On reaching the palace of the Prince of Chin, he was welcomed with great state and pomp. After the feasting and festivities were over he presented the jade with great reverence and asked for the twelve cities. The Prince of Chin said nothing in return, but feasted his eyes on the beautiful stone. At last he said, “The residents of the inner palace” (i.e., ladies) “have heard of this wonderful stone and are most anxious to see it. I will send it in to them and you make ready for a second feast I have prepared in your honour.” The minister went to the apartments appointed for him, in great distress of mind. He felt sure the Prince of Chin was not to be trusted, and he must think of some plan by which he could recover the jewel. At the feast nothing was said of the cities, though he inquired about them, and at last he pointedly asked, “Prince of the Great Chin, do you know what it is in the jade that makes it the most beautiful the gods have made?”
The Prince replied, “No, tell me.” [[86]]
The minister replied, “Have the jade brought and I will show you.” Immediately a servant was sent to bring the jade and at the command of the Prince handed it to the Minister of Chou, who, on feeling it once more in his hand, put it in his bosom and sprang to his feet. Putting his back against a pillar, he said, “Great Prince, you think to deceive my master, the very Great Prince of Chou; you do not intend to give him the twelve cities. With my life I will protect this treasure of my country, the pride of my Prince, and if any one attempts to take it from me I will dash it to the ground and destroy it first.”
The Prince of Chin was afraid the jade would either be injured or destroyed if a struggle for possession took place, so he caused the minister to be locked in his rooms until he should willingly give it up.
The news spread all through the kingdom. One day a poorly-clad stranger came to the city and went from house to house begging. When he came to the court where the Minister of Chou was confined, he managed to communicate with him and let him know that he was a countryman of his and would take the treasure home. The minister, Lui Hsiang Jui, folded it in a paper and gave it to him. The next day the Prince of Chin sent and demanded the jade. [[87]]The minister said, “Tell your Great Prince I have sent it back, as I promised, to my Liege Lord.” At first they did not believe his story and a great search was made, but they could find no trace of the treasure. The Prince of Chin was terribly angry and commanded that the minister be killed; then, for fear of the Prince of Chou, he allowed him to depart to his home and country, hoping that the fortunes of war would bring the desired jewel into his possession. He himself did not live to secure it, but long years afterward one of his descendants overthrew the Kingdom of Chou and the much desired and long struggled for jade treasure, “The joy of the gods,” came to the Kingdom of Chin. [[88]]
CHINESE HEROISM
During the days between June 8th and August 14th, 1900 A.D., many brave deeds were seen and applauded by the foreigners shut within the walls of Peking. They will go down in history and make fascinating the story of the siege of Peking. The world will never tire of reading of the charges made to capture cannon that were sending their shells into the British Legation, and of the bravery of the Japanese who held the Prince’s palace through fire, shot, and shell: Only twenty-five in number when they entered the city, by August 14th only three had not been killed or wounded. The brave British soldier went to his dangerous post not knowing when a stray bullet would pick him off. Only those who held the outposts can know what bravery it required during some of those awful night attacks. Those who worked in the hospital know what courage it required in the poor wounded men to keep on their beds when it seemed as if the enemy were breaking in. The experiences of the brave messengers have been given to the world; and the story of the rescue party, headed by Dr. Morrison of [[89]]the London Times, by which several hundred Catholic Christians were saved, has also stirred the hearts of many.
The brave deed to which the writer calls attention is known to but few, will probably never be recorded in song or story, and yet it took the truest courage, and reveals as true heroism as was ever heralded abroad. Those who have read the events of the past summer carefully will remember that the missionaries and many hundreds of converts were in semi-siege at the M. E. Mission for twelve days before going to the British Legation. We had a guard of twenty American marines. The chapel there had been barricaded and was to be the place of retreat in case of an attack from Boxers. Captain Hall had asked some of the foreign ladies to have charge of getting the Chinese women and children into the chapel when the order was given. He also had told us we must impress upon the women the necessity of keeping the children perfectly quiet. In case of an attack the crying of children would not only annoy the soldiers, but might interfere with their hearing commands, and would also give a range to the enemy. Much was said to the poor mothers along this line because Chinese women, as a rule, have little thought and less method in training their children. [[90]]
June 13th, about half-past six, we were startled by the news that the front chapel was in flames; a moment or two after came the word for all women to get to the chapel. The Boxers had started down the street toward the place we were in, but had been charged and driven back by the marines, under Captain Hall. It was feared that they might rally for another attack and come with a stronger force. We were given five minutes to get the women and children into the chapel. They came along very quietly and without any disturbance.