Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-12-09
A PRETTY LEGEND.
The story Told by the Figures and LAID
scapes on Old willow Pattern China.

Iho Story Toiu ny tho rBuTos ""u b"
scapes on Old Willow Pattern China
Long ago, many thousands OF years
ago, when the moon was young,
though China was old. there lived an
illustrious Mandarin, who had an only
daughter named Li.Chi, more bcauti-
full than all the stars OF heaven. Her
father intending her to marry some
great and rich noble like himself. kept
her shut up in his country palace, situ-
ated in the midst Of beautiful gar
den and walled In with high bamboo
fence. The gardener was young man
named Chang, and was so very hand.
some, with his long, almond.shaped
eyes. his light shining skin, and his
pigtail Of extraordinary length. that
the fair Li-Chi. peeping through her
bamboo lattice and bcholdinS him at
work. straightway fell in love with
him. So one day, when he was train
ing some roses near her window.
she looked out and slyly dropped
ut his feet choice swcctmeat,
in return for which he climbed the
lattice and stuck rose through the
Stats. When he that night wen. to sec
his mother. who lived on an island in
the river. he told her Of his adventure.
and bcwailcd that, rs n poor anu
humble gardener, he could never aspire
to marry the lordly Mandar;ns daugh'
ter. though she loved him and he loved
her. But the mother, who was clever
and ambitious woman, and, next to
wishing to be rich. desired ofall things
to see her son happy. encouraged him
to WOO and marry the fair Li-Chi. il
possible. She herself reared silk.worms
on her little island. and spun silk for
the Mandarin's daughter; and the very
next time that she carried this silk to
the fair lady, she took the opportunity
OF secretly informing her Of how her
son worshippcd her shadow. and kissed
the very tracks which her little tot,er'
ing club feet had left on the garden
walks And so in time plan was ar-
ranged whereby li.Chi was on a Ger
tain night to clopc with her lover
being sure. rs hsr prospective step
mother imprcssively urged, to bring
with her box full of her fathers gold
and Jewels, in order that they might
all three live together in comfort. The
mother would hide the maiden and the
money in her hut on the island. where
none would ever dream OF looking for
them; and the Mandarin should be
made TO believe that robbcr had
stolen the money and that his daughter
had drowned herself.
This plan was carried ont In so far
rs tha, the lovers succeeded in escap-
ing unseen through the garden and to
the bridge. bearing between them. sus-
pended on n stout bamboo pole,
casket full Of good money and costly
Jewels. But it so happened that just
us they stepped upon the bridge. at tho
other end Of which Chang's cstimable
mother awaited them, the illustrious
Mandarin awakened from his sleep,
and turning his face to the open door
way bchcld TO his horror his only
daughter running away with low
born gardener and his own box OF
money! Selling stout whip the Man
DARN rushed after, and ovcrtaking the
couple on the bridge, graspcd Chang
by the pigtail, twisted II around his
throat and chokcd and Tea,
him until he was sensclcss, when
hc ended by throwing him into
the river. where he immediately
sunk. Poor Li.Chi. witnessing her
lovers cruel fate, ut once sprang into
the water after him, and was also
drowned. Strange to Fay. the bodies
could never be found. but near tho
spot where they sunk beautiful will
low tree maSically upsprang, and
stretching its dropping arms above the
water. sighed day and night q mourn
ful tlirgc for the departed lovers. In
lis branches. after awhile, q couple OF
turtle doves appeared. AMI builta nest;
and there they would bill and coo the
livelong day, secure from molcstation.
For, of course, every body knew that
these were the souls of the unfor Sinato
lovers, whom the gods had thus merci'
fully transformed, and reunited in
eternal youth and happiness
Old willow pattern china, OF gcnu'
Inc Chinese manufacture, is now much
sought after rs bric-a-brac; and those
who own a piece will. perhaps. feel
more interest in II, from knowing the
legend which 1t illustrates.-Wide