how could she prevent him from
stealing that which, as one of the family, he could partially claim as
his own? The problem weighed upon her mind and she decided that division
of the land, each taking half the produce of the farm, was the only
solution. Even so she was not safe; there is a Chinese proverb which
says: "It is hard to deal with a thief who is one of the family," and
she proved it to be true. If she left home for a few days she would
return to find her door broken open, her clothes stolen, and her grain
visibly less. Although the Chinese law would offer her redress, she, by
reason of Christian principle and the example of her husband, never
appealed for help to an earthly tribunal, but daily prayed: "Lord, have
mercy on him, and change his heart."

In the early days of her faith, Mrs. Hsi had earnestly desired to unbind
her feet as witness that she was a Christian, but her husband, fearful
lest any should be misled to regard Christianity as conformity to
foreign customs rather than to a change of heart, was strongly opposed
to her doing so. He strictly forbade the binding of children's feet, but
saw no need for outward change of shoe in the foot already disfigured.
During his lifetime she yielded to his wish, but after his death refused
to let her mature judgment be held in abeyance by the dead hand of the
past, and did that which she felt was a testimony to many of her weaker
sisters. She unbound her feet and adopted a normal shoe and sock, and
many who had made her supposed attitude on the question an excuse, now
followed her example.

In order to give the Gospel to Hwochow Mrs. Hsi had parted with the most
valuable of her worldly goods, and when the call came for the second
great renunciation in response to the need for a woman worker in
Chaocheng, she was ready to move into that city, knowing as she did so,
that by leaving the family home she would finally close the way of
return. She well knew that no seal on the door would prevent her nephew
from stealing her goods, and her worst fears were realised when, a few
years later, on the occasion of the erection of a memorial stone to
Pastor Hsi, she revisited what had once been Middle Eden. All was gone,
and she was thankful to hurry away and leave the scene that could only
cause her pain.

On entering her new sphere of work, the missionaries at Hwochow assured
her that all the love and sympathy which she had promised Mr. Taylor
years before should be gi