is the child of a patient who had
been nursed by Mrs. Apricot in the hospital for a long time.
One day, in going the rounds, she noticed this patient
unusually sad, and sat down to win her confidence and,
by sympathetic tact, soon succeeded in doing so. Her
story was pathetically sad, being one of unused know-
ledge and neglected opportunities.
" Lotus Flower " (for such was her name) had been at
a Mission School, and had learnt all about God's love and
the salvation of Jesus Christ, but she had not laid hold of
that salvation by faith and made it her own. She had let
it slip by her. She had her Bible beside her, but a Bible
is not salvation. So, finding her sad and troubled in soul,
Mrs. Apricot had pointed her to Jesus Christ as a present
Saviour, able to save her if she were only willing ; soon
joy broke into that troubled soul, and peace was hers.
"Is your heart at rest now? " asked Mrs. Apricot.
" My heart has peace, lady; but one thing troubles me
now, and that is about my children."
Seeing her very tired and weak, Mrs. Apricot promised
to see what could be done for them.
The husband, when he heard his wife was dying,
insisted on taking poor " Lotus-flower " back to their
miserably dirty hovel.
Mrs. Apricot and the nurses tried to reason with him,
but all to no purpose ; he took her home, and she soon
passed away.
Mrs. Apricot then took the eldest girl, "Olea-Fragrans,"
into the Children's Home.
She is only six years of age, but keeps every one lively
with her chatter, and old-fashioned ways.
92 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW
Whether " Olea-Fragrans " romances or not it is hard
to say, but, child as she is, she often keeps Mrs. Apricot
and the matron and nurse spellbound while she repeats
wonderful conversations she has heard between her
parents.
She has a great idea of management, too, and tries to
make the younger girls, "Little-Cloud" and "Beauti-
ful-Bravery," obey her.
" Would you like to go back home, ' Olea-Fragrans ' ? "
asked the matron one day.
" That is not my desire. It is happier — much more —
here. I will stay here," she replied promptly.
The lesson for the evening was over, and the children
had been taught their prayer, when " Olea-Fragrans," as
she was going to bed, announced one night:
" This doctrine you teach I think very good ! When I
grow big one day I too will believe it."
She evinces some amount of character, and is a striking
personality in the Home.
Another child, called " Grace," was in the Home for
a long time. Her father was a leper, and was brought
to the Men's Leper House a good many years ago. They
were very poor, so the mother was kept as a washerwoman
in the Women's Leper Refuge while she was nursing her
baby, or he would probably have died through lack of
proper nourishment.
While in the Refuge the woman told Mrs. Apricot that
they had been so poor they had sold their eldest child for
six dollars to a woman who wanted her for a wife for her
son. She was not a nice mother-in-law, but the money
was badly needed.
Mrs. Apricot's motherly heart ached until she had with
much trouble and difficulty traced the child. She found
her living a very unhappy life, her prospective mother-in-
law being very cruel to her.
At first the mother-in-law was not willing to give her
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 93
up ; but at last she gave way, and Mrs. Apricot redeemed
the child, but had to pay more than the original sum for
her.
She was a curiosity indeed when she first a.rrived.
Little of the child's body could be seen for dirt and rags.
However, she was soon tubbed, and made verily a new
creature in appearance when combed and dressed.
After a time she was sent to school, but, liktf many
other children, she there had her ups and downs. She
would be as good as possible for a while and then
become as troublesome as children are made, giving
anxiety and sorrow to those in charge of her. At last
Mrs. Apricot talked seriously to her about the need she had
of using these good opportunities and not abusing them,
and gave her much good advice ; but it was of no use.
Good resolutions only seemed made to be broken again.
So Mrs. Apricot thought a new start would give the girl
a better chance of doing well.
Grace w-as accordingly taken in to work in the hospital,
and has been doing well there for some years. She
is a good nurse, and can help on operation days very
nicely, so perhaps she has found her right sphere.
Grace's baby brother, rightly called " Saved-life," was
also an inmate of the Children's Home, and is even now
after many years remembered for two things — one, his
pretty voice! which is rather unusual in China; the other,
his naughty habits, which frequently had to be punished
by a whipping ! At last the pain of whipping him
became far greater to Mrs. Apricot than the whipping was
to " Saved-life," and other methods of punishing him had
to be found.
In course of time he became a good boy and went to
school. On leaving he was apprenticed to the printing
trade in Shanghai, where he too is now doing very well.
These brief sketches are of a few only of the many
children who have been lifted up on life's pathway, and
94 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
by loving care and good training have been taught to be
self-supporting and self-respecting ; above all, they have
been taught to love Jesus Christ in their childhood, and
thus their feet have been led into the way of Peace.
CHAPTER XI
SHEWS HOW THE GENERAL WORKING OF THE HOSPITAL
HAS GROWN TO BE A FORMIDABLE UNDERTAKING,
BOTH PRACTICALLY AND FINANCIALLY. TELLS ALSO
HOW THE doctor's KNEE WAS MASSAGED TO THE
AMUSEMENT OF HIS WIFE, AND HOW THE DOCTOR'S
WIFE WAS "warded" TO THE ANXIETY OF HER
HUSBAND.
MANY years have now elapsed since the opening of
the Hospital of " Universal Benevolence."
It has passed even a belated majority of
twenty-five years, and each year has been marked by
continued growth, harmony, goodwill and success, in all
its outward working.
The spiritual success can never be told on earth. For
lack of time, and lack of strength, the doctors and their
helpers could not keep a register even of all the baptisms
they knew of as a direct outcome of their work.
But through all their multifarious duties the morning
and evening teaching in the wards for the in-patients, the
daily preaching in the out-patients' waiting hall, and the
bedside personal dealing with souls, were never lost sight
of or neglected.
The chapel room had long ago been too small for the
assembling of doctors and assistants, and so a beautiful
chapel and a large public hall had been added to the other
buildings in the compound ; and in the chapel, before
work began in the out-patient department, all workers in
the compound assembled, and Dr. Apricot or Dr. Fairfield
96 DOCTOR APRI'COT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
or some other worker held morning service and gave an
address. All patients able to walk were always allowed
to attend this service, which greatly helped not only to
keep the spiritual element of the work before each worker,
but impressed each patient with the fact that the workers
relied for their daily strength on the heaven-given supply,
daily asked for and daily granted to each one.
The number of the in-patients increased by leaps and
bounds ; one year 1,400, and two years later over 1,800,
were nursed and cared for in the hospital. Ward men
and ward nurses had to be continuously in training, and
thus the anxiety and care were ceaseless, as native
workers need much more supervision than nurses at home ;
hence the arrival of an English lady nurse was a great
relief and help to Mrs. Apricot.
The European staff was ably assisted by three fully
qualified native doctors, who had been trained by Dr.
Apricot. These men were an untold help in every way,
and especially in the enormous OtU-patient department,
where over 72,000 were personally treated, medically or
surgically, during one year.
The year following this very large access of work
brought even greater numbers to be relieved (as the
summer was particularly trying), and the total reached
that year was over 83,000, who paid visits to the Dis-
pensary or Native Consulting Room, in addition to over
1,500 nursed in the wards, and the patients in the branch
Refuges and Homes.
The growing private practice among the better class
Chinese, the other Missionaries, and the Europeans resi-
dent in " Heaven-Below," also took much time and
strength.
The strength of the medical staff needed indeed to be
herculean to get through so much work in a climate
which varies from the extreme cold of winter, when deep
snow and ice abound for weeks, to the excessive heat of
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 97
summer, when the temperature registers very frequently
95 degrees in the shade, a time when the ward beds are
all full, the out-patients' waiting hall is most crowded,
and disease abounds in the city.
Still the larger the private practice becomes, the
greater the fees which pour into the hospital coffers ; for
the fees the doctors get for their services all help to pay
the working expenses of this benevolent institution.
Amid all the vicissitudes of life, its comings and goings,
its ups and downs, its sickness and health, its joys and its
sorrows, its praise and its blame. Dr. Apricot kept true to
the principle of the Secret Society which he started the
first day of his residence in China. But he had to enlarge
its membership and spread its principles in every direc-
tion among rich and poor, old and young, learned and
ignorant. Christian and heathen, European and native,
for the " Cheer up" Society had taken hold and done its
duty, and the world was better, hearts were braver, hands
stronger, lives more holy, spirits more cheerful, and
work more successful because of its influence.
We have said that the record of direct spiritual results
has never been fully kept, but every year many have been
baptised, having learnt to trust in Jesus for salvation, and
constantly reports have reached the doctors or their
assistants of the indirect results from the teaching in the
wards or the preaching in the Dispensary.
One lady Missionary, visiting in a village, came across
some of the first patients who over twenty years ago had
been in hospital and had learnt to love and fear God.
These, far away from Christian privileges, had continued
to worship the true God and had taught others what they
themselves had learnt of His love ; and the prayers they
had learned they had in turn taught their friends and
neighbours.
A lady writing one day to the doctor told him that
in a country place, miles away from any Christian church,
H
98 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
her father had found a man who had been a patient in the
Hospital many years ago, and had left without deciding
for Christ. He later became an earnest Christian, and
not only so, he had gathered the men of his village around
him and taught them all he could remember ; so when
the Missionary came he found the nucleus of a church
just waiting for his arrival to be put upon a permanent
basis. Thus a new out-station was planted for God
amidst the heathen.
