书城亲子从“放牛娃”到宋氏家族的奠基人
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第49章 附录三宋耀如海外书信选译(8)

1915年7月15日于神户中国俱乐部

3.Aug. 3rd, 1915

Chinese Club,

24 Nakayamate Dori Sanchome, Kobe,

Aug. 3rd, 1915

My Dear Doctor,

Your dated 20th July just received. Had I not been away from Kobe for a couple of days, I would have your letter sooner, I sepat two days at Tarumi next station to Maiko.

I am greatly surprised to learn what you said about Rosamondes promise and expected marriage you never told me. Before that she told you she would get married as soon as she gets to Shanghai and she would return to Tokyo with her husband to take up certain work.

Neither has she said a word to me about her plan of her future. Some time ago you wrote and asked me whether Rosa was to go to America with me or not and I immediately wrote you a reply informing you exactly what I actually knew that she was to remain at home to keep her mother company. Now you tell me something quite new and strange to believe. I am inclined to think it is a joke rather than anything else. It sounds so strange:it is so ridiculous, it is a baby talk of her for than anything I can imagine.

My Dear Doctor, do not believe such novel talk of a young girl who likes to make fun of herself. I can assure you that we all have such high esteem of you that would never do anything to hurt you or your cause. “The Archtraitor”is an eternal enemy to us all and Rosa hates him as much you yourself do, so there is no earthly danger of her marrying such a bad man. Moreover, we are a Christian family and no daughter of ours will become anybodys concubine, be he a king, an emperor or a president of the greatest on earth. We may be poor in “worldly goods”, but we are not covetous nor ambitious and low enough to do anything against Christian principal. Therefore, she is not going to be an empress as you seemed to fear. Let me repeat that there is nothing in this whole earth could induce us to do anything in any way to harm you or the cause which is so dear or near to your unselfish heart. I shall see that nothing of the kind happen. You may depend on me that I will fulfill my promise on this score. I am a straight forward man like yourself. Do not wish to practice deception on my friend. The idea of casting herself at the feet of our common enemy is unthinkable to me, and she detests even to talk with concubine much less she cares to be one. You know she never even spoke at Chang Tsing Kiangs “No.2”during stay at Atami. Besides, we will never allow our girls to marry a man we do not care who is that has a wife. A good name is better than all glory and honour of this world to us.

You said you asked me when Rosamonde was going to get married and that I had not answered you that if silence means consent then you would congratulate me & C. It [is] true as I am living I know nothing Rosamondes marriage nor to whom. Both Yung and Dan Chung called on her frequently, but as far as I know she has not signified to whom she is willing to marry. Heard nothing about what you told me by your last letter. I never got your letter which you refered to. It has never made its appearance. It must have been lost on the way. So how do I know the contents of it? And if I do not know how could I be otherwise than silence? So silence does not mean “Consent”, and you may keep your congratulations a little longer.

My Dear Doctor, you will kindly remember that we are your true friends if worse comes to the worse. I know no man among the Chinese who is more noble, more kind and patriotic than yourself if I do say so. And how a sensible with a good conscience goes against you? We far rather see Chingling dead and burried than to see her married to our archtraitor as a concubine or even a wife. You may rest assure that we will move heaven and earth to prevent anything of that kind.

Although there are those who do not appreciate your great efforts to aiming for the making a great China, but we are among them that do appreciate your work. You are living a century before your time hence a very few can understand you and appreciate the undertaking which is so dear and near to your heart. China is not worthy of such a son as you are. But the future will do you justice and call you blessed and will honour you as they honoured the former reformer Confucius. He too, had been driven away from the land which you loved so much.