Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-01-23
Flegy on the Death of a Wife.
q
FROM THE CHINESE.

OF the year, when winter reigns in
all his severity, my tender wife
died. ls there on earth man more
unhappy than [? Oh, if thou vert
still alive, | would give thee a new.
robe tor the new year! But, alas /!
thou hast descended to the gloomy
kingdom watered by the yellow
Fountain. Come to me in the mid
die Of the night, that husband and
wife may see one another again;
come to me in the third watch; let
me renew the illusions of the past.
In the second moon, at the birth
Of the spring, the sun shines longer
in the sky, and each family washes
its robes and linen in pure water.
Husbands who have still their wives,
love to adorn them with new clothes,
but |, who have lost mine, I am a
prey to a grief that wastes my life
away. I have removed from my
sight the little shoes that enclosed
her little feet. Sometimes I have
thought Of taking another compan-.
ion but where should I find anoth-
er SO beautiful, so witty, and SO
kind !!
In the third moon, at the epoch
called Tsing-ming, the peach tree
opens its rose eolored blossoms, and
the willows begin to display its
green tresses. Husbands who have
still their wives, 60 with them to
visit the graves Of their relations.
But |, who have lost mine, I 90
alone to visit her grave. When I
see the spot where her ashes repose
burning tears stream down nay.
cheeks. I present to her funeral
offerings; | burn for her images of
gilded paper. Tender wife!'' I
exclaim, with a fearful voice,
'swhere art thou2'' But, alas! she
lis deaf to my cries! I see a soli-
tary tomb, but I cannot see my
wife. ~ v- ..>
In the sixth moon, at the epoch
called San-fo, it is difficult to sup
port the burning heat of the day
The rich and poor then spread their
clothes to air. I will expose a silk
en- robe to the suns hot rays. Look,
here is the robe she wore on festi-
val days! Here are the elegant
shoes that enclosed her pretty feet!
But where is my wife 2. Oh, where
is the mother rof my children2 I
feel as if a cold steel-blade were
dividing my heart. ~-
The fifteenth day of. the eight
moon, when her disc shines with its
greatest. splendol, men and women
offer to the gods melons and cakes,
which have a rounded form like
that Of the orb Of nights Husbands
and wives go two and two to walk
in the country; and enjoy the sweet
moonlight but the round disc of
the moon can only remind me of
the wife / have lost AT times, to
relieve my woe, Ipour for myself a
cup OF generous wine; at times /.
take my guitar, but scarcely can my
trembling hand draw forth a sound,
Ny relations and friends come, turn
by turn, to invite me; but my heart
full Of bitterness, refuses to, share
their pleasures. e j: :,..: ,.- f .:
In the ninth moon, at the epoch
called Tchong-yang, the chrysanthe-
NUNS open their golden cups, and
every garden exha1es a balmy odor,
I would gather d bunch of newly
blown flowers, if / had still a wife
whose:hair they could adorn. My
eyes are wet with tears, my hands
are contracted by grief, and beat.
my feshless breast. / enter into
the elegant chamber that was once
my wite's my two children follow
me, and come sadly to embrace my
knees. Each one takes me by. the
hand, and calls me with a choking
voice. By their tears, their sobs,
their gestures, they ask me for their.
mother .s5Esg .-*R; r.<4:a#+,: G.4;s -.sT~>.5
] The first day Of the tenth month
both rich: and poor present winter
clothing to their wives. >But1, who
havelnowife, to- whom shall [ offer
winter clother?' When I think Of
her who shared my bed, who rested
on the same pillow, I burn for her
images Of ggilded paper, and my.