Such instances could be multiplied, but these two
indicate the far-reaching effect of medical work. Not
only did the patients themselves receive help and blessing,
but returning to their homes in the villages they tell
over and over the things they have seen at the hospital,
and the motive of all these works of mercy ; and thus
the superstitions and prejudices of ages are gradually
being broken down, and the way paved for the advance of
the Gospel.
One patient, " Come-brother," a young woman who
was ill in the wards for over a month, was very bright
and happy, and most grateful for all that was done for
her. Like the seed sown on the stony ground, she
received the word gladly, but did not become a decided
Christian herself, yet she successfully taught her father
on her return home what she had learnt, and the result
was that he was so impressed that he visited the
Dispensary ostensibly to be treated for his rheumatism,
but his real reason was to hear more " about Jesus."
He became an earnest Christian, and was baptised.
Another very interesting case was that of a blind
woman, who hoped that the doctors would touch her
eyes and say " Open," and she would be able to see.
This was, however, impossible, but being in a weak con-
dition of health she was kept in hospital on the ground
of general debility, and while there embraced Christianity
with the joyous enthusiasm too seldom seen» She now
DOCTOR ArRTCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 99
lives with a daughter, and uses every opportunity, of
which she has many, to tell others " what a friend she
has in Jesus."
In the men's hospital a man suffered from diphtheria
and was very ill, so much so that Dr. Apricot had to tell
him he was dying. Each day the man had God's love
and Christ's salvation put before him.
But in cases of severe illness, combined with the dense
darkness of heathenism, one often has the sorrow of
knowing it is too late for them to understand such
wonderful truth. In this case the man did not profess
to grasp the truth for his own benefit, but when he heard
he was dying he begged to go home. When he arrived he
gathered all his relatives together, his wife, his sons, and
grandsons, and begged them not to have heathen rites
at his funeral. He commanded them to believe in God
and in Christ Jesus, and to put away all idols. We can
but leave such cases to the all-loving Father's mercy.
During the hot summer days typhoid is always present
in China, but not in its regular distinctive symptoms as
met with in this country, where it runs its twenty-one days'
course and then terminates, or convalescence sets in ;
in its later stages in China it takes on very frequently
the symptoms of intermittent fever ; convalescence
is delayed, and is a long and tr3dng process when it does
begin. Some cases, usually young people, do occasionally
run an ordinary typhoid course, but these cases are rare.
Mrs. Tse, the wife of a well-to-do tailor, was a typhoid
patient who had been seriously ill some time and under
the care of native doctors, who assured her she could not
possibly recover.
She was not a stranger to the Gospel, for she had been
the friend of a boarding-school girl, who had first sown
the Gospel seed in her heart many years previously.
Having then become interested in Christianity, she
attended the hospital for some small ailment, in order
loo DOCTOR APRICOT OF ^HEAVEN-BELOW"
really to ^et further instruction in the doctrine which had
laid such hold upon her mind.
Her husband had been very prejudiced against innova-
tions on Chinese customs, and strongly disapproved of his
wife going to the Mission Chapel at the hospital, or
having anything to do with foreigners. He often beat
her and scolded her severely, but she was not thereby
persuaded to let go what seemed to her so precious to her
soul.
When the native doctors gave her notice of her coming
demise her husband became willing to try the skill of the
hated foreign doctors. So she was brought on a stretcher
to the hospital, where she lay for days in a most critical
condition, for she had been nursing her husband, who
had the fever first (but was now recovering), and was in a
weakened condition when attacked herself.
After many weeks of care and nursing she recovered,
and during convalescence her interest deepened in all
Christian teaching.
While she was ill, and during his own convalescence,
her husband had time to meditate on his wife's behaviour
and her conversation about the one true God, and he
became impressed with the reality of Christianity.
So in order to get further teaching he became an out-
patient, obtaining also medicine to quicken his returning
strength, which had somewhat lagged after his wife
became too ill to nurse and look after him.
When Mrs. Tse was convalescing, her husband came
to see her in hospital, and told her "to recover and
quickly believe, for now he too desired to believe the
doctrine."
This beautiful news so cheered Mrs. Tse that her
recovery was thereby hastened, and on her return home
she was surprised and delighted to find how sincere her
husband's words had been.
When Sunday morning came round her surprise was
DOCTOR APRTCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" loi
even greater to see him in his best clothes preparing to
go out.
" Are you not working to-day ? " asked his wife timidly.
" No, this is the Christians' worship day. I thought I
would go and hear more about the true God."
" These words very good to hear," exclaimed his wife,
flushing with pleasure; but still further excitement was in
store for her.
" Can you walk as far as the Hospital Chapel ? " he
inquired with some kindness and solicitude.
"I should like to try," she replied, thinking with
thankfulness that her times of being beaten for attending
worship had now changed indeed.
So they went off together to learn more of the
foreigner's God, who they now believed ought to be
their God too.
The following day a good bonfire in their back yard
burnt up their idols and the appurtenances to idol
worship.
It was some time before Mr. Tse saw that his workmen
who were heathen ought not to be employed by him on
the Sunday.
But in time he realized that his shop must be closed,
his workmen given rest, and that the day must be kept
" holy to the Lord."
What this meant from a business point of view can
hardly be judged in a country where Sunday closing is the
rule of the nation.
After due preparation both Mr. and Mrs. Tse were
baptised.
It was about this time that one of the most exciting
scenes took place in the hospital wards, affording a
number of the old women patients, who were all devoted
to the doctor and his wife, an opportunity of showing their
solicitude for them.
On his morning rounds he ever joked and laughed with
I02 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW
the patients, brightening their day by his sunny visit, his
wife accompanying him as the superintendent of the
hospital, and often shaking her head at him as if to
reprove him for being too merry.
On the morning in question Mrs. Apricot had left the
ward for something that was wanted, and in passing from
one bedside to another the doctor knocked his knee-cap
and hurt himself considerably.
The patients who were up and dressed hurried to his
assistance and made such a fuss and lament over him that
he wickedly groaned a great deal more than was absolutely
necessary.
One old lady offered to rub the wounded part ; being a
hot day, one or two commenced to fan him ; another held
the leg ; while a fifth supported his back ; a sixth felt his
pulse ; and a seventh ran for his wife. The rest gathered
round.
On Mrs. Apricot's return she saw at a glance that the
doctor was enjoymg himself and entertaining the patients
old and young, who were all most strenuously and
seriously trying to comfort and help him.
She was vastly amused and exclaimed :
" Ah the poor doctor, you are doing just right, go on
with the treatment, all of you, and I will go and fetch
something else ! "
In all good faith they continued ; the crowd gathering
additional numbers of sympathetic onlookers every
minute as word passed from ward to ward, " Dr. Apricot
has had an accident and hurt his leg."
When Mrs. Apricot returned the " something " she had
fetched proved to be a camera, and she took a snap-shot
of the whole performance, which was called "The tables
are turned," where the doctor is patient and the patients
are doctors ! !
A visitation of dengue fever of such severity as had never
before visited " Heaven-Below " broke out in the summer
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 103
of 1903. The whole city was stricken from one end to
the other.
Dengue fever is a native malady, having many of the
symptoms of influenza as it presented itself in this country
in the early nineties.
High fever, severe pain, complications, sudden collapse ;
or, if recovery, prolonged convalescence, often leaving
weakness of the eyes, deafness, chronic neuralgia, throat
trouble, heart weakness, or some other ailment which only
yields to long course treatment. It is a very fatal fever
among the Chinese, and many thousands of people
succumbed to its power.
The hospital staff suffered so much that the hospital
had to be closed for a time.
The ward-men fell ill, the nurses were laid low with it,
the scrubbers, and coolies, and cooks were all down one
after the other, and in such numbers, that it was impossi-
ble to attend to patients.
The European doctors were sent for in every direction
all the day through by the wealthier classes of Chinese :
people died quicker than men could make coffins to bury
them, and some had to be buried without coffins.
One day Mrs. Apricot was feeling weak and ill when the
doctor returned worn out and exhausted, having had no
time for food, and when he could take it, he felt too ill to
care for it.
The next morning Dr. Fairfield was almost alone on
the battlefield. Here and there a weak and trembling
convalescent tried to assist him, but without much
strength, so that though the "will" was there, the
"power" to help had gone.
Mrs. Apricot was laid up with it before the doctor was
better, and Dr. Fairfield was also a victim to it. All the
Mission houses were like hospitals ; the Consulate and the
Customs had their share ; the whole city was terrorized
by its effects. Thousands caught it by infection and
104 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
hundreds induced the infection of it by fear. No one
felt safe.
Prayer was made in the Churches and Mission Chapels
that God would graciously stay His hand, and the prayer
of faith was heard.
Cases became fewer, convalescents crept about weak
and feeble, trying to take up the burden of life once more.
Just at the end one clerical Missionary died.
Every Missionary who could get away to the hills or
to a distant station was sent off, and those who could not
go did their best to get strong at home.
So severe was the epidemic that months afterwards
" weak hearts," and other sequelae were still troubling
Europeans and natives.
When things resumed their normal course Dr. Fairfield
took special charge of the work among the lepers. He
quite adopted them and took them to his heart. Though
they grew to love him and watch for his coming and
greet him cheerily when he arrived, they still kept the
old corner for their first and best friend, Dr. Apricot.
It was a great interest to Dr. Fairfield taking the leper
service on a Sunday and by this means liberating Dr
Apricot for the service for assistants and hospital workers
in the compound chapel every Sunday afternoon.
