Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-07-15

anu seen III Ill, Sat Uelluu HtI Dtu-SClttil
and wept in secret.
So constantly did she weep that she
used up two score of rice-paper pocket
hankerchiefs. which her mother had
provided for the May-day procession.
For in China everybody goes into the
country on May-day to bring home
spring flowers and spring colds.
Next day Whang LO said to his wife;
"Truly, for marvel, thy words were
right, though they were but the words
of woman. Our daughter is an old
maid and disgrace to us. Then she is
getting sick, for she weeps and is silent,
and does not half the work she did. |
shall go straightway and offer her in
marriage to my wealthy friend, All, Sin.
He has had seven wives and he will
know how to manage her. Then we
shall hear no more of the presumptuOus
goOse-raiser across the water"
Soon it became known to everybody
that the beautiful Sing Lo was betrOth-
ed the crook-backed All Sin, who was
Older than her own father, and had but
two teeth left in his head.
Already was the day fixed when
Whang Los friends was TO come to the
feast, after which the bride was TO be
borne away in sedan to the house of
the bridegroom, who would then look
upon her face for the first time.
What could poor Hop Hi do? No need
to ask the question; for where one truly
loves one cannot always find way.
1t was the day before the wedding.
seen him ride off on a mule. Mrs. LO
was in her back kitchen preparing
| great jars of tea for the wedding festi-
val; and the fair Sing LO sat on a mat
behind big screen, chOpping cabbage
in tray for the dinner soup.
Hop Hi knew very well that she was
watching him through the bamboo
work of the screen; so he caught par
ticularly perverse old gander, which,
when let loose, invariably made for the
shore, instead of staying around the
island with the rest, and under its wing
he tied bit of paper.
Then he bowed low to Sing Lo with
his hand first on his head and then on
his heart, and held up the gander and
showed the paper beneath its wing.
Then, dropping the bird into the water,
he retired to his house and shut him
self up out of sight.
No sooner did Sing LO perceive all
this than she tOttered down to the
waters edge and lured the gander
ashore with bits oil chopped cabbage.
Then she caught him in net, and when
she had gotten safely back behind the
bambOO-screen she unfolded the paper
and read the following words:
Life of my life rose of all roses! slender
willow OF tOttering gracefulness! Hop hi
bends before thee on the knees of his heart,
and kisses the dust of thy most exquisite feet.
o. breath Of my lie, if thy soul burns for me
as does mine for thee, hearken to my words!
At sunset tomorrow there will come guest
to your fathers house, helpless, end poor,
and harken to and obey the words Of her wis
dom. So shall joy and thanksgiving await
u.s. From the hand of him whose soul goes
out to meet thine own. Hop Hi.
Sing Lo kissed the beautiful letter,
and bathed it in her tears. Then she
hid it in her bosom, and seeing her
mother approaching she chopped garlic
and onions to account for her fearful
eyes.
Next day was the day of the wedding.
The guests assembled for the feast, the
music of toms toms arose, and the house
of Whang LO blazed with lanterns both
inside and out, while hundred flags
adorned its sides, and gorgeous kites
flOated from its roof. Suddenly an old
woman, who was passing by, fell in a
LII, CldWluR but edIlU, dIu IEOUulug anu
| fOaming at the mouth.
What could the servants do but bear
her into the garden shed, and there, at
alOnep But no sooner were they gone
than she arose, and peeping cautiously
about, made her way unseen to the
window of Sing LO, who, with a heavy
heart, was attiring herself for her
bridal. A few low words was all that
passed between them, and then Sing LO
begged of her parents, as a last favor.
to be allowed ten minutes alone in her
chamber for meditation before leaving
the home of her youth forever.
| In his own house, gOrgeOuSly attired,
All Sin awaited with his friends the COM
ing of his beautiful young bride. In
an elegantly decorated apartment, he
and his sister, with their nearest rela-
tives, received her; and when her mother
mounted upon three legged stool to
remove the long silken veil of her
daughter. his little red pig-eyes peered
curiOusly out to behold the beauty of
which he had heard, but had never yet
seen. But when the veil was removed,
what did he behold? No fair young
girl, but withered and wrinkled old
hag, with bald head and no teeth. 1t
was the venerable grandmother of Hop
Hi
Then Mrs. Lo fell off the stool, and
swooned away, and All Sin howled and
tore his gray beard. AS to Whang Lo,
he rushed on like maniac in search of
his daughter. But she was nowhere to
to be found. She was gone; and Hop
His boat was gone; and it was soon dis
covered that casket of money, belong
| ing to Sings father, with all the costly
clothes and ornaments presented her by