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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:53:54 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:53:54 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18674-h.zip b/18674-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c513d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/18674-h.zip diff --git a/18674-h/18674-h.htm b/18674-h/18674-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fec10aa --- /dev/null +++ b/18674-h/18674-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7123 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Chinese Wonder Book, by Norman Hinsdale Pitman +</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + body { margin: 0% 10% 0% 10%; } + p { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 120%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 85%; } + .poem { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left; } + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + .poem p { margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em; } + .poem p.i2 { margin-left: 1.5em; } + .poem p.i3 { margin-left: 2.0em; } + .poem p.i4 { margin-left: 2.5em; } + .poem p.i5 { margin-left: 3.0em; } + .quote { margin-left: 6%; margin-right: 6%; text-indent: 0em; font-size: 90%; } + .figure { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-indent: 0em; text-align: center; font-size: 90%; } + .figcenter { margin: auto; text-indent: 0em; text-align: center; font-size: 90%; } + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 0em; } + center { padding: 0.8em; } + span.pagenum { position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt; background-color: inherit; color: gray; } + p.center { text-align: center; text-indent:0; font-size: 80%; } + a { text-decoration: none; border: none; } + img { border: none; } + //--> + /* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's A Chinese Wonder Book, by Norman Hinsdale Pitman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Chinese Wonder Book + +Author: Norman Hinsdale Pitman + +Illustrator: Li Chu-T'ang + +Release Date: June 24, 2006 [EBook #18674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHINESE WONDER BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div style="height: 3em;"><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a name="image-0000"><!--IMG--></a> +<a href="images/0271-1.jpg"><img src="images/0271-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="(cover illustration)" /></a> +</div> + +<div style="height: 3em;"><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a name="image-0001"><!--IMG--></a> +<a href="images/0250-1.jpg"><img src="images/0250-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt=""SNAKE'S BLOOD MIXED WITH POWDERED DEER-HORN."" /></a> +<br /> +"SNAKE'S BLOOD MIXED WITH POWDERED DEER-HORN." +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="pagei" name="pagei"></a>[i]</span></p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h1> + A CHINESE WONDER BOOK +</h1> + +<h2> +BY<br /> +NORMAN HINSDALE PITMAN +</h2> + +<h3> +ILLUSTRATED BY<br /> +LI CHU-T'ANG +</h3> + +<div style="height: 3em;"><br /><br /><br /></div> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="image-0002"><!--IMG--></a> +<img src="images/colophon.png" width="80" height="86" +alt="Colophon" /> +</div> +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + + +<p class="center"> +NEW YORK <br /> +E. P. DUTTON & CO. <br /> +681 FIFTH AVENUE +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="pageii" name="pageii"></a>[ii]</span></p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="sc">Copyright, 1919</span><br /> +By<br /> +E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY +</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<p class="center"> +<i>All rights reserved</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<p class="center"> +Printed in the United States of America +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="pageiii" name="pageiii"></a>[iii]</span> +</p> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<a name="h2H_TOC" id="h2H_TOC"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + TABLE OF CONTENTS +</h2> + +<table border="0" align="center" width="100%" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="right"> PAGE </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0002">The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0002"> 1</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0003">The Great Bell</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0003"> 21</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0004">The Strange Tale of Doctor Dog</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0004"> 39</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0005">How Footbinding Started</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0005"> 52</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0006">The Talking Fish</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0006"> 68</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0007">Bamboo and the Turtle</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0007"> 88</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0008">The Mad Goose and the Tiger Forest</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0008">104</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0009">The Nodding Tiger</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0009">120</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0010">The Princess Kwan-Yin</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0010">134</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0011">The Two Jugglers</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0011">147</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0012">The Phantom Vessel</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0012">160</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0013">The Wooden Tablet</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0013">172</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0014">The Golden Nugget</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0014">187</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0015">The Man Who Would Not Scold</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0015">193</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#h2H_4_0016">Lu-San, Daughter of Heaven</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#h2H_4_0016">206</a> </td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="pageiv" name="pageiv"></a>[iv]</span> + <!--[Blank Page]--> +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="pagev" name="pagev"></a>[v]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_ILL" id="h2H_ILL"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + ILLUSTRATIONS +</h2> +<table border="0" align="center" width="100%" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr> <td colspan="2" align="right"> Facing Page </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0001">"Snake's blood mixed with powdered deer-horn"</a> </td><td align="right"><a href="#image-0001"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0004">"Here son!" she cried, "look at my treasure!"</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0004"> 8</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0007">Clinging to the animal's shaggy hair was Honeysuckle</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0007"> 50</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0009">Throwing herself at his feet she thanked him for his mercy</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0009"> 56</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0012">"Ah," sighed the turtle, "if only the good god, P'anku, were here"</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0012">102</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0014">Putting his bill close to her ear, he told Hu-Lin of his recent discovery</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0014">108</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0016">The tiger gravely nodded his head</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0016">130</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0018">All day she was busy carrying water</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0018">138</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0020">Higher and higher he climbed</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0020">154</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0024">They saw shining in the pathway directly in front of them a lump of gold</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0024">188</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td> <a href="#image-0027">As she dressed herself she saw with surprise that her fingers were shapely</a> </td><td align="right"> <a href="#image-0027">214</a> </td></tr> +</table> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="pagevi" name="pagevi"></a>[vi]</span> + <!--[Blank Page]--> +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page1" name="page1"></a>[1]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0002" id="h2H_4_0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE GOLDEN BEETLE<br /> OR<br /> WHY THE DOG HATES THE CAT +</h2> + +<a name="image-0003"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure" style="clear: both;"> +<img src="images/i-009a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE GOLDEN BEETLE OR WHY THE DOG HATES THE CAT" /> +</div> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + +<img src="images/i-009b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt=""W" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--"W-->hat we shall eat to-morrow, I haven't the slightest idea!" said Widow +Wang to her eldest son, as he started out one morning in search of work. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, the gods will provide. I'll find a few coppers somewhere," replied +the boy, trying to speak cheerfully, although in his heart he also had +not the slightest idea in which direction to turn. +</p> +<p> +The winter had been a hard one: extreme cold, deep snow, and violent +winds. The Wang house had suffered greatly. The roof had fallen in, +weighed down by heavy snow. Then a hurricane had blown a wall over, and +Ming-li, the son, up all night and exposed to a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page2" name="page2"></a>[2]</span> +bitter cold wind, had caught pneumonia. Long days of illness followed, +with the spending of extra money for medicine. All their scant savings +had soon melted away, and at the shop where Ming-li had been employed +his place was filled by another. When at last he arose from his sick-bed +he was too weak for hard labour and there seemed to be no work in the +neighbouring villages for him to do. Night after night he came home, +trying not to be discouraged, but in his heart feeling the deep pangs of +sorrow that come to the good son who sees his mother suffering for want +of food and clothing. +</p> +<p> +"Bless his good heart!" said the poor widow after he had gone. "No +mother ever had a better boy. I hope he is right in saying the gods will +provide. It has been getting so much worse these past few weeks that it +seems now as if my stomach were as empty as a rich man's brain. Why, +even the rats have deserted our cottage, and there's nothing left for +poor Tabby, while old Blackfoot is nearly dead from starvation." +</p> +<p> +When the old woman referred to the sorrows of her pets, her +remarks were answered by a pitiful mewing and woebegone barking +from the corner where the two unfed creatures were curled up together +trying to keep warm. +</p> +<p> +Just then there was a loud knocking at the gate. When the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page3" name="page3"></a>[3]</span> +widow Wang called out, "Come in!" she was surprised to see an old +bald-headed priest standing in the doorway. "Sorry, but we have +nothing," she went on, feeling sure the visitor had come in search of +food. "We have fed on scraps these two weeks—on scraps and +scrapings—and now we are living on the memories of what we used to have +when my son's father was living. Our cat was so fat she couldn't climb +to the roof. Now look at her. You can hardly see her, she's so thin. No, +I'm sorry we can't help you, friend priest, but you see how it is." +</p> +<p> +"I didn't come for alms," cried the clean-shaven one, looking at her +kindly, "but only to see what I could do to help you. The gods have +listened long to the prayers of your devoted son. They honour him +because he has not waited till you die to do sacrifice for you. They +have seen how faithfully he has served you ever since his illness, and +now, when he is worn out and unable to work, they are resolved to reward +him for his virtue. You likewise have been a good mother and shall +receive the gift I am now bringing." +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean?" faltered Mrs. Wang, hardly believing her ears at +hearing a priest speak of bestowing mercies. "Have you come here to +laugh at our misfortunes?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page4" name="page4"></a>[4]</span> +"By no means. Here in my hand I hold a tiny golden beetle which you will +find has a magic power greater than any you ever dreamed of. I will +leave this precious thing with you, a present from the god of filial +conduct." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, it will sell for a good sum," murmured the other, looking closely +at the trinket, "and will give us millet for several days. Thanks, good +priest, for your kindness." +</p> +<p> +"But you must by no means sell this golden beetle, for it has the power +to fill your stomachs as long as you live." +</p> +<p> +The widow stared in open-mouthed wonder at the priest's surprising +words. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, you must not doubt me, but listen carefully to what I tell you. +Whenever you wish food, you have only to place this ornament in a kettle +of boiling water, saying over and over again the names of what you want +to eat. In three minutes take off the lid, and there will be your +dinner, smoking hot, and cooked more perfectly than any food you have +ever eaten." +</p> +<p> +"May I try it now?" she asked eagerly. +</p> +<p> +"As soon as I am gone." +</p> +<p> +When the door was shut, the old woman hurriedly kindled a fire, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page5" name="page5"></a>[5]</span> +boiled some water, and then dropped in the golden beetle, repeating +these words again and again: +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "Dumplings, dumplings, come to me, </p> +<p class="i3"> I am thin as thin can be. </p> +<p class="i3"> Dumplings, dumplings, smoking hot, </p> +<p class="i3"> Dumplings, dumplings, fill the pot." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +Would those three minutes never pass? Could the priest have told the +truth? Her old head was nearly wild with excitement as clouds of steam +rose from the kettle. Off came the lid! She could wait no longer. Wonder +of wonders! There before her unbelieving eyes was a pot, full to the +brim of pork dumplings, dancing up and down in the bubbling water, the +best, the most delicious dumplings she had ever tasted. She ate and ate +till there was no room left in her greedy stomach, and then she feasted +the cat and the dog until they were ready to burst. +</p> +<p> +"Good fortune has come at last," whispered Blackfoot, the dog, to +Whitehead, the cat, as they lay down to sun themselves outside. "I fear +I couldn't have held out another week without running away to look for +food. I don't know just what's happened, but there's no use questioning +the gods." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page6" name="page6"></a>[6]</span> +Mrs. Wang fairly danced for joy at the thought of her son's return and +of how she would feast him. +</p> +<p> +"Poor boy, how surprised he will be at our fortune—and it's all on +account of his goodness to his old mother." +</p> +<p> +When Ming-li came, with a dark cloud overhanging his brow, the widow saw +plainly that disappointment was written there. +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, lad!" she cried cheerily, "clear up your face and smile, +for the gods have been good to us and I shall soon show you how richly +your devotion has been rewarded." So saying, she dropped the golden +beetle into the boiling water and stirred up the fire. +</p> +<p> +Thinking his mother had gone stark mad for want of food, Ming-li stared +solemnly at her. Anything was preferable to this misery. Should he sell +his last outer garment for a few pennies and buy millet for her? +Blackfoot licked his hand comfortingly, as if to say, "Cheer up, master, +fortune has turned in our favour." Whitehead leaped upon a bench, +purring like a sawmill. +</p> +<p> +Ming-li did not have long to wait. Almost in the twinkling of an eye he +heard his mother crying out, +</p> +<p> +"Sit down at the table, son, and eat these dumplings while they are +smoking hot." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page7" name="page7"></a>[7]</span> +Could he have heard correctly? Did his ears deceive him? No, there on +the table was a huge platter full of the delicious pork dumplings he +liked better than anything else in all the world, except, of course, his +mother. +</p> +<p> +"Eat and ask no questions," counselled the Widow Wang. "When you are +satisfied I will tell you everything." +</p> +<p> +Wise advice! Very soon the young man's chopsticks were twinkling like +a little star in the verses. He ate long and happily, while his good +mother watched him, her heart overflowing with joy at seeing him at last +able to satisfy his hunger. But still the old woman could hardly wait +for him to finish, she was so anxious to tell him her wonderful secret. +</p> +<p> +"Here, son!" she cried at last, as he began to pause between mouthfuls, +"look at my treasure!" And she held out to him the golden beetle. +</p> +<p> +"First tell me what good fairy of a rich man has been filling our hands +with silver?" +</p> +<p> +"That's just what I am trying to tell you," she laughed, "for there was +a fairy here this afternoon sure enough, only he was dressed like a bald +priest. That golden beetle is all he gave me, but with it comes a secret +worth thousands of cash to us." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page8" name="page8"></a>[8]</span> +The youth fingered the trinket idly, still doubting his senses, and +waiting impatiently for the secret of his delicious dinner. "But, +mother, what has this brass bauble to do with the dumplings, these +wonderful pork dumplings, the finest I ever ate?" +</p> +<p> +"Baubles indeed! Brass! Fie, fie, my boy! You little know what you are +saying. Only listen and you shall hear a tale that will open your eyes." +</p> +<p> +She then told him what had happened, and ended by setting all of the +left-over dumplings upon the floor for Blackfoot and Whitehead, a thing +her son had never seen her do before, for they had been miserably poor +and had had to save every scrap for the next meal. +</p> +<p> +Now began a long period of perfect happiness. Mother, son, dog and +cat—all enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content. All manner of new +foods such as they had never tasted were called forth from the pot by +the wonderful little beetle. Bird-nest soup, shark's fins, and a hundred +other delicacies were theirs for the asking, and soon Ming-li regained +all his strength, but, I fear, at the same time grew somewhat lazy, for +it was no longer necessary for him to work. As for the two animals, they +became fat and sleek and their hair grew long and glossy. +</p> +<a name="image-0004"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0252-1.jpg"><img src="images/0252-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'HERE SON!' SHE CRIED, 'HAVE A LOOK AT MY TREASURE!'" /></a> +<br /> +'HERE SON!' SHE CRIED, 'HAVE A LOOK AT MY TREASURE!' +</div> +<p> +But alas! according to a Chinese proverb, pride invites sorrow. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page9" name="page9"></a>[9]</span> +The little family became so proud of their good fortune that +they began to ask friends and relatives to dinner that they might show +off their good meals. One day a Mr. and Mrs. Chu came from a distant +village. They were much astonished at seeing the high style in which the +Wangs lived. They had expected a beggar's meal, but went away with full +stomachs. +</p> +<p> +"It's the best stuff I ever ate," said Mr. Chu, as they entered their +own tumble-down house. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and I know where it came from," exclaimed his wife. "I saw Widow +Wang take a little gold ornament out of the pot and hide it in a +cupboard. It must be some sort of charm, for I heard her mumbling to +herself about pork and dumplings just as she was stirring up the fire." +</p> +<p> +"A charm, eh? Why is it that other people have all the luck? It looks as +if we were doomed forever to be poor." +</p> +<p> +"Why not borrow Mrs. Wang's charm for a few days until we can pick up a +little flesh to keep our bones from clattering? Turn about's fair play. +Of course, we'll return it sooner or later." +</p> +<p> +"Doubtless they keep very close watch over it. When would you find them +away from home, now that they don't have to work any more? As their +house only contains one room, and that no bigger +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page10" name="page10"></a>[10]</span> +than ours, it would be difficult to borrow this golden trinket. It is +harder, for more reasons than one, to steal from a beggar than from a +king." +</p> +<p> +"Luck is surely with us," cried Mrs. Chu, clapping her hands. "They are +going this very day to the Temple fair. I overheard Mrs. Wang tell her +son that he must not forget he was to take her about the middle of the +afternoon. I will slip back then and borrow the little charm from the +box in which she hid it." +</p> +<p> +"Aren't you afraid of Blackfoot?" +</p> +<p> +"Pooh! he's so fat he can do nothing but roll. If the widow comes back +suddenly, I'll tell her I came to look for my big hair-pin, that I lost +it while I was at dinner." +</p> +<p> +"All right, go ahead, only of course we must remember we're borrowing +the thing, not stealing it, for the Wangs have always been good friends +to us, and then, too, we have just dined with them." +</p> +<p> +So skilfully did this crafty woman carry out her plans that within an +hour she was back in her own house, gleefully showing the priest's charm +to her husband. Not a soul had seen her enter the Wang house. The dog +had made no noise, and the cat had only blinked her surprise at seeing a +stranger and had gone to sleep again on the floor. +</p> +<p> +Great was the clamour and weeping when, on returning from the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page11" name="page11"></a>[11]</span> +fair in expectation of a hot supper, the widow found her treasure +missing. It was long before she could grasp the truth. She went back to +the little box in the cupboard ten times before she could believe it was +empty, and the room looked as if a cyclone had struck it, so long and +carefully did the two unfortunates hunt for the lost beetle. +</p> +<p> +Then came days of hunger which were all the harder to bear since the +recent period of good food and plenty. Oh, if they had only not got used +to such dainties! How hard it was to go back to scraps and scrapings! +</p> +<p> +But if the widow and her son were sad over the loss of the good meals, +the two pets were even more so. They were reduced to beggary and had to +go forth daily upon the streets in search of stray bones and refuse that +decent dogs and cats turned up their noses at. +</p> +<p> +One day, after this period of starvation had been going on for some +time, Whitehead began suddenly to frisk about in great excitement. +</p> +<p> +"Whatever is the matter with you?" growled Blackfoot. "Are you mad from +hunger, or have you caught another flea?" +</p> +<p> +"I was just thinking over our affairs, and now I know the cause of all +our trouble." +</p> +<p> +"Do you indeed?" sneered Blackfoot. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page12" name="page12"></a>[12]</span> +"Yes, I do indeed, and you'd better think twice before you mock me, for +I hold your future in my paw, as you will very soon see." +</p> +<p> +"Well, you needn't get angry about nothing. What wonderful discovery +have you made—that every rat has one tail?" +</p> +<p> +"First of all, are you willing to help me bring good fortune back to our +family?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course I am. Don't be silly," barked the dog, wagging his tail +joyfully at the thought of another good dinner. "Surely! surely! I will +do anything you like if it will bring Dame Fortune back again." +</p> +<p> +"All right. Here is the plan. There has been a thief in the house who +has stolen our mistress's golden beetle. You remember all our big +dinners that came from the pot? Well, every day I saw our mistress take +a little golden beetle out of the black box and put it into the pot. One +day she held it up before me, saying, 'Look, puss, there is the cause of +all our happiness. Don't you wish it was yours?' Then she laughed and +put it back into the box that stays in the cupboard." +</p> +<p> +"Is that true?" questioned Blackfoot. "Why didn't you say something +about it before?" +</p> +<p> +"You remember the day Mr. and Mrs. Chu were here, and how +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page13" name="page13"></a>[13]</span> +Mrs. Chu returned in the afternoon after master and mistress had gone to +the fair? I saw her, out of the tail of my eye, go to that very black +box and take out the golden beetle. I thought it curious, but never +dreamed she was a thief. Alas! I was wrong! She took the beetle, and if +I am not mistaken, she and her husband are now enjoying the feasts that +belong to us." +</p> +<p> +"Let's claw them," growled Blackfoot, gnashing his teeth. +</p> +<p> +"That would do no good," counselled the other, "for they would be sure +to come out best in the end. We want the beetle back—that's the main +thing. We'll leave revenge to human beings; it is none of our business." +</p> +<p> +"What do you suggest?" said Blackfoot. "I am with you through thick and +thin." +</p> +<p> +"Let's go to the Chu house and make off with the beetle." +</p> +<p> +"Alas, that I am not a cat!" moaned Blackfoot. "If we go there I +couldn't get inside, for robbers always keep their gates well locked. If +I were like you I could scale the wall. It is the first time in all my +life I ever envied a cat." +</p> +<p> +"We will go together," continued Whitehead. "I will ride on your back +when we are fording the river, and you can protect me from strange +animals. When we get to the Chu house, I will climb over +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page14" name="page14"></a>[14]</span> +the wall and manage the rest of the business myself. Only you must wait +outside to help me to get home with the prize." +</p> +<p> +No sooner arranged than done. The companions set out that very night on +their adventure. They crossed the river as the cat had suggested, and +Blackfoot really enjoyed the swim, for, as he said, it took him back to +his puppyhood, while the cat did not get a single drop of water on her +face. It was midnight when they reached the Chu house. +</p> +<p> +"Just wait till I return," purred Whitehead in Blackfoot's ear. +</p> +<p> +With a mighty spring she reached the top of the mud wall, and then +jumped down to the inside court. While she was resting in the shadow, +trying to decide just how to go about her work, a slight rustling +attracted her attention, and pop! one giant spring, one stretch-out of +the claws, and she had caught a rat that had just come out of his hole +for a drink and a midnight walk. +</p> +<p> +Now, Whitehead was so hungry that she would have made short work of this +tempting prey if the rat had not opened its mouth and, to her amazement, +begun to talk in good cat dialect. +</p> +<p> +"Pray, good puss, not so fast with your sharp teeth! Kindly be careful +with your claws! Don't you know it is the custom +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page15" name="page15"></a>[15]</span> +now to put prisoners on their honour? I will promise not to run away." +</p> +<p> +"Pooh! what honour has a rat?" +</p> +<p> +"Most of us haven't much, I grant you, but my family was brought up +under the roof of Confucius, and there we picked up so many crumbs of +wisdom that we are exceptions to the rule. If you will spare me, I will +obey you for life, in fact, will be your humble slave." Then, with a +quick jerk, freeing itself, "See, I am loose now, but honour holds me as +if I were tied, and so I make no further attempt to get away." +</p> +<p> +"Much good it would do you," purred Whitehead, her fur crackling +noisily, and her mouth watering for a taste of rat steak. "However, +I am quite willing to put you to the test. First, answer a few polite +questions and I will see if you're a truthful fellow. What kind of food +is your master eating now, that you should be so round and plump when +I am thin and scrawny?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, we have been in luck lately, I can tell you. Master and mistress +feed on the fat of the land, and of course we hangers-on get the +crumbs." +</p> +<p> +"But this is a poor tumble-down house. How can they afford such eating?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page16" name="page16"></a>[16]</span> +"That is a great secret, but as I am in honour bound to tell you, here +goes. My mistress has just obtained in some manner or other, a fairy's +charm——" +</p> +<p> +"She stole it from our place," hissed the cat, "I will claw her eyes out +if I get the chance. Why, we've been fairly starving for want of that +beetle. She stole it from us just after she had been an invited guest! +What do you think of that for honour, Sir Rat? Were your mistress's +ancestors followers of the sage?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, oh, oh! Why, that explains everything!" wailed the rat. "I have +often wondered how they got the golden beetle, and yet of course I dared +not ask any questions." +</p> +<p> +"No, certainly not! But hark you, friend rat—you get that golden +trinket back for me, and I will set you free at once of all obligations. +Do you know where she hides it?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, in a crevice where the wall is broken. I will bring it to you in +a jiffy, but how shall we exist when our charm is gone? There will be +a season of scanty food, I fear; beggars' fare for all of us." +</p> +<p> +"Live on the memory of your good deed," purred the cat. "It is splendid, +you know, to be an honest beggar. Now scoot! I trust you completely, +since your people lived in the home of Confucius. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page17" name="page17"></a>[17]</span> +I will wait here for your return. Ah!" laughed Whitehead to herself, +"luck seems to be coming our way again!" +</p> +<p> +Five minutes later the rat appeared, bearing the trinket in its mouth. +It passed the beetle over to the cat, and then with a whisk was off for +ever. Its honour was safe, but it was afraid of Whitehead. It had seen +the gleam of desire in her green eyes, and the cat might have broken her +word if she had not been so anxious to get back home where her mistress +could command the wonderful kettle once more to bring forth food. +</p> +<p> +The two adventurers reached the river just as the sun was rising above +the eastern hills. +</p> +<p> +"Be careful," cautioned Blackfoot, as the cat leaped upon his back for +her ride across the stream, "be careful not to forget the treasure. In +short, remember that even though you are a female, it is necessary to +keep your mouth closed till we reach the other side." +</p> +<p> +"Thanks, but I don't think I need your advice," replied Whitehead, +picking up the beetle and leaping on to the dog's back. +</p> +<p> +But alas! just as they were nearing the farther shore, the excited cat +forgot her wisdom for a moment. A fish suddenly leaped out of the water +directly under her nose. It was too great a temptation. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page18" name="page18"></a>[18]</span> +Snap! went her jaws in a vain effort to land the scaly treasure, and the +golden beetle sank to the bottom of the river. +</p> +<p> +"There!" said the dog angrily, "what did I tell you? Now all our trouble +has been in vain—all on account of your stupidity." +</p> +<p> +For a time there was a bitter dispute, and the companions called each +other some very bad names—such as turtle and rabbit. Just as they were +starting away from the river, disappointed and discouraged, a friendly +frog who had by chance heard their conversation offered to fetch the +treasure from the bottom of the stream. No sooner said than done, and +after thanking this accommodating animal profusely, they turned homeward +once more. +</p> +<p> +When they reached the cottage the door was shut, and, bark as he would, +Blackfoot could not persuade his master to open it. There was the sound +of loud wailing inside. +</p> +<p> +"Mistress is broken-hearted," whispered the cat, "I will go to her and +make her happy." +</p> +<p> +So saying, she sprang lightly through a hole in the paper window, which, +alas! was too small and too far from the ground for the faithful dog to +enter. +</p> +<p> +A sad sight greeted the gaze of Whitehead. The son was lying on the bed +unconscious, almost dead for want of food, while his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page19" name="page19"></a>[19]</span> +mother, in despair, was rocking backwards and forwards wringing her +wrinkled hands and crying at the top of her voice for some one to come +and save them. +</p> +<p> +"Here I am, mistress," cried Whitehead, "and here is the treasure you +are weeping for. I have rescued it and brought it back to you." +</p> +<p> +The widow, wild with joy at sight of the beetle, seized the cat in her +scrawny arms and hugged the pet tightly to her bosom. +</p> +<p> +"Breakfast, son, breakfast! Wake up from your swoon! Fortune has come +again. We are saved from starvation!" +</p> +<p> +Soon a steaming hot meal was ready, and you may well imagine how the old +woman and her son, heaping praises upon Whitehead, filled the beast's +platter with good things, but never a word did they say of the faithful +dog, who remained outside sniffing the fragrant odours and waiting in +sad wonder, for all this time the artful cat had said nothing of +Blackfoot's part in the rescue of the golden beetle. +</p> +<p> +At last, when breakfast was over, slipping away from the others, +Whitehead jumped out through the hole in the window. