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

them last, and the quiet which had hitherto
reirned between the wives of the village
chiefs might baye been permanently broken,
but for an arrival which for some time occu-
pied the population of the imperial gardens.
One day there appeared among them an old
man, of n serene and thoughtful counten-
ance his habit was that of a bonza of the
poorest class, ond in bis hand he carried n
single book, which, besides the knife and
shop.sticks suspended from his girde, ap-
peared to be all his worldly possessions. lie
informed the chiefs of the village, that hav-
ing, by careful retrospect of his own gen.
ealogy, discovered himself to be related to
them in the hundred and ninety second de-
gree, and learning that there was neither
schOolmaster nor bonza within their bounds,
he had obtained the emperor's permission,
in virtue of that relationship, TO take up his
abode and discharge those important iunc-
tions in their towr. A schoolmoster aud
bonzn were the very things wanted, aud the
coming of their learned relative would have
been to the villagers, under any other cir
cumstances, n source of unnxed satisfaction
aud boundcss gossip, but the public mind
was fully occupied with the civil war, and
the erection of his house aud school 10y the
emperor's workmen passed without remark
except from the rising generation, who were
naturally alarmed at its progress. Perhaps
the bonZn, like most men in the village, had
fears of tile length to which hostiities might
procoed perhaps lie did not choose to be
nnde SO early insignificant in his new par
ish, for the worthy priest tried first all lnan-
ncr of persuasion and then spiritual threat
enings on the parties, but totally without eff
fect-the mothers-in-law were determined to
fight it ont, and, knowing better than to lose
time and trouble on married men, he nt
length selected one forenoon when the broth
ers were at work in distant plantation of
tulip trees, TO anvil himself of the privilege
accorded in all countries to the clerical char
meter, and visit both the disputed ladies', in
hopes OF persuading them to Use their infiu-
ence in compromising matters if possible.
! lie found Loup Loo surrounded by her
servants, who polished the floors aud iurni-
ture under her inspection, while she spun
silk with one hand aud stirred n preserving
pan oflocusts with the other. Nothing daunt-
ed by this display of industry, the bonza
opened his business, lamented the agitation
OF the garden village, enlarged on the bes-
sings OF domestic peace, and stated his own
conviction that woman of her superior en-
ergy could re-establish il in single day il
she only set her mind to the work.
Loup Loo acknowledged the justice of oil
his remarks, and declared her willingness to
undertake anything for the public good but
on his request that she would accompany
him to the house Of her sister-in-law, by way |
of settling the terms of n private treaty, the !
lady assured him that, according TO authori- !
zed cookery, the locusts were to boil three
hours and half; that she had whole pound
of silk to spin, besides overseeing her SER
wants, and gaddDg. abroad was never u habit
of hers; yet, in order TO oblige his rever-
cnce, she would send for Minasee, who, she
observed, with n sly smile, could always
spare mome;-.
The bonza assented, and domestic, warm
ed under high penalties TO return within
quarter OF an hour by the sand-glass, which
regulated all the movements of that house
hold, was despatched for Minasee, who cheer
fully came TO the conference from where she
stood, watching her children ms they fed
brood ofgolden pheasants under great teak
tree which overshadowed their home. Mu-
tunl inquiries as to the eating of their rice
having passed between the ladies, loup Loo
took upon hersefto eXpound the object of
The bonza's visit, Mt the same time assuring
Minasee that she and her fumily were willing
10 overlook the past, provided the lattcr's
molher would cease to bring upon herself
the contempt oi the whole village by such
eXtravagant pretenslons. Mnasee frankly
acknowledged that she wished her mother
could Keep quiet, but added that the old lady
was not alone in her demonstrations, and
mat, Tor her own part, she believed one
brothers wife to be as good as another.
The unlllcky remark opened the tloodgates
0i strife; for the wrath and pride of Eloing-
SINS spouse arose. She enumerated her own
achievements in behalf of her husband and
his house, launched into the shortcomings
OF Allnusee and all her kindred with all en-
ergy known only TO relalons-in-law, and
concluded with distinct expression of
anazemcnt that such good-for-nothing
creature did not at once confess her own in
Ic,Io'ny, a"u ehueaVor 10 STUDY, or NJ ienst
I nunlrc, TIE housekeeping she could never