Dr. Fairfield, taking over a good share of the work,
also enabled Dr. Apricot to give more time to transla-
tional work for his students, which year by year grew in
importance.
In the autumn patients again filled the hospital in such
numbers that some had no beds to sleep in and were
simply lying rolled up in their quilts on the floor. Every
bed was filled, and all the members of the larger staff
were working their hardest to save the souls and bodies
of their patients.
Among the interesting patients were some from high
families. The Prefect's own household contributed two
DOCTOR ArRTCOT OF "IIEAVEN-BELOW" 105
patients ; one was soon better, and went with her husband
when he was preferred to another sphere.
But the sister-in-law who came in suffering with cancer
in the breast was left in the hospital, as her case was quite
hopeless, and she could be better attended to there than
at home.
Dyen T'ai T'ai proved to be most patient and grateful
for all that was done for her, and gave no trouble. Her
Amah, or waiting-maid, was an exceptionally kind woman,
and was most attentive to her mistress, never sparing
herself any trouble.
*' What makes you so kind. Amah, to your mistress ? "
asked Mrs. Apricot one day. " Is it pity which touches
your heart ? "
"Not so, but if at a future time I should so suffer, I
hope some kindness will be shown me," replied the
woman.
Dyen T'ai T'ai gave much attention to the Gospel story
from the first day in hospital.
She never tired of being taught and talked to of God
and His love, and before she died gave full evidence she
was indeed trusting in Christ.
" Who are you trusting, T'ai T'ai ? " she was asked
one day before she died.
" The Lord Jesus only," was her reply.
And her last words were to the same effect.
One case in the women's ward was very' interesting.
A girl came in to be operated on for hair-lip, as it
prevented her betrothal ! This was successfully done,
and the girl was very delighted with her " very-beautiful-
to-look-at " face. But what was even more satisfactory,
her friends were much pleased and felt that the powers
of the good doctors were indeed miraculous.
Another case which deserves mention is very touch-
ing and pathetic. It was that of a poor woman who
came to have her hand cured. Her home was a very
io6 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
unhappy one, and she had to work very hard at making
paper, and this had injured her hand and arm. The bones
were so diseased that she had to have her arm amputated
just below the elbow. This was felt to be such a disgrace
by her husband that he refused to have her home again,
so the poor woman was left quite destitute.
A lady missionary, hearing of this, kindly provided her
with a home in a Christian household, where she was
taught more of the Gospel and the doctrines of the
Christian faith.
She was afterwards baptised and confirmed, and,
receiving further training, ultimately became a most
useful Biblewoman, working first with one lady mis-
sionary and later with another, who both bore testimony
to her faithfulness.
She was often taunted by the Chinese about her one-
armed condition, but nothing daunted she would reply,
quite gently :
"Yes! truly, my arm is lost, but Christ I found," and
would proceed to tell them who Christ was, and thus
made her very affliction a means to spread the love of
Christ Jesus her Lord. She died of cholera after much
suffering and only a short illness.
Mrs. Apricot, who always worked most unselfishly and
untiringly, had an uncomfortable experience one day in
going round the women's wards of the hospital. Being
more than usually tired, and the morning being one of
those fatiguing ones which try strong people in good
health and are exceptionally trying to run-down people,
Mrs. Apricot fainted beside the bed of one of the
patients.
The consternation of nurses and patients can hardly be
described. They at once lifted her into one of the
patient's beds and began their usual native methods of
bringing her round. Some one hurriedly fetched Dr.
Apricot who, while very grateful to them all for their
DOCTOR APRICOT OF '-HEAVEN-BELOW" 107
kind care, preferred to treat his wife in her own bed,
whither she was soon conveyed.
" Now, Gertie, you must rest, I forbid any more work
at present. Your life is too precious for mc to let you
kill yourself entirely."
" But, Charles, I really feel — "
" No doubt, my dear, you do feel a trifle better, but
you are thoroughly run down, and in bed you stay until
I get you fed up. Then you must be off to the Sanatorium
for a few days, or go to Shanghai for a change, whichever
you like."
But as the doctor went about his work that day and for
several days he realised all the weight of work and respon-
sibihty which such a number of inmates and establish-
ments threw upon his wife. He realised, as perhaps,
never so fully before, what a tower of love and strength
she had been to him, sharing his work, his hopes and
fears, through summer and winter, heat and cold, joy and
sorrow for nearly thirty years.
So when a few days later she was able to start for a
change to Shanghai he felt more hopeful about her. But
when she was fully recovered and able to return after her
little visit the doctor still felt anxious, and decided that
their furlough must on no account be delayed again, for his
wife needed a more prolonged change to do her permanent
good.
CHAPTER XII
GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF CHINESE WOMEN, THEIR
SOCIAL POSITION, THEIR TRIALS AND SORROWS ;
AND TELLS HOW MRS. APRICOT, AIDED BY SOME
INTELLIGENT CHINESE LADIES, ENDEAVOURED TO
SUCCOUR THEM IN THEIR NEED.
ONLY those who have learnt their language and lived
among them, talking with them of their joys and
their sorrows, making them feel that they go among
them as friends, can really appreciate the position of
Chinese women, and sympathise with them.
They are never looked upon as the equals of their
husbands, and it is not thought necessary for girls to be
educated. Only since lady missionaries have devoted
their lives to work among women and girls of China have
parents realized that girls have brains as well as boys, if
only they get a chance to use them.
So for centuries they have lived and died in ignorance
of reading or writing. With but here and there a rare
exception, their lives are spent in a weary monotonous
round of cooking and field work, if of the working
classes ; cooking and making their pretty shoes and
headdresses, dressing themselves and painting their faces,
if of the middle and upper classes.
Gentlemen in China do not inquire of their friends how
their wife is and express the hope that she is well ; it is
not according to Chinese etiquette to mention the wife in
conversation at all, but if she has to be spoken of, some
expression of a very unflattering nature is used to indicate
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 109
who is meant, such as his " dull thorn." Men, when they
go visitinf^, do not take their wives with them as
Europeans do, and if the husband is receiving visitors the
wife and daughters keep as a rule to their own apartments.
Many girls have never spoken to a man outside their
own family before their wedding day. This remark
applies to the middle and upper classes.
The women of the working classes have certainly the
best of it, living as they do a more free and out-of-door
life, and having better health in consequence. They have
also the advantage in the matter of foot-binding, which,
though it exists, is not, in the nature of things, so
general where women have to carry loads or work in the
fields.
But the peculiar trials of women and girls in China
come from their custom of living in groups of
families. The sons of a household bring their brides to
their parents' home, where the mother-in-law's rule is
often extremely heavy, and where sisters-in-law are often
the reverse of friendly companions.
In addition to this there is the custom of foot-binding,
which brings them untold suffering; wounds and ulcers,
and many forms of blood-poisoning often resulting from
the cruel practice, which also prevents them from having
outdoor pleasures.
There is, however, a considerable awakening about the
evil of foot-binding, and societies have been formed in
various cities for the purpose of discouraging this evil
practice.
But as we realize how in our own small country
enthusiasts have been working and praying for many years
to educate public opinion on some matter of reform, say,
the subject of temperance, and have proved what a slow
and disheartening w^ork it is, we can understand that in
China a few circles united for the suppression of foot-
binding have a considerable task before them, as they
no DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
seek to convince four hundred millions of people that what
for several centuries has been their custom ought never
to exist.
Still, that such movements are on foot among the
upper classes is cause for congratulation.
One lady whom Mrs. Apricot had met among the upper
class ladies she visited and prescribed for from time to
time, who had not yet overcome their prejudice as to
seeing a foreign medical man, had held a meeting for
ladies of her own position to discuss the merits and
demerits of foot-binding. She had already unbound her
own feet, being more advanced than her friends, and the!
result of the meeting was that quite a number of ladies
joined the Union and agreed to allow their daughters to J
grow up with natural feet.
That this makes for better health, more freedom ofi
life and character there is no doubt, and one longs for the]
time when the binding of children's feet shall be an act]
punishable by the law of the land.
When Chinese women are visited by the ordinary achesj
and pains of human life, or when disease lays them low,]
they often endure in silence ; or are treated by thej
"wise" woman of the locality; or repair to a native
doctor ; in either case they are more frequently worse]
than better as a consequence. But more on the subject]
of native doctors will be found in the next chapter.
What women suffer in their confinements, sometimes
because of the early marriage age, and often because of
want of proper medical care, is more than we can speak
of. If matters do not run an even course the tortures
resorted to in order to bring about delivery cannot be
described.
Amid the general enlightenment which is working its
way into the minds of the gentry of " Heaven-Below "
through the doings of the Hospital of Universal
Benevolence, there had grown up the gradual conviction
DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " iii
that a midwifery school for training women for the busi-
ness of accoucheurs would be of immense advantage to the
ladies and indeed the women of all classes in the city.
So Dr. and Mrs. Apricot were approached by some of the
gentry as to the possibility of their doing something in
the matter.
Finally, they agreed to open a Midwifery Training
School, and had to build specially for this purpose a
convenient and suitable place, which they were able to do
within the hospital grounds, and thus have it in connec-
tion with the Mission.
When the school was built, with its lecture hall and
class-room, students' rooms, wards for practical training,
and wards for women after delivery, bills were put out
announcing that the school was ready, and inviting those
who wished to be trained to send in their names.
