Seven Maids of Far Cathay: Being English Notes From a Chinese Class BookLedyard, Mary Forman
General
Seven Maids of Far Cathay: Being English Notes From a Chinese Class Book
Ledyard, Mary Forman
Chinese in literature
Up yet another stone steps we mount to the highest Temple of all, set
like a star in clouds at top of mountain - the Temple of Dreams. Inside
of Temple most wonderful but at entrance of uttermost darkness. One step
- two step I take alone (only one person can make entrance at one time)
then comes light, soft like flush of dawn. Grows brighter, most bright,
until over all things the Spirit of Fire spreads its mantle of red. I
walk on, each step in changing light; Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green and
Violet. At last I make stand at foot of rainbow before the High Priest
of the Temple. Strange, most strange! Last night I dream of rainbow. I
speak unto the Priest my dream. He make interpretation as follows: The
rainbow you beheld in sleep is an omen of good promise. Likewise the
street in which you walked in fear and darkness for Success crowns him
who works to win. The violets you gathered at end of street were
Happiness, Fame and Riches. All these shall be yours if you break not
the string of Pearls that are entwined about your neck. Should one Pearl
loosen and fall into space, Sorrow and Sadness shall be your portion.
Beware of accidents unto the Pearls.
Much troubled, with hand to Pearls lest Misfortune come up with me - for
clasp of necklace is of weakness - I make return through rainbow into
world outside.
"The shadows are growing," Miss Sterling say. "Come, we must get down
the mountain to to the boats at once!"
Tonight after we reach Compound, I cut out dinner and make anointment of
hair, also stir my stumps to compose Poem. Time - five of hours - ten of
moments. I have much hunger.
He sits in the belfry tower,
Tolling the soft bell of Dreams.
Four times he rings it each hour,
Heaven with sound of it teems.
Moons long past the Spirits said:
"For untold Sins you must pay,
Morning's gold but Evening's red,
Your crimes must be paid each day."
Worn and dark is He and old.
On his soul his Sins have weighed.
Twenty-five years He has tolled,
Surely the price He has paid.
This morning at Ten of the clock we march by two's and two's into
Chapel, Honored President and Teachers leading. Cui Ai adorned in light
blue silk following. Tomorrow she marries. Today, Miss Powers trim
Chapel and make for Cui Ai alone, Graduating Exercises most scrumptious.
First come little welcome speech of our Honored President then Cui Ai
arise and speak Essay on Faith in our beloved Neuchang dialect. Sit
down, and Chinese girls sing in chorus "Wings of Faith." Again Cui Ai
arise and speak Essay on Hope in Classical Chinese. Sit down, and our
Adorable Miss Sterling sing solo, "Keep on Hoping." Yet again Cui Ai
arise and speak Essay on Charity, this time in English. Yet again sit
down, and Chinese girls sing chorus of "Charity."
Miss Powers make speechings of presentations and unto Cui Ai give
Diploma of Excellency. All is finished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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