It was in 1890 Miss Russell came to Peking. One never could think of her as being a bachelor maid, she was so womanly. How we revelled in her pretty clothes, so dainty and becoming—so fit. The home-making instinct was so strong that she was not content, as others had been, to live in the families of married missionaries, but just as soon as possible secured a house, that she might have a home. It was simplicity itself, but every nook and corner breathed the woman,—home-maker,—and it was always open to her friends, Chinese and Western.
Very early in her missionary life she felt the call of the country village work. Dressed most carefully in Chinese garments, for many years she spent months at a time away from Peking, living at some branch station, making trips to nearby villages, holding classes for women or visiting them in their homes. She purchased a cart and mule, and with a young serving-man from the better class who respected her every whim, consenting to be carter, cook, protector, whatever Miss Russell wished, she went everywhere.
And how wonderfully she entered into every one’s life, whether of the evangelist, his wife, the Christian school teacher, the wife of the richest man in the region roundabout, the old [[33]]lady tottering to her grave, or the young daughter-in-law, the bride, or the little mischievous boy. “With heart at leisure from itself,” she drew out from each one his story. She never went in the spirit, “Now-I-am-holier,-more-civilized-than-thou,-therefore-hear-ye-me,” but rather in the spirit of one who sought to find out the interest or the hunger of each one’s life, and so somehow bring it in touch with the Lover of all. Such discoveries as she made of possibilities in the lives of this one and that!
On returning to Peking for work in the city, she again wore the European dress. There was something in her nature that compelled her to have things suitable if possible, and she at once felt the dress that other foreigners wore would meet with greater acceptance in Peking.
When the Boxer storm began to gather, being so much in the country in the winter of 1899 and 1900, she saw, as few did, the blackening clouds. The persecution of each Christian took a mighty hold on her sympathetic heart. Ah! no one who was out of China can ever realize the strain of the months preceding that awful cataclysm, the agony of those months in the siege itself, not because of self, but because of missionary friends, and because of the children [[34]]begotten of the Lord, who were out unsheltered in the fury of that wild and awful storm.
At its close, with no reserve, Miss Russell poured out her love and sympathy on the one hand, and on the other sought to regather the church in city and country, and to find work and help for men, women, and children. The situation was all abnormal, and Satan slew many with the poisoned darts of revenge and greed, whom he could not slay otherwise. Oh! but these things almost broke her tender heart. Her hair grew grey and the power to resist disease and overweariness lessened, yet the spirit of our friend rallied, and she entered into the joy of the Conquering Christ.
When she saw that she could not take as long country trips and endure the same fatigue as formerly, she set all her energies to work in bringing the Bible school for training women workers into being, and in reaching city women. This did not mean giving up her country work, only less prolonged visits.
Following the sudden but prolonged sickness and the death of Dr. Ament, no one knew as did Miss Russell the work of the pastors, evangelists, teachers, and chapel-keepers, in the city and in the large country field, which reached into a few walled cities and many [[35]]market towns and villages. It was she who gave her days and nights for many weeks, and even months, to helping Dr. Charles Young, the only gentleman then in the Peking station, settle and rearrange the work. More than once the midnight hour found her still in conference with Chinese workers, strengthening those who were strong, exhorting the weak, and in some cases reporting and removing those who were proving inefficient, and even unworthy of their trust.
The pastor of the North Congregational Church, after the Hague Conference, invited a Chinese friend who had been on the commission to come to the church and tell about the meetings. This meeting he advertised widely, and it was enthusiastically attended by many non-Christians. Miss Russell, seeing the opportunity, began both at this and the First Church to have simple lectures for women on the great Fair days, three times a month.
These lectures were given sometimes by Chinese, sometimes by Westerners, and covered every kind of subject. She invited noted ladies to come and address these meetings. In this way she and her associates made hundreds of friends among women of every rank in society. Her associates helped receive and entertain, sometimes for hours afterward, the many [[36]]guests who came, showing school, kindergarten, museums, etc.