To the surprise of the staff many more applied than
they had expected, some ninety registering their names,
but only about fifty turned up on the day appointed for
interviews.
Mrs. Apricot and three of the native T'ai T'ai ladies
most interested in the work interviewed each candidate,
and questioned her as to her reason for wishing to be
trained, her age, family, health, &c. The candidates
were also examined in reading by one Chinese helper and
in writing by another.
Out of the number who offered themselves twenty-two
were ultimately trained, most of whom passed their
examinations exceedingly well, and obtained their certifi-
cates, and then departed to help their native sisters and
at the same time earn their own living. Eight of the
students learned the way of salvation and asked for
baptism. The matron also became more earnest and
clear in her faith, and requested to be baptised too, so
all were received into Church membership at the same
time,,
112 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
A few remained to help for a while in teaching the
Roman letters to the twenty-three new pupils who
sought admittance, and proved themselves no mean
teachers.
The great blessing which this branch of the work will
be to the women of " Heaven-below " in the most crucial
moments of their lives, we who know something of the
native treatment meted out to them by their fellow-
women, can well imagine, and not less will it begin a new
era in the lives of the infants of the Empire.
Many of the abnormal and enormous growths on the
heads of boys and girls, and men and women, are, we
believe, due to the terrible falls the children meet with
when they enter the world.
" How many thousands, ay, and tens of thousands of
mothers will have cause to bless the day this maternity
work was started," said Dr. Apricot to his wife one
morning, " I have been out since four o'clock at a very
distressing case, and had to use every effort to save the
mother's life."
"Were the people of the house nice?" asked Mrs.
Apricot.
" Yes, very, and so grateful. The husband and I talked
a good deal now and again, and he is ' coming to the
services on Sunday,' he says, ' to hear more of this good
news.' "
" What grand opportunities we get for sowing the
Gospel seed," replied his wife. After a pause she asked,
" Do you know any specially good news this morning,
Charlie ? "
*' No, is there any ? " asked the doctor.
"Yes, Dr. Fairfield has just been in to tell us he is
engaged to the sweetest lady in the i\Iission," she
answered.
" Sweetest to him," corrected the doctor, smiling.
" Oh I of course we understand that," she replied.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 113
"The lady is Miss Dawson ; I am so glad. I shall make
time to run over and tell her so."
" Dr. Fairfield needed a wife ; I am sure he was often
lonely; I am very glad for his sake too," Dr. Apricot
added. " If she proves to him what you have been to me,
Gertie, the man will be greatly blessed."
" Thank you, Charlie. Now let us get our breakfast,
for we are late — it is nearly church time.
CHAPTER XIII
CONTAINS SOME REMARKS ON NATIVE DOCTORS, AND TELLS
HOW EASILY A MAN PASSES FROM A COOK TO A
DOCTOR, FROM A BOTTLE-WASHER TO A DRUGGIST;
ALSO GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF THE TRAINING OF
STUDENTS IN WESTERN MEDICINE, AND OF A NEW
TREATMENT WHICH CAUSES MUCH ASTONISHMENT
TO THE NATIVES.
THOUSANDS of cases, more or less of a serious
nature, are not brought in their initial stage to the
Hospital of Universal Benevolence.
The usual thing is first to try native doctors and use
the remedies prescribed by them.
The training of a native doctor is very meagre, if
indeed he may be said to have any at all; he is merely
apprenticed to a quack, who takes great care not to make
him as wise as himself, remembering the proverb " The
teacher must always remain wiser than the taught."
Others inherit prescriptions and drugs as some people
do money, and often make fortunes out of their legacy,
to the sorrow and poverty and often the death of their
patients.
During the last thirty years servants in the employ of
mission houses or mission doctors have been called in on
occasions to help at dispensary work, and having become
bitten with the desire to better themselves, have left
their situation to set up as a " Western doctor," profiting
by the experience obtained in their "last place."
The diseases treated by these so-called doctors are more
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 115
often " improved for the worse," as the Irishman said,
than " improved for the better." Their knowledge of
drugs is very limited, and their knowledge of the human
body is much more limited still. An abscess is often
sealed up with a filthy plaster, " Warranted," as Dr.
Apricot often said, "never to come off," instead of being
lanced and drained.
Abdominal pains are grossly aggravated by rusty needles
being pushed into the body to find out how deeply rooted
the disease is ! in most cases adding blood-poisoning to
the original complaint.
Frequently powdered tiger bones are dusted into open
wounds to stop bleeding ! and the juice of snakes' skins
boiled down is sometimes applied as a balsam !
Patients often hover between the western medical man
and the native doctor, taking a dose of each medicine,
and wonder the cure is not as quick as magic !
Native surgical work is on a very small scale, and never
is any degree of cleanliness deemed an important factor
towards successful recovery.
How horrified an English surgeon would be to see "a
Chinese surgeon clip off an old standing opacity of the
cornea, or to see a dirty needle stuck into an opaque lens
to improve the patient's sight."
Patients constantly arrived at the Hospital of Universal
Benevolence in a dying condition, "the whole body
sick " from the things they had suffered of many
physicians (so called), and the whole heart faint with
dread of the inevitable future, of which they know
nothing, but imagine it to be crowded with unutterable
terrors and woes, infinitely worse than anything they have
seen or suffered in their present life.
Chinese doctors are not spoken of as general practi-
tioners, but as "inside body" doctors, " outside body"
doctors, and " eye doctors."
An illustration of this distinction was vividly portrayed
ii6 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
when a Chinese carpenter pierced his foot with an ugly
splinter, while building a house for a native doctor. The
doctor himself being on the premises at once intimated
that " for the usual gratuity he would attend to the foot."
The carpenter was a poor workman, not a master
builder, but paid the fee and tendered the injured member
for treatment.
The doctor promptly cut off the splinter level to the
surface of the foot, mixed a plaster and stuck it on.
" Is all the wood out of my foot ? " asked the patient ;
" it still has great pain."
*' Ah ! no — I have only dealt with the outside ; I am
not an inside doctor and dare not presume," was the
reply he received.
Truly it may be said of most of those who go to the
native doctors they are nothing the better but much the
worse ; money gone, health gone, patience gone, and only
the disease has gained ground in their poor afflicted
bodies.
" Why is breakfast so late this morning ? " Dr. Apricot
asked one morning, when he had waited ten minutes
beyond the usual time, and his wife at last appeared with
the resigned look on her face which showed plainly some-
thing had gone wrong.
" You may well ask, Charles," replied his wife. " * One-
of-Ten ' (the cook) has left without ' by your leave,' and
the washer-man did not presume to prepare breakfast
without orders ! They really are queer ! "
" Why did ' One-of-Ten ' want to leave ? Had he been
unsettled ? " inquired Dr. Apricot.
" I had not heard so," she answered as she quickly
assisted her husband to coffee. "'Born-old' (who was
the washer-man) says his grandfather has died suddenly ;
he was a native doctor and had quite a large practice, and
* One-of-Ten ' was sent for late last night to go home for
the funeral. As we were out he went to see what was
DOCTOR ArRTCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 117
really the matter. This morning he has sent word that
he has to take up his grandfather's practice at once, so
will come later for his belongings and to say ' Good-bye.'
He has sent his younger brother who has learnt cooking
under him the last year, to see if we will take him on as
cook."
" Rather cool of * One-of-Ten.' What a lot of people
he will kill before he has been a doctor very long," he
answered, helping himself to more toast and butter.
Mrs, Apricot continued smiling. " His father thinks
he will be able to keep the practice better than his
brothers, as he has lived with the great western doctor,
and * Born-old ' says * One-of-Ten ' always used to say he
would like doctoring people, and that was why he was
always eager to gossip with the students on every possible
occasion that he might pick up knowledge."
Later in the day " One-of-Ten " in his new silk coat,
cloth waistcoat, and pea-green trousers, with spectacles
on (he had never needed them before as cook!), came with
a younger brother to take away his personal belongings.
He looked quite the learned doctor and had the grace
to blush when the doctor asked him if he felt himself
equal to his profession.
" I have learnt much here," he said, " but I should not
have left serving the doctor and his lady now but for the
command of my father. With the Western learning
which I have gained here ("in puddings and cakes"
thought the doctor) and with my grandfather's superior
prescriptions, which are very old, as he inherited them
from liis grandfather, and therefore they have years beyond
count and are of much value, I hope to make a fortune in
time."
So " One-of-Ten " (now calling himself Dr. Plum)
bowed himself out of the room and went " below stairs,"
as we should say at home, but literally went across to the
servants' quarters, where he was surprised to find the
ii8 DOCTOR APRTCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
Christian servants did not make quite as much of him as
he did of himself.
" We all have our trials in this life, Gertie," the doctor
remarked to his wife in the evening, "but cheer up, you
will hear of another cook soon."
" I have heard of one," she answered quickly.
" Who ? I hope the new-comer is a Christian ; I have
often felt ' One-of-Ten ' was not the best of influences in
the kitchen."
" So have I," ag^reed his wife, " but he professed him-
self an inquirer when I engaged him, and his name was
down as such ; the native pastor told me so. However,
he has gone ; and who do you think has been to see me
this afternoon ? "
" I cannot guess," he replied.
" Dear old ' Arrived-late ' and his wife. He left us and
set up a tea-shop and has made a nice little sum by it,
but he longs to be back with us again and has offered to
come at the same wages he used to have."
