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Updated: June 21, 2025
"Oh, and we thought you had stolen it, Ah Lon dear!" Jinty confessed, with wild weeping; but Ah Lon was placidly smoothing the precious little picture. It was enough for her that it had come back. "Grandpapa must know; he must be told!" went on Jinty, determined not to spare herself. When the professor heard the whole story he was very quiet indeed.
"I fear me that thief Mike has nipped off the heads of a few dozens, out o' pure wicked mischief." Presently Jinty was flashing like a sunbeam in and out of the old house. "I must go round and scold Mike, then I'll come, back for breakfast, Mrs. Barbara. Grandpapa's not down yet." But scolding's a game two can play at.
The letter went on to say that Ah Lon, the little Chinese maiden, was a well-brought-up child, her father belonging to the anti-foot-binding community which is fast making its way throughout China. She would therefore be no more trouble in the old home than a little English girl, than father's own Jinty, in fact.
The little Chinese never tired of stroking the sweet face looking out from the rim of pearls. "Do you say prayers to it?" she asked, in her stammering English. "Prayers, no!" Jinty was shocked. "I only pray to our Father and to the good Jesus. Why, you wouldn't pray to a picture?" Ah Lon was silent. So perhaps she had been praying to the sweet painted face already, who could say?
March came in with a roar that year. The elms of Old Studley creaked and groaned loudly as the wild wind tossed them about like toys. "I'm frighted to go to bed," wailed little Jinty Ransom, burying her face in Mrs. Barbara's lap, when she had finished saying her prayers. "Ah, dear, 'taint for we to be frightened at anything God sends! Do'ent He hold the storms in the hollow of His hand?
It was more than enough for Jinty that Nature's waves and storms were passing over her at the moment. "Sit beside my bed, and talk me to sleep, please, Mrs. Barbara, dear!" entreated the little girl, clutching tightly at the old lady's skirts. So Mrs.
Barbara seated herself, knitting in hand, by the little white bed, and Jinty listened to the stories she loved best of all, those of the days when her father was a little boy and played under the great elms of Old Studley with Mike, the ancient raven, that some people declared was a hundred years old at least.
And this, Jinty dearling, will keep alive in your memory one of our Lord's behests!" From another case came a dainty silver bangle inside of which Jinty read, with misty eyes, the engraved words: Judge not! But already their meaning was engraved on her heart; and as time won Ah Lon's shy affections she and the little Chinese stranger grew to be as true sisters under the roof of Old Studley.
Next morning the tearing winds had departed, the stately elms were motionless at rest, and the sun beat down with a fierce radiance, upon the red brick walls of Old Studley. Jinty Ransom leaned out of her latticed window and smiled contentedly back at the genial sun. "Ah, thou maid, come down and count over the crocus flowers!" called up Mrs. Barbara from the green lawn below.
He was little more than a dream-father, for he had been for most of Jinty's little life away in far-off China in the diplomatic service. Her sweet, young, gentle mother Jinty did not remember at all, for she dwelt in a land that is far-and-away farther off than China, a land: "Where loyal hearts and true Stand ever in the light, All rapture through and through In God's most holy sight."
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