Ai Lang give promise of wisdom and we make getaway unto Miss Sterling and Bing Ding.
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.
Cui Ai's Eager Betrothed, also Beauteous Mother and Sisters and Brothers also much beauteous Flowers make arrival upon platform at same time. All is most merry and of good fortune, and our sorrow that Cui Ai is not to wait for the graduation of the class, is now turned to joyfulness.