" What about his wife ? " asked the doctor.
" She is so keen to live here too," replied Mrs.. Apricot,
" and wants no wages, if she may make herself useful, in
teaching and sewing. She could teach the patients and
would be of real use in the sewing way. So I think I
will take them. He was an earnest Christian and has
been true since he left us. What do you think, Charles ? "
" I really don't think we could do better," the doctor
replied, "so settle the matter with them. We always
found them both excellent servants, and they only left us
and set up the tea-shop when we went home on furlough,
so it is not as if there had been any disagreement on either
their side or ours."
" What a comfort it will be to have ' Arrived-late ' back
again," Mrs. Apricot said with a sigh.
" Don't sigh, wife ; tears come in the morning "^and joy
at night ; the reverse order of things, isn't it ? "
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 119
" Charles, you know I did not cry," exclaimed Mrs.
Apricot, shaking her finger at the doctor and laughing as
she left the room to inquire if " Arrived-late " was still on
the premises.
Finding he was waiting below, Mrs. Apricot soon
engaged the man as cook, and his wife to be general help
wherever she was wanted, in return for board and
lodging.
" It will be great happiness to be back with the doctor
and the lady," the man replied. " It was here I learned
the doctrine, and here I feel my home ; I trust future time
give the lady heart-rest " (satisfaction).
A few weeks later the doctor had a letter from a fellow
medical missionary some distance away saying he wanted
a useful boy for dispensary work, washing bottles,
sweeping, and other similar duties. Could Dr. Apricot
recommend him one from " Heaven-Below ? " "You will
be amused," continued the letter, " to hear my bottle-
washer, who was only with us three weeks, has left us to
become a druggist ! and has opened a shop. The boy
came into a little money (a few dollars) and thought he
would like to be a doctor, but as he was put to the bottom
of the ladder to subdue his proud spirit and so prepare his
mind to receive instruction, he took umbrage at being told
to bring pipes for some Chinese gentlemen who had to
wait until I could see them, as I was in the middle of an
operation when they arrived.
" I need hardly say he is no loss. But we see he has
opened a new and gaily painted shop and stocked it with
the old stock of a druggist who has made enough to retire
on ! We all feel sorry for his patients, for the lad has
absolutely no knowledge of drugs. But he tells us he is
sure to do well and make a lot of money, for all drugs
have to be paid for beforehand, and he will have a good
trade in opium.
" There really ought to be some legislation to prevent
I20 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
unqualified doctors and druggists being able to set up as
they do."
Also another difficulty met with by European doctors is
the general ignorance of the patients themselves.
Dr. Apricot on one occasion found a patient whose
condition though not very alarming ought to have yielded
to the medicine he had given. The bad cough was
certainly no better, though his breath was considerably
sweeter, as he noticed directly the man sat down opposite
to him.
"Well," began the doctor, *'so your cough is no
better ? "
"No, doctor," replied the old man, coughing and
expectorating to show how bad it still was.
" Did you take the medicine as I told you ? " inquired
the doctor.
" That was so," again replied the patient.
" Tell me," said the doctor looking up his notebook to
see what he had prescribed and the directions he had
given, " how did I tell you to take the medicine ?"
" Yes, doctor," answered the old man. " I ate the fat,
it was not sufficiently strong, I think, and I rubbed my
knee with the lotion, but it did not raise any blister, nor
even make my leg warm ! "
" Oh, ' Seen- Goodness ' (the man's name), you may well
not be better ! I gave you the sulphur ointment for your leg
and the medicine for your cough! " exclaimed the doctor.
Fresh instructions and fresh medicine and " Seen-
Goodness " departed to let in another patient.
" Well, ' Morning-Glory,' how are you ? Any better
to-day ? " inquired the doctor once more.
" Nearly recovered," replied the man, smiling. " I
took the pills, all but one, which my wife stole and ate
for her pains in her back, so I ate the paper they had been
wrapped in ; some of the goodness had no doubt lodged
in the paper and I am much better!"
DOCTOR APRFCOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " 121
The doctor fairly f^roancd, but ordered fresh medicine
to be put in a bottle this time and gave yet clearer
instructions to the man " not to swallow the bottle, or
give the medicine to his wife,"
The next patient came in and began taking off her
coverings, and the doctor turned to see, as he expected,
the horrible ulcer he had treated a week ago.
" What is this ? " he asked, pointing to a huge black
plaster, which looked as if it had been put on with a
mason's trowel. " You have not poulticed it as I told
you."
" Oh, yes, poultice on now, native doctor order plaster,
so put that on too!
The doctor sent the woman to the dispensary to have
it taken off, and when it did at last yield to pressure and
came away, the odour from the wound cleared the
dispensary quicker than Yamen runners could have done,
and only the dressers and the woman were left ; but who
could stand a smell like that and the temperature nearly
100 degrees in the shade.
To dispel ignorance and superstitious practices such as
have been referred to, and also other practices even worse
(as the sacrificing to idols, consulting astrologers, fortune-
tellers, and witches), only the training and educating of
native students to be fully qualified medical men in large
numbers will ever avail. European doctors will never
go out in any adequate numbers to China on their own
account as practising physicians and surgeons, or under
the various Missionary Societies as Medical Missionaries
to minister to the teeming millions of Chinese.
The demand for Western doctoring is far too great
for the few European or American doctors ever to supply,
and if the Medical Missionaries do not continue to train
even larger numbers than they have ever yet trained, the
population will have to continue to suffer the torture and
malpractices of the native doctors as they do now.
122 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
The training of medical students has been, so far, very
uphill work ; doctors have had to translate their text
books into Chinese as they have wanted them, and
prepare their lectures in English and translate them into
Chinese before giving them.
About one hundred students have been trained at the
Medical College in connection with the Hospital of
Universal Benevolence, and their success has more than
repaid Dr. Apricot for the trouble and expense of
educating them.
To be able to take in fresh students every year the
teaching staff of the Medical College should be increased
to six. Up to the time of writing this story the teaching
staff has only numbered two, and because of this students
have only been able to enter every five years.
If the European staff of teachers could be augmented
to six there would, after the fifth year, be some graduating
every year, and also their places, as they pass out, could
be filled by new students beginning their first year's
course.
The first three batches of students were all Christians,
but the demand for Western medical training has been
so great since the Boxer troubles that a few heathen
students have been admitted for training.
The fees paid by these students more than pay all their
expenses, and help towards paying the native staff.
If this little book falls into the hands of any medical
man who for Christ's sake will go forth and help in this
noble work in the city of " Heaven-Below " he will be
heartily welcomed.
The work waits to be done, and the time passes. When
China has found her feet and feels herself equal to the
nations of the West, those who by their teaching and
preaching, by their working and praying, by their lives
lived for her as well as by their lives laid down for her,
will rejoice if she comes forth from her long sleep to take
DOCTOR APRrCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 123
her place among the nations of the world, not as a
civilised power only, but as a power for Christ.
Among the men who have been trained by Dr. Apricot
more than one has died, one or two have been led away
from the Mission by the desire to accumulate fortunes as
speedily as possible, but the rest of the Christian students
are all working directly or indirectly in the Mission, if
not actually in the hospital or its branch establishments.
More than once some of these Christian young fellows,
since their training, have been offered salaries double
that which they receive in connection with their Alma
Mater ; but they have resisted the temptation and are
still working for God and their fellow-men in the Medical
Mission and doing good work, spiritual as well as
medical.
When the last set of students — the fourth set which
had graduated during the last twenty-five years — received
their diplomas ; the hall was beautifully decorated for
the occasion with flowers and flags, English, Chinese,
American, and Japanese. The English, American, and
Japanese Consuls were present ; also the head of the
Customs, the Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs,
the Prefect of " Heaven-Below," the Director of the
Native Military School, the Interpreter, the District
Magistrate, and all the distinguished Mandarins of the
city and the Headmasters of the different Colleges, both
foreign and Chinese.
The proceedings were opened with an address by the
Chairman, Dr. Apricot, and the singing of a hymn
written by one of the students themselves. Then the
head of the native staff at the hospital, Dr. Liu
(who was the first student trained in connection with
the hospital and who has since done most excellent
work), read the report of the examinations, gave some
account of the course of work the students had been
through, and finally called the roll in order of merit.
124 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
The students who had passed, seven in number, then
stepped forward as their names were read out, wearing
official dress, and looking very proud and happy on
account of their success.
Dr. Apricot himself presented the diplomas, which
were printed on white parchment in large type in both
English and Chinese.
The Official Director of the Bureau, representing the
Government of the Province, then gave an excellent
address to the students, hoping they would keep up
their studies and never let their knowledge pass from their
minds, but endeavour to rise higher and higher in their
profession. He wished them all success in their future work
and trusted they would be very useful in healing the sick.
The English Consul then congratulated them upon
their success, and also congratulated Dr. Apricot upon
his efforts which had been so strenuously carried out for
more than a quarter of a century, the monument of which
was not in the accumulated lands or numerous institu-
tions which they could see any day they chose to look,
but was built in the lives and hearts of the thousands of
citizens of " Heaven-Below.
The Bishop of the Diocese having said a few words and
closed the meeting with prayer, the whole assembly then
passed out into the pretty gardens of the hospital and
made their way into the doctor's house where, in the
drawing-room and on the wide verandahs, tea was served
by Mrs. Apricot to the officials, missionaries, and other
friends who had been present.
