The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-29
THE GOLDEN DRAGON.
BY ELEANOR INSTANTANEOUS.

BY ELEANOR INSTANTANEOUS.
This rather remarkable story might
be said 10 have several beginnings, but
the one that seems to me most logical
is connected with the establishment of
my husband i'm China as the FoOchow
agent of the Great Mongolian Tea Com
pany. Dick had been tea broker and
faster for years, and last winter he
went over to take charge of the
Foochow house. | was to follow later
if he was satisfied with the business
outlook and liked the country. His
letters thus Ear had been very encourag-
ing, and expected to join him ere
many months.
1t was about this time, as many per-
sons will remember, that a certain
lady's splendid collection of thousand
teapots was sold at auction in a we'll
known shop. 1t comprised a most
curious assortment of china oddities
from all countries OF the world where
tea is used as a beverage, but / fiatter
myself that the old blue and white
mandarin piece | bought for Nan was
the gem of the collection. 1t was very
large and stood upon little teakwood
pedestal which displayed to the best
advantage it's varied outline. On the
lid there was perched a large golden
dragon whose body wound in and out
OF the design in such an intricate fash
ion that its scaly tail formed the loop
serving for a handle and curled back
into ring by which one could lift the
lid. The spout of the teapot was form
ed by the neck and head of the dragon,
apparently thrust through the side.
This golden monster had two legs
armed with claws which were buried
in the body of a man. This fiction
was represented in an agony of fear
with struggling limbs and distorted
countenance, while all around the base
of the teapot were grouped other figures
in flowing robes, kneeling in suppli
ance.
at is curious" remarked Mr.. Van
Rensselaer, Cobb when Nan showed
him our treasure, chow the taste of
decorators is fascinated by what is
horrible"
"The horrible can hardly be said to
exist in the sensibility of Chinamen,"
replied Mrs. Vaughan, who was a
dear little missionary lately back from
Peking. 'As people, you know,
they are barbarously cruel. remember
when first went out to China fifteen
years ago, that tainted in the street
when / saw women and children
pelting a dying criminal with sour
rice. There is no spectacle so delight
ful to them rs the suffering of an
enemy. This victim whom the dragon
is about to devOur is probably some
legendary foe to the Tartar race"
"What are all these men praying
for?r Nan asked. "Did you make out
what it says in the text?'
''These characters under the spout
are very plain" said Mrs. Vaughan,
who knew the Chinese language.
"They read: Hail, Dragon-god, the
Shining one, Thus doth Tish-yen, the
potter, glorify thee in the year of Con-
fucius, l75l.'"
How old does that make the tea
pot?" | asked.
"About five hundred and fifty years"
Mrs. Vaughan replied. "You have
certainly secured treasure, Mrs.
Morris. These old pieces do not often
find their way out of a museum"
Mr.. Van Rensselaer, Cobb was arous-
ed He never deigned to look at any
thing younger than his family, hut an
cid dynasty teapot was quite i'm his
line.
Nan fairly danced for joy.
"Well, give blue and white tea for
the blue and white stockings of the
| Century Clubr' she cried. "Dear Mrs.
Vaughan, do try to make out what it
says on the lid"
The little missionary lady wa puz-
zled bit.
al can read it," she explained, turn
ing il slowly in her fingers, ''hut the
application is very obscure. Ii says
God of Vengeance, hold fast till the
circle ends | presume that Is the
prayer of these kneeling figures who
desire that there shall never be an end
to their revenge whatever it may be.
The circle never ends, of course; it is
equivalent TO saying hold fast for
ever.'r
Betty" said Nan, giving me a rap
turous hug, 81 take il all back-what
/ said about your getting awfaIly sold
at auctions. You know" she explain
ed to Mr.. Cobb, ''my sister has a weak
ness for buying things"
The bubbling of the samovar sug-
gested something.
"Now," said |, 81 have mind TO
try some of the tea that came with the
teapot"
"Are you sure it isn't poison?" she
asked obviously.
''Dr. Stewart says it is merely the
powder of very old dry tea leaves. L
didn't tell you, did r." / continued,
addressing our guests, "that we dis
covered queer little circular drawer
ia the pedastal, full of a fine brown