Mrs. Spring Fragrance, in San Francisco on a visit to her cousin, the
wife of the herb doctor of Clay Street, was having a good time. She was
invited everywhere that the wife of an honorable Chinese merchant could
go. There was much to see and hear, including more than a dozen babies
who had been born in the families of her friends since she last visited
the city of the Golden Gate. Mrs. Spring Fragrance loved babies. She had
had two herself, but both had been transplanted into the spirit land
before the completion of even one moon. There were also many dinners and
theatre-parties given in her honor. It was at one of the theatre-parties
that Mrs. Spring Fragrance met Ah Oi, a young girl who had the
reputation of being the prettiest Chinese girl in San Francisco, and the
naughtiest. In spite of gossip, however, Mrs. Spring Fragrance took a
great fancy to Ah Oi and invited her to a tête-à-tête picnic on the
following day. This invitation Ah Oi joyfully accepted. She was a sort
of bird girl and never felt so happy as when out in the park or woods.
On the day after the picnic Mrs. Spring Fragrance wrote to Laura Chin
Yuen thus:
MY PRECIOUS LAURA,—May the bamboo ever wave. Next week I accompany Ah
Oi to the beauteous town of San José. There will we be met by the son
of the Illustrious Teacher, and in a little Mission, presided over by
a benevolent American priest, the little Ah Oi and the son of the
Illustrious Teacher will be joined together in love and harmony—two
pieces of music made to complete one another.
The Son of the Illustrious Teacher, having been through an American
Hall of Learning, is well able to provide for his orphan bride and
fears not the displeasure of his parents, now that he is assured that
your grief at his loss will not be inconsolable. He wishes me to waft
to you and to Kai Tzu—and the little Ah Oi joins with him—ten thousand
rainbow wishes for your happiness.
My respects to your honorable parents, and to yourself, the heart of
your loving friend,