The Outlook; Volume 118

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ... bade her turn it over, and on the bottom he pointed out the seal of a dynasty long since passed away, one in which many of the most valuable works of art were made. He told her that this piece of brass had belonged to the Changs ever since that period, and there was a legend that if the incense-burner were sold a ... Read More

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ... bade her turn it over, and on the bottom he pointed out the seal of a dynasty long since passed away, one in which many of the most valuable works of art were made. He told her that this piece of brass had belonged to the Changs ever since that period, and there was a legend that if the incense-burner were sold a great disaster would fall, not only on the living members of the family, but on the spirits of their ancestors. The only way it could ever be parted with was as a gift of charity, but he warned her against this as a foolish waste--no Chang could ever be brought to give anything away. "I give it to you, foolish woman," he said, "because I know that my brothers would sell anything to get money for gambling; I can hardly trust you not to sell it for food, but you are the most trustworthy;" with which kindly words on his lips he breathed his last.; Chang Dah Mah quickly slipped her new responsibility up her ample sleeve and called the family. Not for many hours did she have a chance to examine her treasure, as the mourning of her brothers-in-law made up in noise what it lacked in sincerity. Finally, one night when the inhabitants were locked in slumber--there was nothing else that would lock in the house--Chang Dah Mah was able to look on her incense-burner by the dim light of the moon. She longed to see the brass in the daytime, as she had done at first when the polished sides had shone like gold to this woman who never in her life had owned anything of value. She passed her finger lovingly over it, tracing the seal on the bottom with great care, though she was too ignorant to know a single character, and for nearly an hour she held and fondled it. She finally, very secretly, dug a hole in the mud floor under the place where she h... Read Less