Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-10-30
THURMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER

girls. Terror-terror Of what?-held
her cold and rigid Their glances
dropped
Have you heard the story of the
ivory vase?" asked the stranger In an
ordinary tone of voice.
mo, only that Mrs. Dill found 1t
after long search In monastery
near Quei-ling," said Alice evenly.
"And Mr.. Dunham's vase came from
a nunnery in North China said the
stranger in a musing tone. Perhaps
you would like to hear the story of
how the ivory vases came to be
nader"
Il would" said Alice.
"Will you not sit DOWN."
Thank you-no-the story cannot
be very long"
We'll, several hundred years ago
there lived in the North Of China
very beautiful maiden who was deeply
loved by carver of ivory. They were
to be married for, strange to relate,
their parents had chosen that they
should wed each other and so there
was nothing to cloud their happiness.
"One day they quarreled-it was
about the details of the wedding feast
or the color of the bridegroom's robe
or something equally trifling, no doubt;
but they Quarreled and the carver in
ivory went far away. to Quei-ling in
fart and hnooypa Tho GIRL
became nun and entered convent
not far from Peking.
Years passed, and during these
years both the nun and the girl re-
pented and greved for each other.
Filled with sorrow and remorse the
monk took to his craft again and
carved many beautiful articles that
went forth into the world and made
the monastery famous. In his spare
time he engaged upon a task that oc-
cupied every moment and 1t took five
years to complete the task. He carved
the first Of the ivory vases. And In
to the carving he wrought the story
OF his love and broken romance When
he had finished one vase he took an
other beautiful piece of ivory and
spent five years fashioning another
one exactly like it, and this second one
he wrapped in piece of silk upon
which he had written poem, and he
placed 1t In box and sent 1t by
private messenger to that far away
nunnery In the north Of China. to tell
his sweetheart that love still lived
within his heart In spite Of his retire
ment from the world.
The second vase he kept ever be-
fore him in his cell and when he died
1t was held as wonderful example OF
his art and occupied for centuries an
honored place among the treasures Of
the monastery.
THE girls vase was treasured in
nuns vase. Down through the years
these vases have come-perhaps to
teach a lesson In forgiveness-to show
that love outlives death-may | trans
late the meaning Of the carving to
you?" he asked gently.
fledSe, whispered AHC6
She watched his fingers as they
passed over the delicate carving Of the
ivory, pointing here and there as he
spoke:
Here are the lovers preparing for
their marriage-see the exquisite flow.
ers he Is sending to herr Here are
her parents and even the aged grand.
mother and all are smiling and happy.
Next the lovers In altercation-they
turn their backs and each go a differ
ent way. See the woman weeps and
the man takes a pack on his shoulder
and journeys over mountains and
streams. Each Is In search OF forget.
fulness. Each one enters a house OF
silence-they are 30 far apart, the nun.
merry and the monastery. Behold their
anguish after the irrevocable step has
been taken! But the man forgives
and labors to perfect the vases 80 as
to tell his sweetheart that lovers quar-
rels are pitiful mistakes that can ruin
lives and-ah!" Raymond Borden
stopped short,
He never finished the story, for
Alice was sobbing softly on the 9th
er side Of the table and 1t was neces.
sary for him to come around and take
her in his arms and comfort her; for
what was the use Of telling her the
story so like their own II he could not
kiss away her tears and convince her
that it was not too late for them to be
happy?
The ivory vase lay neglected on the
table, but 1t had served the purpose OF
it's creator-to bring parted lovers TO-
gether.
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)