Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-03-13


hours wore away, voices of loud lamenta-
ton came on the wind. At length, when
the sunset light streamed in through the roof
of leaves, the bonza returned "Follow
me-" he said, "and behold the house of death.
Remember that ye are now invisible to all
other niortals; but the first word breaks the
spell, and she who utters IL without my leave
will find her hair turn gray on the instant"
Thus warned, the ssters-in-law arose and
followed him. AS they passed through the
village street, no inhabitant was to be seen
except the children at their evening play,
aud what was Loup Loo's vexation to dis
cover her three youngest among them rolling
in the dust with perfect enjoyment of lib
erty, in the very dresses she had prepared
with so much taste and labor! That sight
assured the dame of her own invisibility, for
her passing brought no check to their sport.
"Where is your mother, my child ?" said
tie bonza to the eldest. "You know she's
dead" replied the boy, endeavoring to look
sorrowiul, and, as the priest passed on, he
took another tumble.
They next reached the house Of Hoing
Sin. The wall of mourners was heard from
its inner apartments, aud IN the guest-room,
which Loup Loo had kept with such care
and ornamentcd with so much skill, the
death feast was spread uiter the ancient Gus
tom of China, presided over hy the bereaved
husband, and attended by all his friends aud
neghbors, who were supposed TO comfort
him. lloing-Sin had, of course, his clothes
torn and his pig-tail dipped in ashes, but even
Loup Loo could perceive that he entertain
ed no idea of Immediately following his
spouse TO the world Of spirits, and his glance
was often, though steaithily, turned on Lissa,
the youngest OF her servant maids, who wal
ted on the female mourners According TO
the conventionaliiics OF the garden village,
the men feasted at one side OF the apartment
aud the women at the other. Conspicuous
among the latter was Loup Loo's mother,
who had Just commenced strain of eloquent
lnmen'ation addressed to IIoing-Sin, on the
greatness of his loss. The dame declaimed
with more than wonted vigor OH the useful
ness and industry of her deceased daughter,
in whnt style she had kept his house and ia
BILE, his wardrobe and children, the webs of
silk, grasscloth and cotton, the jars of pick
led locusts, and the pots of preserves, equal
ly delicate, which remained ms monuments
of her skill; but it appeared that this service
for the dead had been so often repeated in
the course of the day, that Iloing-Sin was
fairly tired of it, and he interrupted his quon-
dam mother-n-law with the remark, that all
her observations were undoubtedly true, that
he perfectly understood the value of his lost
spouse, who had been extremely useful to
his house aud family, though her temper was
none of the best, and time had been telling
1n her beauty yet he would show proper
respect for the deceased aud himself, by find /,
ing successor trained under her own man
ngement, nt which point of his discourse tiie
worthy Chinese glanced-not now stealthly
at the young aud active Lissa.
Readers, the time allowed to q widower's
woe in China is n matter of private jalg-
ment, aud none oft1e funeral company seem
ed at all surprised at Hoing Sins announce
ment, except his mother-in-law, who wns
carried out in an expected swoon; but tho
the terrors of gray hair restrained Loup Loo's
tongue, her wrath found vent thanks to wo-
mans ingenuity for, stepping up to the side
of her ungrateiul husband, size bestowed
sound box on his right eur. She would have
balanced II 10y another on the left, but the
bOnZa caught her arm, while lloing-Sin start
ed up, exclaiming that there was an evil spir-
II IN the house, aud in the confusion which
ensued the trio made their way to the house
of Kien-So. There was less company there,
for the younger brother was the poorest, but
the death-fens; remained untasied, oil being
engaged in vain endeavors to console the
master, who sat with his two children on his
knees in an inner apartment. alt is folly to
grcve for the dead" said one old man, the
father Of snndry unmarried daughters "You
have doubtless lost good wife {; bur, thank
the gods, there ore women as fair to be found
and some who would make your house
richer, too, ncighbor." "Aye, but Alinasee
made It pleasant" cried the bcreaved hus-
band. Her compaionslip was wealth
OF which no thief could rob me when was
wearled she welcomed, when was uncer-
tain she cOunselled me, when masters were
hard, when friends were unknd, or when for
tune went against me, we talked together ill
they were forgotten. Alas my children, our
cheer will be sad in the dark days of the !
rainy months, when she is with us no more +!
VIII have no spouse after my Minasee."
The invisible woman, on hearing herself
thus named, cast an earnest look of entreaty
at the bonZn, and the bystanders wondered
why his reverence made forbid,ling sign
with his hand us he said to Kien.So:
Trust in time, for he is great comfort |
err
"WiIl time give back to me and my child
rem the kindly tone of Mnasee p" said the |
man, with mild burst of sorrow, in which |
his children joined, the youngest infant sob
bng, IN broken accents, "Mother, dear, come
back"
Observation-Disclosures IL am not dead -
cried Minasee, stretching her arms towards
them, in spite of Loup Loo's efforts to pre-
vent her, while the bonza exclaimed, "Sim-
pie woman, thou deservest gray hairs for i'm
agining that any man could be sufficiently
tried without time"
Concerning the tumut which took place
in the house of Kien-So, in that of Hoinp-
Sin, aud throughout the village, the historian
only remarks that il was great, while il last
ed; but before the minds of the population
were composed enough to understand that
the slsters'In-law had remained safe and ST.
lent 10 the grove all the time, while, through
tne power OF magic. each had appeared 10
return, suddenly sicken, and die al her own
house kien-Sn with liz ..,;c. ...I -L.I ~" |