
E-text prepared by Al Haines
\[Frontispiece: EVERLASTING PEARL. The photo was taken after her marriage to Mr. Lü.\]
In the quiet river town of Yüshan, a missionary expedition chronicles the life of a remarkable Chinese woman whose path moves from ancient customs toward an unexpected faith. The narrative opens with vivid observations of daily travel, plain blue garments, and the simple yet profound presence of a woman described as an “evangelist, pastor, and Biblewoman all rolled into one.” Through careful description, listeners are drawn into the rhythms of early twentieth‑century China—footbinding, arranged engagements, and the tightly woven fabric of family and village life.
As the story unfolds, the woman’s inner conflicts surface, spotlighting her resistance to new ideas and the gradual surrender that reshapes her destiny. Her conversion becomes a catalyst, not only for her own transformation but for the people around her, illustrating how personal testimony can ripple through a community. The account balances cultural detail with a heartfelt exploration of spiritual awakening, offering a poignant glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of faith crossing cultural borders.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (148K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Sep 24, 2006
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A little-known author remembered for Everlasting Pearl, a 1913 book that tells the story of a Chinese woman with sympathy and close attention to daily life. Her work reflects an early English-language effort to bring one woman’s experience in China to a wider audience.
View all books
by John Gibson Paton

by Robert Lewis Dabney

by S. O. Susag

by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jr. Joseph Smith

by Patrick MacGill

by Ralph Werther