After tea many friends looked through the men's and
women's hospitals, the refuges for lepers, the children's
home, and the other institutions which have not yet been
described.
Some went up to the West Lake to see the last new
buildings and the patients, who, to their own astonish-
ment, were recovering there without medicine.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 125
These buildings were the Fresh-air Home and the
Convalescent Home.
Vast numbers of patients came annually for treatment
who were victims of consumption ; in some cases inherited,
but in hundreds of cases through lack of sanitation, good
food and fresh air. If these cases were put into the
General Hospital they took up the beds, and acute cases
who were needing immediate attention had to be refused.
This then was the solution of Dr. Apricot ; not, at that
time to enlarge the General Hospital, but to provide a
separate building where fresh air, cleanliness, and good
food should be the order of the day.
So three miles away on the beautiful West Lake,
which is on three sides enclosed by hills, while on the
remaining side the land slopes away across the rice fields
to the city of " Heaven-Below," the doctor built a Fresh
Air Home and a Convalescent Home. Higher up the
hills he had years ago built the Missionaries' Sanatorium,
and beside the lake the Men's Leper Refuge, which has
been referred to before in these pages.
A curious looking Pagoda overlooks the Lake from the
hill on one side, and on the south bank of the Lake there
is another and even older looking building.
As a rule the Chinese have always been very jealous of
foreigners building near pagodas, lest the sun should
cause a shadow to be cast from the erection across their
pagoda, and thus injure the good luck and prosperity of
the city, over which the pagodas are supposed to keep
guard.
The land on which stood the pagoda and all the " Merciful
Hostels " erected by Dr. Apricot was given him in
exchange by the Mandarins of "Heaven-Below" for
another piece of land which after the deed was signed
and the money paid down turned out to be the supposed
" Royal Pathway of the Red Dragon." Superstition,
though melting, does not yet in " Heaven-Below " allow
126 DOCTOR ArRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
foreigners, however much appreciated and beloved, to
build right in the way of this all tormenting power.
So although the yielding had to be shown in a dignified
and fitting spirit, the exchanged place was in fact more
beautifully situated and more conveniently near the
doctor's other work than the Royal Pathway would have
been. Thus all parties were pleased and contented, and
Dr. Apricot and the Mission in whose name he holds all
these buildings, are, it is believed, the only foreign land-
lords of a pagoda known in China.
This then was the situation of these new buildings.
The patients were able to hve in the open air,
surrounded with beautiful scenery, the hills being covered
with red azaleas and huge white dog roses in the spring,
and other flowers in the autumn, beside the glorious red
and gold of autumn leafage.
The patients when they were well enough could row, or
be rowed, on the lovely lake and help to keep the larder
supplied with really wholesome fresh fish when their
inclinations led them that way.
Their astonishment, however, at the Fresh Air Treat-
ment is better imagined than described, knowing as we
do their innate desire to shut out all air when they
feel ill, except indeed the foul close air of their
own small rooms, which they shut in as carefully as
they can.
The following conversation will, however, give a slight
impression of their surprise.
" Do not refuse me admittance to your honourable
hospital, I have the $2 for my food," said a tuberculosis
patient one morning.
" I fear we cannot take you in here — but I will send
you to the Fresh Air Home at West Lake," said the doctor,
smiling.
" May I have some medicine ? " said the patient.
" I think not ; the treatment is not physic as you mean
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 127
it," said the doctor. " Go up to the Fresh Air Home and
present this card and I will see you there."
The patient unbelievingly still pleaded " But, no
medicine, no better."
" Fresh air and good food is number one good medicine
for you," replied the doctor. " If I find you do not get
better I will give you some medicine."
A few days later the doctor rode over to see his
unbelieving patient.
" How is your body ? " inquired the doctor cheerily.
" Oh ! great gladness to see the beloved doctor,"
bemoaned the patient.
" What is the matter ? " inquired the doctor.
" Here so many winds, so much air, so much washing
of the body, so much eating, body so sad ; no medicine,
no plaster for my chest. I think hospital in ** Heaven-
Below " much more better ! "
The doctor sat down, felt the patient's pulse, looked at
her tongue, took her to the weighing machine, found that
in three days only she had gained two pounds in weight,
and then set himself to cheer her up. He finally per-
suaded her to remain another week.
Long before the end of the month the patient was
decidedly stronger, and begging to be kept another
month.
The patients quite understand that they must pay for
the treatment, or, if very poor, that it must be paid for by
some one on their behalf.
The cost of full " stuffing " treatment is $15 a month,
and $5 a month for ordinary diet.
To make this expensive establishment pay Dr. Apricot
advertises that he is willing to take patients from a dis-
tance if properly recommended by those who will
guarantee their expenses.
The surprise and delight of their friends when the
patients return home, having added many pounds to
128 DOCTOR AP'RICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW »
their weight and so much colour to their cheeks that the
rouge pot is no longer needed, is excessive, while they
exclaim " No medicine ! Only the fresh air I and many
feasts every day ! Truly these Western doctors are very
clever, to cure people in this fashion."
CHAPTER XIV
GIVES SOME INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CHINESE
OPIUM REFORM, AND SHEWS THE CONNECTING LINK
BETWEEN IT AND THfi AFFECTIONATE FAREWELL
ACCORDED TO DR. AND MRS. APRICOT ON THEIR
RETURN HOME FOR THEIR THIRD FURLOUGH. IT
ALSO SHEWS THE TREE FULLY GROWN.
THE first chapter in this story of Medical Mission
work told of the arrival of Dr. Apricot to take
charge of the Opium Refuge in the city of
" Heaven-Below." He had never lost sight of this
branch of his work, in spite of his many other efforts in
various directions.
One might say that no day had passed, when the presence
of the victims of this drug in the Opium Refuge did not
serve as a protest against the opium smoking habit, not
only to the poor victims themselves, but to hundreds of
others ; the patients in the hospital, and their friends
who visited them ; the out-patients who heard about the
Refuge and talked of it to their friends and neighbours ;
the tradespeople who had much coming and going where
so large an establishment had to be kept up ; the visitors
of the more wealthy classes, who called " to see " the
hospital, and no less to the hundreds of daily passers-by
who read the notice boards at the hospital entrance of
the humane efforts which were made within to cure
opium victims.
The old proverb, " Continual droppings wear the
129 ^
I30 DOCTOR APRfCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
hardest stone " is true of the united efforts of Missionaries
of all denominations working in China, who by their speak-
ing and writing upon the opium curse, have had a large
share in raising public opinion with regard to the matter.
Nor can one fail to acknowledge the effect of the Anti-
Opium Meetings of protest which have been held in
London and elsewhere, to enlighten the home people
concerning the growing evil of this habit upon the life
and character of the Chinese people.
Chinese statesmen have been also awakened to see that
definite efforts must be made to rid their country of this
enthralling vice, and after much correspondence with the
English Government an understanding was arrived at, by
which England agreed, that if the Chinese Government
reduced the consumption of native opium by a certain
amount each year, they on their part would reduce the
export of Opium from India by a similar amount.
It remains to be seen how far this contract has been
carried out on both sides.
One thing is very evident, viz., that during the past
four or five years the Officials in China have been making
strenous efforts to put down this evil.
In " Heaven-Below " Dr. Apricot had treated people of
all grades of society for this habit, and his work in this
direction was recognised by all who heard of it.
But when the Government influence was set in the
same direction, then more prominent countenance was
given to his work of redemption in this particular line.
In July, 1907, by order of the City Authorities all
opium dens in the City of " Heaven-Below " were closed.
And in the increasing number of patients who came to
be treated, the hospital staff recognised that energetic
reform was setting in.
So great were the numbers of applicants, that all could
not be received, and Dr. Apricot and Dr. Fairfield opened
another Refuge temporarily to meet the need.
New ChJnA. A Patient and Friend,
To Jiiri i>.,m
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 131
In the Autumn of the year a great civic function was
held on Heaven's Peak when all the opium pipes, opium
trays, and other paraphernalia connected with the smoking
of opium, which had been cleared out of the dens which
had been closed, were brought to the top of the Peak to be
burned. A huge bon-fire was made of them in the presence
of Mandarins, soldiers, students, and thousands of the
populace. The pile had been well soaked with paraffin
oil before it was set on fire, and as the flames leaped
Heaven-ward, shouts of rejoicing went up from the crowd.
Speeches were made by the Officials, and some of the
native clergy and medical staff were also called upon to
give their opinion of the habit and to tell of the successful
efforts which had been made in the Opium Refuge to save
the victims from their besetting vice.
Some six or seven thousand pipes were destroyed that
afternoon, but that does not represent anything like the
number of smokers ; probably not less than 50,000 people
had been in the habit of using those same pipes in the
now closed opium dens.
The people who had hitherto tried to evade meeting
the European doctors, less they should try and influence
them to abstain from using the drug, now in daily greater
numbers crowded about them begging to be cured, and
acknowledging that their efforts had much helped to
educate the people and make them willing to aid in the
wholesale reform which was taking place.
One man begged " to be allowed to be cured."
" Certainly we shall be much pleased to help you ; it
will be hard work, but if you are determined you will
conquer," said Dr. Apricot.
" All the city," replied the man, " knows the goodness
of the honourable great Western doctor and that for
years added to years he has been curing the willing ones,
but now the unwilling must also be cured or die. The
doctor's work will now be greater very much."