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, my dear Blackfoot," she began laughingly, "you should have been +inside to see what a feast they gave me! Mistress was so delighted at my +bringing back her treasure that she could not give me +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page20" name="page20"></a>[20]</span> +enough to eat, nor say enough kind things about me. Too bad, old fellow, +that you are hungry. You'd better run out into the street and hunt up a +bone." +</p> +<p> +Maddened by the shameful treachery of his companion, the enraged dog +sprang upon the cat and in a few seconds had shaken her to death. +</p> +<p> +"So dies the one who forgets a friend and who loses honour," he cried +sadly, as he stood over the body of his companion. +</p> +<p> +Rushing out into the street, he proclaimed the treachery of Whitehead +to the members of his tribe, at the same time advising that all +self-respecting dogs should from that time onwards make war upon the +feline race. +</p> +<p> +And that is why the descendants of old Blackfoot, whether in China or +in the great countries of the West, have waged continual war upon the +children and grandchildren of Whitehead, for a thousand generations of +dogs have fought them and hated them with a great and lasting hatred. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page21" name="page21"></a>[21]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0003" id="h2H_4_0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE GREAT BELL +</h2> + +<a name="image-0005"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-031a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE GREAT BELL" /> +</div> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + +<img src="images/i-031b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="T" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--T-->he mighty Yung-lo sat on the great throne surrounded by a hundred +attendants. He was sad, for he could think of no wonderful thing to do +for his country. He flirted his silken fan nervously and snapped his +long finger-nails in the impatience of despair. +</p> +<p> +"Woe is me!" he cried at last, his sorrow getting the better of his +usual calmness. "I have picked up the great capital and moved it from +the South to Peking and have built here a mighty city. I have surrounded +my city with a wall, even thicker and greater than the famous wall of +China. I have constructed in this city scores of temples and palaces. I +have had the wise men and scholars compile a great book of wisdom, made +up of 23,000 volumes, the largest and most wonderful collection of +learning ever gathered together by the hands of men. I have built +watch-towers, bridges, and giant monuments, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page22" name="page22"></a>[22]</span> +and now, alas! as I approach the end of my days as ruler of the Middle +Kingdom there is nothing more to be done for my people. Better far that +I should even now close my tired eyes for ever and mount up on high to +be the guest of the dragon, than live on in idleness, giving to my +children an example of uselessness and sloth." +</p> +<p> +"But, your Majesty," began one of Yung-lo's most faithful courtiers, +named Ming-lin, falling upon his knees and knocking his head three times +on the ground, "if you would only deign to listen to your humble slave, +I would dare to suggest a great gift for which the many people of +Peking, your children, would rise up and bless you both now and in +future generations." +</p> +<p> +"Only tell me of such a gift and I will not only grant it to the +imperial city, but as a sign of thanksgiving to you for your sage +counsel I will bestow upon you the royal peacock feather." +</p> +<p> +"It is not for one of my small virtues," replied the delighted official, +"to wear the feather when others so much wiser are denied it, but if it +please your Majesty, remember that in the northern district of the city +there has been erected a bell-tower which as yet remains empty. The +people of the city need a giant bell to sound out the fleeting hours of +the day, that they may be urged on to perform +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page23" name="page23"></a>[23]</span> +their labours and not be idle. The water-clock already marks the hours, +but there is no bell to proclaim them to the populace." +</p> +<p> +"A good suggestion in sooth," answered the Emperor, smiling, "and yet +who is there among us that has skill enough in bell-craft to do the task +you propose? I am told that to cast a bell worthy of our imperial city +requires the genius of a poet and the skill of an astronomer." +</p> +<p> +"True, most mighty one, and yet permit me to say that Kwan-yu, who so +skilfully moulded the imperial cannon, can also cast a giant bell. He +alone of all your subjects is worthy of the task, for he alone can do +it justice." +</p> +<p> +Now, the official who proposed the name of Kwan-yu to the Emperor had +two objects in so doing. He wished to quiet the grief of Yung-lo, who +was mourning because he had nothing left to do for his people, and, +at the same time, to raise Kwan-yu to high rank, for Kwan-yu's only +daughter had for several years been betrothed to Ming-lin's only +son, and it would be a great stroke of luck for Ming-lin if his +daughter-in-law's father should come under direct favour of the Emperor. +</p> +<p> +"Depend upon it, Kwan-yu can do the work better than any +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page24" name="page24"></a>[24]</span> +other man within the length and breadth of your empire," continued +Ming-lin, again bowing low three times. +</p> +<p> +"Then summon Kwan-yu at once to my presence, that I may confer with him +about this important business." +</p> +<p> +In great glee Ming-lin arose and backed himself away from the golden +throne, for it would have been very improper for him to turn his +coat-tails on the Son of Heaven. +</p> +<p> +But it was with no little fear that Kwan-yu undertook the casting of the +great bell. +</p> +<p> +"Can a carpenter make shoes?" he had protested, when Ming-lin had broken +the Emperor's message to him. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied the other quickly, "if they be like those worn by the +little island dwarfs, and, therefore, made of wood. Bells and cannon are +cast from similar material. You ought easily to adapt yourself to this +new work." +</p> +<p> +Now when Kwan-yu's daughter found out what he was about to undertake, +she was filled with a great fear. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, honoured father," she cried, "think well before you give this +promise. As a cannon-maker you are successful, but who can say about the +other task? And if you fail, the Great One's wrath will fall heavily +upon you." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page25" name="page25"></a>[25]</span> +"Just hear the girl," interrupted the ambitious mother. "What do you +know about success and failure? You'd better stick to the subject of +cooking and baby-clothes, for you will soon be married. As for your +father, pray let him attend to his own business. It is unseemly for +a girl to meddle in her father's affairs." +</p> +<p> +And so poor Ko-ai—for that was the maiden's name—was silenced, and +went back to her fancy-work with a big tear stealing down her fair +cheek, for she loved her father dearly and there had come into her heart +a strange terror at thought of his possible danger. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, Kwan-yu was summoned to the Forbidden City, which is in the +centre of Peking, and in which stands the Imperial palace. There he +received his instructions from the Son of Heaven. +</p> +<p> +"And remember," said Yung-lo in conclusion, "this bell must be so great +that the sound of it will ring out to a distance of thirty-three miles +on every hand. To this end, you should add in proper proportions gold +and brass, for they give depth and strength to everything with which +they mingle. Furthermore, in order that this giant may not be lacking in +the quality of sweetness, you must add silver in due proportion, while +the sayings of the sages must be graven on its sides." +</p> +<p> +Now when Kwan-yu had really received his commission from +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page26" name="page26"></a>[26]</span> +the Emperor he searched the bookstalls of the city to find if possible +some ancient descriptions of the best methods used in bell-casting. Also +he offered generous wages to all who had ever had experience in the +great work for which he was preparing. Soon his great foundry was alive +with labourers; huge fires were burning; great piles of gold, silver and +other metals were lying here and there, ready to be weighed. +</p> +<p> +Whenever Kwan-yu went out to a public tea-house all of his friends plied +him with questions about the great bell. +</p> +<p> +"Will it be the largest in the world?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no," he would reply, "that is not necessary, but it must be the +sweetest-toned, for we Chinese strive not for size, but for purity; not +for greatness, but for virtue." +</p> +<p> +"When will it be finished?" +</p> +<p> +"Only the gods can tell, for I have had little experience, and perhaps I +shall fail to mix the metals properly." +</p> +<p> +Every few days the Son of Heaven himself would send an imperial +messenger to ask similar questions, for a king is likely to be just as +curious as his subjects, but Kwan-yu would always modestly reply that he +could not be certain; it was very doubtful when the bell would be ready. +</p> +<p> +At last, however, after consulting an astrologer, Kwan-yu +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page27" name="page27"></a>[27]</span> +appointed a day for the casting, and then there came another courtier +robed in splendid garments, saying that at the proper hour the Great One +himself would for the first time cross Kwan-yu's threshold—would come +to see the casting of the bell he had ordered for his people. On hearing +this, Kwan-yu was sore afraid, for he felt that somehow, in spite of all +his reading, in spite of all the advice he had received from +well-wishers, there was something lacking in the mixture of the boiling +metals that would soon be poured into the giant mould. In short, Kwan-yu +was about to discover an important truth that this great world has been +thousands of years in learning—namely, that mere reading and advice +cannot produce skill, that true skill can come only from years of +experience and practice. On the brink of despair, he sent a servant with +money to the temple, to pray to the gods for success in his venture. +Truly, despair and prayer rhyme in every language. +</p> +<p> +Ko-ai, his daughter, was also afraid when she saw the cloud on her +father's brow, for she it was, you remember, who had tried to prevent +him from undertaking the Emperor's commission. She also went to the +temple, in company with a faithful old servant, and prayed to heaven. +</p> +<p> +The great day dawned. The Emperor and his courtiers were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page28" name="page28"></a>[28]</span> +assembled, the former sitting on a platform built for the occasion. +Three attendants waved beautiful hand-painted fans about his imperial +brow, for the room was very warm, and a huge block of ice lay melting in +a bowl of carved brass, cooling the hot air before it should blow upon +the head of the Son of Heaven. +</p> +<p> +Kwan-yu's wife and daughter stood in a corner at the back of the room, +peering anxiously towards the cauldron of molten liquid, for well they +knew that Kwan-yu's future rank and power depended on the success of +this enterprise. Around the walls stood Kwan-yu's friends, and at the +windows groups of excited servants strained their necks, trying to catch +a glimpse of royalty, and for once afraid to chatter. Kwan-yu himself +was hurrying hither and thither, now giving a final order, now gazing +anxiously at the empty mould, and again glancing towards the throne to +see if his imperial master was showing signs of impatience. +</p> +<p> +At last all was ready; everyone was waiting breathlessly for the sign +from Yung-lo which should start the flowing of the metal. A slight bow +of the head, a lifting of the finger! The glowing liquid, hissing with +delight at being freed even for a moment from its prison, ran forward +faster and faster along the channel that led into the great earthen bed. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page29" name="page29"></a>[29]</span> +The bell-maker covered his eyes with his fan, afraid to look at the +swiftly-flowing stream. Were all his hopes to be suddenly dashed by the +failure of the metals to mix and harden properly? A heavy sigh escaped +him as at last he looked up at the thing he had created. Something had +indeed gone wrong; he knew in the flash of an eye that misfortune had +overtaken him. +</p> +<p> +Yes! sure enough, when at last the earthen casting had been broken, even +the smallest child could see that the giant bell, instead of being a +thing of beauty was a sorry mass of metals that would not blend. +</p> +<p> +"Alas!" said Yung-lo, "here is indeed a mighty failure, but even in this +disappointment I see an object lesson well worthy of consideration, for +behold! in yonder elements are all the materials of which this country +is made up. There are gold and silver and the baser metals. United in +the proper manner they would make a bell so wonderfully beautiful and so +pure of tone that the very spirits of the Western heavens would pause to +look and listen. But divided they form a thing that is hideous to eye +and ear. Oh, my China! how many wars are there from time to time among +the different sections, weakening the country and making it poor! If +only all these peoples, great and small, the gold and silver and the +baser elements, would +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page30" name="page30"></a>[30]</span> +unite, then would this land be really worthy of the name of the Middle +Kingdom!" +</p> +<p> +The courtiers all applauded this speech of the great Yung-lo, but +Kwan-yu remained on the ground where he had thrown himself at the feet +of his sovereign. Still bowing his head and moaning, he cried out: +</p> +<p> +"Ah! your Majesty! I urged you not to appoint me, and now indeed you see +my unfitness. Take my life, I beg you, as a punishment for my failure." +</p> +<p> +"Rise, Kwan-yu," said the great Prince. "I would be a mean master indeed +if I did not grant you another trial. Rise up and see that your next +casting profits by the lesson of this failure." +</p> +<p> +So Kwan-yu arose, for when the King speaks, all men must listen. The +next day he began his task once more, but still his heart was heavy, +for he knew not the reason of his failure and was therefore unable to +correct his error. For many months he laboured night and day. Hardly a +word would he speak to his wife, and when his daughter tried to tempt +him with a dish of sunflower seed that she had parched herself, he would +reward her with a sad smile, but would by no means laugh with her and +joke as had formerly been his custom. On the first and fifteenth day +of every moon he went himself to the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page31" name="page31"></a>[31]</span> +temple and implored the gods to grant him their friendly assistance, +while Ko-ai added her prayers to his, burning incense and weeping before +the grinning idols. +</p> +<p> +Again the great Yung-lo was seated on the platform in Kwan-yu's foundry, +and again his courtiers hovered round him, but this time, as it was +winter, they did not flirt the silken fans. The Great One was certain +that this casting would be successful. He had been lenient with Kwan-yu +on the first occasion, and now at last he and the great city were to +profit by that mercy. +</p> +<p> +Again he gave the signal; once more every neck was craned to see the +flowing of the metal. But, alas! when the casing was removed it was seen +that the new bell was no better than the first. It was, in fact, a +dreadful failure, cracked and ugly, for the gold and silver and the +baser elements had again refused to blend into a united whole. +</p> +<p> +With a bitter cry which touched the hearts of all those present, the +unhappy Kwan-yu fell upon the floor. This time he did not bow before his +master, for at the sight of the miserable conglomeration of useless +metals his courage failed him, and he fainted. When at last he came to, +the first sight that met his eyes was the scowling face of Yung-lo. Then +he heard, as in a dream, the stern voice of the Son of Heaven: +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page32" name="page32"></a>[32]</span> +"Unhappy Kwan-yu, can it be that you, upon whom I have ever heaped my +favours, have twice betrayed the trust? The first time, I was sorry +for you and willing to forget, but now that sorrow has turned into +anger—yea, the anger of heaven itself is upon you. Now, I bid you mark +well my words. A third chance you shall have to cast the bell, but if on +that third attempt you fail—then by order of the Vermilion Pencil both +you and Ming-lin, who recommended you, shall pay the penalty." +</p> +<p> +For a long time after the Emperor had departed, Kwan-yu lay on the floor +surrounded by his attendants, but chief of all those who tried to +restore him was his faithful daughter. For a whole week he wavered +between life and death, and then at last there came a turn in his +favour. Once more he regained his health, once more he began his +preparations. +</p> +<p> +Yet all the time he was about his work his heart was heavy, for he felt +that he would soon journey into the dark forest, the region of the great +yellow spring, the place from which no pilgrim ever returns. Ko-ai, too, +felt more than ever that her father was in the presence of a great +danger. +</p> +<p> +"Surely," she said one day to her mother, "a raven must have flown over +his head. He is like the proverb of the blind man on the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page33" name="page33"></a>[33]</span> +blind horse coming at midnight to a deep ditch. Oh, how can he cross +over?" +</p> +<p> +Willingly would this dutiful daughter have done anything to save her +loved one. Night and day she racked her brains for some plan, but all to +no avail. +</p> +<p> +On the day before the third casting, as Ko-ai was sitting in front of +her brass mirror braiding her long black hair, suddenly a little bird +flew in at the window and perched upon her head. Immediately the +startled maiden seemed to hear a voice as if some good fairy were +whispering in her ear: +</p> +<p> +"Do not hesitate. You must go and consult the famous juggler who even +now is visiting the city. Sell your jade-stones and other jewels, for +this man of wisdom will not listen unless his attention is attracted +by huge sums of money." +</p> +<p> +The feathered messenger flew out of her room, but Ko-ai had heard enough +to make her happy. She despatched a trusted servant to sell her jade and +her jewels, charging him on no account to tell her mother. Then, with a +great sum of money in her possession she sought out the magician who was +said to be wiser than the sages in knowledge of life and death. +</p> +<p> +"Tell me," she implored, as the greybeard summoned her to his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page34" name="page34"></a>[34]</span> +presence, "tell me how I can save my father, for the Emperor has ordered +his death if he fails a third time in the casting of the bell." +</p> +<p> +The astrologer, after plying her with questions, put on his +tortoise-shell glasses and searched long in his book of knowledge. He +also examined closely the signs of the heavens, consulting the mystic +tables over and over again. Finally, he turned toward Ko-ai, who all the +time had been awaiting his answer with impatience. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing could be plainer than the reason of your father's failure, for +when a man seeks to do the impossible, he can expect Fate to give him no +other answer. Gold cannot unite with silver, nor brass with iron, unless +the blood of a maiden is mingled with the molten metals, but the girl +who gives up her life to bring about the fusion must be pure and good." +</p> +<p> +With a sigh of despair Ko-ai heard the astrologer's answer. She loved +the world and all its beauties; she loved her birds, her companions, her +father; she had expected to marry soon, and then there would have been +children to love and cherish. But now all these dreams of happiness must +be forgotten. There was no other maiden to give up her life for Kwan-yu. +She, Ko-ai, loved her father and must make the sacrifice for his sake. +</p> +<p> +And so the day arrived for the third trial, and a third time +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page35" name="page35"></a>[35]</span> +Yung-lo took his place in Kwan-yu's factory, surrounded by his +courtiers. There was a look of stern expectancy on his face. Twice he +had excused his underling for failure. Now there could be no thought of +mercy. If the bell did not come from its cast perfect in tone and fair +to look upon, Kwan-yu must be punished with the severest punishment that +could be meted out to man—even death itself. That was why there was a +look of stern expectancy on Yung-lo's face, for he really loved Kwan-yu +and did not wish to send him to his death. +</p> +<p> +As for Kwan-yu himself, he had long ago given up all thought of success, +for nothing had happened since his second failure to make him any surer +this time of success. He had settled up his business affairs, arranging +for a goodly sum to go to his beloved daughter; he had bought the coffin +in which his own body would be laid away and had stored it in one of the +principal rooms of his dwelling; he had even engaged the priests and +musicians who should chant his funeral dirge, and, last but not least, +he had arranged with the man who would have charge of chopping off his +head, that one fold of skin should be left uncut, as this would bring +him better luck on his entry into the spiritual world than if the head +were severed entirely from the body. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page36" name="page36"></a>[36]</span> +And so we may say that Kwan-yu was prepared to die. In fact, on the +night before the final casting he had a dream in which he saw himself +kneeling before the headsman and cautioning him not to forget the +binding agreement the latter had entered into. +</p> +<p> +Of all those present in the great foundry, perhaps the devoted Ko-ai was +the least excited. Unnoticed, she had slipped along the wall from the +spot where she had been standing with her mother and had planted herself +directly opposite the huge tank in which the molten, seething liquid +bubbled, awaiting the signal when it should be set free. Ko-ai gazed at +the Emperor, watching intently for the well-known signal. When at last +she saw his head move forward she sprang with a wild leap into the +boiling liquid, at the same time crying in her clear, sweet voice: +</p> +<p> +"For thee, dear father! It is the only way!" +</p> +<p> +The molten white metal received the lovely girl into its ardent embrace, +received her, and swallowed her up completely, as in a tomb of liquid +fire. +</p> +<p> +And Kwan-yu—what of Kwan-yu, the frantic father? Mad +with grief at the sight of his loved one giving up her life, a sacrifice +to save him, he had sprung forward to hold her back from her terrible +death, but had succeeded only in catching one of her tiny jewelled +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page37" name="page37"></a>[37]</span> +slippers as she sank out of sight for ever—a dainty, silken slipper, to +remind him always of her wonderful sacrifice. In his wild grief as he +clasped this pitiful little memento to his heart he would himself have +leaped in and followed her to her death, if his servants had not +restrained him until the Emperor had repeated his signal and the liquid +had been poured into the cast. As the sad eyes of all those present +peered into the molten river of metals rushing to its earthen bed, they +saw not a single sign remaining of the departed Ko-ai. +</p> +<p> +This, then, my children, is the time-worn legend of the great bell +of Peking, a tale that has been repeated a million times by poets, +story-tellers and devoted mothers, for you must know that on this third +casting, when the earthen mould was removed, there stood revealed the +most beautiful bell that eye had ever looked upon, and when it was swung +up into the bell-tower there was immense rejoicing among the people. The +silver and the gold and the iron and the brass, held together by the +blood of the virgin, had blended perfectly, and the clear voice of the +monster bell rang out over the great city, sounding a deeper, richer +melody than that of any other bell within the limits of the Middle +Kingdom, or, for that matter, of all the world. And, strange to say, +even yet the deep-voiced colossus seems to cry out the name of the +maiden who gave herself a living sacrifice, "Ko-ai! +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page38" name="page38"></a>[38]</span> +Ko-ai! Ko-ai!" so that all the people may remember her deed of virtue +ten thousand years ago. And between the mellow peals of music there +often seems to come a plaintive whisper that may be heard only by those +standing near, "Hsieh! hsieh"—the Chinese word for slipper. "Alas!" say +all who hear it, "Ko-ai is crying for her slipper. Poor little Ko-ai!" +</p> +<p> +And now, my dear children, this tale is almost finished, but there is +still one thing you must by no means fail to remember. By order of the +Emperor, the face of the great bell was graven with precious sayings +from the classics, that even in its moments of silence the bell might +teach lessons of virtue to the people. +</p> +<p> +"Behold," said Yung-lo, as he stood beside the grief-stricken father, +"amongst all yonder texts of wisdom, the priceless sayings of our +honoured sages, there is none that can teach to my children so sweet a +lesson of filial love and devotion as that one last act of your devoted +daughter. For though she died to save you, her deed will still be sung +and extolled by my people when you are passed away, yea, even when the +bell itself has crumbled into ruins." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page39" name="page39"></a>[39]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0004" id="h2H_4_0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE STRANGE TALE OF DOCTOR DOG +</h2> + +<a name="image-0006"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-049a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE STRANGE TALE OF DOCTOR DOG" /> +</div> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + +<img src="images/i-049b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="F" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--F-->ar up in the mountains of the Province of Hunan in the central part of +China, there once lived in a small village a rich gentleman who had only +one child. This girl, like the daughter of Kwan-yu in the story of the +Great Bell, was the very joy of her father's life. +</p> +<p> +Now Mr. Min, for that was this gentleman's name, was famous throughout +the whole district for his learning, and, as he was also the owner of +much property, he spared no effort to teach Honeysuckle the wisdom of +the sages, and to give her everything she craved. Of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page40" name="page40"></a>[40]</span> +course this was enough to spoil most children, but Honeysuckle was not +at all like other children. As sweet as the flower from which she took +her name, she listened to her father's slightest command, and obeyed +without ever waiting to be told a second time. +</p> +<p> +Her father often bought kites for her, of every kind and shape. There +were fish, birds, butterflies, lizards and huge dragons, one of which +had a tail more than thirty feet long. Mr. Min was very skilful in +flying these kites for little Honeysuckle, and so naturally did his +birds and butterflies circle round and hover about in the air that +almost any little western boy would have been deceived and said, "Why, +there is a real bird, and not a kite at all!" Then again, he would +fasten a queer little instrument to the string, which made a kind of +humming noise, as he waved his hand from side to side. "It is the wind +singing, Daddy," cried Honeysuckle, clapping her hands with joy; +"singing a kite-song to both of us." Sometimes, to teach his little +darling a lesson if she had been the least naughty, Mr. Min would fasten +queerly twisted scraps of paper, on which were written many Chinese +words, to the string of her favourite kite. +</p> +<p> +"What are you doing, Daddy?" Honeysuckle would ask. "What can those +queer-looking papers be?" +</p> +<p> +"On every piece is written a sin that we have done." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page41" name="page41"></a>[41]</span> +"What is a sin, Daddy?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, when Honeysuckle has been naughty; that is a sin!" he answered +gently. "Your old nurse is afraid to scold you, and if you are to grow +up to be a good woman, Daddy must teach you what is right." +</p> +<p> +Then Mr. Min would send the kite up high—high over the house-tops, +even higher than the tall Pagoda on the hillside. When all his cord +was let out, he would pick up two sharp stones, and, handing them to +Honeysuckle, would say, "Now, daughter, cut the string, and the wind +will carry away the sins that are written down on the scraps of paper." +</p> +<p> +"But, Daddy, the kite is so pretty. Mayn't we keep our sins a little +longer?" she would innocently ask. +</p> +<p> +"No, child; it is dangerous to hold on to one's sins. Virtue is the +foundation of happiness," he would reply sternly, choking back his +laughter at her question. "Make haste and cut the cord." +</p> +<p> +So Honeysuckle, always obedient—at least with her father—would saw +the string in two between the sharp stones, and with a childish cry of +despair would watch her favourite kite, blown by the wind, sail farther +and farther away, until at last, straining her eyes, she could see it +sink slowly to the earth in some far-distant meadow. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page42" name="page42"></a>[42]</span> +"Now laugh and be happy," Mr. Min would say, "for your sins are all +gone. See that you don't get a new supply of them." +</p> +<p> +Honeysuckle was also fond of seeing the Punch and Judy show, for, +you must know, this old-fashioned amusement for children was enjoyed +by little folks in China, perhaps three thousand years before your +great-grandfather was born. It is even said that the great Emperor, Mu, +when he saw these little dancing images for the first time, was greatly +enraged at seeing one of them making eyes at his favourite wife. He +ordered the showman to be put to death, and it was with difficulty the +poor fellow persuaded his Majesty that the dancing puppets were not +really alive at all, but only images of cloth and clay. +</p> +<p> +No wonder then Honeysuckle liked to see Punch and Judy if the Son of +Heaven himself had been deceived by their queer antics into thinking +them real people of flesh and blood. +</p> +<p> +But we must hurry on with our story, or some of our readers will be +asking, "But where is Dr. Dog? Are you never coming to the hero of this +tale?" One day when Honeysuckle was sitting inside a shady pavilion that +overlooked a tiny fish-pond, she was suddenly seized with a violent +attack of colic. Frantic with pain, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page43" name="page43"></a>[43]</span> +she told a servant to summon her father, and then without further ado, +she fell over in a faint upon the ground. +</p> +<p> +When Mr. Min reached his daughter's side, she was still unconscious. +After sending for the family physician to come post haste, he got his +daughter to bed, but although she recovered from her fainting fit, the +extreme pain continued until the poor girl was almost dead from +exhaustion. +</p> +<p> +Now, when the learned doctor arrived and peered at her from under his +gigantic spectacles, he could not discover the cause of her trouble. +However, like some of our western medical men, he did not confess his +ignorance, but proceeded to prescribe a huge dose of boiling water, to +be followed a little later by a compound of pulverized deer's horn and +dried toadskin. +</p> +<p> +Poor Honeysuckle lay in agony for three days, all the time growing +weaker and weaker from loss of sleep. Every great doctor in the district +had been summoned for consultation; two had come from Changsha, the +chief city of the province, but all to no avail. It was one of those +cases that seem to be beyond the power of even the most learned +physicians. In the hope of receiving the great reward offered by the +desperate father, these wise men searched from cover to cover in the +great Chinese Cyclopedia of Medicine, trying in vain to find a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page44" name="page44"></a>[44]</span> +method of treating the unhappy maiden. There was even thought of calling +in a certain foreign physician from England, who was in a distant city, +and was supposed, on account of some marvellous cures he had brought to +pass, to be in direct league with the devil. However, the city +magistrate would not allow Mr. Min to call in this outsider, for fear +trouble might be stirred up among the people. