lly embroidered shoes,
as the time had come for the child to learn to walk. She was old
enough to notice things, and the baby eyes looked delightedly at her
feet, that had never worn shoes before, now so beautifully adorned in
the gayest of colours. Again a thank-offering was given to the gods.
The grandmother carried the child forward, and this time the baby
fingers had to hold the incense that was lighted before the sacred
picture.

Thus, instead of being brought to the living, loving Saviour to be
blessed, the little Chinese boy or girl is led before the dead idols,
and dedicated to them. Do not say, "Oh, it will make no difference,
the idols are nothing." The idols _are_ nothing, but there is a
fearful power of darkness behind them. The longer one lives in China,
the more one feels that in a true sense the Chinese child is dedicated,
not to the idols only, but to the prince of darkness himself. And oh!
how one longs to lead the parents into the light of Christ, so that
they may bring their little ones to Him, who is waiting to bless them.

CHAPTER II

FOOTBINDING

The name given to the little girl was _Ch'ang-Chu_, which means
"Everlasting Pearl," and a little treasure she proved herself to be to
her parents. She was good-natured and kind-hearted, full of life and
spirit, and gave much joy to those who watched over her. But it was
very seldom--indeed, only on state occasions--that she was called
Everlasting Pearl in her home and among her little friends. More often
she went by the name of _Nue-ku_, or "Girl-dog." Her parents, afraid of
losing her, had given her this name in order to deceive the evil
spirits who might be seeking her life, but who were not likely to
trouble themselves about a "dog."

One day, when Everlasting Pearl was about six years old, she saw her
mother working on a pair of small shoes, and asked for whom they were.
Her mother informed her they were for her, as it was time she had her
feet bound. "Your feet are getting so big and clumsy," she said, "and
you are running about far too much for a girl. It is high time that
you had them bound." Everlasting Pearl made no protest. She knew all
girls had to have their feet bound, and, of course, she could not be
different from the rest.

So when the shoes were finished the footbinding was begun. But oh, the
suffering of it! The mother took a long strip of calico, and wound it
tightly round the little foot, bending the toes