Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-06-19

unrlvalled good fortune. l was careless
who discovered our mutual attachment
alas there lay my error. Tim.H-tim
saw and envied our happiness. He
was then only an artisan, and poor -
out he knew how to acquire power ov-
er beings OF my nature. By acciden,
ne had become possessed of that VOL
ume OF the Encyclopedia of Zoroaster,
which treats ofthe fairies in China and
Mongolia. He studied this, and avail
ing himself of its science, constructed
that magic bell, which is now my pris-
on. No one except himself can set me
free; and as it is thro' me he has risen
to prosperity, | have little hope that he
will consent to release me, so long as
1t is for his interest to keep me in du-
rance
But can he not be compelled'' cried
l, interested inthe story.
Listeno this may be done-by poi
sonlng the tea in which he deals.'
Poisoning the tea!' l repeated;-
'how may that be:'-
There is nothing EASIER said the
chlldllke figure. 4 myself can do no
harm to the plant which is consecrated
to me, and which I love so well, else ]
had long since destroyed the possession
OF my tormentor. He must do the mis-.
chief himself Hast thou never obser-
we'd a singular greenish light playing
about his face p
answered that had indeed often
noticed and wondered at it.
THAT greenish glimmer is nothing
else than subtle poison, which per-
vades his whole system. He inherits
it through his descent from ar old met
al king, who once reigned in China
The Legitimate descendants ofthis an
clent monarch have gold and silver in
their bodies; but those whose blood is
tainted, or corrupted by VICIOUS allan
ces, copper, iron, tin, land other inferior
metals. My tormentor is baseborn, as
were his ancestors; and the copper he
derives from them mingling with his
impure blood, has generated bitter
poison, which renders even his cares
ses baneful. His breath distils venom;
his eyes invest objects with sickIy
greenish hue; and his tears poison the
ground on which they fall. Thou hast
not failed to observe, whenever he
works among the tea plants, how care
fully he covers his hands and face, that
no noxious breath may touch the pre-
cious leaves!-If thou couldst only
manage, while the plants are in bloom,
to make him approach them without
his mask! The subtle poison will
quickly spread over the whole plan'a-
ton. He can find no help for what
will ensue. Canst thou do this, he
will be forced to set me at liberty
1T shall be done, beautiful fairyn l
cried, resolved to devote myself to her
service.
Ere the moon had changed, I had
redeemed my promise. Tim-li-tim
was one day at work in his plantation
the young plants were in bloom. l
came up behind him with steal'hy step,
threw myself suddenly upon him, and
tore the mask from his face with the
covering he always wore over his
shoulders. He fell down among the
plants, and / saw the white flowers
close over his head. A disagreeable
brassy odor diffused itself around the
spot, and a greenish mist spread
through the air. The madarin raised
himself quickly, and felt for his hand
kerchief; but l had fed with that also.
His rage and despair were indescriba-
BILE: tears fell from his eyes, and the
ground drank the poisonous moisture.
The deleterious influence diffused it.
self far and wide. The delicate blossoms
and leaves imbibed it; and exhibi ed
that peculiar green color, and that
sharp metallic taste observable to this
day in what he called green tea.
Language would fail to depict the
despair of Tim-li-tim, as he saw the
mischief thus wrought. Hisplants i'm
mediateIy sank more than halfin value;
for nobody cared to drink his green
tea. 1t was rumored that the tea of
the mandarin Tim-li-tim was poisoned.
The unhappy man saw nothing but
ruin and Imprisonment, perhaps death,
before him. In his extremity, as the
fairy had foreseen, he promised her
instant freedom if she would remove
the curse. The lovely prisoner con
sented to undertake it. One bright
moonlight night, the wide fields Of his
plantation might have been seen COW
cred with white veil, as Of silvery
mist. Under this ,dewy and shining
covering, millions Of little winged