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Min sent out a proclamation in every direction, describing his +daughter's illness, and offering to bestow on her a handsome dowry and +give her in marriage to whoever should be the means of bringing her back +to health and happiness. He then sat at her bedside and waited, feeling +that he had done all that was in his power. There were many answers to +his invitation. Physicians, old and young, came from every part of the +Empire to try their skill, and when they had seen poor Honeysuckle and +also the huge pile of silver shoes her father offered as a wedding gift, +they all fought with might and main for her life; some having been +attracted by her great beauty and excellent reputation, others by the +tremendous reward. +</p> +<p> +But, alas for poor Honeysuckle! Not one of all those wise men could cure +her! One day, when she was feeling a slight change for the better, she +called her father, and, clasping his hand with her tiny one said, "Were +it not for your love I would give up this hard +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page45" name="page45"></a>[45]</span> +fight and pass over into the dark wood; or, as my old grandmother says, +fly up into the Western Heavens. For your sake, because I am your only +child, and especially because you have no son, I have struggled hard to +live, but now I feel that the next attack of that dreadful pain will +carry me away. And oh, I do not want to die!" +</p> +<p> +Here Honeysuckle wept as if her heart would break, and her old father +wept too, for the more she suffered the more he loved her. +</p> +<p> +Just then her face began to turn pale. "It is coming! The pain is +coming, father! Very soon I shall be no more. Good-bye, father! +Good-bye; good——." Here her voice broke and a great sob almost broke +her father's heart. He turned away from her bedside; he could not bear +to see her suffer. He walked outside and sat down on a rustic bench; his +head fell upon his bosom, and the great salt tears trickled down his +long grey beard. +</p> +<p> +As Mr. Min sat thus overcome with grief, he was startled at hearing a +low whine. Looking up he saw, to his astonishment, a shaggy mountain dog +about the size of a Newfoundland. The huge beast looked into the old +man's eyes with so intelligent and human an expression, with such a sad +and wistful gaze, that the greybeard addressed him, saying, "Why have +you come? To cure my daughter?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page46" name="page46"></a>[46]</span> +The dog replied with three short barks, wagging his tail vigorously and +turning toward the half-opened door that led into the room where the +girl lay. +</p> +<p> +By this time, willing to try any chance whatever of reviving his +daughter, Mr. Min bade the animal follow him into Honeysuckle's +apartment. Placing his forepaws upon the side of her bed, the dog looked +long and steadily at the wasted form before him and held his ear +intently for a moment over the maiden's heart. Then, with a slight cough +he deposited from his mouth into her outstretched hand, a tiny stone. +Touching her wrist with his right paw, he motioned to her to swallow the +stone. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, my dear, obey him," counselled her father, as she turned to him +inquiringly, "for good Dr. Dog has been sent to your bedside by the +mountain fairies, who have heard of your illness and who wish to invite +you back to life again." +</p> +<p> +Without further delay the sick girl, who was by this time almost burned +away by the fever, raised her hand to her lips and swallowed the tiny +charm. Wonder of wonders! No sooner had it passed her lips than a +miracle occurred. The red flush passed away from her face, the pulse +resumed its normal beat, the pains departed from her body, and she arose +from the bed well and smiling. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page47" name="page47"></a>[47]</span> +Flinging her arms about her father's neck, she cried out in joy, "Oh, +I am well again; well and happy; thanks to the medicine of the good +physician." +</p> +<p> +The noble dog barked three times, wild with delight at hearing these +tearful words of gratitude, bowed low, and put his nose in Honeysuckle's +outstretched hand. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Min, greatly moved by his daughter's magical recovery, turned to the +strange physician, saying, "Noble Sir, were it not for the form you have +taken, for some unknown reason, I would willingly give four times the +sum in silver that I promised for the cure of the girl, into your +possession. As it is, I suppose you have no use for silver, but remember +that so long as we live, whatever we have is yours for the asking, and +I beg of you to prolong your visit, to make this the home of your old +age—in short, remain here for ever as my guest—nay, as a member of +my family." +</p> +<p> +The dog barked thrice, as if in assent. From that day he was treated as +an equal by father and daughter. The many servants were commanded to +obey his slightest whim, to serve him with the most expensive food on +the market, to spare no expense in making him the happiest and best-fed +dog in all the world. Day after day he ran at Honeysuckle's side as she +gathered flowers in her garden, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page48" name="page48"></a>[48]</span> +lay down before her door when she was resting, guarded her Sedan chair +when she was carried by servants into the city. In short, they were +constant companions; a stranger would have thought they had been friends +from childhood. +</p> +<p> +One day, however, just as they were returning from a journey outside her +father's compound, at the very instant when Honeysuckle was alighting +from her chair, without a moment's warning, the huge animal dashed past +the attendants, seized his beautiful mistress in his mouth, and before +anyone could stop him, bore her off to the mountains. By the time the +alarm was sounded, darkness had fallen over the valley and as the night +was cloudy no trace could be found of the dog and his fair burden. +</p> +<p> +Once more the frantic father left no stone unturned to save his +daughter. Huge rewards were offered, bands of woodmen scoured the +mountains high and low, but, alas, no sign of the girl could be found! +The unfortunate father gave up the search and began to prepare himself +for the grave. There was nothing now left in life that he cared +for—nothing but thoughts of his departed daughter. Honeysuckle was gone +for ever. +</p> +<p> +"Alas!" said he, quoting the lines of a famous poet who had fallen into +despair: +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page49" name="page49"></a>[49]</span> +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "My whiting hair would make an endless rope, </p> +<p class="i3"> Yet would not measure all my depth of woe."</p> +</div> +</div> +<p> +Several long years passed by; years of sorrow for the ageing man, pining +for his departed daughter. One beautiful October day he was sitting in +the very same pavilion where he had so often sat with his darling. His +head was bowed forward on his breast, his forehead was lined with grief. +A rustling of leaves attracted his attention. He looked up. Standing +directly in front of him was Dr. Dog, and lo, riding on his back, +clinging to the animal's shaggy hair, was Honeysuckle, his long-lost +daughter; while standing near by were three of the handsomest boys he +had ever set eyes upon! +</p> +<p> +"Ah, my daughter! My darling daughter, where have you been all these +years?" cried the delighted father, pressing the girl to his aching +breast. "Have you suffered many a cruel pain since you were snatched +away so suddenly? Has your life been filled with sorrow?" +</p> +<p> +"Only at the thought of your grief," she replied, tenderly, stroking +his forehead with her slender fingers; "only at the thought of your +suffering; only at the thought of how I should like to see you every day +and tell you that my husband was kind and good to me. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page50" name="page50"></a>[50]</span> +For you must know, dear father, this is no mere animal that stands +beside you. This Dr. Dog, who cured me and claimed me as his bride +because of your promise, is a great magician. He can change himself at +will into a thousand shapes. He chooses to come here in the form of a +mountain beast so that no one may penetrate the secret of his distant +palace." +</p> +<p> +"Then he is your husband?" faltered the old man, gazing at the animal +with a new expression on his wrinkled face. +</p> +<p> +"Yes; my kind and noble husband, the father of my three sons, your +grandchildren, whom we have brought to pay you a visit." +</p> +<p> +"And where do you live?" +</p> +<p> +"In a wonderful cave in the heart of the great mountains; a beautiful +cave whose walls and floors are covered with crystals, and encrusted +with sparkling gems. The chairs and tables are set with jewels; the +rooms are lighted by a thousand glittering diamonds. Oh, it is lovelier +than the palace of the Son of Heaven himself! We feed of the flesh of +wild deer and mountain goats, and fish from the clearest mountain +stream. We drink cold water out of golden goblets, without first boiling +it, for it is purity itself. We breathe fragrant air that blows through +forests of pine and hemlock. We live only to love each other and our +children, and oh, we are so happy! And you, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page51" name="page51"></a>[51]</span> +father, you must come back with us to the great mountains and live there +with us the rest of your days, which, the gods grant, may be very many." +</p> + +<a name="image-0007"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0254-1.jpg"><img src="images/0254-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'CLINGING TO THE ANIMAL'S SHAGGY HAIR WAS HONEYSUCKLE'" /></a> +<br /> +'CLINGING TO THE ANIMAL'S SHAGGY HAIR WAS HONEYSUCKLE' +</div> + +<p> +The old man pressed his daughter once more to his breast and fondled the +children, who clambered over him rejoicing at the discovery of a +grandfather they had never seen before. +</p> +<p> +From Dr. Dog and his fair Honeysuckle are sprung, it is said, the +well-known race of people called the Yus, who even now inhabit the +mountainous regions of the Canton and Hunan provinces. It is not for +this reason, however, that we have told the story here, but because we +felt sure every reader would like to learn the secret of the dog that +cured a sick girl and won her for his bride. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page52" name="page52"></a>[52]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0005" id="h2H_4_0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + HOW FOOTBINDING STARTED +</h2> + +<a name="image-0008"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-064a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="HOW FOOTBINDING STARTED" /> +</div> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + +<img src="images/i-064b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="I" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--I-->n the very beginning of all things, when the gods were creating the +world, at last the time came to separate the earth from the heavens. +This was hard work, and if it had not been for the coolness and skill of +a young goddess all would have failed. This goddess was named Lu-o. She +had been idly watching the growth of the planet, when, to her horror, +she saw the newly made ball slipping slowly from its place. In another +second it would have shot down into the bottomless pit. Quick as a flash +Lu-o stopped it with her magic wand and held it firmly until the chief +god came dashing up to the rescue. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page53" name="page53"></a>[53]</span> +But this was not all. When men and women were put on the earth Lu-o +helped them greatly by setting an example of purity and kindness. Every +one loved her and pointed her out as the one who was always willing to +do a good deed. After she had left the world and gone into the land of +the gods, beautiful statues of her were set up in many temples to keep +her image always before the eyes of sinful people. The greatest of these +was in the capital city. Thus, when sorrowful women wished to offer up +their prayers to some virtuous goddess they would go to a temple of Lu-o +and pour out their hearts before her shrine. +</p> +<p> +At one time the wicked Chow-sin, last ruler of the Yins, went to pray in +the city Temple. There his royal eyes were captivated by the sight of a +wonderful face, the beauty of which was so great that he fell in love +with it at once, telling his ministers that he wished he might take this +goddess, who was no other than Lu-o, for one of his wives. +</p> +<p> +Now Lu-o was terribly angry that an earthly prince should dare to make +such a remark about her. Then and there she determined to punish the +Emperor. Calling her assistant spirits, she told them of Chow-sin's +insult. Of all her servants the most cunning was one whom we shall call +Fox Sprite, because he really belonged to the fox +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page54" name="page54"></a>[54]</span> +family. Lu-o ordered Fox Sprite to spare himself no trouble in making +the wicked ruler suffer for his impudence. +</p> +<p> +For many days, try as he would, Chow-sin, the great Son of Heaven, could +not forget the face he had seen in the temple. +</p> +<p> +"He is stark mad," laughed his courtiers behind his back, "to fall in +love with a statue." +</p> +<p> +"I must find a woman just like her," said the Emperor, "and take her to +wife." +</p> +<p> +"Why not, most Mighty One," suggested a favourite adviser, "send forth a +command throughout the length and breadth of your Empire, that no maiden +shall be taken in marriage until you have chosen yourself a wife whose +beauty shall equal that of Lu-o?" +</p> +<p> +Chow-sin was pleased with this suggestion and doubtless would have +followed it had not his Prime Minister begged him to postpone issuing +the order. "Your Imperial Highness," began the official, "since you have +been pleased once or twice to follow my counsel, I beg of you to give +ear now to what I say." +</p> +<p> +"Speak, and your words shall have my best attention," replied Chow-sin, +with a gracious wave of the hand. +</p> +<p> +"Know then, Great One, that in the southern part of your realm there +dwells a viceroy whose bravery has made him famous in battle." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page55" name="page55"></a>[55]</span> +"Are you speaking of Su-nan?" questioned Chow-sin, frowning, for this +Su-nan had once been a rebel. +</p> +<p> +"None other, mighty Son of Heaven. Famous is he as a soldier, but his +name is now even greater in that he is the father of the most beautiful +girl in all China. This lovely flower that has bloomed of late within +his household is still unmarried. Why not order her father to bring her +to the palace that you may wed her and place her in your royal +dwelling?" +</p> +<p> +"And are you sure of this wondrous beauty you describe so prettily?" +asked the ruler, a smile of pleasure lighting up his face. +</p> +<p> +"So sure that I will stake my head on your being satisfied." +</p> +<p> +"Enough! I command you at once to summon the viceroy and his daughter. +Add the imperial seal to the message." +</p> +<p> +The Prime Minister smilingly departed to give the order. In his heart he +was more than delighted that the Emperor had accepted his suggestion, +for Su-nan, the viceroy, had long been his chief enemy, and he planned +in this way to overthrow him. The viceroy, as he knew, was a man of +iron. He would certainly not feel honoured at the thought of having his +daughter enter the Imperial Palace as a secondary wife. Doubtless he +would refuse to obey the order and would thus bring about his own +immediate downfall. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page56" name="page56"></a>[56]</span> +Nor was the Prime Minister mistaken. When Su-nan received the imperial +message his heart was hot with anger against his sovereign. To be robbed +of his lovely Ta-ki, even by the throne, was, in his eyes, a terrible +disgrace. Could he have been sure that she would be made Empress it +might have been different, but with so many others sharing Chow-sin's +favour, her promotion to first place in the Great One's household was by +no means certain. Besides, she was Su-nan's favourite child, and the old +man could not bear the thought of separation from her. Rather would he +give up his life than let her go to this cruel ruler. +</p> +<p> +"No, you shall not do it," said he to Ta-ki, "not though I must die to +save you." +</p> +<p> +The beautiful girl listened to her father's words, in tears. Throwing +herself at his feet she thanked him for his mercy and promised to love +him more fondly than ever. She told him that her vanity had not been +flattered by what most girls might have thought an honour, that she +would rather have the love of one good man like her father, than share +with others the affections of a king. +</p> + +<a name="image-0009"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0256-1.jpg"><img src="images/0256-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'THROWING HERSELF AT HIS FEET SHE THANKED HIM FOR HIS MERCY.'" /></a> +<br /> +'THROWING HERSELF AT HIS FEET SHE THANKED HIM FOR HIS MERCY.' +</div> + +<p> +After listening to his daughter, the viceroy sent a respectful answer to +the palace, thanking the Emperor for his favour, but saying he could not +give up Ta-ki. "She is unworthy of the honour you +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page57" name="page57"></a>[57]</span> +purpose doing her," he said, in conclusion, "for, having been the apple +of her father's eye, she would not be happy to share even your most +august favour with the many others you have chosen." +</p> +<p> +When the Emperor learned of Su-nan's reply he could hardly believe his +ears. To have his command thus disobeyed was an unheard-of crime. Never +before had a subject of the Middle Kingdom offered such an insult to a +ruler. Boiling with rage, he ordered his prime minister to send forth +an army that would bring the viceroy to his senses. "Tell him if he +disobeys that he and his family, together with all they possess, shall +be destroyed." +</p> +<p> +Delighted at the success of his plot against Su-nan, the Prime Minister +sent a regiment of soldiers to bring the rebel to terms. In the meantime +the friends of the daring viceroy had not been idle. Hearing of the +danger threatening their ruler, who had become a general favourite, +hundreds of men offered him their aid against the army of Chow-sin. Thus +when the Emperor's banners were seen approaching and the war drums were +heard rolling in the distance, the rebels, with a great shout, dashed +forth to do battle for their leader. In the fight that took place the +Imperial soldiers were forced to run. +</p> +<p> +When the Emperor heard of this defeat he was hot with anger. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page58" name="page58"></a>[58]</span> +He called together his advisers and commanded that an army, double the +size of the first one, should be sent to Su-nan's country to destroy the +fields and villages of the people who had risen up against him. "Spare +not one of them," he shouted, "for they are traitors to the Dragon +Throne." +</p> +<p> +Once more the viceroy's friends resolved to support him, even to the +death. Ta-ki, his daughter, went apart from the other members of the +family, weeping most bitterly that she had brought such sorrow upon +them. "Rather would I go into the palace and be the lowest among +Chow-sin's women than to be the cause of all this grief," she cried, +in desperation. +</p> +<p> +But her father soothed her, saying, "Be of good cheer, Ta-ki. The +Emperor's army, though it be twice as large as mine, shall not overcome +us. Right is on our side. The gods of battle will help those who fight +for justice." +</p> +<p> +One week later a second battle was fought, and the struggle was so close +that none could foresee the result. The Imperial army was commanded by +the oldest nobles in the kingdom, those most skilled in warfare, while +the viceroy's men were young and poorly drilled. Moreover, the members +of the Dragon Army had been promised double pay if they should +accomplish the wishes of their sovereign, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page59" name="page59"></a>[59]</span> +while Su-nan's soldiers knew only too well that they would be put to the +sword if they should be defeated. +</p> +<p> +Just as the clash of arms was at its highest, the sound of gongs was +heard upon a distant hill. The government troops were amazed at seeing +fresh companies marching to the rescue of their foe. With a wild cry of +disappointment they turned and fled from the field. These unexpected +reinforcements turned out to be women whom Ta-ki had persuaded to dress +up as soldiers and go with her for the purpose of frightening the enemy. +Thus for a second time was Su-nan victorious. +</p> +<p> +During the following year several battles occurred that counted for +little, except that in each of them many of Su-nan's followers were +killed. At last one of the viceroy's best friends came to him, saying, +"Noble lord, it is useless to continue the struggle. I fear you must +give up the fight. You have lost more than half your supporters; the +remaining bowmen are either sick or wounded and can be of little use. +The Emperor, moreover, is even now raising a new army from the distant +provinces, and will soon send against us a force ten times as great as +any we have yet seen. There being no hope of victory, further fighting +would be folly. Lead, therefore, your daughter to the palace. Throw +yourself upon the mercy of the throne. You +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page60" name="page60"></a>[60]</span> +must accept cheerfully the fate the gods have suffered you to bear." +</p> +<p> +Ta-ki, chancing to overhear this conversation, rushed in and begged her +father to hold out no longer, but to deliver her up to the greed of the +wicked Chow-sin. +</p> +<p> +With a sigh, the viceroy yielded to their wishes. The next day he +despatched a messenger to the Emperor, promising to bring Ta-ki at once +to the capital. +</p> +<p> +Now we must not forget Fox Sprite, the demon, who had been commanded by +the good goddess Lu-o to bring a dreadful punishment upon the Emperor. +Through all the years of strife between Chow-sin and the rebels, Fox +Sprite had been waiting patiently for his chance. He knew well that some +day, sooner or later, there would come an hour when Chow-sin would be at +his mercy. When the time came, therefore, for Ta-ki to go to the palace, +Fox Sprite felt that at last his chance had come. The beautiful maiden +for whom Chow-sin had given up so many hundreds of his soldiers, would +clearly have great power over the Emperor. She must be made to help +in the punishment of her wicked husband. So Fox Sprite made himself +invisible and travelled with the viceroy's party as it went from central +China to the capital. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page61" name="page61"></a>[61]</span> +On the last night of their journey Su-nan and his daughter stopped for +rest and food at a large inn. No sooner had the girl gone to her room +for the night than Fox Sprite followed her. Then he made himself +visible. At first she was frightened to see so strange a being in her +room, but when Fox Sprite told her he was a servant of the great +goddess, Lu-o, she was comforted, for she knew that Lu-o was the friend +of women and children. +</p> +<p> +"But how can <i>I</i> help to punish the Emperor?" she faltered, when the +sprite told her he wanted her assistance. "I am but a helpless girl," +and here she began to cry. +</p> +<p> +"Dry your tears," he said soothingly. "It will be very easy. Only let me +take your form for a little. When I am the Emperor's wife," laughing, "I +shall find a way to punish him, for no one can give a man more pain that +his wife can, if she desires to do so. You know, I am a servant of Lu-o +and can do anything I wish." +</p> +<p> +"But the Emperor won't have a fox for a wife," she sobbed. +</p> +<p> +"Though I am still a fox I shall look like the beautiful Ta-ki. Make +your heart easy. He will never know." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I see," she smiled, "you will put your spirit into my body and you +will look just like me, though you really won't be me. But +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page62" name="page62"></a>[62]</span> +what will become of the real me? Shall I have to be a fox and look like +you?" +</p> +<p> +"No, not unless you want to. I will make you invisible, and you can be +ready to go back into your own body when I have got rid of the Emperor." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," replied the girl, somewhat relieved by his explanation, +"but try not to be too long about it, because I don't like the idea of +somebody else walking about in my body." +</p> +<p> +So Fox Sprite caused his own spirit to enter the girl's body, and no +one could have told by her outward appearance that any change had taken +place. The beautiful girl was now in reality the sly Fox Sprite, but in +one way only did she look like a fox. When the fox-spirit entered her +body, her feet suddenly shrivelled up and became very similar in shape +and size to the feet of the animal who had her in his power. When the +fox noticed this, at first he was somewhat annoyed, but, feeling that no +one else would know, he did not take the trouble to change the fox feet +back to human form. +</p> +<p> +On the following morning, when the viceroy called his daughter for the +last stage of their journey, he greeted Fox Sprite without suspecting +that anything unusual had happened since he had last seen Ta-ki. So well +did this crafty spirit perform his part that +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page63" name="page63"></a>[63]</span> +the father was completely deceived, by look, by voice, and by gesture. +</p> +<p> +The next day the travellers arrived at the capital and Su-nan presented +himself before Chow-sin, the Emperor, leading Fox Sprite with him. Of +course the crafty fox with all his magic powers was soon able to gain +the mastery over the wicked ruler. The Great One pardoned Su-nan, +although he had fully intended to put him to death as a rebel. +</p> +<p> +Now the chance for which Fox Sprite had been waiting had come. He began +at once, causing the Emperor to do many deeds of violence. The people +had already begun to dislike Chow-sin, and soon he became hateful in +their sight. Many of the leading members of the court were put to death +unjustly. Horrible tortures were devised for punishing those who did not +find favour with the crown. At last there was open talk of a rebellion. +Of course, all these things delighted the wily fox, for he saw that, +sooner or later, the Son of Heaven would be turned out of the palace, +and he knew that then his work for the goddess Lu-o would be finished. +</p> +<p> +Besides worming his way into the heart of the Emperor, the fox became +a general favourite with the ladies of the palace. These women saw in +Chow-sin's latest wife the most beautiful woman who +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page64" name="page64"></a>[64]</span> +had ever lived in the royal harem. One would think that this beauty +might have caused them to hate Fox Sprite, but such was not the case. +They admired the plumpness of Fox Sprite's body, the fairness of Fox +Sprite's complexion, the fire in Fox Sprite's eyes, but most of all they +wondered at the smallness of Fox Sprite's feet, for, you remember, the +supposed Ta-ki now had fox's feet instead of those of human shape. +</p> +<p> +Thus small feet became the fashion among women. All the court ladies, +old and young, beautiful and ugly, began thinking of plans for making +their own feet as tiny as those of Fox Sprite. In this way they thought +to increase their chances of finding favour with the Emperor. +</p> +<p> +Gradually people outside the palace began to hear of this absurd +fashion. Mothers bound the feet of their little girls, in such a manner +as to stop their growth. The bones of the toes were bent backwards and +broken, so eager were the elders to have their daughters grow up into +tiny-footed maidens. Thus, for several years of their girlhood the +little ones were compelled to endure the most severe tortures. It was +not long before the new fashion took firm root in China. It became +almost impossible for parents to get husbands for their daughters unless +the girls had suffered the severe pains of foot-binding. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page65" name="page65"></a>[65]</span> +And even to this day we find that many of the people are still under the +influence of Fox Sprite's magic, and believe that a tiny, misshapen foot +is more beautiful than a natural one. +</p> +<p> +But let us return to the story of Fox Sprite and the wicked Emperor. For +a number of years matters grew continually worse in the country. At last +the people rose in a body against the ruler. A great battle was fought. +The wicked Chow-sin was overthrown and put to death by means of those +very instruments of torture he had used so often against his subjects. +By this time it had become known to all the lords and noblemen that the +Emperor's favourite had been the main cause of their ruler's wickedness; +hence they demanded the death of Fox Sprite. But no one wished to kill +so lovely a creature. Every one appointed refused to do the deed. +</p> +<p> +Finally, a grey-headed member of the court allowed himself to be +blindfolded. With a sharp sword he pierced the body of Fox Sprite to the +heart. Those standing near covered their eyes with their hands, for they +could not bear to see so wonderful a woman die. Suddenly, as they looked +up, they saw a sight so strange that all were filled with amazement. +Instead of falling to the ground, the graceful form swayed backward and +forward for a moment, when all at once there seemed to spring from her +side a huge mountain fox. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page66" name="page66"></a>[66]</span> +animal glanced around him, then, with a cry of fear, dashing past +officials, courtiers and soldiers, he rushed through the gate of the +enclosure. +</p> +<p> +"A fox!" cried the people, full of wonder. +</p> +<p> +At that moment Ta-ki fell in a swoon upon the floor. When they picked +her up, thinking, of course, that she had died from the sword thrust, +they could find no blood on her body, and, on looking more closely, they +saw that there was not even the slightest wound. +</p> +<p> +"Marvel of marvels!" they all shouted. "The gods have shielded her!" +</p> +<p> +Just then Ta-ki opened her eyes and looked about her. "Where am I?" she +asked, in faint voice. "Pray tell me what has happened." +</p> +<p> +Then they told her what they had seen, and at last it was plain to the +beautiful woman that, after all these years, Fox Sprite had left her +body. She was herself once more. For a long time she could not make the +people believe her story; they all said that she must have lost her +mind; that the gods had saved her life, but had punished her for her +wickedness by taking away her reason. +</p> +<p> +But that night, when her maids were undressing her in the palace, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page67" name="page67"></a>[67]</span> +they saw her feet, which had once more become their natural size, and +then they knew she had been telling the truth. +</p> +<p> +How Ta-ki became the wife of a good nobleman who had long admired her +great beauty is much too long a story to be told here. Of one thing, +however, we are certain, that she lived long and was happy ever +afterwards. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page68" name="page68"></a>[68]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0006" id="h2H_4_0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE TALKING FISH +</h2> + +<a name="image-0010"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-082a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE TALKING FISH" /> +</div> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + +<img src="images/i-082b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="L" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--L-->ong, long before your great-grandfather was born there lived in the +village of Everlasting Happiness two men called Li and Sing. Now, these +two men were close friends, living together in the same house. Before +settling down in the village of Everlasting Happiness they had ruled as +high officials for more than twenty years. They had often treated the +people very harshly, so that everybody, old and young, disliked and +hated them. And yet, by robbing the wealthy merchants and by cheating +the poor, these two evil companions had become rich, and it was in order +to spend their ill-gotten gains in idle amusements that they sought out +the village of Everlasting Happiness. "For here," said they, "we can +surely find that joy which has +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page69" name="page69"></a>[69]</span> +been denied us in every other place. Here we shall no longer be scorned +by men and reviled by women." +</p> +<p> +Consequently these two men bought for themselves the finest house in +the village, furnished it in the most elegant manner, and decorated +the walls with scrolls filled with wise sayings and pictures by famous +artists. Outside there were lovely gardens filled with flowers and +birds, and oh, ever so many trees with queer twisted branches growing +in the shape of tigers and other wild animals. +</p> +<p> +Whenever they felt lonely Li and Sing invited rich people of the +neighbourhood to come and dine with them, and after they had eaten, +sometimes they would go out upon the little lake in the centre of their +estate, rowing in an awkward flat-bottomed boat that had been built by +the village carpenter. +</p> +<p> +One day, on such an occasion, when the sun had been beating down +fiercely upon the clean-shaven heads of all those on the little barge, +for you must know this was long before the day when hats were worn—at +least, in the village of Everlasting Happiness—Mr. Li was suddenly +seized with a giddy feeling, which rapidly grew worse and worse until +he was in a burning fever. +</p> +<p> +"Snake's blood mixed with powdered deer-horn is the thing for him," said +the wise-looking doctor who was called in, peering at Li +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page70" name="page70"></a>[70]</span> +carefully through his huge glasses, "Be sure," he continued, addressing +Li's personal attendant, and, at the same time, snapping his long +finger-nails nervously, "be sure, above all, not to leave him alone, for +he is in danger of going raving mad at any moment, and I cannot say what +he may do if he is not looked after carefully. A man in his condition +has no more sense than a baby." +</p> +<p> +Now, although these words of the doctor's really made Mr. Li angry, he +was too ill to reply, for all this time his head had been growing hotter +and hotter, until at last a feverish sleep overtook him. No sooner had +he closed his eyes than his faithful servant, half-famished, rushed out +of the room to join his fellows at their mid-day meal. +</p> +<p> +Li awoke with a start. He had slept only ten minutes. "Water, water," +he moaned, "bathe my head with cold water. I am half dead with pain!" +But there was no reply, for the attendant was dining happily with his +fellows. +</p> +<p> +"Air, air," groaned Mr. Li, tugging at the collar of his silk shirt. +"I'm dying for water. I'm starving for air. This blazing heat will kill +me. It is hotter than the Fire god himself ever dreamed of making it. +Wang, Wang!" clapping his hands feebly and calling to his servant, +"air and water, air and water!" