The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-12-08
for the story or legend which it illus

80 N'NI Ivy - 81 '''"'' - '''~'
.ratea :. ~
Long ago, many thousands Of years
ago, when the moon was young.
though China was old, there lived an
iIlustrious Mandarin. Who had an only
daughter, named Li-Chk more beautl-
fui than all the stars Of heaven. Her
father. intending her to marry some
great and rich noble observation-disclosures
her shut up in his county -pala stu
ated in the midst of beautiful garden
and walled in with high bamboo
fence The gardener was a young
man named Chang. and was so very
handsome, with his long. almond
shaped eyes. his light shining skin. and
his pig-tail of extraordinary length.
that the fair Li-Chi. peeping through
her bamboo lattice and bebolding 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 droppe at his
feet a choice sweetmeat; in r'tnn for
which he climbed the lat ice and stuck
a rose through the Stats. When he that
night went to SO, his mother, who lived
on an island in the river. he told her
of his adventure; and bewailed that as
poor and humble gardener he could
never aspire to marry the lordly
Mandarin's beautiful daughter, though
she loved him and he loved her. But
the mother, who was clever and am.
bilious woman, and next TO wishing to
be rich. desired of all things to seq her
son happy, encouraged him to WOO and
marry the fair Li-Chi, if possible. She
herself reared silk worms on her little
island, and spun silk for the Manda
rims 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
worshiped her shadow, and kissed the
every tracks which her little t0ttering
club-feet had left on the garden walks.
And.so in time plan WAS arranged
whereby Li-Chi was on a certain night
to elope with her lover being sure. as
her prospective stepmother imprt ssive-
ly urged, to bring with her box full
Of her fathers gold and jewels in or
der that they might all three live to-
gether 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 be
lieve that a robber had stolen thu
money, and that his daughter had
drowned herself. ,er>
Tiis plan was carried out in 80 fal
rs that the lovers succeeded in escap
ing unseen through the garden and u
the bridge. bearing between them sus
pended on a stout sbampoo-pole /.
2 casket full Of gold money and cost.
jewels. But it so happened that jus
as they stepped upon the bridge, at thu
other end of which Changes estimabl'
mother awaited them, tho illustriou
. Mandarin awakened from his sleep
and turning his face to the open door
! way bcheld to his horror his onl.
daughter running away with low
born gardener and his own box 0
: money! Selling stout whip thu
Mandarin rushed after, and overtakin!
the couple on the bridge, graspe'
i Chang sby his pigtail. twisted it aroun'
his throat, and choked and beat hin
until he was senseless, when h
r ended by throwing him int
, the river, where he Immediately sank
Poor Li-Chi, witnessing her lover
cruel fate, at once sprang into tn
. water after him. and was ais
8 drowned Strange to say, the bodie
could mover be found; but near tn
r spot where they sank beautiful vii
!. low tree magically upsprang. an
stretching its dropping arms above tn
$ water, sighed day and night mourn
y full dirge for the departed lovers. L
its branches, after a while, a couple c
turtle doves appeared, and built ne>'
e and there they would bill and COO tn
g live,ong day, secure from molestatior
10 For of course every body knew tha
these were The souls of the unfortunat
lovers, whom the gods had thus mere
IS fully transformed and reunited ]
eternal youth and happiness. y
II Old w;llow-pattern china, of genuin
, Chinese manufacture, is now niue
d sought-after a bric-a-brac; and thos
n who own piece will perhaps fe'
e more interest in it from knowing I'll
/ legend which it illustrates. -Susa
V Archer Wetss. in Vide dDQEe, or