The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-05-23

LESSONS In LOVE-
The following day sufficed for Sho MAJ
to become thoroughly familiar with the
simple affairs of the household which
she had entered. In it there was little
luxury, but much comfort. Ii Yuen Wy
had been for many years teacher in
the wealthy families Of Teng Chow. His
son was now student in the excellent
college upon which the city prided
itself, and for the last two years he had
been an assistant to his father, giving
instruction under his direction. By this
means the resources of the household
were increased and the old savant found
his labors lightened in his declining
years.
But Ii Xiii was ambitious. He, too,
had set his heart upon winning prize
in the great literary competition at
Peking, and he was bending all his
efforts toward preparing himself for the
ordeal. For this reason only he be-
grudged the time given to teaching,
which was SO much taken from his
studies.
In this situation of affairs Sho Mai
saw the opportunity she coveted-the
possibility OF accepting their invitation
to remain their guest without becoming
a burden to them. She could share the
labor of teaching, and at the same time
avail herself of the advantages of the
Teng Chow College. This she desired
eagerly, but even more she wished to
remain under the same roof with this
venerable teacher, whose well-stored
mind would be to her an inexhaustible
spring of knowledge.
She confessed to them her own
ambition to win the great prize Of the
Chung Yuen. In the story which she
told them of her life-the falsity
of which she deeply regretted, but knew
not how to avoid-she mingled a truth
full account of her great longing for
this high honor and of her determi-
nation to fit herself for it's attainment by
observation as we'll as by study. She
easily convinced Ii Yuen Wy that her
early training had fitted her to assist
in the labors of teaching, and, in fine,
her proposition was accepted and she
became a regular member of the house
hold.
ACh OCRhA bcdSOIl w HUI W ouO
Mai was the brightest of her life. The
freedom which her disguise afforded her
she drank like rich wine. She to whom
every luxury had come without 80 much
as a wish now reveled in the thought
that her labors were helping to secure
the simple comforts which brought with
them so deep an enjoyment. She thought
often of her home, but with no appre-
hension for the safety of it's inmates, and
she covered all reflection upon the pain
which her departure would give them
by picturing the pride which they would
feel in her success. The ease with which
all obstacles had rthus far been sur
mounted gave her confidence, and the
prize which should show to the Empire
what woman's mind could accomplish
seemed already in her grasp.
And Sho Nal succeeded admirably
both as teacher and student. She pos
sessed above all striking originality
of thought and expression, and whether
herconclusions were right or wrong, they
always claimed the attention and fire.
quently aroused the wonder of her in
structors. With her pupils doubtless
the natural insight of her sex helped
her. However that may be, it is cer-
tain that their attainments under her
care gratifed their parents, who were
won in advance by the beauty and the
enthusiasm of the young Instructor.
She won the hearts of those in the
little house that sheltered her as easily
as the birds charm with their music or
nature with its beauty. The old phil
osopher would sit as the evening shad-
ows gathered into night talking with
her and his children, and Sho Mai held
these hours to be the most valuable
which she had ever passed. If any re-
gret for her extraordinary flight had
come to her it would have melted in her
delight as she listened to the words
which taught her how the eye of wisdom
can pierce the mysteries of the world
Ii Xiii, too, sat at his fathers feet with
deep attention. Sho Mai could see his
handsome face light up, even as his mind
also was illumined, and she watched
him with certain pride and pleasure
with feeling new to her which She
could not omprehond-while on the
edge of the group was little Ii Kean,
whose eyes never wandered from the
fope of the Stranuar who had coma 90