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page71" name="page71"></a>[71]</span> +But still no Wang. +</p> +<p> +At last, with the strength that is said to come from despair, Mr. Li +arose from his couch and staggered toward the doorway. Out he went into +the paved courtyard, and then, after only a moment's hesitation, made +his way across it into a narrow passage that led into the lake garden. +</p> +<p> +"What do they care for a man when he is sick?" he muttered. "My good +friend Sing is doubtless even now enjoying his afternoon nap, with a +servant standing by to fan him, and a block of ice near his head to cool +the air. What does he care if I die of a raging fever? Doubtless he +expects to inherit all my money. And my servants! That rascal Wang has +been with me these ten years, living on me and growing lazier every +season! What does he care if I pass away? Doubtless he is certain that +Sing's servants will think of something for him to do, and he will have +even less work than he has now. Water, water! I shall die if I don't +soon find a place to soak myself!" +</p> +<p> +So saying, he arrived at the bank of a little brook that flowed in +through a water gate at one side of the garden and emptied itself into +the big fish-pond. Flinging himself down by a little stream Li bathed +his hands and wrists in the cool water. How delightful! If +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page72" name="page72"></a>[72]</span> +only it were deep enough to cover his whole body, how gladly would he +cast himself in and enjoy the bliss of its refreshing embrace! +</p> +<p> +For a long time he lay on the ground, rejoicing at his escape from the +doctor's clutches. Then, as the fever began to rise again, he sprang up +with a determined cry, "What am I waiting for? I will do it. There's no +one to prevent me, and it will do me a world of good. I will cast myself +head first into the fish-pond. It is not deep enough near the shore to +drown me if I should be too weak to swim, and I am sure it will restore +me to strength and health." +</p> +<p> +He hastened along the little stream, almost running in his eagerness to +reach the deeper water of the pond. He was like some small Tom Brown who +had escaped from the watchful eye of the master and run out to play in a +forbidden spot. +</p> +<p> +Hark! Was that a servant calling? Had Wang discovered the absence of his +employer? Would he sound the alarm, and would the whole place soon be +alive with men searching for the fever-stricken patient? +</p> +<p> +With one last sigh of satisfaction Li flung himself, clothes and all, +into the quiet waters of the fish-pond. Now Li had been brought up in +Fukien province on the seashore, and was a skilful swimmer. He dived and +splashed to his heart's content, then floated on the surface. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page73" name="page73"></a>[73]</span> +"It takes me back to my boyhood," he cried, "why, oh why, is it not the +fashion to swim? I'd love to live in the water all the time and yet some +of my countrymen are even more afraid than a cat of getting their feet +wet. As for me, I'd give anything to stay here for ever." +</p> +<p> +"You would, eh?" chuckled a hoarse voice just under him, and then there +was a sort of wheezing sound, followed by a loud burst of laughter. Mr. +Li jumped as if an arrow had struck him, but when he noticed the fat, +ugly monster below, his fear turned into anger. "Look here, what do you +mean by giving a fellow such a start! Don't you know what the Classics +say about such rudeness?" +</p> +<p> +The giant fish laughed all the louder. "What time do you suppose I have +for Classics? You make me laugh till I cry!" +</p> +<p> +"But you must answer my question," cried Mr. Li, more and more +persistently, forgetting for the moment that he was not trying some poor +culprit for a petty crime. "Why did you laugh? Speak out at once, +fellow!" +</p> +<p> +"Well, since you are such a saucy piece," roared the other, "I will tell +you. It was because you awkward creatures, who call yourselves men, the +most highly civilized beings in the world, always +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page74" name="page74"></a>[74]</span> +think you understand a thing fully when you have only just found out how +to do it." +</p> +<p> +"You are talking about the island dwarfs, the Japanese," interrupted Mr. +Li, "We Chinese seldom undertake to do anything new." +</p> +<p> +"Just hear the man!" chuckled the fish. "Now, fancy your wishing to stay +in the water for ever! What do you know about water? Why you're not even +provided with the proper equipment for swimming. What would you do if +you really lived here always?" +</p> +<p> +"What am I doing now?" spluttered Mr. Li, so angry that he sucked in a +mouthful of water before he knew it. +</p> +<p> +"Floundering," retorted the other. +</p> +<p> +"Don't you see me swimming? Are those big eyes of yours made of glass?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I see you all right," guffawed the fish, "that's just it! I see +you too well. Why you tumble about as awkwardly as a water buffalo +wallowing in a mud puddle!" +</p> +<p> +Now, as Mr. Li had always considered himself an expert in water sports, +he was, by this time, speechless with rage, and all he could do was to +paddle feebly round and round with strokes just strong enough to keep +himself from sinking. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page75" name="page75"></a>[75]</span> +"Then, too," continued the fish, more and more calm as the other lost +his temper, "you have a very poor arrangement for breathing. If I am not +mistaken, at the bottom of this pond you would find yourself worse off +than I should be at the top of a palm tree. What would you do to keep +yourself from starving? Do you think it would be convenient if you had +to flop yourself out on to the land every time you wanted a bite to eat? +And yet, being a man, I doubt seriously if you would be content to take +the proper food for fishes. You have hardly a single feature that would +make you contented if you were to join an under-water school. Look at +your clothes, too, water-soaked and heavy. Do you think them suitable +to protect you from cold and sickness? Nature forgot to give you any +scales. Now I'm going to tell you a joke, so you must be sure to laugh. +Fishes are like grocery shops—always judged by their scales. As you +haven't a sign of a scale, how will people judge you? See the point, eh? +Nature gave you a skin, but forgot the outer covering, except, perhaps +at the ends of your fingers and your toes You surely see by this time +why I consider your idea ridiculous?" +</p> +<p> +Sure enough, in spite of his recent severe attack of fever, Mr. Li had +really cooled completely off. He had never understood before what great +disadvantages there were connected with being a man. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page76" name="page76"></a>[76]</span> +Why not make use of this chance acquaintance, find out from him how to +get rid of that miserable possession he had called his manhood, and gain +the delights that only a fish can have? "Then, are you indeed contented +with your lot?" he asked finally. "Are there not moments when you would +prefer to be a man?" +</p> +<p> +"I, a man!" thundered the other, lashing the water with his tail. "How +dare you suggest such a disgraceful change! Can it be that you do not +know my rank? Why, my fellow, you behold in me a favourite nephew of +the king!" +</p> +<p> +"Then, may it please your lordship," said Mr. Li, softly, "I should +be exceedingly grateful if you would speak a kind word for me to your +master. Do you think it possible that he could change me in some manner +into a fish and accept me as a subject?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course!" replied the other, "all things are possible to the king. +Know you not that my sovereign is a loyal descendant of the great water +dragon, and, as such, can never die, but lives on and on and on, for +ever and ever and ever, like the ruling house of Japan?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, oh!" gasped Mr. Li, "even the Son of Heaven, our most worshipful +emperor, cannot boast of such long years. Yes, I would give my fortune +to be a follower of your imperial master." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page77" name="page77"></a>[77]</span> +"Then follow me," laughed the other, starting off at a rate that made +the water hiss and boil for ten feet around him. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Li struggled vainly to keep up. If he had thought himself a good +swimmer, he now saw his mistake and every bit of remaining pride was +torn to tatters. "Please wait a moment," he cried out politely, "I beg +of you to remember that I am only a man!" +</p> +<p> +"Pardon me," replied the other, "it was stupid of me to forget, +especially as I had just been talking about it." +</p> +<p> +Soon they reached a sheltered inlet at the farther side of the pond. +There Mr. Li saw a gigantic carp idly floating about in a shallow pool, +and then lazily flirting his huge tail or fluttering his fins proudly +from side to side. Attendant courtiers darted hither and thither, ready +to do the master's slightest bidding. One of them, splendidly attired in +royal scarlet, announced, with a downward flip of the head, the approach +of the King's nephew who was leading Mr. Li to an audience with his +Majesty. +</p> +<p> +"Whom have you here, my lad?" began the ruler, as his nephew, hesitating +for words to explain his strange request, moved his fins nervously +backwards and forwards. "Strange company, it seems to me, you are +keeping these days." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page78" name="page78"></a>[78]</span> +"Only a poor man, most royal sir," replied the other, "who beseeches +your Highness to grant him your gracious favour." +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "When man asks favour of a fish,</p> +<p class="i5"> 'Tis hard to penetrate his wish—</p> +<p class="i3"> He often seeks a lordly dish</p> +<p class="i5"> To serve upon his table,"</p> +</div> +</div> +<p style="text-indent: 0;"> +repeated the king, smiling. "And yet, nephew, you think this fellow is +really peaceably inclined and is not coming among us as a spy?" +</p> +<p> +Before his friend could answer, Mr. Li had cast himself upon his knees +in the shallow water, before the noble carp, and bowed thrice, until his +face was daubed with mud from the bottom of the pool. "Indeed, your +Majesty, I am only a poor mortal who seeks your kindly grace. If you +would but consent to receive me into your school of fishes. I would for +ever be your ardent admirer and your lowly slave." +</p> +<p> +"In sooth, the fellow talks as if in earnest," remarked the king, +after a moment's reflection, "and though the request is, perhaps, the +strangest to which I have ever listened, I really see no reason why +I should not turn a fishly ear. But, have the goodness +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page79" name="page79"></a>[79]</span> +first to cease your bowing. You are stirring up enough mud to plaster +the royal palace of a shark." +</p> +<p> +Poor Li, blushing at the monarch's reproof, waited patiently for the +answer to his request. +</p> +<p> +"Very well, so be it," cried the king impulsively, "your wish is +granted. Sir Trout," turning to one of his courtiers, "bring hither a +fish-skin of proper size for this ambitious fellow." +</p> +<p> +No sooner said than done. The fish-skin was slipped over Mr. Li's head, +and his whole body was soon tucked snugly away in the scaly coat. Only +his arms remained uncovered. In the twinkling of an eye Li felt sharp +pains shoot through every part of his body. His arms began to shrivel up +and his hands changed little by little until they made an excellent pair +of fins, just as good as those of the king himself. As for his legs and +feet, they suddenly began to stick together until, wriggle as he would, +Li could not separate them. "Ah, ha!" thought he, "my kicking days are +over, for my toes are now turned into a first-class tail." +</p> +<p> +"Not so fast," laughed the king, as Li, after thanking the royal +personage profusely, started out to try his new fins; "not so fast, my +friend. Before you depart, perhaps I'd better give you a little friendly +advice, else your new powers are likely to land you on the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page80" name="page80"></a>[80]</span> +hook of some lucky fisherman, and you will find yourself served up as a +prize of the pond." +</p> +<p> +"I will gladly listen to your lordly counsel, for the words of the Most +High to his lowly slave are like pearls before sea slugs. However, as I +was once a man myself I think I understand the simple tricks they use to +catch us fish, and I am therefore in position to avoid trouble." +</p> +<p> +"Don't be so sure about it. 'A hungry carp often falls into danger,' +as one of our sages so wisely remarked. There are two cautions I would +impress upon you. One is, never, never, eat a dangling worm; no matter +how tempting it looks there are sure to be horrible hooks inside. +Secondly, always swim like lightning if you see a net, but in the +opposite direction. Now, I will have you served your first meal out of +the royal pantry, but after that, you must hunt for yourself, like every +other self-respecting citizen of the watery world." +</p> +<p> +After Li had been fed with several slugs, followed by a juicy worm for +dessert, and after again thanking the king and the king's nephew for +their kindness, he started forth to test his tail and fins. It was no +easy matter, at first, to move them properly. A single flirt of the +tail, no more vigorous than those he had been used to giving +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page81" name="page81"></a>[81]</span> +with his legs, would send him whirling round and round in the water, for +all the world like a living top; and when he wriggled his fins, ever so +slightly, as he thought, he found himself sprawling on his back in a +most ridiculous fashion for a dignified member of fishkind. It took +several hours of constant practice to get the proper stroke, and then he +found he could move about without being conscious of any effort. It was +the easiest thing he had ever done in his life; and oh! the water was so +cool and delightful! "Would that I might enjoy that endless life the +poets write of!" he murmured blissfully. +</p> +<p> +Many hours passed by until at last Li was compelled to admit that, +although he was not tired, he was certainly hungry. How to get something +to eat? Oh! why had he not asked the friendly nephew a few simple +questions? How easily his lordship might have told him the way to get +a good breakfast! But alas! without such advice, it would be a whale's +task to accomplish it. Hither and thither he swam, into the deep +still water, and along the muddy shore; down, down to the pebbly +bottom—always looking, looking for a tempting worm. He dived into the +weeds and rushes, poked his nose among the lily pads. All for nothing! +No fly or worm of any kind to gladden his eager eyes! Another hour +passed slowly away, and all the time his hunger was growing greater and +greater. Would the fish +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page82" name="page82"></a>[82]</span> +god, the mighty dragon, not grant him even one little morsel to satisfy +his aching stomach, especially since, now that he was a fish, he had no +way of tightening up his belt, as hungry soldiers do when they are on a +forced march? +</p> +<p> +Just as Li was beginning to think he could not wriggle his tail +an instant longer, and that soon, very soon, he would feel himself +slipping, slipping, slipping down to the bottom of the pond to die—at +that very moment, chancing to look up, he saw, oh joy! a delicious red +worm dangling a few inches above his nose. The sight gave new strength +to his weary fins and tail. Another minute, and he would have had the +delicate morsel in his mouth, when alas! he chanced to recall the advice +given him the day before by great King Carp. "No matter how tempting it +looks, there are sure to be horrible hooks inside." For an instant Li +hesitated. The worm floated a trifle nearer to his half-open mouth. How +tempting! After all, what was a hook to a fish when he was dying? Why be +a coward? Perhaps this worm was an exception to the rule, or perhaps, +perhaps any thing—really a fish in such a plight as Mr. Li could not be +expected to follow advice—even the advice of a real KING. +</p> +<p> +Pop! He had it in his mouth. Oh, soft morsel, worthy of a king's desire! +Now he could laugh at words of wisdom, and eat +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page83" name="page83"></a>[83]</span> +whatever came before his eye. But ugh! What was that strange feeling +that—Ouch! it was the fatal hook! +</p> +<p> +With one frantic jerk, and a hundred twists and turns, poor Li sought +to pull away from the cruel barb that stuck so fast in the roof of his +mouth. It was now too late to wish he had kept away from temptation. +Better far to have starved at the bottom of the cool pond than to be +jerked out by some miserable fisherman to the light and sunshine of the +busy world. Nearer and nearer he approached the surface. The more he +struggled the sharper grew the cruel barb. Then, with one final splash, +he found himself dangling in mid-air, swinging helplessly at the end of +a long line. With a chunk he fell into a flat-bottomed boat, directly +on top of several smaller fish. +</p> +<p> +"Ah, a carp!" shouted a well-known voice gleefully; "the biggest fish +I've caught these three moons. What good luck!" +</p> +<p> +It was the voice of old Chang, the fisherman, who had been supplying +Mr. Li's table ever since that official's arrival in the village of +Everlasting Happiness. Only a word of explanation, and he, Li, would be +free once more to swim about where he willed. And then there should be +no more barbs for him. An escaped fish fears the hook. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page84" name="page84"></a>[84]</span> +"I say, Chang," he began, gasping for breath, "really now, you must +chuck me overboard at once, for, don't you see, I am Mr. Li, your old +master. Come, hurry up about it. I'll excuse you this time for your +mistake, for, of course, you had no way of knowing. Quick!" +</p> +<p> +But Chang, with a savage jerk, pulled the hook from Li's mouth, and +looked idly towards the pile of glistening fish, gloating over his +catch, and wondering how much money he could demand for it. He had heard +nothing of Mr. Li's remarks, for Chang had been deaf since childhood. +</p> +<p> +"Quick, quick, I am dying for air," moaned poor Li, and then, with a +groan, he remembered the fisherman's affliction. +</p> +<p> +By this time they had arrived at the shore, and Li, in company with his +fellow victims, found himself suddenly thrown into a wicker basket. Oh, +the horrors of that journey on land! Only a tiny bit of water remained +in the closely-woven thing. It was all he could do to breathe. +</p> +<p> +Joy of joys! At the door of his own house he saw his good friend Sing +just coming out. "Hey, Sing," he shouted, at the top of his voice, +"help, help! This son of a turtle wants to murder me. He has me in here +with these fish, and doesn't seem to know that I am Li, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page85" name="page85"></a>[85]</span> +his master. Kindly order him to take me to the lake and throw me in, for +it's cool there and I like the water life much better than that on +land." +</p> +<p> +Li paused to hear Sing's reply, but there came not a single word. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your honour to have a look at my catch," said old Chang to Sing. +"Here is the finest fish of the season. I have brought him here so that +you and my honoured master, Mr. Li, may have a treat. Carp is his +favourite delicacy." +</p> +<p> +"Very kind of you, my good Chang, I'm sure, but I fear poor Mr. Li will +not eat fish for some time. He has a bad attack of fever." +</p> +<p> +"There's where you're wrong," shouted Li, from his basket, flopping +about with all his might, to attract attention, "I'm going to die of a +chill. Can't you recognise your old friend? Help me out of this trouble +and you may have all my money for your pains." +</p> +<p> +"Hey, what's that!" questioned Sing, attracted, as usual, by the word +money. "Shades of Confucius! It sounds as if the carp were talking." +</p> +<p> +"What, a talking fish," laughed Chang. "Why, master, I've lived nigh on +to sixty year, and such a fish has never come under my sight. There are +talking birds and talking beasts for that matter; but talking fish, who +ever heard of such a wonder? No, I think your +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page86" name="page86"></a>[86]</span> +ears must have deceived you, but this carp will surely cause talk when I +get him into the kitchen. I'm sure the cook has never seen his like. Oh, +master! I hope you will be hungry when you sit down to this fish. What a +pity Mr. Li couldn't help you to devour it!" +</p> +<p> +"Help to devour myself, eh?" grumbled poor Li, now almost dead for lack +of water. "You must take me for a cannibal, or some other sort of +savage." +</p> +<p> +Old Chang had now gone round the house to the servants' quarters, and, +after calling out the cook, held up poor Li by the tail for the chef to +inspect. +</p> +<p> +With a mighty jerk Li tore himself away and fell at the feet of his +faithful cook. "Save me, save me!" he cried out in despair; "this +miserable Chang is deaf and doesn't know that I am Mr. Li, his master. +My fish voice is not strong enough for his hearing. Only take me back to +the pond and set me free. You shall have a pension for life, wear good +clothes and eat good food, all the rest of your days. Only hear me and +obey! Listen, my dear cook, listen!" +</p> +<p> +"The thing seems to be talking," muttered the cook, "but such wonders +cannot be. Only ignorant old women or foreigners would believe that a +fish could talk." And seizing his former master by the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page87" name="page87"></a>[87]</span> +tail, he swung him on to a table, picked up a knife, and began to whet +it on a stone. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, oh!" screamed Li, "you will stick a knife into me! You will scrape +off my beautiful shiny scales! You will whack off my lovely new fins! +You will murder your old master!" +</p> +<p> +"Well, you won't talk much longer," growled the cook, "I'll show you a +trick or two with the blade." +</p> +<p> +So saying, with a gigantic thrust, he plunged the knife deep into the +body of the trembling victim. +</p> +<p> +With a shrill cry of horror and despair, Mr. Li awoke from the deep +sleep into which he had fallen. His fever was gone, but he found himself +trembling with fear at thought of the terrible death that had come to +him in dreamland. +</p> +<p> +"Thanks be to Buddha, I am not a fish!" he cried out joyfully; "and now +I shall be well enough to enjoy the feast to which Mr. Sing has bidden +guests for to-morrow. But alas, now that I can eat the old fisherman's +prize carp, it has changed back into myself. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "If only the good of our dreams came true,</p> +<p class="i3"> I shouldn't mind dreaming the whole day through."</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page88" name="page88"></a>[88]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0007" id="h2H_4_0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + BAMBOO AND THE TURTLE +</h2> + +<a name="image-0011"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-102a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="BAMBOO AND THE TURTLE" /> +</div> + +<div style="height: 2em;"><br /><br /></div> + +<img src="images/i-102b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="A" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--A--> party of visitors had been seeing the sights at Hsi Ling. They had +just passed down the Holy Way between the huge stone animals when +Bamboo, a little boy of twelve, son of a keeper, rushed out from his +father's house to see the mandarins go by. Such a parade of great men +he had never seen before, even on the feast days. There were ten sedan +chairs, with bearers dressed in flaming colours, ten long-handled, red +umbrellas, each carried far in front of its proud owner, and a long line +of horsemen. +</p> +<p> +When this gay procession had filed past, Bamboo was almost ready to cry +because he could not run after the sightseers as they went from temple +to temple and from tomb to tomb. But, alas! his father had ordered him +never to follow tourists. "If you do, they will take you for a beggar, +Bamboo," he had said shrewdly, "and if you're a beggar, then your +daddy's one too. Now they +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page89" name="page89"></a>[89]</span> +don't want any beggars around the royal tombs." So Bamboo had never +known the pleasure of pursuing the rich. Many times he had turned back +to the little mud house, almost broken-hearted at seeing his playmates +running, full of glee, after the great men's chairs. +</p> +<p> +On the day when this story opens, just as the last horseman had passed +out of sight among the cedars, Bamboo chanced to look up toward one of +the smaller temple buildings of which his father was the keeper. It was +the house through which the visitors had just been shown. Could his eyes +be deceiving him? No, the great iron doors had been forgotten in the +hurry of the moment, and there they stood wide open, as if inviting him +to enter. +</p> +<p> +In great excitement he scurried toward the temple. How often he had +pressed his head against the bars and looked into the dark room, wishing +and hoping that some day he might go in. And yet, not once had he been +granted this favour. Almost every day since babyhood he had gazed at +the high stone shaft, or tablet, covered with Chinese writing, that +stood in the centre of the lofty room, reaching almost to the roof. +But with still greater surprise his eyes had feasted on the giant turtle +underneath, on whose back the column rested. There are many such tablets +to be seen in China, many such turtles patiently bearing their loads of +stone, but this +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page90" name="page90"></a>[90]</span> +was the only sight of the kind that Bamboo had seen. He had never been +outside the Hsi Ling forest, and, of course, knew very little of the +great world beyond. +</p> +<p> +It is no wonder then that the turtle and the tablet had always +astonished him. He had asked his father to explain the mystery. "Why +do they have a turtle? Why not a lion or an elephant?" For he had seen +stone figures of these animals in the park and had thought them much +better able than his friend, the turtle, to carry loads on their backs. +"Why it's just the custom," his father had replied—the answer always +given when Bamboo asked a question, "just the custom." The boy had tried +to imagine it all for himself, but had never been quite sure that he +was right, and now, joy of all joys, he was about to enter the very +turtle-room itself. Surely, once inside, he could find some answer +to this puzzle of his childhood. +</p> +<p> +Breathless, he dashed through the doorway, fearing every minute that +some one would notice the open gates and close them before he could +enter. Just in front of the giant turtle he fell in a little heap on the +floor, which was covered inch-deep with dust. His face was streaked, his +clothes were a sight to behold; but Bamboo cared nothing for such +trifles. He lay there for a few moments, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page91" name="page91"></a>[91]</span> +not daring to move. Then, hearing a noise outside, he crawled under the +ugly stone beast and crouched in his narrow hiding-place, as still as a +mouse. +</p> +<p> +"There, there!" said a deep voice. "See what you are doing, stirring up +such a dust! Why, you will strangle me if you are not careful." +</p> +<p> +It was the turtle speaking, and yet Bamboo's father had often told him +that it was not alive. The boy lay trembling for a minute, too much +frightened to get up and run. +</p> +<p> +"No use in shaking so, my lad," the voice continued, a little more +kindly. "I suppose all boys are alike—good for nothing but kicking up +a dust." He finished this sentence with a hoarse chuckle, and the boy, +seeing that he was laughing, looked up with wonder at the strange +creature. +</p> +<p> +"I meant no harm in coming," said the child finally. "I only wanted to +look at you more closely." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, that was it, hey? Well, that is strange. All the others come and +stare at the tablet on my back. Sometimes they read aloud the nonsense +written there about dead emperors and their titles, but they never so +much as look at me, at <i>me</i> whose father was one of the great four who +made the world." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page92" name="page92"></a>[92]</span> +Bamboo's eyes shone with wonder. "What! <i>your</i> father helped make the +world?" he gasped. +</p> +<p> +"Well, not my father exactly, but one of my grandfathers, and it amounts +to the same thing, doesn't it. But, hark! I hear a voice. The keeper is +coming back. Run up and close those doors, so he won't notice that they +have not been locked. Then you may hide in the corner there until he has +passed. I have something more to tell you." +</p> +<p> +Bamboo did as he was told. It took all his strength to swing the heavy +doors into place. He felt very important to think that he was doing +something for the grandson of a maker of the world, and it would have +broken his heart if this visit had been ended just as it was beginning. +</p> +<p> +Sure enough, his father and the other keepers passed on, never dreaming +that the heavy locks were not fastened as usual. They were talking about +the great men who had just gone. They seemed very happy and were +jingling some coins in their hands. +</p> +<p> +"Now, my boy," said the stone turtle when the sound of voices had died +away and Bamboo had come out from his corner, "maybe you think I'm proud +of my job. Here I've been holding up this chunk for a hundred years, I +who am fond of travel. During all +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page93" name="page93"></a>[93]</span> +this time night and day, I have been trying to think of some way to give +up my position. Perhaps it's honourable, but, you may well imagine, it's +not very pleasant." +</p> +<p> +"I should think you would have the backache," ventured Bamboo timidly. +</p> +<p> +"Backache! well, I think so; back, neck, legs, eyes, everything I have +is aching, aching for freedom. But, you see, even if I had kicked up +my heels and overthrown this monument, I had no way of getting through +those iron bars," and he nodded toward the gate. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I understand," agreed Bamboo, beginning to feel sorry for his old +friend. +</p> +<p> +"But, now that you are here, I have a plan, and a good one it is, too, I +think. The watchmen have forgotten to lock the gate. What is to prevent +my getting my freedom this very night? You open the gate, I walk out, +and no one the wiser." +</p> +<p> +"But my father will lose his head if they find that he has failed to do +his duty and you have escaped." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no; not at all. You can slip his keys to-night, lock the gates +after I am gone, and no one will know just what has happened. Why it +will make this building famous. It won't hurt your father, but will do +him good. So many travellers will be anxious to see the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page94" name="page94"></a>[94]</span> +spot from which I vanished. I am too heavy for a thief to carry off, and +they will be sure that it is another miracle of the gods. Oh, I shall +have a good time out in the big world." +</p> +<p> +Just here Bamboo began to cry. +</p> +<p> +"Now what is the silly boy blubbering about?" sneered the turtle. "Is he +nothing but a cry-baby?" +</p> +<p> +"No, but I don't want you to go." +</p> +<p> +"Don't want me to go, eh? Just like all the others. You're a fine +fellow! What reason have you for wanting to see me weighed down here all +the rest of my life with a mountain on my back? Why, I thought you were +sorry for me, and it turns out that you are as mean as anybody else." +</p> +<p> +"It is so lonely here, and I have no playmates. You are the only friend +I have." +</p> +<p> +The tortoise laughed loudly. "Ho, ho! so it's because I make you a +good playmate, eh? Now, if that's your reason, that's another story +altogether. What do you say to going with me then? I, too, need a +friend, and if you help me to escape, why, you are the very friend +for me." +</p> +<p> +"But how shall you get the tablet off your back?" questioned Bamboo +doubtfully. "It's very heavy." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page95" name="page95"></a>[95]</span> +"That's easy, just walk out of the door. The tablet is too tall to go +through. It will slide off and sit on the floor instead of on my shell." +</p> +<p> +Bamboo, wild with delight at the thought of going on a journey with the +turtle, promised to obey the other's commands. After supper, when all +were asleep in the little house of the keeper, he slipped from his bed, +took down the heavy key from its peg, and ran pell-mell to the temple. +</p> +<p> +"Well, you didn't forget me, did you?" asked the turtle when Bamboo +swung the iron gates open. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no, I would not break a promise. Are you ready?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, quite ready." So saying, the turtle took a step. The tablet swayed +backward and forward, but did not fall. On walked the turtle until +finally he stuck his ugly head through the doorway. "Oh, how good it +looks outside," he said. "How pleasant the fresh air feels! Is that the +moon rising over yonder? It's the first time I've seen it for an age. +My word! just look at the trees! How they have grown since they set that +tombstone on my back! There's a regular forest outside now." +</p> +<p> +Bamboo was delighted when he saw the turtle's glee at escaping. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page96" name="page96"></a>[96]</span> +"Be careful," he cried, "not to let the tablet fall hard enough to break +it." +</p> +<p> +Even as he spoke, the awkward beast waddled through the door. The upper +end of the monument struck against the wall, toppled off, and fell with +a great crash to the floor. Bamboo shivered with fear. Would his father +come and find out what had happened? +</p> +<p> +"Don't be afraid, my boy. No one will come at this hour of the night to +spy on us." +</p> +<p> +Bamboo quickly locked the gates, ran back to the house, and hung the +key on its peg. He took a long look at his sleeping parents, and then +returned to his friend. After all, he would not be gone long and his +father would surely forgive him. +</p> +<p> +Soon the comrades were walking down the broad road, very slowly, for the +tortoise is not swift of foot and Bamboo's legs were none too long. +</p> +<p> +"Where are you going?" said the boy at last, after he had begun to feel +more at home with the turtle. +</p> +<p> +"Going? Where should you think I would want to go after my century in +prison? Why, back to the first home of my father, back to the very spot +where the great god, P'anku, and his three helpers hewed out the world." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page97" name="page97"></a>[97]</span> +"And is it far?" faltered the boy, beginning to feel just the least bit +tired. +</p> +<p> +"At this rate, yes, but, bless my life, you didn't think we could travel +all the way at this snail's pace, I hope. Jump on my back, and I'll show +you how to go. Before morning we shall be at the end of the world, or +rather, the beginning." +</p> +<p> +"Where is the beginning of the world?" asked Bamboo. "I have never +studied geography." +</p> +<p> +"We must cross China, then Thibet, and at last in the mountains just +beyond we shall reach the spot which P'anku made the centre of his +labour." +</p> +<p> +At that moment Bamboo felt himself being lifted from the ground. At +first he thought he would slip off the turtle's rounded shell, and he +cried out in fright. +</p> +<p> +"Never fear," said his friend. "Only sit quietly, and there will be no +danger." +</p> +<p> +They had now risen far into the air, and Bamboo could look down over the +great forest of Hsi Ling all bathed in moonlight. There were the broad +white roads leading up to the royal tombs, the beautiful temples, the +buildings where oxen and sheep were prepared for sacrifice, the lofty +towers, and the high tree-covered hills +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page98" name="page98"></a>[98]</span> +under which the emperors were buried. Until that night Bamboo had not +known the size of this royal graveyard. Could it be that the turtle +would carry him beyond the forest? Even as he asked himself this +question he saw that they had reached a mountain, and the turtle was +ascending higher, still higher, to cross the mighty wall of stone. +</p> +<p> +Bamboo grew dizzy as the turtle rose farther into the sky. He felt as he +sometimes did when he played whirling games with his little friends, and +got so dizzy that he tumbled over upon the ground. However, this time +he knew that he must keep his head and not fall, for it must have been +almost a mile to the ground below him. At last they had passed over the +mountain and were flying above a great plain. Far below Bamboo could see +sleeping villages and little streams of water that looked like silver +in the moonlight. Now, directly beneath them was a city. A few feeble +lights could be seen in the dark narrow streets, and Bamboo thought he +could hear the faint cries of peddlers crying their midnight wares. +</p> +<p> +"That's the capital of Shan-shi just below us," said the turtle, +breaking his long silence. "It is almost two hundred miles from here to +your father's house, and we have taken less than half an +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page99" name="page99"></a>[99]</span> +hour. Beyond that is the Province of the Western Valleys. In one hour we +shall be above Thibet." +</p> +<p> +On they whizzed at lightning speed. If it had not been hot summer time +Bamboo would have been almost frozen. As it was, his hands and feet were +cold and stiff. The turtle, as if knowing how chilly he was, flew nearer +to the ground where it was warmer. How pleasant for Bamboo! He was so +tired that he could keep his eyes open no longer and he was soon soaring +in the land of dreams. +</p> +<p> +When he waked up it was morning. He was lying on the ground in a wild, +rocky region. Not far away burned a great wood fire, and the turtle was +watching some food that was cooking in a pot. +</p> +<p> +"Ho, ho, my lad! so you have at last waked up after your long ride. You +see we are a little early. No matter if the dragon does think he can fly +faster, I beat him, didn't I? Why, even the phoenix laughs at me and +says I am slow, but the phoenix has not come yet either. Yes, I have +clearly broken the record for speed, and I had a load to carry too, +which neither of the others had, I am sure." +</p> +<p> +"Where are we?" questioned Bamboo. +</p> +<p> +"In the land of the beginning," said the other wisely. "We +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page100" name="page100"></a>[100]</span> +flew over Thibet, and then went northwest for two hours. If you haven't +studied geography you won't know the name of the country. But, here we +are, and that is enough, isn't it, enough for any one? And to-day is +the yearly feast-day in honour of the making of the world. It was very +fortunate for me that the gates were left open yesterday. I am afraid my +old friends, the dragon and the phoenix, have almost forgotten what I +look like. It is so long since they saw me. Lucky beasts they are, not +to be loaded down under an emperor's tablet. Hello! I hear the dragon +coming now, if I am not mistaken. Yes, here he is. How glad I am to see +him!" +</p> +<p> +Bamboo heard a great noise like the whirr of enormous wings, and then, +looking up, saw a huge dragon just in front of him. He knew it was a +dragon from the pictures he had seen and the carvings in the temples. +</p> +<p> +The dragon and the turtle had no sooner greeted each other, both very +happy at the meeting, than they were joined by a queer-looking bird, +unlike any that Bamboo had ever seen, but which he knew was the +phœnix. This phœnix looked somewhat like a wild swan, but it had +the bill of a cock, the neck of a snake, the tail of a fish and the +stripes of a dragon. Its feathers were of five colours. +</p> +<p> +When the three friends had chatted merrily for a few minutes, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page101" name="page101"></a>[101]</span> +the turtle told them how Bamboo had helped him to escape from the +temple. +</p> +<p> +"A clever boy," said the dragon, patting Bamboo gently on the back. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes, a clever boy indeed," echoed the phœnix. +</p> +<p> +"Ah," sighed the turtle, "if only the good god, P'anku, were here, +shouldn't we be happy! But, I fear he will never come to this +meeting-place. No doubt he is off in some distant spot, cutting out +another world. If I could only see him once more, I feel that I should +die in peace." +</p> +<p> +"Just listen!" laughed the dragon. "As if one of us could die! Why, you +talk like a mere mortal." +</p> +<p> +All day long the three friends chatted, feasted, and had a good time +looking round at the places where they had lived so happily when P'anku +had been cutting out the world. They were good to Bamboo also and showed +him many wonderful things of which he had never dreamed. +</p> +<p> +"You are not half so mean-looking and so fierce as they paint you on the +flags," said Bamboo in a friendly voice to the dragon just as they were +about to separate. +</p> +<p> +The three friends laughed heartily. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page102" name="page102"></a>[102]</span> +"Oh, no, he's a very decent sort of fellow, even if he is covered with +fish-scales," joked the phœnix. +</p> +<p> +Just before they bade each other good-bye, the phœnix gave Bamboo a +long scarlet tail-feather for a keepsake, and the dragon gave him a +large scale which turned to gold as soon as the boy took it into his +hand. +</p> +<p> +"Come, come, we must hurry," said the turtle. "I am afraid your father +will think you are lost." So Bamboo, after having spent the happiest day +of his life, mounted the turtle's back, and they rose once more above +the clouds. Back they flew even faster than they had come. Bamboo had so +many things to talk about that he did not once think of going to sleep, +for he had really seen the dragon and the phœnix, and if he never +were to see anything else in his life, he would always be happy. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly the turtle stopped short in his swift flight, and Bamboo felt +himself slipping. Too late he screamed for help, too late he tried to +save himself. Down, down from that dizzy height he tumbled, turning, +twisting, thinking of the awful death that was surely coming. Swish! +he shot through the tree tops trying vainly to clutch the friendly +branches. Then with a loud scream he struck the ground, and his long +journey was ended. +</p> +<a name="image-0012"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0258-1.jpg"><img src="images/0258-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'AH,' SIGHED THE TURTLE, 'IF ONLY THE GOOD GOD, P'ANKU, WERE HERE.'" /></a> +<br /> +'AH,' SIGHED THE TURTLE, 'IF ONLY THE GOOD GOD, P'ANKU, WERE HERE.' +</div> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page103" name="page103"></a>[103]</span> +"Come out from under that turtle, boy! What are you doing inside the +temple in the dirt? Don't you know this is not the proper place for +you?" +</p> +<p> +Bamboo rubbed his eyes. Though only half awake, he knew it was his +father's voice. +</p> +<p> +"But didn't it kill me?" he said as his father pulled him out by the +heel from under the great stone turtle. +</p> +<p> +"What killed you, foolish boy? What can you be talking about? But I'll +half-kill you if you don't hurry out of this and come to your supper. +Really I believe you are getting too lazy to eat. The idea of sleeping +the whole afternoon under that turtle's belly!" +</p> +<p> +Bamboo, not yet fully awake, stumbled out of the tablet room, and his +father locked the iron doors. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page104" name="page104"></a>[104]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0008" id="h2H_4_0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE MAD GOOSE AND THE TIGER FOREST +</h2> + +<a name="image-0013"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-120a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE MAD GOOSE AND THE TIGER FOREST" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-120b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="H" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--H-->u-lin was a little slave girl. She had been sold by her father when she +was scarcely more than a baby, and had lived for five years with a +number of other children in a wretched houseboat. Her cruel master +treated her very badly. He made her go out upon the street, with the +other girls he had bought, to beg for a living. This kind of life was +especially hard for Hu-lin. She longed to play in the fields, above +which the huge kites were sailing in the air like giant birds. She liked +to see the crows and magpies flying hither and thither. It was great fun +to watch them build their stick nests in the tall poplars. But if her +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page105" name="page105"></a>[105]</span> +master ever caught her idling her time away in this manner he beat her +most cruelly and gave her nothing to eat for a whole day. In fact he was +so wicked and cruel that all the children called him Black Heart. +</p> +<p> +Early one morning when Hu-lin was feeling very sad about the way she was +treated, she resolved to run away, but, alas! she had not gone more than +a hundred yards from the houseboat when she saw Black Heart following +her. He caught her, scolded her most dreadfully, and gave her such a +beating that she felt too faint to stir. +</p> +<p> +For several hours she lay on the ground without moving a muscle, moaning +as if her heart would break. "Ah! if only someone would save me!" she +thought, "how good I would be all the rest of my days!" +</p> +<p> +Now, not far from the river there lived an old man in a tumble-down +shanty. The only companion he had was a goose that watched the gate for +him at night and screamed out loudly if any stranger dared to prowl +about the place. Hu-lin and this goose were close friends, and the slave +girl often stopped to chat with the wise fowl as she was passing the old +man's cottage. In this way she had learned that the bird's owner was a +miser who kept a great deal of money hidden in his yard. Ch'ang, the +goose, had an unusually long +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page106" name="page106"></a>[106]</span> +neck, and was thus able to pry into most of his master's affairs. As the +fowl had no member of his own family to talk with, he told all he knew +to Hu-lin. +</p> +<p> +On the very morning when Black Heart gave Hu-lin a beating for trying +to run away, Ch'ang made a startling discovery. His lord and master was +not really an old miser, but a young man in disguise. Ch'ang, feeling +hungry, had slipped into the house at daybreak to see if any scraps had +been left from the last evening's meal. The bedroom door had blown open +in the night, and there lay a young man sound asleep, instead of the +greybeard whom the gander called his master. Then, before his very eyes, +the youth changed suddenly into his former shape and was an old man +again. +</p> +<p> +In his excitement, forgetting all about his empty stomach, the +terror-stricken goose rushed out into the yard to think over the +mystery, but the longer he puzzled, the more strange it all seemed. Then +he thought of Hu-lin, and wished that she would come by, that he might +ask her opinion. He had a high regard for the slave girl's knowledge and +believed that she would understand fully what had taken place. +</p> +<p> +Ch'ang went to the gate. As usual, it was locked, and there was nothing +for him to do but wait for his master to rise. Two +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page107" name="page107"></a>[107]</span> +hours later the miser walked out into the yard. He seemed in good +spirits, and he gave Ch'ang more to eat than usual. After taking his +morning smoke on the street in front of the house, he strolled around it +leaving the front gate ajar. +</p> +<p> +This was precisely what the gander had been expecting. Slipping quietly +into the road, he turned towards the river where he could see the +houseboats lined up at the wharf. On the sand near by lay a well-known +form. +</p> +<p> +"Hu-lin," he called as he drew near, "wake up, for I have something to +tell you." +</p> +<p> +"I am not asleep," she answered, turning her tear-stained face towards +her friend. +</p> +<p> +"Why, what's the matter? You've been crying again. Has old Black Heart +been beating you?" +</p> +<p> +"Hush! he's taking a nap in the boat. Don't let him hear you." +</p> +<p> +"It's not likely he would understand goose-talk if he did," replied +Ch'ang, smiling. "However, I suppose it's always best to be on the safe +side, so I'll whisper what I have to say." +</p> +<p> +Putting his bill close to her ear, he told Hu-lin of his recent +discovery, and ended by asking her to tell him what it all meant. +</p> +<p> +The child forgot her own misery at hearing his wonderful story. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page108" name="page108"></a>[108]</span> +"Are you quite sure there was not some friend of the miser's spending +the night with him?" she asked gravely. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes, perfectly sure, for he has no friends," replied the gander. +"Besides, I was in the house just before he locked up for the night, and +I saw neither hair nor hide of any other person." +</p> +<p> +"Then he must be a fairy in disguise!" announced Hu-lin wisely. +</p> +<p> +"A fairy! what's that?" questioned Ch'ang, more and more excited. +</p> +<p> +"Why, you old goose, don't you know what a fairy is?" And Hu-lin laughed +outright. By this time she had forgotten her own troubles and was +becoming more and more amused at what she had heard. "Hark!" she said in +a low tone, and speaking very slowly, "a fairy is——" Here she lowered +her voice to a whisper. +</p> +<p> +The gander nodded violently as she went on with her explanation, and +when she had finished, was speechless with amazement, for a few moments. +"Well," he said finally, "if my master is that kind of man, suppose you +slip away quietly and come with me, for, if a fairy is what you say he +is, he can save you from all your troubles and make me happy for the +rest of my days." +</p> + +<a name="image-0014"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0260-1.jpg"><img src="images/0260-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'PUTTING HIS BILL TO HER EAR, HE TOLD HU-LIN OF HIS RECENT DISCOVERY.'" /></a> +<br /> +'PUTTING HIS BILL TO HER EAR, HE TOLD HU-LIN OF HIS RECENT DISCOVERY.' +</div> +<p> +"I wonder if I dare?" she answered, looking round fearfully +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page109" name="page109"></a>[109]</span> +towards the houseboat, from the open scuttle of which came the sound of +deep snoring. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes, of course!" coaxed Ch'ang. "He gave you such a beating that +he won't be afraid of your taking to your heels again very soon." +</p> +<p> +Hurriedly they went to the miser's compound. Hu-lin's heart was beating +fast as she tried to decide what to say when she should actually stand +before the fairy. The gate was still partly open and the two friends +entered boldly. +</p> +<p> +"Come this way," said Ch'ang. "He must be in the back-yard digging in +his garden." +</p> +<p> +But when they reached the vegetable patch there was no one to be seen. +</p> +<p> +"This is very strange," whispered the gander. "I don't understand it, +for I have never known him to grow tired of work so early. Surely he +cannot have gone in to rest." +</p> +<p> +Led by her friend, Hu-lin entered the house on tiptoe. The door of the +miser's bedroom stood wide open, and they saw that there was no one +either in that room or any other room of the miserable cottage. +</p> +<p> +"Come! let's see what kind of bed he sleeps on," said Hu-lin, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page110" name="page110"></a>[110]</span> +filled with curiosity. "I have never been in a fairy's room. It must be +different from other people's rooms." +</p> +<p> +"No, no! just a plain brick bed, like all the rest," answered Ch'ang, as +they crossed the threshold. +</p> +<p> +"Does he have a fire in cold weather?" asked Hu-lin, stooping to examine +the small fire hole in the bricks. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes, a hot fire every night, and even in spring when other people +have stopped having fires, the brick bed is hot every night." +</p> +<p> +"Well, that's rather strange for a miser, don't you think?" said the +girl. "It costs more to keep a fire going than it does to feed a man." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, that's true," agreed Ch'ang, pruning his feathers. "I hadn't +thought of that. It is strange, very. Hu-lin, you're a wise child. Where +did you learn so much?" +</p> +<p> +At that moment the gander turned pale at hearing the gate slam loudly +and the bar thrown into place. +</p> +<p> +"Good gracious! what ever shall we do?" asked Hu-lin. "What will he say +if he finds us here?" +</p> +<p> +"No telling," said the other, trembling, "but, my dear little friend, we +are certainly caught, for we can't get away without his seeing us." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page111" name="page111"></a>[111]</span> +"Yes, and I've already had one beating to-day! And such a hard one that +I don't believe I could live through another," sighed the child, as the +tears began to flow. +</p> +<p> +"There, there, little girl, don't worry! Let's hide in this dark corner +behind the baskets," suggested the gander, just as the master's step was +heard at the front door. +</p> +<p> +Soon the frightened companions were crouching on the ground, trying +to hide. Much to their relief, however, the miser did not go into his +bedroom, and they soon heard him hard at work in the garden. All that +day the two remained in their hiding place, afraid to show themselves +outside the door. +</p> +<p> +"I can't imagine what he would say if he found out that his watch-goose +had brought a stranger into the house," said Ch'ang. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps he would think we were trying to steal some of the money he +has hidden away," she answered, laughing, for as Hu-lin became used +to her cramped quarters she grew less frightened. At any rate she +was not nearly so much afraid of the miser as she had thought she was. +"Besides," she reflected, "he can't be so bad as old Black Heart." +</p> +<p> +Thus the day wore on and darkness fell over the land. By this +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page112" name="page112"></a>[112]</span> +time girl and goose were fast asleep in one corner of the miser's room +and knew nothing more of what was happening. +</p> +<p> +When the first light of a new day filtered through the paper-covered +window above the miser's bed, Hu-lin awoke with a start, and at first +she could not think where she was. Ch'ang was staring at her with +wide-open frightened eyes that seemed to be asking, "What can it all +mean? It is more than my goose brain can think out." +</p> +<p> +For on the bed, instead of the miser, there lay a young man whose hair +was a black as a raven's wing. A faint smile lightened up his handsome +face, as if he was enjoying some delightful dream. A cry of wonder +escaped Hu-lin's lips before she could hold it back. The sleeper's eyes +opened instantly and were fixed upon her. The girl was so frightened +that she could not move, and the gander trembled violently as he saw the +change that had come over his master. +</p> +<p> +The young man was even more surprised than his guests, and for two +minutes he was speechless. "What does this mean?" he asked, finally, +looking at Ch'ang. "What are you doing in my bedroom and who is this +child who seems so frightened?" +</p> +<p> +"Forgive me, kind sir, but what have you done to my master?" asked the +gander, giving question for question. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page113" name="page113"></a>[113]</span> +"Am I not your master, you mad creature?" said the man, laughing. "You +are more stupid than ever this morning." +</p> +<p> +"My master was old and ugly, but you are still young and handsome," +replied Ch'ang in a tone of flattery. +</p> +<p> +"What," shouted the other, "you say I am still young?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, yes. Ask Hu-lin, if you don't believe me." +</p> +<p> +The man turned towards the little girl. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, indeed you are, sir," she replied in answer to his look. "Never +have I seen a man so beautiful." +</p> +<p> +"At last! at last!" he cried, laughing joyfully, "I am free, free, free +from all my troubles, but how it has come about is more than I can say!" +</p> +<p> +For a few minutes he stood in a deep study, snapping his long fingers +as if trying to solve some hard problem. At last a smile lighted up his +face. "Ch'ang," he asked, "what was it you called your guest when you +spoke of her a minute ago?" +</p> +<p> +"I am Hu-lin," said the child simply, "Hu-lin, the slave girl." +</p> +<p> +He clapped his hands. "That's right! That's right!" he cried. "I see it +all now; it is as plain as day." Then, noticing the look of wonder on +her face, "It is to you that I owe my freedom +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page114" name="page114"></a>[114]</span> +from a wicked fairy, and if you like, I'll tell you the story of my +misfortune." +</p> +<p> +"Pray do, kind sir," she replied eagerly. "I told Ch'ang that you were +a fairy, and I should like to know if I was right." +</p> +<p> +"Well, you see," he began, "my father is a rich man who lives in a +distant county. When I was a boy he gave me everything I wished. I was +so humoured and petted from earliest childhood that at last I began to +think there was nothing at all in the world I could not have for the +asking, and nothing that I must not do if I wished to. +</p> +<p> +"My teacher often scolded me for having such notions. He told me there +was a proverb: 'Men die for gain, birds perish to get food.' He thought +such men were very foolish. He told me that money would go a long way +towards making a man happy, but he always ended by saying that the gods +were more powerful than men. He said I must always be careful not to +make the evil spirits angry. Sometimes I laughed in his face, telling +him that I was rich and could buy the favour of gods and fairies. The +good man would shake his head, saying, 'Take care, my boy, or you will +be sorry for these rash speeches.'" +</p> +<p> +"One day, after he had been giving me a long lecture of this +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page115" name="page115"></a>[115]</span> +sort, we were walking in the garden of my father's compound. I was even +more daring than usual and told him that I cared nothing for the rules +other people followed. 'You say,' said I, 'that this well here in my +father's yard is ruled by a spirit, and that if I were to anger him by +jumping over it, he would be vexed and give me trouble.' 'Yes,' said he, +'that is exactly what I said, and I repeat it. Beware, young man, beware +of idle boasting and of breaking the law.' 'What do I care for a spirit +that lives on my father's land?' I answered with a sneer. 'I don't +believe there is a spirit in this well. If there is, it is only another +of my father's slaves.' +</p> +<p> +"So saying, and before my tutor could stop me, I leaped across the mouth +of the well. No sooner had I touched the ground than I felt a strange +shrinking of my body. My strength left me in the twinkling of an eye, +my bones shortened, my skin grew yellow and wrinkled. I looked at my +pigtail and found that the hair had suddenly grown thin and white. In +every way I had been changed completely into an old man. +</p> +<p> +"My teacher stared at me in amazement, and when I asked him what it all +meant my voice was as shrill as that of early childhood. 'Alas! my dear +pupil,' he replied, 'now you will believe what I told you. The spirit of +the well is angry at your wicked conduct and has +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page116" name="page116"></a>[116]</span> +punished you. You have been told a hundred times that it is wrong to +leap over a well; yet you did this very thing,' 'But is there nothing +that can be done,' I cried; 'is there no way of restoring my lost +youth?' He looked at me sadly and shook his head. +</p> +<p> +"When my father learned of my sad condition he was terribly upset. He +did everything that could be done to find some way for me to regain my +youth. He had incense burned at a dozen temples and he himself offered +up prayers to various gods. I was his only son, and he could not be +happy without me. At last, when everything else had been done, my worthy +teacher thought of asking a fortune-teller who had become famous in the +city. After inquiring about everything that had led up to my sad plight, +the wise man said that the spirit of the well, as a punishment, had +changed me into a miser. He said that only when I was sleeping would +I be in my natural state, and even then if any one chanced to enter my +room or catch a glimpse of my face, I would be at once changed back into +a greybeard." +</p> +<p> +"I saw you yesterday morning," shouted the gander. "You were young and +handsome, and then before my very eyes you were changed back into an old +man!" +</p> +<p> +"To continue my story," said the young man, "the fortune-teller +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page117" name="page117"></a>[117]</span> +at last announced that there was only one chance for my recovery and +that a very small one. If at any time, while I was in my rightful shape, +that is, as you see me now, a mad goose should come in, leading a +tiger-forest out of slavery, the charm would be broken, and the evil +spirit would no longer have control over me. When the fortune-teller's +answer was brought to my father, he gave up hope, and so did I, for no +one understood the meaning of such a senseless riddle. +</p> +<p> +"That night I left my native city, resolved not to disgrace my people +any longer by living with them. I came to this place, bought this house +with some money my father had given me, and at once began living the +life of a miser. Nothing satisfied my greed for money. Everything must +be turned into cash. For five years I have been storing away money, and, +at the same time, starving myself, body and soul. +</p> +<p> +"Soon after my arrival here, remembering the fortune-teller's riddle, +I decided that I would keep a goose to serve as night watch-man instead +of a dog. In this way I made a start at working out the riddle." +</p> +<p> +"But I am not a mad goose," hissed the gander angrily. "If it had not +been for me you would still be a wrinkled miser." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page118" name="page118"></a>[118]</span> +"Quite right, dear Ch'ang, quite right," said the young man soothingly; +"you were not mad; so I gave you the name <i>Ch'ang</i>, which means mad, and +thus made a mad goose of you." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I see," said Hu-lin and Ch'ang together. "How clever!" +</p> +<p> +"So, you see, I had part of my cure here in my back-yard all the time; +but though I thought as hard as I could, I could think of no way of +securing that Ch'ang should lead a tiger-forest into my room while I was +sleeping. The thing seemed absurd, and I soon gave up trying to study it +out. To-day by accident it has really come to pass." +</p> +<p> +"So I am the tiger-forest, am I?" laughed Hu-lin. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, indeed, you are, my dear child, a pretty little tiger-forest, for +<i>Hu</i> means <i>tiger</i>, and <i>lin</i> is surely good Chinese for a <i>grove of +trees</i>. Then, too, you told me you were a slave girl. Hence, Ch'ang led +you out of slavery." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I am so glad!" said Hu-lin, forgetting her own poverty, "so glad +that you don't have to be a horrible old miser any longer." +</p> +<p> +Just at that moment there was a loud banging on the front gate. +</p> +<p> +"Who can be knocking in that fashion?" asked the young man in +astonishment. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page119" name="page119"></a>[119]</span> +"Alas! it must be Black Heart, my master," said Hu-lin, beginning to +cry. +</p> +<p> +"Don't be frightened," said the youth, soothingly stroking the child's +head. "You have saved me, and I shall certainly do as much for you. If +this Mr. Black Heart doesn't agree to a fair proposal he shall have a +black eye to remember his visit by." +</p> +<p> +It did not take long for the grateful young man to buy Hu-lin's liberty, +especially as he offered as much for her freedom as her master had +expected to get when she was fourteen or fifteen years of age. +</p> +<p> +When Hu-lin was told of the bargain she was wild with delight. She bowed +low before her new master and then, kneeling, touched her head nine +times on the floor. Rising, she cried out, "Oh, how happy I am, for now +I shall be yours for ever and ever and ever, and good old Ch'ang shall +be my playmate." