The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
CHMA'S SACRED LILIES.
A Legend Taught to Children of the
Empire.

Qrom the Pittsburg Dispatch.)
The Chinese are a people who love to
account for the origin of things in a way
that may be understood and remembered.
The miraculous origin Of the beautiful
Sacred Lilies of China is a story that is
taught to every child in the country. and
1t is universally believed. The legend is
well established in the literature Of China
and ii Is one of lie first stories travellers
in that country are told
So long ago that the memory Of man
runneth not to the contrary rich man
died in China, leaving vast property and
two sons. The elder, according 20 the
customs OF the land, was to inherit all
the property, but no case had ever been
known where all the younger brothers and
sisters were not well cared for by the
elder. OF the two sons of the rich man
the elder was grasping, selfish avari-
cious man, while the younger was gentle,
generous, and kind. The heir to the prop
erty made such a division as became his
sordid disposition but his young brother
did not know the character of the portion
set apart TO him until he went one day TO
gee it. He saw sterile, stony waste. A
few pools Of water were collected among
the stones, but no vegetation gladdened
the ground and no living thing frequented
there When he looked about the desert
and realized his brothers meanness be
sat down upon a stone and bitterly wept.
With his head bowed between his knees
he moaned aloud. Suddenly a brightn- IS
that outshone the sun enveloped him.
he heard delicious music A beauti Vi
woman, gorgeously dressed, stood before
him. Tiny golden bells clustered about
her dress and they made the music the
young man heard. She asked him why
he wept and appeared SO miserable and
downcast. He replied in trembling tones
and told the story of his fathers death
and his brothers cruelty in allotting him
nothing but the cesert land upon which
they stood.
The beautiful woman waved her hand
and a sweet sleep fell upon the young
man The melting music charmed his
ears and his senses swooned amid heav-
emily. scenes and sounds. How long he
slept he knew not. but he was awakened
by a touch upon his arm. He arose ard
looked about him with the greatest as
constituent. The land was no longer
desert, but a fairyland OF flowers that
seemed to spring from the very stones.
Bright birds flashed and sang from the
trees that clustered in groves and green
grass clothed with velvet the gentle
slopes. The blissful music lowered in, the
air, and the sweet voice of the beautiful
woman banished sorrow and fear from
his heart. She spoke in such gentle tones
that he scarce could distinguish her
words from the music, but she told him
his weeping had reached the ear OF
Buddha who had sent her to relieve his
distress. These flowers, these beautiful
lilies the gracious Buddha sent TO cheer
and recompense the sorrowful son, whose
voice should never more be heard in
weeping. The flowers were faithful lilies,
everyone with a soul of love for the
miraculous garden, where they grew by
grow elsewhere but their roots might be
trapsplanted, and the lilies bloom in
strange lands TO cheer China's wandering
sons