Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-06
A Chinese Husbands Lament for His
Wife,

1t was in the fifth watch of the fourth
day of the year, when the winters cold
was most intense, that my tender wife
died. Can there be on earth a more un-
happy man than /? o, my wife! il
thou wore still here, l would give thee a
new robe for the new year; but woe is
me, thou art gone down to the sombre
abode where flows the yellow fountain.
Would that husband and wife could see
one another ,gain! Come to me in the
night-come to me in the third watch
let me renew for little while the sweet.
ness of the past.
The second moon, when spring has come
and the sun stays each day longer in the
sky, every family washes its robes and
linen in pure water, and husbands vino
have still their wives love TO adorn them
with new garments. But l, who have
lost milne, am wasting away my life in
grief; | cannot even bear to see the little
shoes that enclosed her pretty feet. Some
times think | will take another COM
panion; but where can find another so
beautiful, wise and kind
In the third moon the peach-tree opens
its rose colored blossoms, and the willow
is bedecked with green tfesses. Hus-
Bands who have still their wives 90 with
them to visit the tombs of their fathers
and friends. But who have lost mine
60 alone to visit her grave, and to wet
with my hot tears the spot where her
ashes repose; | present funeral offerings
to her shade; | burn images of gilded
paper in her honor. Tender wife," |
cry, with fearful voice, " where art thou %
But she, alas hears me not. l see the
solitary tomb but | cannot see my wife
In the fourth moon, the air is pure and
serene, and the moon shines forth in all
bis splendor. How many ungrateful
husbands then give themselves up TO
pleasure and forget The wife they have
lostI Husband and wife are like two
birds of the same forest; when the fatal
hour arrives, each one flies off different
way. | am like man, who, beguiled
by the sweet fancies of an enchanting
dream, seeks, when he awakes, the young
beauty that charmed his imagination
while he slept, but finds around him only
silence and solitude. So much LONELINESS,
so much sweetness vanished in one morn.
ingI Why, alas could not two friends,
SO dearly united, live and grow gray to-
gether!
In the fifth moon, the dragon headed
boats float galy on the waters. Ezquis-
lie wines are heated, and baskets are fill
ed up with delicious fruits. Each year,
at this season, l delighted to enjoy the
pleasures of these simple feasts with my
wife and children. But now l am weary
and restless, prey to bitterest anguish.
l weep all day and all night, and my
heart seems ready to break. All! what
do see at this moment? Pretty child
rem at merry play before my door. Yes,
| can understand that they are happy !;
they have a mother to press them 10 her
bosom. Go away, dear children, your
joyous gambols tear my heart.
In the sixth moon, the burning heat of
the day is almost unbearable. The rich
and the roor then spread their clothes
out to air. | will expose one of my wife's
silken robes and her embroidered shoes
to the suns warm beams. See! here is
the dress she used to wear on festal days,
here are the elegant little slippers that
fitted her feet so well. But where is my
wife? Oh! where is the mother of my
ol:II.ooa fool N, &c i. ooIJ etoaJ bloda
were cutting into my heart.
In the seventh moon my eyes overflow
with tears; for it is then that Eicaulan
visits his wife, Tchi-nu, in heaven. Once
l also had beautiful wife, but she IS lost
to me forever. That fair face, loyeler
than flowers, is constantly before me.
Whether in movement or at rest, the re-
membrance of her eye that is gone from
me never ceases TO rack my bosom. -
What day bave l forgotten to think of
my tender wife-what night have I not
wept till morning.
On the fifteenth day Of the eighth
moon, her disk is seen in its greatest
splendor, and men and women then Of
fer to the gods melons ard cakes, ball
like in form rs the orb of night. Hus-
bands and wives stroll together in the
fields and groves, and enjoy the soft
moonlight. But the round disk of the
moon can only remind me of the wife |
have lost. At times, to solace my grief,
l quatf cup of generous wine; at times
l take my guitar, but my trembling hand
can draw forth no sound.
Tn the ninth month the chrysanthemum
opens its golden cup, and every garden
exhales balmy odor. would gather a
bunch of newly blown flowers if had
still wife whose hair they could adorn !
My eyes are weary with weeping-my
hands are withered with grief, and / beat
feshless breast. / enter the tasteful
room that was once my wife's; my two
children follow me aud come to embrace
my knees. They take my hand in theirs
and speak to me with choking voices,
but, by their tears and sobs, / know they
ask me for their mother.
On the first day of the tenth moon,
both rich and poor present their wives
with winter clothing. But to whom
shall 1 offer winter clothing? l who
have no wife! When l think Of her
who rested her head on my pillow, l
wee p and burn images of giided paper.
Il 10 h., ,.,br o,.,