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, indeed," he assured her, "and when you are a little older I shall +make you my wife. At present you will go with me to my father's house +and become my little betrothed." +</p> +<p> +"And I shall never again have to beg for crusts on the street?" she +asked him, her eyes full of wonder. +</p> +<p> +"No! never!" he answered, laughing, "and you need never fear another +beating." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page120" name="page120"></a>[120]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0009" id="h2H_4_0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE NODDING TIGER +</h2> + +<a name="image-0015"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-138a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE NODDING TIGER" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-138b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="J" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--J-->ust outside the walls of a Chinese city there lived a young woodcutter +named T'ang and his old mother, a woman of seventy. They were very poor +and had a tiny one-room shanty, built of mud and grass, which they +rented from a neighbour. Every day young T'ang rose bright and early and +went up on the mountain near their house. There he spent the day cutting +firewood to sell in the city near by. In the evening he would return +home, take the wood to market, sell it, and bring back food for his +mother and himself. Now, though these two people were poor, they were +very happy, for the young man loved his mother dearly, and the old woman +thought there was no one like her son in all the world. Their friends, +however, felt sorry for them and said, "What +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page121" name="page121"></a>[121]</span> +a pity we have no grasshoppers here, so that the T'angs could have some +food from heaven!" +</p> +<p> +One day young T'ang got up before daylight and started for the hills, +carrying his axe on his shoulder. He bade his mother good-bye, telling +her that he would be back early with a heavier load of wood than usual, +for the morrow would be a holiday and they must eat good food. All day +long Widow T'ang waited patiently, saying to herself over and over as +she went about her simple work, "The good boy, the good boy, how he +loves his old mother!" +</p> +<p> +In the afternoon she began watching for his return—but in vain. +The sun was sinking lower and lower in the west, but still he did not +come. At last the old woman was frightened. "My poor son!" she muttered. +"Something has happened to him." Straining her feeble eyes, she looked +along the mountain path. Nothing was to be seen there but a flock of +sheep following the shepherd. "Woe is me!" moaned the woman. "My boy! +my boy!" She took her crutch from its corner and limped off to a +neighbour's house to tell him of her trouble and beg him to go and look +for the missing boy. +</p> +<p> +Now this neighbour was kind-hearted, and willing to help old Mother +T'ang, for he felt very sorry for her. "There are many +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page122" name="page122"></a>[122]</span> +wild beasts in the mountains," he said, shaking his head as he walked +away with her, thinking to prepare the frightened woman for the worst, +"and I fear that your son has been carried off by one of them." Widow +T'ang gave a scream of horror and sank upon the ground. Her friend +walked slowly up the mountain path, looking carefully for signs of a +struggle. At last when he had gone half way up the slope he came to a +little pile of torn clothing spattered with blood. The woodman's axe was +lying by the side of the path, also his carrying pole and some rope. +There could be no mistake: after making a brave fight, the poor youth +had been carried off by a tiger. +</p> +<p> +Gathering up the torn garments, the man went sadly down the hill. He +dreaded seeing the poor mother and telling her that her only boy was +indeed gone for ever. At the foot of the mountain he found her still +lying on the ground. When she looked up and saw what he was carrying, +with a cry of despair she fainted away. She did not need to be told what +had happened. +</p> +<p> +Friends bore her into the little house and gave her food, but they could +not comfort her. "Alas!" she cried, "of what use is it to live? He was +my only boy. Who will take care of me in my old age? Why have the gods +treated me in this cruel way?" +</p> +<p> +She wept, tore her hair, and beat her chest, until people said +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page123" name="page123"></a>[123]</span> +she had gone mad. The longer she mourned, the more violent she became. +</p> +<p> +The next day, however, much to the surprise of her neighbours, she set +out for the city, making her way along slowly by means of her crutch. It +was a pitiful sight to see her, so old, so feeble, and so lonely. Every +one was sorry for her and pointed her out, saying, "See! the poor old +soul has no one to help her!" +</p> +<p> +In the city she asked her way to the public hall. When she found the +place she knelt at the front gate, calling out loudly and telling of her +ill-fortune. Just at this moment the mandarin, or city judge, walked +into the court room to try any cases which might be brought before him. +He heard the old woman weeping and wailing outside, and bade one of the +servants let her enter and tell him of her wrongs. +</p> +<p> +Now this was just what the Widow T'ang had come for. Calming herself, +she hobbled into the great hall of trial. +</p> +<p> +"What is the matter, old woman? Why do you raise such an uproar in front +of my yamen? Speak up quickly and tell me of your trouble." +</p> +<p> +"I am old and feeble," she began; "lame and almost blind. I have no +money and no way of earning money. I have not one relative now in all +the empire. I depended on my only son for a living. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page124" name="page124"></a>[124]</span> +Every day he climbed the mountain, for he was a woodcutter, and every +evening he came back home, bringing enough money for our food. But +yesterday he went and did not return. A mountain tiger carried him off +and ate him, and now, alas! there seems to be no help for it—I must die +of hunger. My bleeding heart cries out for justice. I have come into +this hall to-day, to beg your worship to see that the slayer of my son +is punished. Surely the law says that none may shed blood without giving +his own blood in payment." +</p> +<p> +"But, woman, are you mad?" cried the mandarin, laughing loudly. "Did you +not say it was a tiger that killed your son? How can a tiger be brought +to justice? Of a truth, you must have lost your senses." +</p> +<p> +The judge's questions were of no avail. The Widow T'ang kept up her +clamour. She would not be turned away until she had gained her purpose. +The hall echoed with the noise of her howling. The mandarin could stand +it no longer. "Hold! woman," he cried, "stop your shrieking. I will do +what you ask. Only go home and wait until I summon you to court. The +slayer of your son shall be caught and punished." +</p> +<p> +The judge was, of course, only trying to get rid of the demented mother, +thinking that if she were only once out of his sight, he could +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page125" name="page125"></a>[125]</span> +give orders not to let her into the hall again. The old woman, however, +was too sharp for him. She saw through his plan and became more stubborn +than ever. +</p> +<p> +"No, I cannot go," she answered, "until I have seen you sign the order +for that tiger to be caught and brought into this judgment hall." +</p> +<p> +Now, as the judge was not really a bad man, he decided to humour the old +woman in her strange plea. Turning to the assistants in the court room +he asked which of them would be willing to go in search of the tiger. +One of these men, named Li-neng, had been leaning against the wall, half +asleep. He had been drinking heavily and so had not heard what had been +going on in the room. One of his friends gave him a poke in the ribs +just as the judge asked for volunteers. +</p> +<p> +Thinking the judge had called him by name, he stepped forward, knelt on +the floor, saying, "I, Li-neng, can go and do the will of your worship." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, you will do," answered the judge. "Here is your order. Go +forth and do your duty." So saying, he handed the warrant to Li-neng. +"Now, old woman, are you satisfied?" he continued. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page126" name="page126"></a>[126]</span> +"Quite satisfied, your worship," she replied. +</p> +<p> +"Then go home and wait there until I send for you." +</p> +<p> +Mumbling a few words of thanks, the unhappy mother left the building. +</p> +<p> +When Li-neng went outside the court room, his friends crowded round him. +"Drunken sot!" they laughed; "do you know what you have done?" +</p> +<p> +Li-neng shook his head. "Just a little business for the mandarin, isn't +it? Quite easy." +</p> +<p> +"Call it easy, if you like. What! man, arrest a tiger, a man-eating +tiger and bring him to the city! Better go and say good-bye to your +father and mother. They will never see you again." +</p> +<p> +Li-neng slept off his drunkenness, and then saw that his friends were +right. He had been very foolish. But surely the judge had meant the +whole thing only as a joke! No such order had ever been written before! +It was plain that the judge had hit on this plan simply to get rid of +the wailing old woman. Li-neng took the warrant back to the judgment +hall and told the mandarin that the tiger could not be found. +</p> +<p> +But the judge was in no mood for joking. "Can't be found? And why not? +You agreed to arrest this tiger. Why is it that +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page127" name="page127"></a>[127]</span> +to-day you try to get out of your promise? I can by no means permit +this, for I have given my word to satisfy the old woman in her cry for +justice." +</p> +<p> +Li-neng knelt and knocked his head on the floor. "I was drunk," he +cried, "when I gave my promise. I knew not what you were asking. I can +catch a man, but not a tiger. I know nothing of such matters. Still, if +you wish it, I can go into the hills and hire hunters to help me." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, it makes no difference how you catch him, as long as you +bring him into court. If you fail in your duty, there is nothing left +but to beat you until you succeed. I give you five days." +</p> +<p> +During the next few days Li-neng left no stone unturned in trying to +find the guilty tiger. The best hunters in the country were employed. +Night and day they searched the hills, hiding in mountain caves, +watching and waiting, but finding nothing. It was all very trying for +Li-neng, since he now feared the heavy hands of the judge more than the +claws of the tiger. On the fifth day he had to report his failure. He +received a thorough beating, fifty blows on the back. But that was not +the worst of it. During the next six weeks, try as he would, he could +find no traces of the missing animal. At the end of each five days, he +got another beating for his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page128" name="page128"></a>[128]</span> +pains. The poor fellow was in despair. Another month of such treatment +would lay him on his deathbed. This he knew very well, and yet he had +little hope. His friends shook their heads when they saw him. "He is +drawing near the wood," they said to each other, meaning that he would +soon be in his coffin. "Why don't you flee the country?" they asked him. +"Follow the tiger's example. You see he has escaped completely. The +judge would make no effort to catch you if you should go across the +border into the next province." +</p> +<p> +Li-neng shook his head on hearing this advice. He had no desire to leave +his family for ever, and he felt sure of being caught and put to death +if he should try to run away. +</p> +<p> +One day after all the hunters had given up the search in disgust and +gone back to their homes in the valley, Li-neng entered a mountain +temple to pray. The tears rained down his cheeks as he knelt before the +great fierce-looking idol. "Alas! I am a dead man!" he moaned between +his prayers; "a dead man, for now there is no hope. Would that I had +never touched a drop of wine!" +</p> +<p> +Just then he heard a slight rustling near by. Looking up, he saw a huge +tiger standing at the temple gate. But Li-neng was no longer afraid of +tigers. He knew there was only one way to save +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>[129]</span> +himself. "Ah," he said, looking the great cat straight in the eye, "you +have come to eat me, have you? Well, I fear you would find my flesh a +trifle tough, since I have been beaten with four hundred blows during +these six weeks. You are the same fellow that carried off the woodman +last month, aren't you? This woodman was an only son, the sole support +of an old mother. Now this poor woman has reported you to the mandarin, +who, in turn, has had a warrant drawn up for your arrest. I have been +sent out to find you and lead you to trial. For some reason or other you +have acted the coward, and remained in hiding. This has been the cause +of my beating. Now I don't want to suffer any longer as a result of your +murder. You must come with me to the city and answer the charge of +killing the woodman." +</p> +<p> +All the time Li-neng was speaking, the tiger listened closely. When +the man was silent, the animal made no effort to escape, but, on the +contrary, seemed willing and ready to be captured. He bent his head +forward and let Li-neng slip a strong chain over it. Then he followed +the man quietly down the mountain, through the crowded streets of the +city, into the court room. All along the way there was great excitement. +"The man-slaying tiger has been caught," shouted the people. "He is +being led to trial." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page130" name="page130"></a>[130]</span> +The crowd followed Li-neng into the hall of justice. When the judge +walked in, every one became as quiet as the grave. All were filled with +wonder at the strange sight of a tiger being called before a judge. +</p> +<p> +The great animal did not seem to be afraid of those who were watching so +curiously. He sat down in front of the mandarin, for all the world like +a huge cat. The judge rapped on the table as a signal that all was ready +for the trial. +</p> +<p> +"Tiger," said he, turning toward the prisoner, "did you eat the woodman +whom you are charged with killing?" +</p> +<p> +The tiger gravely nodded his head. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, he killed my boy!" screamed the aged mother. "Kill him! Give him +the death that he deserves!" +</p> +<p> +"A life for a life is the law of the land," continued the judge, paying +no attention to the forlorn mother, but looking the accused directly +in the eye. "Did you not know it? You have robbed a helpless old woman +of her only son. There are no relatives to support her. She is crying +for vengeance. You must be punished for your crime. The law must be +enforced. However, I am not a cruel judge. If you can promise to take +the place of this widow's son and support the woman in her old age, I am +quite willing to spare you from a disgraceful death. What say you, will +you accept my offer?" +</p> +<a name="image-0016"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0262-1.jpg"><img src="images/0262-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'THE TIGER GRAVELY NODDED HIS HEAD.'" /></a> +<br /> +'THE TIGER GRAVELY NODDED HIS HEAD.' +</div> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>[131]</span> +The gaping people craned their necks to see what would happen, and once +more they were surprised to see the savage beast nod his head in silent +agreement. +</p> +<p> +"Very well, then, you are free to return to your mountain home; only, of +course, you must remember your promise." +</p> +<p> +The chains were taken from the tiger's neck, and the great animal walked +silently out of the yamen, down the street, and through the gate opening +towards his beloved mountain cave. +</p> +<p> +Once more the old woman was very angry. As she hobbled from the room, +she cast sour glances at the judge, muttering over and over again, "Who +ever heard of a tiger taking the place of a son? A pretty game this is, +to catch the brute, and then to set him free." There was nothing for her +to do, however, but to return home, for the judge had given strict +orders that on no account was she to appear before him again. +</p> +<p> +Almost broken-hearted she entered her desolate hovel at the foot of the +mountain. Her neighbours shook their heads as they saw her. "She cannot +live long," they said. "She has the look of death on her wrinkled face. +Poor soul! she has nothing to live for, nothing to keep her from +starving." +</p> +<p> +But they were mistaken. Next morning when the old woman +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page132" name="page132"></a>[132]</span> +went outside to get a breath of fresh air she found a newly killed deer +in front of her door. Her tiger-son had begun to keep his promise, for +she could see the marks of his claws on the dead animal's body. She took +the carcass into the house and dressed it for the market. On the city +streets next day she had no trouble in selling the flesh and skin for a +handsome sum of money. All had heard of the tiger's first gift, and no +one was anxious to drive a close bargain. +</p> +<p> +Laden with food, the happy woman went home rejoicing, with money enough +to keep her for many a day. A week later the tiger came to her door +with a roll of cloth and some money in his mouth. He dropped these new +gifts at her feet and ran away without even waiting for her thank-you. +The Widow T'ang now saw that the judge had acted wisely. She stopped +grieving for her dead son and began to love in his stead the handsome +animal that had come to take his place so willingly. +</p> +<p> +The tiger grew much attached to his foster-mother and often purred +contentedly outside her door, waiting for her to come and stroke his +soft fur. He no longer had the old desire to kill. The sight of blood +was not nearly so tempting as it had been in his younger days. Year +after year he brought the weekly offerings to his mistress until she was +as well provided for as any other widow in the country. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page133" name="page133"></a>[133]</span> +At last in the course of nature the good old soul died. Kind friends +laid her away in her last resting place at the foot of the great +mountain. There was money enough left out of what she had saved to put +up a handsome tombstone, on which this story was written just as you +have read it here. The faithful tiger mourned long for his dear +mistress. He lay on her grave, wailing like a child that had lost its +mother. Long he listened for the voice he had loved so well, long he +searched the mountain-slopes, returning each night to the empty cottage, +but all in vain. She whom he loved was gone for ever. +</p> +<p> +One night he vanished from the mountain, and from that day to this no +one in that province has ever seen him. Some who know this story say +that he died of grief in a secret cave which he had long used as a +hiding-place. Others add, with a wise shrug of the shoulders, that, like +Shanwang, he was taken to the Western Heaven, there to be rewarded for +his deeds of virtue and to live as a fairy for ever afterwards. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page134" name="page134"></a>[134]</span> +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0010" id="h2H_4_0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + THE PRINCESS KWAN-YIN +</h2> + +<a name="image-0017"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-154a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE PRINCESS KWAN-YIN" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-154b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="O" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--O-->nce upon a time in China there lived a certain king who had three +daughters. The fairest and best of these was Kwan-yin, the youngest. +The old king was justly proud of this daughter, for of all the women who +had ever lived in the palace she was by far the most attractive. It did +not take him long, therefore, to decide that she should be the heir to +his throne, and her husband ruler of his kingdom. But, strange to say, +Kwan-yin was not pleased at this good fortune. She cared little for the +pomp and splendour of court life. She foresaw no pleasure for herself in +ruling as a queen, but even feared that in so high a station she might +feel out of place and unhappy. +</p> +<p> +Every day she went to her room to read and study. As a result of this +daily labour she soon went far beyond her sisters along the paths of +knowledge, and her name was known in the farthest corner of the kingdom +as "Kwan-yin, the wise princess." Besides being +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page135" name="page135"></a>[135]</span> +very fond of books, Kwan-yin was thoughtful of her friends. She was +careful about her behaviour both in public and in private. Her warm +heart was open at all times to the cries of those in trouble. She was +kind to the poor and suffering. She won the love of the lower classes, +and was to them a sort of goddess to whom they could appeal whenever +they were hungry and in need. Some people even believed that she was a +fairy who had come to earth from her home within the Western Heaven, +while others said that once, long years before, she had lived in the +world as a prince instead of a princess. However this may be, one thing +is certain—Kwan-yin was pure and good, and well deserved the praises +that were showered upon her. +</p> +<p> +One day the king called this favourite daughter to the royal bedside, +for he felt that the hour of death was drawing near. Kwan-yin kowtowed +before her royal father, kneeling and touching her forehead on the floor +in sign of deepest reverence. The old man bade her rise and come closer. +Taking her hand tenderly in his own, he said, "Daughter, you know well +how I love you. Your modesty and virtue, your talent and your love of +knowledge, have made you first in my heart. As you know already, I chose +you as heir to my kingdom long ago. I promised that your husband should +be made +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page136" name="page136"></a>[136]</span> +ruler in my stead. The time is almost ripe for me to ascend upon the +dragon and become a guest on high. It is necessary that you be given at +once in marriage." +</p> +<p> +"But, most exalted father," faltered the princess, "I am not ready to be +married." +</p> +<p> +"Not ready, child! Why, are you not eighteen? Are not the daughters of +our nation often wedded long before they reach that age? Because of your +desire for learning I have spared you thus far from any thought of a +husband, but now we can wait no longer." +</p> +<p> +"Royal father, hear your child, and do not compel her to give up her +dearest pleasures. Let her go into a quiet convent where she may lead +a life of study!" +</p> +<p> +The king sighed deeply at hearing these words. He loved his daughter and +did not wish to wound her. "Kwan-yin," he continued, "do you wish to +pass by the green spring of youth, to give up this mighty kingdom? Do +you wish to enter the doors of a convent where women say farewell to +life and all its pleasures? No! your father will not permit this. It +grieves me sorely to disappoint you, but one month from this very day +you shall be married. I have chosen for your royal partner a man of many +noble parts. You +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page137" name="page137"></a>[137]</span> +know him by name already, although you have not seen him. Remember that, +of the hundred virtues filial conduct is the chief, and that you owe +more to me than to all else on earth." +</p> +<p> +Kwan-yin turned pale. Trembling, she would have sunk to the floor, but +her mother and sisters supported her, and by their tender care brought +her back to consciousness. +</p> +<p> +Every day of the month that followed, Kwan-yin's relatives begged her to +give up what they called her foolish notion. Her sisters had long since +given up hope of becoming queen. They were amazed at her stupidity. The +very thought of any one's choosing a convent instead of a throne was to +them a sure sign of madness. Over and over again they asked her reason +for making so strange a choice. To every question, she shook her head, +replying, "A voice from the heavens speaks to me, and I must obey it." +</p> +<p> +On the eve of the wedding day Kwan-yin slipped out of the palace, and, +after a weary journey, arrived at a convent called, "The Cloister of the +White Sparrow." She was dressed as a poor maiden. She said she wished to +become a nun. The abbess, not knowing who she was, did not receive her +kindly. Indeed, she told Kwan-yin that they could not receive her into +the sisterhood, that the building was full. Finally, after Kwan-yin had +shed many tears, the abbess +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page138" name="page138"></a>[138]</span> +let her enter, but only as a sort of servant, who might be cast out for +the slightest fault. +</p> +<p> +Now that Kwan-yin found herself in the life which she had long dreamt +of leading, she tried to be satisfied. But the nuns seemed to wish to +make her stay among them most miserable. They gave her the hardest tasks +to do, and it was seldom that she had a minute to rest. All day long +she was busy, carrying water from a well at the foot of the convent hill +or gathering wood from a neighbouring forest. At night when her back +was almost breaking, she was given many extra tasks, enough to have +crushed the spirit of any other woman than this brave daughter of +a king. Forgetting her grief, and trying to hide the lines of pain +that sometimes wrinkled her fair forehead, she tried to make these +hard-hearted women love her. In return for their rough words, she +spoke to them kindly, and never did she give way to anger. +</p> +<p> +One day while poor Kwan-yin was picking up brushwood in the +forest she heard a tiger making his way through the bushes. Having +no means of defending herself, she breathed a silent prayer to the +gods for help, and calmly awaited the coming of the great beast. +To her surprise, when the bloodthirsty animal appeared, instead of +bounding up to tear her in pieces, he began to make a soft purring +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page139" name="page139"></a>[139]</span> +noise. He did not try to hurt Kwan-yin, but rubbed against her in a +friendly manner, and let her pat him on the head. +</p> +<a name="image-0018"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0264-1.jpg"><img src="images/0264-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'ALL DAY SHE WAS BUSY CARRYING WATER.'" /></a> +<br /> +'ALL DAY SHE WAS BUSY CARRYING WATER.' +</div> + +<p> +The next day the princess went back to the same spot. There she found +no fewer than a dozen savage beasts working under the command of the +friendly tiger, gathering wood for her. In a short time enough brush and +firewood had been piled up to last the convent for six months. Thus, +even the wild animals of the forest were better able to judge of her +goodness than the women of the sisterhood. +</p> +<p> +At another time when Kwan-yin was toiling up the hill for the twentieth +time, carrying two great pails of water on a pole, an enormous dragon +faced her in the road. Now, in China, the dragon is sacred, and Kwan-yin +was not at all frightened, for she knew that she had done no wrong. +</p> +<p> +The animal looked at her for a moment, switched its horrid tail, and +shot out fire from its nostrils. Then, dashing the burden from the +startled maiden's shoulder, it vanished. Full of fear, Kwan-yin hurried +up the hill to the nunnery. As she drew near the inner court, she was +amazed to see in the centre of the open space a new building of solid +stone. It had sprung up by magic since her last journey down the hill. +On going forward, she saw that there were four arched doorways to the +fairy house. Above the door facing +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page140" name="page140"></a>[140]</span> +west was a tablet with these words written on it: "In honour of +Kwan-yin, the faithful princess." Inside was a well of the purest water, +while, for drawing this water, there a strange machine, the like of +which neither Kwan-yin nor the nuns had ever seen. +</p> +<p> +The sisters knew that this magic well was a monument to Kwan-yin's +goodness. For a few days they treated her much better. "Since the gods +have dug a well at our very gate," they said, "this girl will no longer +need to bear water from the foot of the hill. For what strange reason, +however, did the gods write this beggar's name on the stone?" +</p> +<p> +Kwan-yin heard their unkind remarks in silence. She could have explained +the meaning of the dragon's gift, but she chose to let her companions +remain in ignorance. At last the selfish nuns began to grow careless +again, and treated her even worse than before. They could not bear to +see the poor girl enjoy a moment's idleness. +</p> +<p> +"This is a place for work," they told her. "All of us have laboured hard +to win our present station. You must do likewise." So they robbed her of +every chance for study and prayer, and gave her no credit for the magic +well. +</p> +<p> +One night the sisters were awakened from their sleep by strange noises, +and soon they heard outside the walls of the compound the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page141" name="page141"></a>[141]</span> +blare of a trumpet. A great army had been sent by Kwan-yin's father to +attack the convent, for his spies had at last been able to trace the +runaway princess to this holy retreat. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, who has brought this woe upon us?" exclaimed all the women, looking +at each other in great fear. "Who has done this great evil? There is one +among us who has sinned most terribly, and now the gods are about to +destroy us." They gazed at one another, but no one thought of Kwan-yin, +for they did not believe her of enough importance to attract the anger +of heaven, even though she might have done the most shocking of deeds. +Then, too, she had been so meek and lowly while in their holy order that +they did not once dream of charging her with any crime. +</p> +<p> +The threatening sounds outside grew louder and louder. All at once a +fearful cry arose among the women: "They are about to burn our sacred +dwelling." Smoke was rising just beyond the enclosure where the soldiers +were kindling a great fire, the heat of which would soon be great enough +to make the convent walls crumble into dust. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly a voice was heard above the tumult of the weeping sisters: +"Alas! I am the cause of all this trouble." +</p> +<p> +The nuns, turning in amazement, saw that it was Kwan-yin who was +speaking. "You?" they exclaimed, astounded. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page142" name="page142"></a>[142]</span> +"Yes, I, for I am indeed the daughter of a king. My father did not wish +me to take the vows of this holy order. I fled from the palace. He has +sent his army here to burn these buildings and to drag me back a +prisoner." +</p> +<p> +"Then, see what you have brought upon us, miserable girl!" exclaimed the +abbess. "See how you have repaid our kindness! Our buildings will be +burned above our heads! How wretched you have made us! May heaven's +curses rest upon you!" +</p> +<p> +"No, no!" exclaimed Kwan-yin, springing up, and trying to keep the +abbess from speaking these frightful words. "You have no right to say +that, for I am innocent of evil. But, wait! You shall soon see whose +prayers the gods will answer, yours or mine!" So saying, she pressed her +forehead to the floor, praying the almighty powers to save the convent +and the sisters. +</p> +<p> +Outside the crackling of the greedy flames could already be heard. The +fire king would soon destroy every building on that hill-top. Mad with +terror, the sisters prepared to leave the compound and give up all their +belongings to the cruel flames and still more cruel soldiers. Kwan-yin +alone remained in the room, praying earnestly for help. