The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-19
THE WHITE VIOLET.

wall of Fuhchan, lived Suen Moi, the vio-
let girl, in the house Of her father, the
maker of baskets. But he vas old, his
hands had lost their skin and he was like
a blind fowl picking at random after
worms They would have been poor had
he not been as careful with his cash as a
bee with its honey. Suen Moi did not
know, SO she sold violets that heaven
might bestow upon her the hundred bless
ings Her flowers grew in front Of the
house, which faced the north, and she knew
the flowers loved her because when they
blossomed they always turned their heads
toward the door.
She called the flowers her children, gave
them water when the hot sun tried to
scorch them and kept the weeds away.
Every day she picked the best ones and
sold them, that her parents might not die
poor. Whenever she sold a bunch, she al
WAYS whispered, 'Ni-ho-chi-lOk.H that
they might find comfort in the parting
1.-THE flowers of Suen Moi have souls, -
those at the market said. They know
her voice and her touch, and when they
pass into strange hands they droop their
heads and die"
But suen Moi said they only wanted
water
One morning, just as she had finished, a
young man stopped at the gate.
DO you sell flowers" he asked
eyes, honorable sir" And she bowed
a man of rank.
Il want to buy some of you
She took the basket to him and held it
out that be might please himself He took
one flower Then from the purse at his
belt he brought out a coin which he dropped
into her hand. 1t was a long piece of yell
low metal shaped like a knife. Upon it
were characters which Suen Moi could not
understand
1T is too much, p she said like a child
that cannot calculate.
81 give it to you because you love your
flowers and are good to them, - answered
the stranger.
She watched him curiously as he walked
away, and then she looked at the coin.
When she went into the house, she showed
it to her parents.
cit is very ancient, said her father.
''Thore is one like it in the museum at
Fuhchan.'
cit is gold said her mother eff we
had three more, we should be rich. -
The next morning the stranger came
again. He came over to where Suen Moi
was gathering flowers and said to her:
''Suen Moi, Suen Moi, give me a flow
er.
II have picked the best one for you,
she answered blushing.
''Why have you picked the best one2''
he asked.
Because I know you love flowers too,
she answered.
do you know you are dower?'' be
said
She hung her head No one had ever
spoken like this to her before.
''You are as beautiful as the flowers"
he said. Your heart is pure and sweet.
L love you as you do the flowers. -
fsThe stranger one is at the gate talking
to her, said the father to his-wife.
81 wonder if he viii give her another
coin, - she answered Perhaps he wants
to buy her. -
you are like one who looks at the
heavens from she bottom Of well, he
answered.
As he spoke she went to the door.
she is bringing him in she said
sharply. 1--WE shall be disgraced. -
Suen Moi entered with her basket. The
stranger followed. The old couple kneeled
and knocked their heads on the floor be-
cause they could easily see that he was a
man of rank.
81 have come to announce my betrothal
to your daughter, - he said. you are not
to send her to the market place to sell
flowers. You are to find sin-shang who
will teach those things which she ought to
know
He took from his belt an en- hroidered
purse and laid it on the table Then he
went out, while the old woman began
counting the coins
Every day he came at sunrise and stood
at the gate, while Suen Moi pluckeu one
violet for him. One day she asked him:
''Where do you live, honorable sirs'
"In the Temple OF the Seven Genii "
and he pointed toward Fuhchan. B1y
home is in the temple but because you
have asked me the question I must 60
away. When the moon shines bright and
round again [ win return y
He walked down the road with the VIC
let in his hand, while Suen Moi walked
sorrowfully into the house
For three days she grieved. The flowers
which grew in the garden turned their
faces toward the door, as if looking for her,
but she did not come TO then.
The black monster had laid his hand
upon the village The curse of smallpox
ragged. 1t crept like thief through the
gate and mp the path between the flower
beds of Suen Moi 1t stole into her room,
and laid its hand upon her fair forehead
and chained her to her couch. The fever
came into her face, then the spots appeared
and, last of all, the marks of the monster
claws. The flowers N the garden knew and
hung their heads in sorrow.
In her deliriuln Suen Moi found her low
er. He had returned, and she was search
ing for flower to give him. But they all
dropped their heads. So she raved.
Raise up your heads. Don't you know
that-that'-
She did not know his name. She turned
to him.
81 cannot call you he, =" she said
stWhat is your name'?'
The blush seemed to come over her face
because she was bold, but it was only the
fever.
Il am called Wong Fa, - he answered.
'.That is the name OF tine god of flow
ers, she said.
Il am that one - was the reply.
But the memory of all this passed from
her.
The black monster has no mercy. 1t has
no SOUL SO it is continuously searching for
human ones. 1t took the soul Of Suen Moi