132 DOCTOR APTirCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
A good many Tartars applied amongst others for
admittance into the Refuge. The Tartar General took
up the Reform vigorously, and about thirty men were sent
as a first instalment of those found guilty of the practice
of opium smoking. There were others, to the number of
about 150, to come by future instalments.
The preaching of Jesus and of His power to save went
on in each ward and all had the Gospel lovingly presented
to them.
Some were more willing to hear the preaching than
others, and those who received the word of truth, by
the Almighty help of the Almighty God gained the
victory.
The time was now drawing near when Dr. Apricot and
his wife were to go home on their furlough.
The doctor was not leaving his work without consider-
able anxiety. It was true he was fortunate in having
Dr. Fairfield and Dr. Baytree to carry on the work, who
would have the valuable help of tried and trusted native
doctors, as well as the assistance of a European chemist,
Mr. Meadows, and a trained nurse, Miss Do-well, who had
both worked faithfully for some years ; but the matter of
the buildings, their repair and enlargement, and the pro-
viding of further accommodation for the ever growing
work pressed heavily upon his heart and mind.
The number of students applying for Western Medical
training was far greater than could be admitted to the
Medical School, which was very small and not convenient
for the work in any way, and a new Medical School was
needed in which forty or fifty students might be
concurrently trained, who when fully qualified could be
planted out in country towns and villages, with a mission
dispensary to superintend.
A new doctor's house was also needed in the compound
to accommodate the addition to the staff who had arrived
in the person of Dr. Baytree.
To face p, 13o,
Dr. Liu, Wife and Child.
DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW" 133
A new Infection Hospital was also needed, properly
fitted, for the reception of infectious cases to prevent the
sad occurrence of the previous outbreaks of scarlet fever,
when several patients in the surgical and medical wards
were infected and died in consequence of the first case
being in a ward which was not isolated.
So the return of Dr. Apricot to his own country for
furlough was a very qualified pleasure, weighted as it was
with the burden of all these needs.
Still, he believed and trusted that friends in the home-
land would rise to the emergency and help China in this
the mid-day of her opportunity.
When the natives heard of Dr. Apricot's approaching
departure, they came in crowds day after day, bringing
presents of all kinds as tokens of their gratitude to one
who had for nearly thirty years proved himself friend,
adviser, teacher, doctor and benefactor to one and all who
had sought his help. Nor was his wife forgotten in the
numerous gifts which were presented, for she was equally
beloved for all her tender ministrations.
A largely attended prayer meeting was held, in which
both Native Christians and European Missionaries took
part, commending Dr. Apricot and his wife to God's
Almighty care and protection during the twelve months
of separation.
Then Dr. Fairfield dropped in on the Friday before
they were to start.
" I have come," he said, " to tell you there is to be a
great farewell meeting to-morrow night in the Lecture
Hall. The natives have planned it all and the head
doctor of the native Staff is arranging everything. You
must not go near the Lecture Hall, which is being most
beautifully decorated for the occasion."
" How kind of them," said both the doctor and his
wife, at once.
" It will be a great effort and they are trying to make it
134 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
worthy of you," said Dr. Fairfield, " the Head says there
are to be speeches and music, and a special acclamation
of thanks, and I cannot tell you what— the students are
full of excitement."
" We were just talking of you and saying you will not
feel so lonely this time, having your wife and Dr. Baytree
who will be here while he learns the language," said
Mrs. Apricot.
" The work is really beyond the oversight of two
doctors now, even with efficient native help," said Dr.
Fairfield," but I shall be truly thankful to see you both back
The place is not the same when you are both away."
" Well I can only say one thing, keep cheerful and
keep others cheerful, and then the work will go on
smoothly, said Dr. Apricot. " Pray hard and keep be-
lieving," he added, shaking Dr. Fairfield by the hand.
The Farewell Meeting was well carried out ; abundant
testimony was borne by all to the work of Dr. Apricot,
and many touching references were made to him and
Mrs. Apricot. He could hardly speak when called upon
to do so, but after a few moments his voice grew steady
and he gave them a farewell address, commending all in
prayer to God at the close.
The Sunday Services were felt by all in the Mission to
be of the nature of a farewell. As many as possible
gathered together around the Table of the Lord in
sweet fellowship with Him and with one another.
The following day a huge procession escorted the
doctor and his wife to the railway station. The students
headed the procession with flags specially prepared for
the day.
Then followed hundreds of grateful patients ; then the
ladies' chairs ; then Mrs. Apricot and her native helper
(whom she was taking with her to England to study for
the L.O.S. degree in that country).
Following them came the Maternity students; then
To face II 7-K,
DOCTOR APRfCOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW " 135
more flags and men from the Lake-side Homes ; then
came Dr. Apricot; Dr. Liu, his head native doctor and
friend ; Dr. Fairfield, and Dr. Baytree ; followed by
numbers of gentry, officials, and more friends and admirers
— a long and imposing procession from the hospital to the
train, which took them to the water side, where a special
tug was waiting to convey the party to the steamer en
route to Shanghai. Before they entered the house-boat
many more officials joined them. The Consuls also,
and many Missionaries, and European friends in large
numbers, arrived to give them a good send-off, a worthy
close to another happy and successful term of work.
" Don't forget the building fund and the repairs where-
ever you go, doctor," said Dr. Fairfield, as he shook the
doctor's hand. " The Lord prosper you in all your
undertaking, may the hand of the Lord be upon you for
good."
The steamer whistled and they were off.
At Shanghai the native doctor was most attentive, look-
ing after everything and never leaving them until the boat
was just about to start, when he said, " May the blessing
of God protect you both ! May He prosper you and
bless you and bring you home to us your children in
peace."
In the foregoing pages we have traced the history of
the Medical Mission in " Heaven-Below " which had its
rise about fifty years ago in the establishment of an
Opium Refuge, which was as a grain of mustard seed sown
by one convinced of a great evil, and determined to do
what he could to remedy its effects. That seed has
produced, in the numerous and varied institutions now
to be found in connection with the medical work in
" Heaven-Below," a great tree whose leaves are for the
healing of the Chinese nation.
APPENDIX
REPORT OF THE HANGCHOW MEDICAL
MISSION.
Staff:-
Dr. and Mrs, Duncan Main.
Dr. and Mrs. Kember.
Dr. L. C. p. Beatty.
Mr. Morgan.
Miss Morris.
TO give some idea of what goes on and how it is
accomplished, may we first mention the different
branches of work connected with the Mission
hospital which was erected in 1884.
First of all there is the men's hospital with over 100 beds,
including emergency and infectious wards ; the latter being
separated from the main building. There is a dispensary ,
consulting rooms and surgery for out-patients, and wait-
ing-hall, in which the patients assemble to hear the
Gospel which is being proclaimed by evangelist and
Bible-woman while they wait for consultation. At the
entrance of the compound there is a Registrar's Office,
where patients are registered, fees paid, and all business
connected with " middlemen," etc., is transacted ; and for
convenience there is also here a medicine shop and book
store. Next comes the opiiini refuge which has been
turned into a medical college and hostel to meet the largely
increased applications from students to be taught
136
APPENDIX 137
Western medicine. At present there are sixty students,
Christian and non-Christian, in training, and a house
master and one of the five native teachers Hve with them ;
the headmaster residing at hand. To meet the rush of
opium smokers wanting to be cured, caused by the
Imperial Edict ordering all opium-dens to be closed,
another refuge was temporarily erected and for some time
fully occupied. The women's hospital has accommodation
for sixty patients and rooms for assistants, pupils and
nurses, etc. From time to time extra wards have been
added to meet the needs of the work. A maternity hospital
and training school ; the former has beds for ten patients
and the latter has had over twenty-five pupils in residence,
besides matron and servants. To complete the list we
must still mention the refuge for leper women with at
present three inmates and a caretaker ; also a home for
the untainted children of lepers, which has enlarged its
usefulness by adding to these children others who have
needed help and protection from time to time, and who
now number thirteen all told. This outline gives our
readers some idea of the work to be superintended inside oi
the city. But at the West Lake there is the leper refuge
for men, with at present forty inmates, and convalescent
and fresh air homes for men and women, occupied fully
in the summer months.
With this preliminary sketch of the nature and use of
the various departments of work, we will now try and
describe as briefly as possible the way in which the work
has to be " got through."
The " work-day " is commenced by a service at 8.30
a.m. in the chapel (this does not mean, however, that
work is not going on before then, such as emergency
cases, attention to in-patients, etc., as may be necessary),
and all from the different hospitals, medical and maternity
schools, men, women, and children are, when possible,
expected to be present. This service and evening
138 DOCTOR APRICOT OF " HEAVEN-BELOW "
prayers (at the latter only men attend) are conducted by
the foreign doctors and native evangelists and assistants
in turn on each day in the week. At g o'clock Drs. Main
and Kember begin their work with the in-patients ;
Mr. Morgan goes to the dispensary to attend to medicines
and help the dispensers and pupils learning this work.
Dr. Kember visits the men's wards with house-physician
and students, who have already been seeing to cases before
the doctor's visit, and gives them a clinical lecture. At
the same time Dr. Main visits the women's hospital with
Mrs. Main, Miss Morris, and girl-assistants and pupil-
nurses, and lectures to the pupils on certain days in the
week. Operations of any importance are done by Dr.
Main in the women's hospital on Wednesdays at g o'clock ;
minor ones are done as the occasion requires. This rule
applies to the men's hospital also, though there it is
impossible to keep to a regular day or days.
