The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-11
THE WHITE VIOLET.

leu GIRL IL the mouse OF her father, the
maker Of baskets. But he was old, his
hands had lost their skill and he was like
4 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 It's honey. Suon Moi did not
know, so she sold violets that heaven
might bestow upon her the hundred bless.
ings. Her flowers grew In front of tho
house, which faced the north, and she knew
the flowers loved her bccausa 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 bunch, shs Ill
ways whispered, "Ni-ho.chi-lok, :" that
.hcy might find comfort in the parting.
1.-THE flowers of Suen Moi have souls"
chose at the market said. "They know
her voice and her touch, and when they
piss into strange hands they droop theil
heads and die.
But Suen Moi said they only wanted
water.
One morning, just as she had finished,
young man stopped at tho gate.
do you sell llowers?h he asked.
"Yes, honorable sir" And she bowed
low, for she knew by his dress that he wa,
q man Of rank.
| want to buy some of you"
She took the basket to him and held II
out that he might please himself Ho took
one flower Then from the purse at his
belt he brought out a coin which he dropped
into her hand 1t was long piece of vel
low metal shaped like a knife. Upon II
were characters which Suen Moi could not
understand.
at is too much" she said like 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 tho coin.
When she went into the house, she showed
it to her parents.
"It is very ancient" said her father.
"There is one like it in the museum at
Fuhchan.
1T is gold" said her mother. "If we
had three more, VIC should be rich,'
Tho next morning the stranger cams
again. He came over to where Sucn Mo-
was gathering flowers and said to her:
"Suen Moi, Suen Moi, give me flow
err"
81 have picked the best one for you,"
she answered blushing.
"Why have you picked the best one?"
he asked
Because know you love flowers too, ;"
she answered.
'Do you know you are a flower" he
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"
1.-The stranger one is at tho gate talking
to her, said the father to his wife,
81 wonder if he will give her another
to buy her"
"You are like one who looks at the
heavens from the bottom of "a WE'LL" lie
answered.
AS no spoke she went to the door.
'She ia bringing him in she said
sharply. ave 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
man Of rank.
II have come to announce my betrothal
to your daughter" he said. "You are not
to send her to the market place to sell
flowers. Yo,' are to find a sin-shang, who
will teach those things which she ought to
know"
He took from his belt an embroidered
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 plucked one
violet for him. One day she asked him:
"Where do you live, honorable sir?"
"In the Temple Of the Seven Genii,"
and he pointed toward Fuhchan. "My
home is il the temple, but because you
have asked me the question l must go
away. Whom the moon shines bright and
round again. will return"
He walked down the road with the yio-
let in his hand, while Suen Moi walked
sorrowfnlly into the house.
For three days she grieved. The flowers
which grew in the garden turned their
faces toward the door, us if looking for her,
but she did not come to them.
The black monster had laid his hand
upon the village. The curse of smallpox
ragged. 1t crept like thief through tho
salo anu up inc pain 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 foyer
came into her face, then the spots appeared
and, last of all, the marks of the monsters
claws. The flowers in the garden knew and
hung their heads in sorrow
In her delirium Suen Moi found her low
er. He had returned, and she was search
ing for flower to give him. But they all
dropped thoir heads. So she raved.
Raise up your heads. Don't you know
that--that"-
She did not know his name She turned
to him.
Il cannot call you 'he,'" she said.
What Is your namo'P
The blush seemed to come over her face
because she was bold, but it was only the
fever.
81 am called Wong Fa," he answered.
"That is the name of the god of flow
ers," she said.
Il am that one, " was the reply
But tho memory Of all this passed from
her.