Chapter 5 No.5

My Dear One,

We have a daughter-in-law. Not only have we a daughter-in-law, but

we have servants and household furnishings and clothing-- and

clothing-- and clothing. I am sure that if her gowns could be laid side

by side, they would reach around the world. She is as fair as the

spring blossoms, and of as little use. An army encamped upon us

could not have so upset our household as the advent of this one

maiden. She brought with her rugs to cover the floors, embroideries

and hangings for the walls, scrolls and saying of Confucius and

Mencius to hang over the seats of honour-- to show us that she is an

admirer of the classics-- screens for the doorways, even a huge bed

all carved and gilded and with hangings and tassels of gay silk.

Thine Honourable Mother, after viewing the goods piled in the

courtyards, called her bearers and told us she was taking tea with a

friend in the village of Sung-dong. I think she chose this friend

because she lives the farthest from our compound walls. I alone was

left to direct the placing of this furniture. Li-ti was like a butterfly,

flitting hither and thither, doing nothing, talking much. The bed must

be so placed that the Spirits of Evil passing over it in the night-time

could not take the souls of sleepers away with them. The screens

must stand at the proper angle guarding the doorways from the spirits

who, in their straight, swift flight through the air, fall against these

screens instead of entering the house. She gravely explained to me

that the souls who dwell in darkness like to take up their abode in

newly organised households, and many precautions must be made

against them. She even seriously considered the roof, to see if all the

points curved upward, so that the spirits lighting upon them be carried

high above the open courtyards. I do not know what would have

happened to thine ancestral rooftree if it had not met with her

approval. I was many heartfuls glad that thine August Mother was

taking tea in a far-off village, as Li-ti even wanted to install a new God

in the kitchen. This I would not permit. Canst thou imagine thy

Mother's face if a God from a stranger family was in the niche above

the stove? Happily all was over when thine Honourable Mother

returned. She is not pleased with this, her newest, daughter-in-law,

and she talks-- and talks-- and talks. She says the days will pass

most slowly until she sees the father of Li-ti. She yearns to tell him

that a man knows how to spend a million pieces of money in marrying

off his daughter, but knows not how to spend a hundred thousand in

bringing up his child. If this great Governor of Chih-li has much

wisdom, he will stay long within his province. I have just heard for the

hundredth time the saying of Confucius, "Birth is not a beginning, nor

is death an end." In my despair I said deep down within my breast, "I

am sure it will not be an end for thee, O Mother-in-law. Thou wilt go to

the River of Souls talking, talking, always talking-- but the Gods will

be good to me. Thou must pass before me, and I will not hasten so as

to overtake thee on the way." I beg thy pardon, dear one. I lack

respect to thy Most Honourable Parent, but my soul is sore tried and I

can find no quite.

I am,

Thy Wife.