Visits to hospitals being over, the out-patients, who are
probably waiting for some time, have to be attended to,
and while Dr. Main and assistants are seeing and
prescribing for them. Dr. Kember and students are as
busy as possible in the surgery attending to minor
operations, teeth pulling, etc., etc. After out-patients are
seen, and sometimes on certain days wedged in before,
lectures to medical and maternity students have to be
given till 12.15.
Then comes an interval of three-quarters of an hour for
lunch, after which work recommences. Correspondence,
giving orders, writing up cases, teaching students, more
attention to in-patients, accounts, and the hundred and
one things that crop up without arrangement, and
emergency cases, must be attended to by one or other of
the doctors at the hospital ; while the other one has
medical visits to pay to the Custom House and staff
bi-weekly, six miles distant, as well as visits to foreign and
native patients, to the various institutions which we
APPENDIX 139
have already said are outside of the city, as each day
requires.
In the evening there is often translation work on hand,
or (as lately) much behindhand, and matters connected
with hospital and college, which have had no chance for
consultation in the day, are often attended to then.
Medical and other reading have to be thrown in as it were
when opportunity occurs.
In answer to questions asked by fellow-medical
missionaries regarding various methods of management,
we will, as far as possible, refer to them under their
different heads : —
In-patients are seen every day by the foreign doctors,
and the duty of the house-physician is to attend to them
on entrance, put them in touch with the students who act
as dressers and see that each case is taken down. On
admission, patients have a bath and their own garments
exchanged for hospital ones ; theirs being handed to the
" middle-man," whom every patient must have. As to a
daily bath we can only say that this state of hygienic
perfection is not yet attained to in our hospitals, except in
summer, but we aim at it, and in time hope to have it
when foreign nurses can superintend the male patients.
The wardmen or male nurses in charge of each ward
attend to the clothing and bedding of their respective
wards, and are responsible and have to account for these
articles on Saturdays, the day on which soiled garments
are exchanged for clean. We shall refer later to this
department.
All money received from in-patients for their board and
from other sources is paid to the registrar, who gives
account of, and pays to, the doctors in charge ; likewise
all money received from sales of medicine is paid to the
chemist. All accounts with the registrar, hospital buyer,
cook and workmen are paid on Saturdays. A question
difficult to answer is, " How far certain helpers can be
I40 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
trusted ? " One can only answer by saying: "We trust
as far as eye can see, and when out of sight, walk
by faith ! "
Out-patients are seen every day by the foreign doctors,
and only by native assistants alone when both medical
men are urgently called away. Consultation cases are
seen at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and for each visit a
charge of one dollar is made. If the patient is seen at his or
her house the fee is ten dollars during the day and twenty
dollars at night. These fees are paid in at the registrar's
office.
House-keeping. — The management of the kitchen applies
to the men's hospital alone, as the other hospitals are run
on a different plan. We employ a head cook, who
engages other four to assist him. The contract with him
is at the rate of twelve cents per day, or 3*60 dollars per
month for each patient, which sum he receives, whether
the patient is on special diet or not.
Bedding, etc. — From the commencement of the work in
1882 we determined to provide bedding and clothes for
the patients, which plan has been carried out till now.
Hitherto the superintendence and storage of it has been
unsatisfactory, and Mrs. Main has added this to her other
duties and has it in her charge. A room in the women's
hospital outbuildings is given over to storage of above, and
on Saturday afternoons all wardmen, with two native
helpers and native matron from the women's hospital,
meet Mrs. Main here. The wardmen, who have each a
book, give in their list of soiled linen, and the helpers in
exchange give out the clean garments, sheets, etc. ; these
are entered into a register, and when each wardman has
received his allotment, the soiled articles are counted and
two lists made out ; one taken by our coolies who carry
the loads to the city washerman and one kept for ourselves.
A receipt is brought back from the washerman, and at
the end of the week the clothes are counted and checked.
APPENDIX 141
Each wardman has so many things given for the use of
his ward, for which he has to give an account at the end
of the month ; garments, etc., beyond repair are put
aside for other purposes, and an entry is kept of all such
for deduction from the list. Only by being present, and
attending to details herself on the giving-out day, can Mrs.
Main keep the inventory up to the mark, and even then
there are ways and means of lessening the total which are
almost beyond control.
Evangelistic. — Seven or eight years ago a chapel was
erected in the compound to meet the needs of this side of
the work, which has always been our desire to keep to the
front. We have no chaplain, but doctors, evangelists and
assistants all take a share in this part of the work. Two
services are held on Sundays ; the morning one is very
well attended, the chapel being full. Morning and evening
prayers are held in it, different members of the hospital
staff taking in turn the lead. The morning lesson is
chosen, read by the male element who can read verse by
verse, and thereafter follow explanation and prayer. A
weekly prayer meeting is always conducted by Dr. Main,
and preaching and bedside teaching have their appointed
time in the work of the hospital, Just now evangelists
are scarce, and the important work of visiting patients at
their homes in country villages and towns cannot be fully
taken advantage of. Tract distribution and sale of
Scripture portions are also amongst the efforts made to
reach the heathen. Bible classes for students and others
connected with the work, are conducted on various days
of the week.
Women's Hospital, Maternity Home, Lepers and Children's
Home, are under Mrs. Main's personal superintendence.
Each is a distinct building and managed separately.
Patients are registered at the general office and escorted
to the hospital by the porter. Their names, etc., are also
entered in the registers of the above hospitals, as the case
142 DOCTOR APRICOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW"
requires, by the head-assistant in charge. Rules and
regulations for the conduct of the hospitals are hung at
each entrance. We employ in the women's hospital only
women servants, with the exception of an outside coolie.
The buying, cooking, washing, and sewing are done by
them. There is a matron and three nurse-amahs, head
assistant and three assistant-pupils and two new pupils.
Each has her distinct work and wards allotted to her;
the patients' case is taken by the assistant in charge,
which she reads to the doctor on his morning visit
They prepare for operations, sterilising dressings and
instruments, etc., attend lectures in class and at the clinic.
All money received from patients' board and paid out for
food and furnishings, etc., are in charge of Miss Chow,
head assistant, who keeps the daily accounts and pays in
to Mrs. Main, every Saturday, who keeps the accounts for
the above hospitals, etc. We have now obtained the
valuable help of Nurse Morris, who has recently come out
from England, and has commenced this year to give
regular assistance and take up the superintendence of the
nursing, and in time we hope will have classes for train-
ing nurses.
Maternity Hospital and Training School has special rules
and regulations. Patients are admitted free and, as the
work is a " new venture," arrangements were made, with
some of the gentry who subscribe towards its support, to
receive pupils on these lines for three years. The first
class of students finished the prescribed course last year
and received certificates qualifying them to practice
midwifery. Some of the graduates have remained with
us to assist in the work of the hospital ; they receive no
remuneration for their services from us. We have
constant calls to attend cases at their homes. No charge
is made, nor are the pupils allowed to receive money,
though they may accept presents in kmd. All contribu-
tions from these patients, in gratitude for assistance
APPENDIX 143
rendered, are put to the funds of the Maternity Hospital.
There are at present eighteen pupils in training who have
passed the preliminary two months' course and will
remain till the regulation course is finished. Though
most of them can read and a good many write the
character, we have to teach them the romanised letters in
the Hangchow dialect to enable them to take notes of
lectures, which can be done by the romanization more
quickly than the written character. Lectures are given
by Drs. Main and Liu. There is a matron in charge,
and one of the former pupils helps them in going over
some of the lectures with them. This new branch of
work has already proved a boon and blessing to many a
poor and rich woman in her time of trial. We hope it
may in future extend and multiply its usefulness.
The above account of the work may not give those
who read it a very intelligent idea of the method of
procedure, but it is impossible to go into more detail
without being wearisome ; we therefore recommend those
who would like to know more to come and see it. But
what has been written may be of some help to those who
are beginning their life's work, and to them we would
say that without grace, grit, method, regularity, and
punctuality no work can be carried on with satisfaction,
and we know that the carrying on of this medical mission
would be impossible wiihout attention to these things.
144
DOCTOR APRfCOT OF "HEAVEN-BELOW^
Statistics of the Work.
Number of Patients treated during 1908 : —
Out-patients (registered on first visit only)
In-patients, Male
Female
Lepers
Opium smokers
Convalescent Homes
Maternity wards
Accouchements (out-visits)
Suicides
Operations (under chloroform)
Suicides.
222 were treated at hospital.
Poison used.
208 Salt
3 Gold
I Unknown...
Ages of Patients.
9 41-50 years
34 51-60 „
99 61-70 ,.
51
Anioutit of Opium used.
161 Unknown
49 poisons...
I
Reasons for A (temping Suicide.
... 218 Unknown
Results.
218 Died
Maternity Cases.
Cases in maternity wards
Cases outside, in homes
Difficult labours
Forceps cases...
Turning ...
Perforation of head ...
Maternal mortality (typhus fever)
FcEtal mortality
19,090
892
449
39
33
66
92
67
222
404
1,571
Opium
Opium ash ..
Mercury
10-15 years ..
16-20 „
21-30 „ ..
31-40 „ ..
I gr.-5 grs. .
6 grs. I mace
I ounce
Quarrels
Saved
3
4
3
18
9
and other
4
4
92
67-
'59
43
V
9
3
2
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