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly a soft breeze sprang up from the neighbouring forest, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page143" name="page143"></a>[143]</span> +dark clouds gathered overhead, and, although it was the dry season a +drenching shower descended on the flames. Within five minutes the fire +was put out and the convent was saved. Just as the shivering nuns were +thanking Kwan-yin for the divine help she had brought them, two soldiers +who had scaled the outer wall of the compound came in and roughly asked +for the princess. +</p> +<p> +The trembling girl, knowing that these men were obeying her father's +orders, poured out a prayer to the gods, and straightway made herself +known. They dragged her from the presence of the nuns who had just begun +to love her. Thus disgraced before her father's army, she was taken to +the capital. +</p> +<p> +On the morrow, she was led before the old king. The father gazed sadly +at his daughter, and then the stern look of a judge hardened his face as +he beckoned the guards to bring her forward. +</p> +<p> +From a neighbouring room came the sounds of sweet music. A feast was +being served there amid great splendour. The loud laughter of the guests +reached the ears of the young girl as she bowed in disgrace before her +father's throne. She knew that this feast had been prepared for her, and +that her father was willing to give her one more chance. +</p> +<p> +"Girl," said the king, at last regaining his voice, "in leaving the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page144" name="page144"></a>[144]</span> +royal palace on the eve of your wedding day, not only did you insult +your father, but your king. For this act you deserve to die. However, +because of the excellent record you had made for yourself before you ran +away, I have decided to give you one more chance to redeem yourself. +Refuse me, and the penalty is death: obey me, and all may yet be +well—the kingdom that you spurned is still yours for the asking. All +that I require is your marriage to the man whom I have chosen." +</p> +<p> +"And when, most august King, would you have me decide?" asked Kwan-yin +earnestly. +</p> +<p> +"This very day, this very hour, this very moment," he answered sternly. +"What! would you hesitate between love upon a throne and death? Speak, +my daughter, tell me that you love me and will do my bidding!" +</p> +<p> +It was now all that Kwan-yin could do to keep from throwing herself at +her father's feet and yielding to his wishes, not because he offered her +a kingdom, but because she loved him and would gladly have made him +happy. But her strong will kept her from relenting. No power on earth +could have stayed her from doing what she thought her duty. +</p> +<p> +"Beloved father," she answered sadly, and her voice was full +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>[145]</span> +of tenderness, "it is not a question of my love for you—of that there +is no question, for all my life I have shown it in every action. Believe +me, if I were free to do your bidding, gladly would I make you happy, +but a voice from the gods has spoken, has commanded that I remain a +virgin, that I devote my life to deeds of mercy. When heaven itself has +commanded, what can even a princess do but listen to that power which +rules the earth?" +</p> +<p> +The old king was far from satisfied with Kwan-yin's answer. He grew +furious, his thin wrinkled skin turned purple as the hot blood rose to +his head. "Then you refuse to do my bidding! Take her, men! Give to her +the death that is due to a traitor to the king!" As they bore Kwan-yin +away from his presence the white-haired monarch fell, swooning, from his +chair. +</p> +<p> +That night, when Kwan-yin was put to death, she descended into the lower +world of torture. No sooner had she set foot in that dark country of the +dead than the vast region of endless punishment suddenly blossomed forth +and became like the gardens of Paradise. Pure white lilies sprang up on +every side, and the odour of a million flowers filled all the rooms and +corridors. King Yama, ruler of the dominion, rushed forth to learn the +cause of this wonderful change. No sooner did his eyes rest upon the +fair young face of Kwan-yin +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>[146]</span> +than he saw in her the emblem of a purity which deserved no home but +heaven. +</p> +<p> +"Beautiful virgin, doer of many mercies," he began, after addressing +her by her title, "I beg you in the name of justice to depart from this +bloody kingdom. It is not right that the fairest flower of heaven should +enter and shed her fragrance in these halls. Guilt must suffer here, and +sin find no reward. Depart thou, then, from my dominion. The peach of +immortal life shall be bestowed upon you, and heaven alone shall be your +dwelling place." +</p> +<p> +Thus Kwan-yin became the Goddess of Mercy; thus she entered into that +glad abode, surpassing all earthly kings and queens. And ever since that +time, on account of her exceeding goodness, thousands of poor people +breathe out to her each year their prayers for mercy. There is no fear +in their gaze as they look at her beautiful image, for their eyes are +filled with tears of love. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>[147]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0011" id="h2H_4_0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> +THE TWO JUGGLERS +</h2> + +<a name="image-0019"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-169a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE TWO JUGGLERS" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-169b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="O" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--O-->ne beautiful spring day two men strolled into the public square of +a well-known Chinese city. They were plainly dressed and looked like +ordinary countrymen who had come in to see the sights. Judging by their +faces, they were father and son. The elder, a wrinkled man of perhaps +fifty, wore a scant grey beard. The younger had a small box on his +shoulder. +</p> +<p> +At the hour when these strangers entered the public square, a large +crowd had gathered, for it was a feast day, and every one was bent on +having a good time. All the people seemed very happy. Some, seated in +little open-air booths, were eating, drinking, and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>[148]</span> +smoking. Others were buying odds and ends from the street-vendors, +tossing coins, and playing various games of chance. +</p> +<p> +The two men walked about aimlessly. They seemed to have no friends among +the pleasure-seekers. At last, however, as they stood reading a public +notice posted at the entrance of the town-hall or yamen, a bystander +asked them who they were. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, we are jugglers from a distant province," said the elder, smiling +and pointing towards the box. "We can do many tricks for the amusement +of the people." +</p> +<p> +Soon it was spread about among the crowd that two famous jugglers had +just arrived from the capital, and that they were able to perform many +wonderful deeds. Now it happened that the mandarin or mayor of the city, +at that very moment was entertaining a number of guests in the yamen. +They had just finished eating, and the host was wondering what he should +do to amuse his friends, when a servant told him of the jugglers. +</p> +<p> +"Ask them what they can do," said the mandarin eagerly. "I will pay them +well if they can really amuse us, but I want something more than the old +tricks of knife-throwing and balancing. They must show us something +new." +</p> +<p> +The servant went outside and spoke to the jugglers: "The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>[149]</span> +great man bids you tell him what you can do. If you can amuse his +visitors he will bring them out to the private grand stand, and let you +perform before them and the people who are gathered together." +</p> +<p> +"Tell your honourable master," said the elder, whom we shall call Chang, +"that, try us as he will, he will not be disappointed. Tell him that we +come from the unknown land of dreams and visions, that we can turn rocks +into mountains, rivers into oceans, mice into elephants, in short, that +there is nothing in magic too difficult for us to do." +</p> +<p> +The official was delighted when he heard the report of his servant. +"Now we may have a little fun," he said to his guests, "for there are +jugglers outside who will perform their wonderful tricks before us." +</p> +<p> +The guests filed out on to the grand stand at one side of the public +square. The mandarin commanded that a rope should be stretched across +so as to leave an open space in full view of the crowd, where the two +Changs might give their exhibition. +</p> +<p> +For a time the two strangers entertained the people with some of the +simpler tricks, such as spinning plates in the air, tossing bowls up and +catching them on chopsticks, making flowers grow from empty pots, and +transforming one object into another. At last, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>[150]</span> +however, the mandarin cried out: "These tricks are very good of their +kind, but how about those idle boasts of changing rivers into oceans and +mice into elephants? Did you not say that you came from the land of +dreams? These tricks you have done are stale and shopworn. Have you +nothing new with which to regale my guests on this holiday?" +</p> +<p> +"Most certainly, your excellency. But surely you would not have a +labourer do more than his employer requires? Would that not be quite +contrary to the teachings of our fathers? Be assured, sir, anything that +you demand I can do for you. Only say the word." +</p> +<p> +The mandarin laughed outright at this boasting language. "Take care, my +man! Do not go too far with your promises. There are too many impostors +around for me to believe every stranger. Hark you! no lying, for if you +lie in the presence of my guests, I shall take great pleasure in having +you beaten." +</p> +<p> +"My words are quite true, your excellency," repeated Chang earnestly. +"What have we to gain by deceit, we who have performed our miracles +before the countless hosts of yonder Western Heaven?" +</p> +<p> +"Ha, ha! hear the braggarts!" shouted the guests. "What shall we command +them to do?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>[151]</span> +For a moment they consulted together, whispering and laughing. +</p> +<p> +"I have it," cried the host finally. "Our feast was short of fruit, +since this is the off season. Suppose we let this fellow supply us. +Here, fellow, produce us a peach, and be quick about it. We have no time +for fooling." +</p> +<p> +"What, masters, a peach?" exclaimed the elder Chang in mock dismay. +"Surely at this season you do not expect a peach." +</p> +<p> +"Caught at his own game," laughed the guests, and the people began to +hoot derisively. +</p> +<p> +"But, father, you promised to do anything he required," urged the son. +"If he asks even a peach, how can you refuse and at the same time save +your face?" +</p> +<p> +"Hear the boy talk," mumbled the father, "and yet, perhaps he's right. +Very well, masters," turning to the crowd, "if it's a peach you want, +why, a peach you shall have, even though I must send into the garden of +the Western Heaven for the fruit." +</p> +<p> +The people became silent and the mandarin's guests forgot to laugh. The +old man, still muttering, opened the box from which he had been taking +the magic bowls, plates, and other articles. "To think of people wanting +peaches at this season! What is the world coming to?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>[152]</span> +After fumbling in the box for some moments he drew out a skein of golden +thread, fine spun and as light as gossamer. No sooner had he unwound a +portion of this thread than a sudden gust of wind carried it up into the +air above the heads of the onlookers. Faster and faster the old man +paid out the magic coil, higher and higher the free end rose into the +heavens, until, strain his eyes as he would, no one present could see +into what far-region it had vanished. +</p> +<p> +"Wonderful, wonderful!" shouted the people with one voice, "the old man +is a fairy." +</p> +<p> +For a moment they forgot all about the mandarin, the jugglers, and the +peach, so amazed were they at beholding the flight of the magic thread. +</p> +<p> +At last the old man seemed satisfied with the distance to which his cord +had sailed, and, with a bow to the spectators, he tied the end to a +large wooden pillar which helped to support the roof of the grand stand. +For a moment the structure trembled and swayed as if it too would be +carried off into the blue ether, the guests turned pale and clutched +their chairs for support, but not even the mandarin dared to speak, so +sure were they now that they were in the presence of fairies. +</p> +<p> +"Everything is ready for the journey," said old Chang calmly. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>[153]</span> +"What! shall you leave us?" asked the mayor, finding his voice again. +</p> +<p> +"I? Oh, no, my old bones are not spry enough for quick climbing. My son +here will bring us the magic peach. He is handsome and active enough to +enter that heavenly garden. Graceful, oh graceful is that peach tree—of +course, you remember the line from the poem—and a graceful man must +pluck the fruit." +</p> +<p> +The mandarin was still more surprised at the juggler's knowledge of a +famous poem from the classics. It made him and his friends all the more +certain that the newcomers were indeed fairies. +</p> +<p> +The young man at a sign from his father tightened his belt and the bands +about his ankles, and then, with a graceful gesture to the astonished +people, sprang upon the magic string, balanced himself for a moment on +the steep incline, and then ran as nimbly up as a sailor would have +mounted a rope ladder. Higher and higher he climbed till he seemed no +bigger than a lark ascending into the blue sky, and then, like some tiny +speck, far, far away, on the western horizon. +</p> +<p> +The people gazed in open-mouthed wonder. They were struck dumb and +filled with some nameless fear; they hardly dared to look +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>[154]</span> +at the enchanter who stood calmly in their midst, smoking his +long-stemmed pipe. +</p> +<p> +The mandarin, ashamed of having laughed at and threatened this man +who was clearly a fairy, did not know what to say. He snapped his long +finger nails and looked at his guests in mute astonishment. The visitors +silently drank their tea, and the crowd of sightseers craned their necks +in a vain effort to catch sight of the vanished fairy. Only one in all +that assembly, a bright-eyed little boy of eight, dared to break the +silence, and he caused a hearty burst of merriment by crying out, "Oh, +daddy, will the bad young man fly off into the sky and leave his poor +father all alone?" +</p> +<p> +The greybeard laughed loudly with the others, and tossed the lad a +copper. "Ah, the good boy," he said smiling, "he has been well trained +to love his father; no fear of foreign ways spoiling his filial piety." +</p> +<p> +After a few moments of waiting, old Chang laid aside his pipe and fixed +his eyes once more on the western sky. "It is coming," he said quietly. +"The peach will soon be here." +</p> +<p> +Suddenly he held out his hand as if to catch some falling object, but, +look as they would, the people could see nothing. Swish! thud! it came +like a streak of light, and, lo, there in the magician's +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>[155]</span> +fingers was a peach, the most beautiful specimen the people had ever +seen, large and rosy. "Straight from the garden of the gods," said +Chang, handing the fruit to the mandarin, "a peach in the Second Moon, +and the snow hardly off the ground." +</p> + +<a name="image-0020"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0266-1.jpg"><img src="images/0266-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'HIGHER AND HIGHER HE CLIMBED.'" /></a> +<br /> +'HIGHER AND HIGHER HE CLIMBED.' +</div> + +<p> +Trembling with excitement, the official took the peach and cut it open. +It was large enough for all his guests to have a taste, and such a taste +it was! They smacked their lips and wished for more, secretly thinking +that never again would ordinary fruit be worth the eating. +</p> +<p> +But all this time the old juggler, magician, fairy or whatever you +choose to call him, was looking anxiously into the sky. The result of +this trick was more than he had bargained for. True, he had been able to +produce the magic peach which the mandarin had called for, but his son, +where was his son? He shaded his eyes and looked far up into the blue +heavens, and so did the people, but no one could catch a glimpse of the +departed youth. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, my son, my son," cried the old man in despair, "how cruel is the +fate that has robbed me of you, the only prop of my declining years! Oh, +my boy, my boy, would that I had not sent you on so perilous a journey! +Who now will look after my grave when I am gone?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>[156]</span> +Suddenly the silken cord on which the young man had sped so daringly +into the sky, gave a quick jerk which almost toppled over the post to +which it was tied, and there, before the very eyes of the people, it +fell from the lofty height, a silken pile on the ground in front of +them. +</p> +<p> +The greybeard uttered a loud cry and covered his face with his hands. +"Alas! the whole story is plain enough," he sobbed. "My boy was caught +in the act of plucking the magic peach from the garden of the gods, and +they have thrown him into prison. Woe is me! Ah! woe is me!" +</p> +<p> +The mandarin and his friends were deeply touched by the old man's grief, +and tried in vain to comfort him. "Perhaps he will return," they said. +"Have courage!" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, but in what a shape?" replied the magician. "See! even now they +are restoring him to his father." +</p> +<p> +The people looked, and they saw twirling and twisting through the air +the young man's arm. It fell upon the ground in front of them at the +fairy's feet. Next came the head, a leg, the body. One by one before the +gasping, shuddering people, the parts of the unfortunate young man were +restored to his father. +</p> +<p> +After the first outburst of wild, frantic grief the old man by a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>[157]</span> +great effort gained control of his feelings, and began to gather up +these parts, putting them tenderly into the wooden box. +</p> +<p> +By this time many of the spectators were weeping at the sight of the +father's affliction. "Come," said the mandarin at last, deeply moved, +"let us present the old man with sufficient money to give his boy a +decent burial." +</p> +<p> +All present agreed willingly, for there is no sight in China that causes +greater pity than that of an aged parent robbed by death of an only son. +The copper cash fell in a shower at the juggler's feet, and soon tears +of gratitude were mingled with those of sorrow. He gathered up the money +and tied it in a large black cloth. Then a wonderful change came over +his face. He seemed all of a sudden to forget his grief. Turning to the +box, he raised the lid. The people heard him say: "Come, my son; the +crowd is waiting for you to thank them. Hurry up! They have been very +kind to us." +</p> +<p> +In an instant the box was thrown open with a bang, and before the +mandarin and his friends, before the eyes of all the sightseers the +young man, strong and whole once more, stepped forth and bowed, clasping +his hands and giving the national salute. +</p> +<p> +For a moment all were silent. Then, as the wonder of the whole thing +dawned upon them, the people broke forth into a tumult +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>[158]</span> +of shouts, laughter, and compliments. "The fairies have surely come to +visit us!" they shouted. "The city will be blessed with good fortune! +Perhaps it is Fairy Old Boy himself who is among us!" +</p> +<p> +The mandarin rose and addressed the jugglers, thanking them in the name +of the city for their visit and for the taste they had given to him and +his guests of the peach from the heavenly orchard. +</p> +<p> +Even as he spoke, the magic box opened again; the two fairies +disappeared inside, the lid closed, and the chest rose from the ground +above the heads of the people. For a moment it floated round in a circle +like some homing pigeon trying to find its bearings before starting on +a return journey. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, it shot off into +the heavens and vanished from the sight of those below, and not a thing +remained as proof of the strange visitors except the magic peach seed +that lay beside the teacups on the mandarin's table. +</p> +<p> +According to the most ancient writings there is now nothing left to tell +of this story. It has been declared, however, by later scholars that the +official and his friends who had eaten the magic peach, at once began to +feel a change in their lives. While, before the coming of the fairies, +they had lived unfairly, accepting bribes and taking part +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>[159]</span> +in many shameful practices, now, after tasting of the heavenly fruit, +they began to grow better. The people soon began to honour and love +them, saying, "Surely these great men are not like others of their kind, +for these men are just and honest in their dealings with us. They seem +not to be ruling for their own reward!" +</p> +<p> +However this may be, we do know that before many years their city became +the centre of the greatest peach-growing section of China, and even +yet when strangers walk in the orchards and look up admiringly at the +beautiful sweet-smelling fruit, the natives sometimes ask proudly, "And +have you never heard about the wonderful peach which was the beginning +of all our orchards, the magic peach the fairies brought us from the +Western Heaven?" +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>[160]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0012" id="h2H_4_0012"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> +THE PHANTOM VESSEL +</h2> + +<a name="image-0021"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-184a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE PHANTOM VESSEL" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-184b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="O" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--O-->nce a ship loaded with pleasure-seekers was sailing from North China +to Shanghai. High winds and stormy weather had delayed her, and she was +still one week from port when a great plague broke out on board. This +plague was of the worst kind. It attacked passengers and sailors alike +until there were so few left to sail the vessel that it seemed as if she +would soon be left to the mercy of winds and waves. +</p> +<p> +On all sides lay the dead, and the groans of the dying were most +terrible to hear. Of that great company of travellers only one, a +little boy named Ying-lo, had escaped. At last the few sailors, who +had been trying hard to save their ship, were obliged to lie down upon +the deck, a prey to the dreadful sickness, and soon they too were +dead. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page161" name="page161"></a>[161]</span> +Ying-lo now found himself alone on the sea. For some reason—he did not +know why—the gods or the sea fairies had spared him, but as he looked +about in terror at the friends and loved ones who had died, he almost +wished that he might join them. +</p> +<p> +The sails flapped about like great broken wings, while the giant waves +dashed higher above the deck, washing many of the bodies overboard and +wetting the little boy to the skin. Shivering with cold, he gave himself +up for lost and prayed to the gods, whom his mother had often told him +about, to take him from this dreadful ship and let him escape the fatal +illness. +</p> +<p> +As he lay there praying he heard a slight noise in the rigging just +above his head. Looking up, he saw a ball of fire running along a +yardarm near the top of the mast. The sight was so strange that he +forgot his prayer and stared with open-mouthed wonder. To his +astonishment, the ball grew brighter and brighter, and then suddenly +began slipping down the mast, all the time increasing in size. The poor +boy did not know what to do or to think. Were the gods, in answer to his +prayer, sending fire to burn the vessel? If so, he would soon escape. +Anything would be better than to be alone upon the sea. +</p> +<p> +Nearer and nearer came the fireball. At last, when it reached +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page162" name="page162"></a>[162]</span> +the deck, to Ying-lo's surprise, something very, very strange happened. +Before he had time to feel alarmed, the light vanished, and a funny +little man stood in front of him peering anxiously into the child's +frightened face. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, you are the lad I'm looking for," he said at last, speaking in a +piping voice that almost made Ying-lo smile. "You are Ying-lo, and you +are the only one left of this wretched company." This he said, pointing +towards the bodies lying here and there about the deck. +</p> +<p> +Although he saw that the old man meant him no harm, the child could say +nothing, but waited in silence, wondering what would happen next. +</p> +<p> +By this time the vessel was tossing and pitching so violently that it +seemed every minute as if it would upset and go down beneath the foaming +waves, never to rise again. Not many miles distant on the right, some +jagged rocks stuck out of the water, lifting their cruel heads as if +waiting for the helpless ship. +</p> +<p> +The newcomer walked slowly towards the mast and tapped on it three times +with an iron staff he had been using as a cane. Immediately the sails +spread, the vessel righted itself and began to glide over the sea so +fast that the gulls were soon left far behind, while the +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page163" name="page163"></a>[163]</span> +threatening rocks upon which the ship had been so nearly dashed seemed +like specks in the distance. +</p> +<p> +"Do you remember me?" said the stranger, suddenly turning and coming up +to Ying-lo, but his voice was lost in the whistling of the wind, and the +boy knew only by the moving of his lips that the old man was talking. +The greybeard bent over until his mouth was at Ying-lo's ear: "Did you +ever see me before?" +</p> +<p> +With a puzzled look, at first the child shook his head. Then as he gazed +more closely there seemed to be something that he recognized about the +wrinkled face. "Yes, I think so, but I don't know when." +</p> +<p> +With a tap of his staff the fairy stopped the blowing of the wind, and +then spoke once more to his small companion: "One year ago I passed +through your village. I was dressed in rags, and was begging my way +along the street, trying to find some one who would feel sorry for me. +Alas! no one answered my cry for mercy. Not a crust was thrown into my +bowl. All the people were deaf, and fierce dogs drove me from door to +door. Finally when I was almost dying of hunger, I began to feel that +here was a village without one good person in it. Just then you saw my +suffering, ran into the house, and brought me out food. Your heartless +mother saw you doing this and beat you cruelly. Do you remember now, my +child?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page164" name="page164"></a>[164]</span> +"Yes, I remember," he answered sadly, "and that mother is now lying +dead. Alas! all, all are dead, my father and my brothers also. Not one +is left of my family." +</p> +<p> +"Little did you know, my boy, to whom you were giving food that day. +You took me for a lowly beggar, but, behold, it was not a poor man that +you fed, for I am Iron Staff. You must have heard of me when they were +telling of the fairies in the Western Heaven, and of their adventures +here on earth." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," answered Ying-lo, trembling half with fear and half with +joy, "indeed I have heard of you many, many times, and all the people +love you for your kind deeds of mercy." +</p> +<p> +"Alas! they did not show their love, my little one. Surely you know that +if any one wishes to reward the fairies for their mercies, he must begin +to do deeds of the same kind himself. No one but you in all your village +had pity on me in my rags. If they had known that I was Iron Staff, +everything would have been different; they would have given me a feast +and begged for my protection. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "The only love that loves aright </p> +<p class="i3"> Is that which loves in every plight. </p> +<p class="i3"> The beggar in his sad array </p> +<p class="i3"> Is moulded of the selfsame clay. </p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page165" name="page165"></a>[165]</span></p> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "Who knows a man by what he wears, </p> +<p class="i3"> By what he says or by his prayers? </p> +<p class="i3"> Hidden beneath that wrinkled skin </p> +<p class="i3"> A fairy may reside within. </p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "Then treat with kindness and with love </p> +<p class="i3"> The lowly man, the god above; </p> +<p class="i3"> A friendly nod, a welcome smile— </p> +<p class="i3"> For love is ever worth the while." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +Ying-lo listened in wonder to Iron Staff's little poem, and when he had +finished, the boy's face was glowing with the love of which the fairy +had spoken. "My poor, poor father and mother!" he cried; "they knew +nothing of these beautiful things you are telling me. They were brought +up in poverty. As they were knocked about in childhood by those around +them, so they learned to beat others who begged them for help. Is it +strange that they did not have hearts full of pity for you when you +looked like a beggar?" +</p> +<p> +"But what about you, my boy? You were not deaf when I asked you. Have +you not been whipped and punished all your life? How then did you learn +to look with love at those in tears?" +</p> +<p> +The child could not answer these questions, but only looked +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page166" name="page166"></a>[166]</span> +sorrowfully at Iron Staff. "Oh, can you not, good fairy, will you not +restore my parents and brothers, and give them another chance to be good +and useful people?" +</p> +<p> +"Listen, Ying-lo; it is impossible—unless you do two things first," he +answered, stroking his beard gravely and leaning heavily upon his staff. +</p> +<p> +"What are they? What must I do to save my family? Anything you ask of me +will not be too much to pay for your kindness." +</p> +<p> +"First you must tell me of some good deed done by these people for whose +lives you are asking. Name only one, for that will be enough; but it is +against our rules to help those who have done nothing." +</p> +<p> +Ying-lo was silent, and for a moment his face was clouded. "Yes, I +know," he said finally, brightening. "They burned incense once at the +temple. That was certainly a deed of virtue." +</p> +<p> +"But when was it, little one, that they did this?" +</p> +<p> +"When my big brother was sick, and they were praying for him to get +well. The doctors could not save him with boiled turnip juice or with +any other of the medicines they used, so my parents begged the gods." +</p> +<p> +"Selfish, selfish!" muttered Iron Staff. "If their eldest son +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page167" name="page167"></a>[167]</span> +had not been dying they would have spent no money at the temple. They +tried in this way to buy back his health, for they were expecting him to +support them in their old age." +</p> +<p> +Ying-lo's face fell. "You are right," he answered. +</p> +<p> +"Can you think of nothing else?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, oh, yes, last year when the foreigner rode through our village and +fell sick in front of our house, they took him in and cared for him." +</p> +<p> +"How long?" asked the other sharply. +</p> +<p> +"Until he died the next week." +</p> +<p> +"And what did they do with the mule he was riding, his bed, and the +money in his bag? Did they try to restore them to his people?" +</p> +<p> +"No, they said they'd keep them to pay for the trouble." Ying-lo's face +turned scarlet. +</p> +<p> +"But try again, dear boy! Is there not one little deed of goodness that +was not selfish? Think once more." +</p> +<p> +For a long time Ying-lo did not reply. At length he spoke in a low +voice; "I think of one, but I fear it amounts to nothing." +</p> +<p> +"No good, my child, is too small to be counted when the gods are +weighing a man's heart." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page168" name="page168"></a>[168]</span> +"Last spring the birds were eating in my father's garden. My mother +wanted to buy poison from the shop to destroy them, but my father said +no, that the little things must live, and he for one was not in favour +of killing them." +</p> +<p> +"At last, Ying-lo, you have named a real deed of mercy, and as he spared +the tiny birds from poison, so shall his life and the lives of your +mother and brothers be restored from the deadly plague. +</p> +<p> +"But remember there is one other thing that depends on you." +</p> +<p> +Ying-lo's eyes glistened gratefully. "Then if it rests with me, and I +can do it, you have my promise. No sacrifice should be too great for a +son to make for his loved ones even though his life itself is asked in +payment." