Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-10-17
Rice-Throwins at Weddings.

In the days Of the Sbsnc 1ynas :, some
1,500 years before Chriat, lher5 lived in be
province OF Shansi most f4in3us sgrcerer
called Cbao. 1t happened oue day that a
Mr.. P'spg came to consult the oracle, aud
Chao, having OWNED by means OF he tor
toise diagram, informed The trembling p'aDg
that he had but six days 10 live. Now,
however much we may trust the sagac:y
and skill of our family physiUeu, we iaay
be excused if, in matter OF life ond ;iea!a,
we cali in second doctor for Cousu tutiou,
and in such strai5 it s not 10 Ge wondered
at that P'ang should repair TO another
source TO make sure there was no mistake,
To the fair Peachbossom he vent, a
young lady who had acquired some teputs.
ton as a sorCerese, and to the tender femin-
inc heart unfoldcd the story Il bia wou. Her
divination yielded the same as Chaos in
elk days P'ang should die, unless, by he
exercise Of her magica! powers, she could
avert the catastrophe. Her efforts we're
successful, and OH the seventh day II. at
was Chaos a7tonishment, anG still greater
his modification and rage, wien ho met
Pang taking his evening stroll and learned
that there lived greater magician than he.
The story would soon get about, and unless
he could quickly put an end 10 his feir rivai's
existence his reputation would be ruined.
And this was how Chao plotted against the
life of Peachblossom.
He sent go-between TO Peachbloss1n g
parents to inquire if their daughter was stil
unmarried. and receiving reply in the af.
frmative, he befoolsd the simple parents
into believing that he had sou who was
seeking wife, and ultimately be induced
them to engage Peachblossom to him
in marriage. The marriage cards
we're duly interchanged but the
crafty Chao had chosen the most unlucky
day be could select for the wedding, the day
when the Golden Pheasant" was in the as.
cendant. Surely as the bride entered the
red chair the spirit bird would destroy her
with his powerful beak. But the wise
Peschblossom knew all these things, and
feared not.
81 will CO." she said. Il will fight and
defeat him."
When the wedding morning came she
gave directions to have rice thrown out at
the door, which the spirit bird seeing made
haste to devour and, while his attention was
thus occupied, Peschblossom stepped into
the bridal chair and passed on her way un-
huu AOh VIC iCpUOi
knows why he throws rice after the bride.
II any interest has been engendered in his
breast by this tale of the fair Peachbloasom
let him listen to what befel her at the house
of the magician. Arrived at Chaos house
NO bridegroom was there, but an attendant
was given her and the two girls prepared to
pass the night in the room assigned to them.
Peachblossom was wakeful. for she knew
that when the night passed, the Golden
Pheasant" would be succeeded by the evil
star of the "White Tiger" whose power and
ferocity who can tell! Go you to bed
first" she said to the maid. The girl was
soon asleep. and still her mistress slept not,
but continued to pace the room, and at mid.
night the tiger apirit came and the morning
light showed Peachblossom still pacing the
room, while on the bed lay the lifeless body
of the little maid. Thus were the magic
battles of Peaohblossom and Chao, and many
more were there, until they took their fight
to heaven, where now they reign as gods.
And on earth the actors have not idols more
priced than those of ofPeachblossom and Chao
Kung-CHinese Times.