Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-12-21
A CHINESE RoMANCE.

A CHINESE ROMANCE
In some Chinese romances and tales,
we 6nd a considerable share of wit as well
as sentiment. From one of these, Valta-
rie has not disdained to borrow one of the
best stories in his '' Zadig." A deSciple
of the sect Zaoutsee, or Doctors of Rea-
son. while mediatins among the tombs,
observed a young lady seated by one of
them. eagerly employed in tanning the
structure. On approaching the spot, and
sseeing her in tears, he ventured to ask
whose tomb it might 1e, and why she took
pains in tanning it The lady, with great
simplicity, replied You see a widow at
the tomb of her husband he was most
dear to me, and he loved me in return.
with equal tenderness. Afflicted at the
idea of parting with me, even in death,
his last words were these My dearest
wife, should you ever think of marrying
again, l conjure you to wait, at least, un-
til the plaster of my tomb be entirely dry:
=, after which you have my sanction to take
another husband Now said she, 'as
the materials are still damp, and not like
ly soon to dry, 1 thought would Just fan
it little to assist in dissipating the mois-
ture.'"
"This woman" thought the phiIoso
pher " is in monsUrous hurry - and ha-
wing recently taken to himself Il beautiful
wife, he FASTENED home to apprize her of
the adventure.
"Oh, the wretch !" she exclaimed.
"what an unfeellng monster! How can
a vlrtuous woman ever think of second
husband? If, for my misfortune, should
lose my husband, would remain single
for the rest of my life
Fair promises" thought the philoso,
pher, care easily made: but we shall see.' -
He suddenly became dangerously ill: q
tender scene occurred: the lady vowed
eternal remembrance, and repeated hel
resolution to remain widow to the end
of her days. Enough" said the phi
losopher, my eyes are now closing for
ever - and so saying the breath depar
ted from his body. The desponding wi
dow, with loud lamentations, embraced the
ifeless body, and held it locked in he
arms. Among the mourners who assem-
bled on the melancholy occasion, was
youth OF fair exterior, who said he hat
come from a distance to place himselfas
pupil under the deceased sage. Will
great difficulty he procured sight of tn,
wldow-she was struck with his appear
ance. She saw him again on the followin.
day +; they diued together, supped to
gether, and exchanged tender looks anc
expressions. The youth was halfsmitten
the lady wholly so, and marriage spec
dily agreed upon. The youth. howeve
previously demanded three conditions, one
of which may suffice for our notice
was that the widow should forthwith turI
ont nf thn fha ~ A.,
contained the remains of her late husband
The lady readily consented, and the coffil
was set in an old shed nl the bottom ofth
garden.
Preparations were now made for thu
marriage feast, but the bridegroom wa
suddenly seized with commissions and fel
on the floor. The bride was desired BY
his domestic not to be alarmed, for tha
these fits were not unusual, and that ther,
was cure for them-.the only and certain
cure-the brain of man recently deceas
,ed-taken in warm wine.
"Oh' said the lady. my late husband
has been dead only few days. Get M
hatchet, and | will so myself and opel
the coffin and take out the remedy.
Thus fortified, she posted away to tn
bottom of the garden, and striking blow
with all her might-behoId the lid flew
open, groan was heard, and to her grea
test horror. the dead man rising up. very
coolly said My dear wife, lend M
your hand to get out I''
The unhappy iuamorata. finding all he
lntr'gues, discovered, and unable to sur
TVlVe her shame. hung herselfto one of tn
beams The Philosop pher found her, an,
having satisfied himself that she was quit
dead cut her down very coollv. and ba
wing repaired his own coffin, laid her in il
fully determined never to take anothe