oderately happy. Her husband was quite satisfied with his bright
young wife, and treated her kindly. The mother-in-law was rather hard
on her and inconsiderate, but the father-in-law loved her as a
daughter, and made things as easy as possible. Her husband's brothers,
too, were kind, and she went about her common task cheerfully, quite
ready to take her share in the household work.

Four years passed peacefully, but no child came to gladden the home,
and that was a sore disappointment to the young people. The
mother-in-law too was disappointed, and did not look very kindly on the
young wife who was trying so hard to do her duty. Old Mr. Hsue had left
this world. For three days and nights the Taoist priests had come to
chant their formulas, promising to cleanse the house from evil spirits,
and to break open the door of hell and rescue the soul of the departed
father. There was real sorrow in Everlasting Pearl's heart as she
knelt near the coffin wailing. The old man had been like a father to
her, and had helped her over many rough places. She knew things would
be harder without him, but little did she realize what heavy trials
awaited her. A merciful God had hidden the knowledge from her sight,
or her inborn courage might have failed.

During the fifth year of Everlasting Pearl's married life her sorrows
began. Twice within a few months she was summoned to the deathbed of
her loved ones. She first knelt mourning at the grave of her father;
and then, before that sorrow had had time to lose its sting, she was
throwing herself in agony over the body of her dead mother, the mother
who had always loved her so tenderly. And death was fearful to her.
The "three souls and seven spirits" had evidently all taken their
departure. Where had they gone? If only she knew, the separation
would not be so hard. But there was no one to solve the mystery for
her; no ray of light to dispel the darkness and fear that crept over
her; no hope of a reunion; no Resurrection Morning to look forward to,
and therefore no comfort to lighten her sorrow.

But greater trials were yet in store. The brothers did not work quite
so well together after old Mr. Hsue's death, and decided to divide their
fields between them, which they did equally and peacefully, and each
one set up for himself. Everlasting Pearl and her husband worked
harder than ever, as now all the profit they made would be their own.
The harvest promised to be a good one