Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-21
EVENING STAR.
Chinese Love Letter.

Chinese Love Letter.
We think we might safely venture on
a wager that perhaps not half-a-dozen-
;fanV--of our readers have ever seen a
genuine Chinese love-letter. We have,
trough. Recently, in Annoy, marriage
vas concluded between son of the an
Gent family of "Tan' and daughter of
the equally old and respectable house of
co." and the annexed productions, we
are assured, are literal TRANSACTIONS of
the letters that passed on the occasion
between the fathers of the young couple.
Here we have the proposal of the father
of the bridegroom:
"The ashamed young brother, sur
named Tan, named Su, with washed head
makes obeisance, and writes this letter to
the greatly virtuous and humble gentle
man whose surname is O, old teacher,
great man, and presents it at the foot
of the gallery. At this season of the
year the satin curtains are enveloped in
mist, rejecting the beauty of the rivers
and hills; in the fields of the blue gem
are planted rows of willows close to-
gether, arranging and dihusing the COM
mencement of genial influences, and con-
sequently adding to the good of the old
year.
II duly reverence your lofty door. The
guest of the Su country descends from
good stock, the origin of the female of the
Hui country likewise lis so too.) You
have received their transforming infuen-
ces, resembling the great effects produced
by rain, much more you, my honorable
nearly related uncle, your good qualities
of very rare order. [, the mean one,
am ashamed of myself, just as rotten wood
is in the presence of aromatic herbs. |
now receive your indulgence, inasmuch as
you have listened to the words of the
matchmaker, and given Miss S in mar
riage to the mean ones eldest son, named
kang. Your asserting to it is worth
more to me than a thousand pieces Of
gold. The marriage business will be con-
Quoted according to the six rules of pro-
priety, and | will reverently announce
the business to my ancestors with pres
ents of gems and silks. | will arrange
the things received in your basket so that
all who tread the threshold of my door
may enjoy them. From this time for
ward the two surnames will be united,
and trust the union will be felicitious
one, and last for a hundred years, and
realize the delight experienced by the
union OF the two countries, Chin and
Chin. l hope that your honorable benev-
Olence and consideration will defend me
increasingly. At present the dragon flies
IN Sin Hal term, the first month, lucky
day. [, MIR. Su, bow respectfully. Light
before"
On this decoction of the essential oil of
modesty the young Miss O's father looks
with favor, so he responds in state of
still more profoundly polite humility:
The younger brother, srrnamed O.,
named Tus, of the family to be related by
marriage, washes his head clean, knocks
his head, and bows, and writes this mar
rage letter in reply to the far-famed and
vlrtuous gentleman surnamed Tan, the
venerable teacher and great man who
manages this business. At this season
the heart of the plum-blossom is increas-
lngly white: at the beginning of the first
month it opens its petals. The eyebrows
OF the willow shoot out their green; when
shaken by the wind it displays it's glory,
and grows luxuriantly into five genera
tions. Ills matter for congratulation the
union of one hundred years. I reverence
your lofty gate. The prognostic is good,
also the divination of the lucky bird. The
stars are bright, and the dragons meet
together. In every succeeding dynasty
office will be held, and for many a gene
ration official vestments will be worn,
mot only those of your family surname
will enjoy all the aforementioned felicity
more especially will you, honorable gen
tleman, who possess abilities great and
deep; your manners are dignified and
pure. L, the foolish one, am ashamed Ct
my diminutiveness. 1, for a long time,
have desired your dragon powers; now
you have not looked down upon me with
contempt, but have entertained the state
ments of the matchmaker, and agreed to
give Mr.. Kang to be united to my despic-
able daughter.
1--WE all wish the girl to have her hair
dressed, and the young man to put On
his hat of manhood. The peach-howers
just now look beautiful, the red plum
also looks gay. ! praise your son, who
is like fairy horse who can cross over