Tragedy of a Soldier's Wife—Woman the Enigma (Adapted from a Tang Poem) try'a young man and his wife. They Long ago, there lived in our coun-were attached to each other very much, -One day the Government had to send troops to Sinkiang to defend the country from the invasions of the Western Tartars, The young husband was called to service. Soon the day arrived on which must leave. Early in the morning, when the ground and the roofs were still white with heavy frost and the cocks were crowing loudly, the wife already had the bundle ready in which were his sword and luggage.
She restrained her tears and saw her husband lift the bundle and put it on his shoulder.
Tae Cart or Dory.
Owing to the hard pressure of the bailiff of the village the young man scarcely had time to bid farewell to his wife. He was simply hustled into the dusty road, The young wife, thus leit alone in_the home, felt lonely and sorry. How could'she bear such a sad and miserable life? It would be better for her to end her life than to live and suffer thus. But the sound of her baby's ery in the cradle recalled to her mind the duty of a mother, So she suppressed the distress of her body and mind and lived on. She then discarded her silk dress and took down all her ornaments and asked an old neighbour to take them to the market and sell them for her. Although she was getting poorer and poorer, yet she never regretted, but often prayed that her husband might be encouraged to do his duty, and not worry about home. For she could assure him that even if her body were torn asunder she would never break her faith. If she could live on, she would try her best to get to the place where he was, and even if she were to die on the journey she would make no complaints.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.