The Ottawa free trader., 1850-05-25

tress, and dreaded her questions when conscious
ness would be restored. The officer had been ab-
sent sufficiently long to visit the duke and manda
nm: hark-he was even now knocking at the door
The soldier knocked again before the gardner's
wife could bring herself to leave Koong see, but
no other course was left to her; and, scarcely
knowing why, she securely closed the door of the
apartment behind her and drew the screen across
to conceal it. The soldier rudely questioned her
as to her delay in opening the door, and showed
her The document which he had obtained, in which
large sums Of money and the emperor's favor
were promised to any person who would give up
Chang, and restore kGg-see to her father. She
made pretence that she could not read the writing,
and having given the soldier some spirits made
rice, she managed TO pass very considerable
time in irrelevant matters When she officer be.
came impatient, she told him that she thought it
would be useless to attempt TO catch Chang until
it was quite dark, when he would be walking in
neighboriDg rice ground. Two hours were thus
whiled away, when the officer was called out by
one of the men under him. who told him that
messenger had arrived from the Tain, inquirng
why the villain Chang had not been brought be-
fore him, and requiring an answer from the COM
mandng officer himself This gave the garden.
ers wife time to see what became Of Kong see
She had fanced she heard some noise in the A.
partment, and with intense curiosity she pushed
the screen aside, opened the door. and peeped into
the room: Koong see was not there There were
marks of wet feet aud dripping garments upon
the floor, and upon the narrow ledge of the win
dow, to which she rushed A boat had lust that
instant been pushed off from the shore into the riv-
er, and in it, there was no doubt, were her mis-.
tress and her husband, the brave Chang. The
darkness concealed them from the eyes of friends
or enemies, rs the rushing river carried them rap
idly away
The gardeners wife gently closed the window,
and hastily removed all traces If what had hap
pened ; she then cheerfully returned TO another
part Of the house, and waited for the officer. He
came, stimulated by rrproof for his delay. and
commanded his soldiers 20 search the house, which
they did most willingly, as upon such occasions,
they Were accustomed to posses, themselves Of
everything which could be considered valuable
Their search was in yain however,, for they n,ih
er found traces Of the fugtives, nor anything
wortkstealing. The Jewels were with Chang up.
on the river, and the gardener was but u poor
man. They suspected that the woman lad play
ed them trick, but she looked quite unconscious,
and in very innocent manner persuaded the Off
Ger that he had been imposed upon, and that shc
was sorry she had given him so much trouble.
The boat, with its precious cargo, hOa;ed down
the river al! that night, requiring no exertOn from
Chang, who sat silently watching at the Prov,
while lis young wife slept in the cabin when
the gray Of early morning peeped over 'he dis
tan; mountains, Chang still sa, there. and the boat
was still ppidly buoyed onwards by the current
Soon after daylight they entered the main river,
the Yank.siteskeang, and their passage then be-
came more dangerous, requiring considerable man
agement and excrtion from the boatman. Before
the sun was we'll up, they had joined crowd Of
boats, and ceased to be singular for they were in
company with persons who lived wholly upon the
rivers, but who had been engaged in taking west
ward the usual tribute Of salt and rice TO hi, i'm.
perial majesty's treasury To one Of the boa,ilen
he sold jewel, and from another he purchased
food with the coin.
Thus they foated onwards for several days
towards the sea- but having at length approached
a place where the mandarns were accustomed To
! examine all boats outward bound Chang moor
ed his floating home beside an island in the broad
river. 1t was but small piece Of ground cover,
ed with reeds--but here the young pair resolved
to settle down, and to spend the rest Of their
days in peace. The jewels were sold in the neigh
boring towns in such manutr as not 10 excite
suspicion, and with the funds thus procured, the
persevering Chang was enabled TO obtain all that
was necessary, and to purchase free right TO the
little island 1t is related Of Kong see that with
her own hand she assisted in building the house,
while her husband, applying himself ioagrical;u-
raj pursuits, brought the island into high state
of cultivation.
On referring again to the plate the reader will
find the history of the island significantly record
ed by the simple artist. The ground is broken
up into Jumps, indicating recent cultivation, and
the trees around it are smaller in size, indicating
their youth. The diligence of Chang is sufficient.
ly evidenced by the manner in which every scrap
Of ground which could be added to the island IS
reclaimed from the water. To illustrate this, mar.
row reefs Of land are seen jut,ing out into the
stream.
The remainder Of the story is soon told Chang
having achieved q competence by his cultivation
Of the land, returned to his literary pursuits and
wrote n book upon agriculture, which gained him
great reputation in the province where he then
resided, and was the means Of securing the pat
ronage of the wealthy literary men of the neigh
borhood for his chidren-one Of whom became
great sagc-aftcr the death Of his father and
mother which occurred in the mnn,ier now to be
related.
The reputation of Changs book, if it gained him
friends, revealed his whereabouts to his greatest
enemy the Tain, or duke, whose passion for re.
venge was undated. Nor did the duke long de.
lay the accomplishment of his object Having
waited upon the military mandarin Of the river
station, and having sworn, by cutting live cocks
head off, that Chang was the person who had so.
len his jewels he obtained an escort Of soldiers to
arrest Chang-and with these the Tain attacked
the island, having given secret instructions to
seize koong see, and kill Chang without mercy
The peaceful inhabitants Of the island were
quite unprepared; but Chang, having refused the
party admittancc was run through the body, and
mortally wounded His sscrvants, who were much
attached to him, fought bravely to defend their
master, but when they saw him fall, they threw
down their weapons and fled. koong.sce, in des
pair rushed to her apartments which she set on
fire and perished in the flames.
The gods-tso runs the tale)-cur,ed the duke
for his cruelty with foul disease, with which he
went down to his grave uutiieudcd and unpiticd.
No children scattered scented pnpcr over over his
grave; but in pity to koong.see and her lover,
they were transformed into two immortal doves,
cmblems of the cunstNncy which had rendered
them beautiful IN life, and in death undivided.
-=------------
SoSo.--The author Of the following song is re
specially recommended TO tie O. NJ. c.;
"Oh, marry the man YOU love, girls if you can
get hun at all If he is as rich as Co>us as poor
as job in his flll. Pray do not mary for pclf,
girls, twill bring yow souls into thrall but marry
the man Won love pirs ifhis nurse is ever 80 small