Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-03-13
miscellaneous.
From the British Journal.
The Two Useful Wives.
AN OLD TALE OF CHINA.
BIT FRANCES BRowN.


certain sect of magicians, the secret OF whose
domination lay in their powers of producing
extraordinary Illusions. So perfect was their
art in this respect, that, according to one his
torinn, no man in China could trust his own
eyes or ears, till Whang the Eleventh, by an
imperial edict, commanded them all into
perpetual banishment among the western
barbarians; which lucky riddance for the
land is said to have been brought about in
the following manner. Whang the Elev-
enth, whom his subjects surnamed the lover
of gardens, on account of his singular taste
for horticulture, not only much enlarged tho
imperial pleasure grounds at Pckin, but pla-
ced them under the charge of two gardeners,
esteemed the most skiliu in his dominons
and named Iloing-Sn and Kicn-So. They
were brothers, aud both married; moreover,
themselves and their wives had been blessed
with more than common riches in the article
of kindred, and the emperor, hoping TO be-
queath TO his SUCCESSORS an unrivalled race
Of gardeners, built an entire village for them
and their relations, with n sufficient extent
of rice-felds round it on the northern side OF
his grounds, bestowed on the whole com
munity certain immunities aud many royal
ndvices touching the harmony in which he
expected them to live, aud the general otten-
ton they should pay to his gardens under
the conduct of lIoing.Sin and Keu-So.
For some time things went on as peaceful
ly rs could be wished in that garden village,
almost enclosed by the imperial grounds,
whose high walls and strong gntes bounded
its fields on all sides except the north, where
a broad canal, half hidden by grove of tall
trees, divided il from the outer world. The
inhabitants wanted for none of the blessings
of Chinese life; their fields were fertile in
rice, ten, and mulberries. The emperor had
provided them cemetry, n joss-housc, and n
small plantation of bamboo canes; with
which requisites for law and religion the men
cultivated the gardens, the women attended
TO domestic affairs, and the two brothers ru-
cd like rustic mandarians in joint and I'M
disputed authority. Nevertheless, in this
eastern Arcadia the seeds of discord wero
sown. Its residents, unfortunately, included
the mothors-in-law of the two chiefs, between
whom smoudering rivalry on the subject
of their respective daughters had existed ever
since the connexon was formed. Concern
ing their sons-iu-law, the ladies' had early
agreed that both were no better than they
should be, aud particularly wanting in the
duties Of respect and attention to them; but
this, being common case, excited neither
surprise nor remark, and il would have been
difficult for even mothers-in-law to find
cause of dispute about the imperial garden
ers There was scarce n shade of difference
in them that mUrtuls could see. Their neigh
bors knew the one from the other chiefly by
n scar on tho brow, which Iloing-Sin had
received in his days of courtshp by climbing
the wall of her fathers courtyard in hopes
to see his spouse. They had never heen
known TO have two opinions between them
rta M et.l.taat InIaaH thatr ac
and thought hardly afforded room for divi-
sion; for both were quiet, laborious, orderly
men, who would have done anything for an
other ounce Of silver, except speak n word
against mandarin or bonZa. The moiher-in-
law Of Hoing-Sin, however, found out n
point of dissimilarity, which eventually open
ed n field of hot contention to her and the
rival dame. Shenverred that her son-in-
law esteemed Loup Loo, his wife, much
more than Kien-So could even think of do
ing with regard TO Minasee, his spouse, and
not without good reason, as her daughter was
hy far The most profitable and useful to a
husband. Minasee's mother resented thnt
insiDuation with all her might loudly MAIN
tanning that the brothers were alike in conirl-
gal affection as in everything else, though no
TWO women in China resembled each other
less than their respective wives. Loup Loo
had been n belle in her class and country;
her husband was still proud of her small
feet, thin eyebrows, and fair hair, and she
was prouder far of her housekeeping skill,
being pattern of activity in that depart
ment. No dwelling in the garden village
was kept so scrupulously clear of dust and
flies, and no children dressed with so much
taste and neatness ms hers. Her husband
found his work and holiday garments alike
ready for service on all occasions, mud his
ten prepared in a style which might have
pleased the emperor; nor was this the limit
of Loup Loo's ordinary accomplishments
She could preserve snuis aud stew ruts TO
perfection known only nt the tables of first
class mandnrins, and il was lIong-Sin's spe-
cinl boast, TINT under her administration he
never wanted good dinner.
Kien-So did not talk quite so much of do
mestic affairs, and Loup Loo's mother aver
red TINT silence on that subject was his best
policy Minasee had never been belle, and
was no paragon manager, but n cheerful,
quiet-living woman, with two little children,
and an old servant who had come home with
the bride on her marriage, and never left the
family. Minasees mother had always found
II an nrduous task 10 uphold her daughters
housekeeping character against the lady on
the opposite side, even when attacks from
that quarter were most covered, aud now
that hostilities had fairly broken ont, she had
no defence but to carry the war into the en-
emy's territory, by certain reflections, the re-
verse OF complimentary, on the tongue and
temper of IIoing- g-Sin's helpmnte.
Into the particulars of tbe controversy il is
needless TO enter-both mothers law, be-
sides being widows, were provided with
daughter-in-law apiece, who were bound by
Chinese law aud custom, the one to main
tain and the other to serve them, aud having
10 business on hand hut the dispute, they
prosecuted il with most exemplary diligence.
II could not be expected that a village nhabi-
ted solely by relations would preserve neu-
irality in such quarrel; scarce was the first
war-note sounded, when man, woman, and
child joined in the contest with their whole