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, Ying-lo. What I require is that you carry out to the letter +my instructions. Now it is time for me to keep my promise to you." +</p> +<p> +So saying, Iron Staff called on Ying-lo to point out the members of his +family, and, approaching them one by one, with the end of his iron stick +he touched their foreheads. In an instant each, without a word, arose. +Looking round and recognising Ying-lo, they stood back, frightened at +seeing him with the fairy. When the last had risen to his feet, Iron +Staff beckoned all of them to listen. This they +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page169" name="page169"></a>[169]</span> +did willingly, too much terrified to speak, for they saw on all sides +signs of the plague that had swept over the vessel, and they remembered +the frightful agony they had suffered in dying. Each knew that he had +been lifted by some magic power from darkness into light. +</p> +<p> +"My friends," began the fairy, "little did you think when less than a +year ago you drove me from your door that soon you yourselves would be +in need of mercy. To-day you have had a peep into the awful land of +Yama. You have seen the horror of his tortures, have heard the screams +of his slaves, and by another night you would have been carried before +him to be judged. What power is it that has saved you from his clutches? +As you look back through your wicked lives can you think of any reason +why you deserved this rescue? No, there is no memory of goodness in +your black hearts. Well, I shall tell you: it is this little boy, this +Ying-lo, who many times has felt the weight of your wicked hands and +has hidden in terror at your coming. To him alone you owe my help." +</p> +<p> +Father, mother, and brothers all gazed in turn, first at the fairy and +then at the timid child whose eyes fell before their looks of gratitude. +</p> +<p> +"By reason of his goodness this child whom you have scorned is worthy of +a place within the Western Heaven. In truth, I came this +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page170" name="page170"></a>[170]</span> +very day to lead him to that fairyland. For you, however, he wishes to +make a sacrifice. With sorrow I am yielding to his wishes. His sacrifice +will be that of giving up a place among the fairies and of continuing to +live here on this earth with you. He will try to make a change within +your household. If at any time you treat him badly and do not heed his +wishes—mark you well my words—by the power of this magic staff which +I shall place in his hands, he may enter at once into the land of the +fairies, leaving you to die in your wickedness. This I command him to +do, and he has promised to obey my slightest wish. +</p> +<p> +"This plague took you off suddenly and ended your wicked lives. Ying-lo +has raised you from its grasp and his power can lift you from the bed of +sin. No other hand than his can bear the rod which I am leaving. If one +of you but touch it, instantly he will fall dead upon the ground. +</p> +<p> +"And now, my child, the time has come for me to leave you. First, +however, I must show you what you are now able to do. Around you lie the +corpses of sailors and passengers. Tap three times upon the mast and +wish that they shall come to life," So saying he handed Ying-lo the iron +staff. +</p> +<p> +Although the magic rod was heavy, the child lifted it as if it were +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page171" name="page171"></a>[171]</span> +a fairy's wand. Then, stepping forward to the mast, he rapped three +times as he had been commanded. Immediately on all sides arose the +bodies, once more full of life and strength. +</p> +<p> +"Now command the ship to take you back to your home port, for such +sinful creatures as these are in no way fit to make a journey among +strangers. They must first return and free their homes of sin." +</p> +<p> +Again rapping on the mast, the child willed the great vessel to take +its homeward course. No sooner had he moved the staff than, like a bird +wheeling in the heavens, the bark swung round and started on the return +journey. Swifter than a flash of lightning flew the boat, for it was +now become a fairy vessel. Before the sailors and the travellers could +recover from their surprise, land was sighted and they saw that they +were indeed entering the harbour. +</p> +<p> +Just as the ship was darting toward the shore the fairy suddenly, with +a parting word to Ying-lo, changed into a flaming ball of fire which +rolled along the deck and ascended the spars. Then, as it reached the +top of the rigging, it floated off into the blue sky, and all on board, +speechless with surprise, watched it until it vanished. +</p> +<p> +With a cry of thanksgiving, Ying-lo flung his arms about his parents and +descended with them to the shore. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page172" name="page172"></a>[172]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0013" id="h2H_4_0013"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> +THE WOODEN TABLET +</h2> + +<a name="image-0022"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-196a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE WOODEN TABLET" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-196b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="Y" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--"Y-->es, my boy, whatever happens, be sure to save that tablet. It is the +only thing we have left worth keeping." +</p> +<p> +K'ang-p'u's father was just setting out for the city, to be gone all +day. He had been telling K'ang-p'u about some work in the little garden, +for the boy was a strong and willing helper. +</p> +<p> +"All right, father, I'll do what you tell me; but suppose the foreign +soldiers should come while you are gone? I heard that they were over at +T'ang Shu yesterday and burned the village. If they should come here, +what must I do?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page173" name="page173"></a>[173]</span> +Mr. Lin laughed heartily. "Why, there's nothing here for them to burn, +if it comes to that!—a mud house, a grass roof, and a pile of ragged +bedding. Surely they won't bother my little hut. It's loot they're +after—money—or something they can sell." +</p> +<p> +"But, father," persisted the boy, "haven't you forgotten? Surely you +wouldn't wish them to burn your father's tablet?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite right; for the moment I did forget. Yes, yes, my boy, whatever +happens be sure to save the tablet. It is the only thing we have worth +keeping." +</p> +<p> +With that, Mr. Lin went out at the gate, leaving K'ang-p'u standing all +alone. The little fellow was scarcely twelve years old. He had a bright, +sunny face and a happy heart. Being left by himself did not mean tears +and idleness for him. +</p> +<p> +He went into the poor little house and stood for a moment looking +earnestly at the wooden tablet. It was on a shelf in the one-roomed +shanty, an oblong piece of wood about twelve inches high, enclosed in +a wooden case. Through the carved screen work in the front, K'ang-p'u +could see his grandfather's name written in Chinese characters on the +tablet. Ever since babyhood K'ang-p'u had been taught to look at this +piece of wood with a feeling of reverence. +</p> +<p> +"Your grandfather's spirit is inside," his father had said one +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page174" name="page174"></a>[174]</span> +day. "You must worship his spirit, for he was a good man, far better +than your dad. If I had obeyed him in all things, I, his only son, +should not now be living in this miserable hut." +</p> +<p> +"But didn't he live here, too?" asked K'ang-p'u in surprise. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no, we lived in a big house over yonder in another village; in a +big house with a high stone wall." +</p> +<p> +The little fellow had gasped with surprise at hearing this, for there +was not such a thing as a stone wall in his village, and he felt that +his grandfather must have been a rich man. He had not asked any more +questions, but from that day on he had been rather afraid of the carved +wooden box in which his grandfather's spirit was supposed to live. +</p> +<p> +So, on this day when his father left him alone, the boy stood looking +at the tablet, wondering how a big man's spirit could squeeze into such +a small space. He put out his finger cautiously and touched the bottom +of the box, then drew back, half-frightened at his own daring. No bad +results followed. It seemed just like any other piece of wood. Somewhat +puzzled, he walked out of the house into the little garden. His father +had told him to re-set some young cabbages. This was work which +K'ang-p'u had done many times before. First, he gathered a basket of +chicken feathers, for his +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page175" name="page175"></a>[175]</span> +father had told him that a few feathers placed at the roots of the young +plant would do more to make it strong and healthy than anything else +that could be used. +</p> +<p> +All day K'ang-p'u worked steadily in the garden. He was just beginning +to feel tired, when he heard a woman screaming in the distance. He +dropped his basket and rushed to the gate. Down the road at the far +side of the village he saw a crowd of women and children running hither +and thither, and—yes! there were the soldiers—the dreaded foreign +soldiers! They were burning the houses; they were stealing whatever they +could find. +</p> +<p> +Now, most boys would have been frightened—would have taken to their +heels without thought of consequences. K'ang-p'u, however, though +like other lads afraid of soldiers, was too brave to run without first +doing his duty. He decided to stand his ground until he was sure the +foreigners were coming his way. Perhaps they would grow tired of their +cruel sport and leave the little house unharmed. He watched with +wide-open eyes the work of pillage. Alas! these men did not seem to +tire of their amusement. One after another the houses were entered and +robbed. Women were screaming and children crying. Nearly all the village +men were away in a distant market town, for none of them had expected +an attack. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page176" name="page176"></a>[176]</span> +Nearer and nearer came the robbers. At last they were next door to +K'ang-p'u's hut, and he knew the time had come for him to do his duty. +Seizing the basket of chicken feathers, he rushed into the house, +snatched the precious tablet from the shelf, and hid it in the bottom of +the basket. Then, without stopping to say good-bye to the spot which he +had known all his life, he rushed out of the gate and down the narrow +street. +</p> +<p> +"Kill the kid!" shouted a soldier, whom K'ang-p'u nearly ran against in +his hurry. "Put down the basket, boy! No stealing here." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, kill him!" shouted another with a loud laugh; "he'd make a good +bit of bacon." +</p> +<p> +But no one touched him, and K'ang-p'u, still holding tightly to his +burden, was soon far out on the winding road among the cornfields. If +they should follow, he thought of hiding among the giant cornstalks. His +legs were tired now, and he sat down under a stone memorial arch near +some crossroads to rest. +</p> +<p> +Where was he going, and what should he do? These were the questions that +filled the boy's whirling little brain. First, he must find out if the +soldiers were really destroying all the houses in his village. Perhaps +some of them would not be burned and he could return at night to join +his father. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page177" name="page177"></a>[177]</span> +After several failures he managed to climb one of the stone pillars and +from the arch above he could get a good view of the surrounding country. +Over to the west was his village. His heart beat fast when he saw that +a great cloud of smoke was rising from the houses. Clearly, the thieves +were making quick work of the place, and soon there would be nothing +left but piles of mud, brick, ashes and other rubbish. +</p> +<p> +Night came on. K'ang-p'u clambered down from his stone perch. He was +beginning to feel hungry, and yet he dared not turn back towards home. +And besides, would not all the other villagers be hungry, too? He lay +down at the foot of the stone monument, placing the basket within reach +at one side. Soon he fell fast asleep. +</p> +<p> +How long he had been sleeping he never knew; but it was not yet day when +he awoke with a start and looked round him in the moonlight. Some one +had called him distinctly by name. At first, he thought it must have +been his father's voice; and then as he grew wider and wider awake he +knew this could not be, for the voice sounded like that of an old man. +K'ang-p'u looked round in amazement, first at the stone columns, then +at the arch above. No one was to be seen. Had he been dreaming? +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page178" name="page178"></a>[178]</span> +Just as he lay back to sleep once more, the voice sounded again very +faintly, "K'ang-p'u! K'ang-p'u! why don't you let me out? I can't +breathe under all these feathers." +</p> +<p> +Quick as a flash he knew what was the matter. Burying his hand in the +basket, he seized the wooden tablet, drew it from its hiding-place, and +stood it up on the stone base. Wonder of wonders! There before his very +eyes he saw a tiny fellow, not six inches high, sitting on top of the +wooden upright and dangling his legs over the front of the tablet. The +dwarf had a long grey beard, and K'ang-p'u, without looking twice, knew +that this was the spirit of his dead grandfather come to life and +clothed with flesh and blood. +</p> +<p> +"Ho, ho!" said the small man, laughing, "so you thought you'd bury your +old grandfather in feathers, did you? A soft enough grave, but rather +smelly." +</p> +<p> +"But, sir," cried K'ang-p'u, "I had to do it, to save you from the +soldiers! They were just about to burn our house and you in it." +</p> +<p> +"There, there, my boy! don't be uneasy. I am not scolding +you. You did the best you could for your old gran'ther. If you +had been like most lads, you would have taken to your heels and +left me to those sea-devils who were sacking the village. There is +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page179" name="page179"></a>[179]</span> +no doubt about it: you saved me from a second death much more terrible +than the first one." +</p> +<p> +K'ang-p'u shuddered, for he knew that his grandfather had been killed in +battle. He had heard his father tell the story many times. +</p> +<p> +"Now, what do you propose doing about it?" asked the old man finally, +looking straight into the boy's face. +</p> +<p> +"Doing about it, sir? Why, really, I don't know. I thought that perhaps +in the morning the soldiers would be gone and I could carry you back. +Surely my father will be looking for me." +</p> +<p> +"What! looking for you in the ashes? And what could he do if he did find +you? Your house is burned, your chickens carried away and your cabbages +trampled underfoot. A sorry home he will return to. You would be just +one more mouth to feed. No! that plan will never do. If your father +thinks you are dead, he will go off to another province to get work. +That would save him from starvation." +</p> +<p> +"But what am I to do?" wailed poor K'ang-p'u. "I don't want him to leave +me all alone!" +</p> +<p> +"All alone! What! don't you count your old grand-daddy? Surely you are +not a very polite youngster, even if you did save me from burning to +death." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page180" name="page180"></a>[180]</span> +"Count you?" repeated the boy, surprised. "Why, surely you can't help me +to earn a living?" +</p> +<p> +"Why not, boy? Is this an age when old men are good for nothing?" +</p> +<p> +"But, sir, you are only the <i>spirit</i> of my grandfather, and spirits +cannot work!" +</p> +<p> +"Ha, ha! just hear the child. Why, look you, I will show you what +spirits can do, provided you will do exactly what I tell you." +</p> +<p> +Of course, K'ang-p'u promised, for he was always obedient; and was not +this little man who spoke so strangely, the spirit of his grandfather? +And is not every lad in China taught to honour his ancestors? +</p> +<p> +"Now, listen, my boy. First, let me say that if you had not been kind, +brave and filial, I should not take the trouble to help you out of your +misfortune. As it is, there is nothing else for me to do. I cast your +father off because he was disobedient. He has lived in a dirty hovel +ever since. Doubtless, he has been sorry for his misdeeds, for I see +that although he was disgraced by being sent away from the family home, +he has taught you to honour and love me. Most boys would have snatched +up a blanket or a piece of bread before running from the enemy, but you +thought only of my tablet. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page181" name="page181"></a>[181]</span> +You saved me and went to bed hungry. For this bravery, I shall give back +to you the home of your ancestors." +</p> +<p> +"But I can't live in it," said K'ang-p'u, full of wonder, "if you will +not let my father come back to it. If he goes away he will have a very +hard time: he will be lonely without me, and may die; and then I would +not be able to take care of his grave, or to burn incense there at the +proper season!" +</p> +<p> +"Quite right, K'ang-p'u. I see you love your father as well as your +grandfather's tablet. Very well; you shall have your way. I daresay your +father is sorry by this time that he treated me so badly." +</p> +<p> +"Indeed, he must be," said the boy earnestly, "for I have seen him kneel +before your tablet many times and burn incense there on the proper days. +I know he is very sorry." +</p> +<p> +"Very well; go to sleep again. Let us wait until morning and then I +shall see what I can do for you. This moonlight is not bright enough for +my old eyes. I shall have to wait for morning." +</p> +<p> +As he spoke these last words, the little man began to grow smaller and +smaller before the eyes of his grandson, until at last he had altogether +disappeared. +</p> +<p> +At first, K'ang-p'u was too much excited to close his eyes. He remained +for a time looking up into the starry sky and wondering +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page182" name="page182"></a>[182]</span> +if what he had heard would really come true, or whether he could have +dreamt the whole story of his grandfather's coming to life again. Could +it really be that the old family property would be given back to his +father? He remembered now that he had once heard his father speak of +having lived in a large house on a beautiful compound. It was just +before K'ang-p'u's mother had been carried away by the fever. As she had +lain tossing upon the rude stone bed, with none of those comforts which +are so necessary for the sick, K'ang-p'u remembered that his father had +said to her: "What a shame that we are not living in my father's house! +There you might have had every luxury. It is all my fault; I disobeyed +my father." +</p> +<p> +Soon after that his mother had died, but K'ang-p'u had remembered those +words ever since, and had often wished that he could hear more about +this house where his father had spent his boyhood. Could it be possible +that they would soon be living in it? No, surely there must be some +mistake: the night fairies of his dreams had been deceiving him. With +a sigh he closed his eyes and once more fell asleep. +</p> +<hr /> +<p> +When K'ang-p'u next awoke, the sun was shining full in his face. He +looked around him, sleepily rubbing his eyes and trying +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page183" name="page183"></a>[183]</span> +to remember all that had happened. Suddenly he thought of the tablet and +of his grandfather's appearance at midnight. But, strange to say, the +basket had disappeared with all its contents. The tablet was nowhere to +be seen, and even the stone arch under which he had gone to sleep had +completely vanished. Alas! his grandfather's tablet—how poorly he had +guarded it! What terrible thing would happen now that it was gone! +</p> +<p> +K'ang-p'u stood up and looked round him in trembling surprise. What +could have taken place while he was sleeping? At first, he did not know +what to do. Fortunately, the path through the corn was still there, and +he decided to return to the village and see if he could find any trace +of his father. His talk with the old man must have been only an idle +dream, and some thief must have carried off the basket. If only the +stone arch had not vanished K'ang-p'u would not have been so perplexed. +</p> +<p> +He hurried along the narrow road, trying to forget the empty stomach +which was beginning to cry for food. If the soldiers were still in the +village, surely they would not hurt an empty-handed little boy. More +than likely they had gone the day before. If he could only find his +father! Now he crossed the little brook where the women came to rub +their clothes upon the rocks. There was the big +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page184" name="page184"></a>[184]</span> +mulberry tree where the boys used to gather leaves for their silkworms. +Another turn of the road and he would see the village. +</p> +<p> +When K'ang-p'u passed round the corner and looked for the ruins of the +village hovels, an amazing sight met his gaze. There, rising directly +before him, was a great stone wall, like those he had seen round the +rich people's houses when his father had taken him to the city. The +great gate stood wide open, and the keeper, rushing out, exclaimed: +</p> +<p> +"Ah! the little master has come!" +</p> +<p> +Completely bewildered, the boy followed the servant through the gateway, +passed through several wide courts, and then into a garden where flowers +and strangely-twisted trees were growing. +</p> +<p> +This, then, was the house which his grandfather had promised him—the +home of his ancestors. Ah! how beautiful! how beautiful! Many men and +women servants bowed low as he passed, saluting with great respect and +crying out: +</p> +<p> +"Yes, it is really the little master! He has come back to his own!" +</p> +<p> +K'ang-p'u, seeing how well dressed the servants were, felt much +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page185" name="page185"></a>[185]</span> +ashamed of his own ragged garments, and put up his hands to hide a torn +place. What was his amazement to find that he was no longer clad in +soiled, ragged clothes, that he was dressed in the handsomest +embroidered silk. From head to foot he was fitted out like the young +Prince his father had pointed out to him one day in the city. +</p> +<p> +Then they entered a magnificent reception-hall on the other side of the +garden. K'ang-p'u could not keep back his tears, for there stood his +father waiting to meet him. +</p> +<p> +"My boy! my boy!" cried the father, "you have come back to me. I feared +you had been stolen away for ever." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, no!" said K'ang-p'u, "you have not lost me, but I have lost the +tablet. A thief came and took it last night while I was sleeping." +</p> +<p> +"Lost the tablet! A thief! Why, no, my son, you are mistaken! There it +is, just before you." +</p> +<p> +K'ang-p'u looked, and saw standing on a handsome carved table the +very thing he had mourned as lost. As he stared in surprise he almost +expected to see the tiny figure swinging its legs over the top, and to +hear the high-pitched voice of his grandfather. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page186" name="page186"></a>[186]</span> +"Yes, it is really the lost tablet!" he cried joyfully. "How glad I am +it is back in its rightful place once more." +</p> +<p> +Then father and son fell upon their knees before the wooden emblem, and +bowed reverently nine times to the floor, thanking the spirit for all it +had done for them. When they arose their hearts were full of a new +happiness. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page187" name="page187"></a>[187]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0014" id="h2H_4_0014"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> +THE GOLDEN NUGGET +</h2> + +<a name="image-0023"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-211a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE GOLDEN NUGGET" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-211b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="O" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--O-->nce upon a time many, many years ago, there lived in China two friends +named Ki-wu and Pao-shu. These two young men, like Damon and Pythias, +loved each other and were always together. No cross words passed between +them; no unkind thoughts marred their friendship. Many an interesting +tale might be told of their unselfishness, and of how the good fairies +gave them the true reward of virtue. One story alone, however, will be +enough to show how strong was their affection and their goodness. +</p> +<p> +It was a bright beautiful day in early spring when Ki-wu and Pao-shu set +out for a stroll together, for they were tired of the city and its +noises. +</p> +<p> +"Let us go into the heart of the pine forest," said Ki-wu lightly. +"There we can forget the cares that worry us; there we can breathe the +sweetness of the flowers and lie on the moss-covered ground." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page188" name="page188"></a>[188]</span> +"Good!" said Pao-shu, "I, too, am tired. The forest is the place for +rest." +</p> +<p> +Happy as two lovers on a holiday, they passed along the winding road, +their eyes turned in longing toward the distant tree-tops. Their hearts +beat fast in youthful pleasure as they drew nearer and nearer to the +woods. +</p> +<p> +"For thirty days I have worked over my books," sighed Ki-wu. "For thirty +days I have not had a rest. My head is stuffed so full of wisdom, that I +am afraid it will burst. Oh, for a breath of the pure air blowing +through the greenwood." +</p> +<p> +"And I," added Pao-shu sadly, "have worked like a slave at my counter +and found it just as dull as you have found your books. My master treats +me badly. It seems good, indeed, to get beyond his reach." +</p> +<p> +Now they came to the border of the grove, crossed a little stream, +and plunged headlong among the trees and shrubs. For many an hour they +rambled on, talking and laughing merrily; when suddenly on passing round +a clump of flower-covered bushes, they saw shining in the pathway +directly in front of them a lump of gold. +</p> +<p> +"See!" said both, speaking at the same time, and pointing toward the +treasure. +</p> +<a name="image-0024"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0268-1.jpg"><img src="images/0268-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="'THEY SAW SHINING IN THE PATHWAY, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM, A LUMP OF GOLD.'" /></a> +<br /> +'THEY SAW SHINING IN THE PATHWAY, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF +THEM, A LUMP OF GOLD.' +</div> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page189" name="page189"></a>[189]</span> +Ki-wu, stooping, picked up the nugget. It was nearly as large as a +lemon, and was very pretty. "It is yours, my dear friend," said he, at +the same time handing it to Pao-shu; "yours because you saw it first." +</p> +<p> +"No, no," answered Pao-shu, "you are wrong, my brother, for you were +first to speak. Now, you can never say hereafter that the good fairies +have not rewarded you for all your faithful hours of study." +</p> +<p> +"Repaid me for my study! Why, that is impossible. Are not the wise men +always saying that study brings its own reward? No, the gold is yours: +I insist upon it. Think of your weeks of hard labour—of the masters that +have ground you to the bone! Here is something far better. Take it," +laughing. "May it be the nest egg by means of which you may hatch out a +great fortune." +</p> +<p> +Thus they joked for some minutes, each refusing to take the treasure +for himself; each insisting that it belonged to the other. At last, the +chunk of gold was dropped in the very spot where they had first spied +it, and the two comrades went away, each happy because he loved his +friend better than anything else in the world. Thus they turned their +backs on any chance of quarrelling. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page190" name="page190"></a>[190]</span> +"It was not for gold that we left the city," exclaimed Ki-wu warmly. +</p> +<p> +"No," replied his friend, "One day in this forest is worth a thousand +nuggets." +</p> +<p> +"Let us go to the spring and sit down on the rocks," suggested Ki-wu. +"It is the coolest spot in the whole grove." +</p> +<p> +When they reached the spring they were sorry to find the place already +occupied. A countryman was stretched at full length on the ground. +</p> +<p> +"Wake up, fellow!" cried Pao-shu, "there is money for you near by. Up +yonder path a golden apple is waiting for some man to go and pick it +up." +</p> +<p> +Then they described to the unwelcome stranger the exact spot where the +treasure was, and were delighted to see him set out in eager search. +</p> +<p> +For an hour they enjoyed each other's company, talking of all the hopes +and ambitions of their future, and listening to the music of the birds +that hopped about on the branches overhead. +</p> +<p> +At last they were startled by the angry voice of the man who had gone +after the nugget. "What trick is this you have played on +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page191" name="page191"></a>[191]</span> +me, masters? Why do you make a poor man like me run his legs off for +nothing on a hot day?" +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean, fellow?" asked Ki-wu, astonished. "Did you not find +the fruit we told you about?" +</p> +<p> +"No," he answered, in a tone of half-hidden rage, "but in its place a +monster snake, which I cut in two with my blade. Now, the gods will +bring me bad luck for killing something in the woods. If you thought you +could drive me from this place by such a trick, you'll soon find you +were mistaken, for I was first upon this spot and you have no right to +give me orders." +</p> +<p> +"Stop your chatter, bumpkin, and take this copper for your trouble. We +thought we were doing you a favour. If you are blind, there's no one but +yourself to blame. Come, Pao-shu, let us go back and have a look at this +wonderful snake that has been hiding in a chunk of gold." +</p> +<p> +Laughing merrily, the two companions left the countryman and turned back +in search of the nugget. +</p> +<p> +"If I am not mistaken," said the student, "the gold lies beyond that +fallen tree." +</p> +<p> +"Quite true; we shall soon see the dead snake." +</p> +<p> +Quickly they crossed the remaining stretch of pathway, with +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page192" name="page192"></a>[192]</span> +their eyes fixed intently on the ground. Arriving at the spot where they +had left the shining treasure, what was their surprise to see, not the +lump of gold, not the dead snake described by the idler, but, instead, +two beautiful golden nuggets, each larger than the one they had seen at +first. +</p> +<p> +Each friend picked up one of these treasures and handed it joyfully to +his companion. +</p> +<p> +"At last the fairies have rewarded you for your unselfishness!" said +Ki-wu. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," answered Pao-shu, "by granting me a chance to give you your +deserts." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page193" name="page193"></a>[193]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0015" id="h2H_4_0015"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> +THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT SCOLD +</h2> + +<a name="image-0025"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-219a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT SCOLD" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-219b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="O" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--O-->ld Wang lived in a village near Nanking. He cared for nothing in the +world but to eat good food and plenty of it. Now, though this Wang was +by no means a poor man, it made him very sad to spend money, and so +people called him in sport, the Miser King, for Wang is the Chinese word +for king. His greatest pleasure was to eat at some one else's table when +he knew that the food would cost him nothing, and you may be sure that +at such times he always licked his chopsticks clean. But when he was +spending his own money, he tightened his belt and drank a great deal +of water, eating very little but scraps such as his friends would have +thrown to the dogs. Thus people laughed at him and said: +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "When Wang an invitation gets, </p> +<p class="i3"> He chews and chews until he sweats, </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page194" name="page194"></a>[194]</span></p> + +<p class="i3"> But, when his own food he must eat. </p> +<p class="i3"> The tears flow down and wet his feet." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +One day while Wang was lying half asleep on the bank of a stream that +flowed near his house he began to feel hungry. He had been in that +spot all day without tasting anything. At last he saw a flock of ducks +swimming in the river. He knew that they belonged to a rich man named +Lin who lived in the village. They were fat ducks, so plump and tempting +that it made him hungry to look at them. "Oh, for a boiled duck!" he +said to himself with a sigh. "Why is it that the gods have not given me +a taste of duck during the past year? What have I done to be thus +denied?" +</p> +<p> +Then the thought flashed into his mind: "Here am I asking why the gods +have not given me ducks to eat. Who knows but that they have sent this +flock thinking I would have sense enough to grab one? Friend Lin, many +thanks for your kindness. I think I shall accept your offer and take one +of these fowls for my dinner." Of course Mr. Lin was nowhere near to +hear old Wang thanking him. +</p> +<p> +By this time the flock had come to shore. The miser picked himself up +lazily from the ground, and, after tiring himself out, he at last +managed to pick one of the ducks up, too. He took it home +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page195" name="page195"></a>[195]</span> +joyfully, hiding it under his ragged garment. Once in his own yard, he +lost no time in killing and preparing it for dinner. He ate it, laughing +to himself all the time at his own slyness, and wondering what his +friend Lin would think if he chanced to count his ducks that night. "No +doubt he will believe it was a giant hawk that carried off that bird," +he said, chuckling. "My word! but didn't I do a great trick? I think I +will repeat the dose to-morrow. The first duck is well lodged in my +stomach, and I am ready to take an oath that all the others will find a +bed in the same boarding-house before many weeks are past. It would be a +pity to leave the first one to pine away in lonely grief. I could never +be so cruel." +</p> +<p> +So old Wang went to bed happy. For several hours he snored away noisily, +dreaming that a certain rich man had promised him good food all the +rest of his life, and that he would never be forced to do another +stroke of work. At midnight, however, he was wakened from his sleep by +an unpleasant itching. His whole body seemed to be on fire, and the pain +was more than he could bear. He got up and paced the floor. There was no +oil in the house for his lamp, and he had to wait until morning to see +what was the matter. At early dawn he stepped outside his shanty. Lo, +and behold! he found little +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page196" name="page196"></a>[196]</span> +red spots all over his body. Before his very eyes he saw tiny duck +feathers sprouting from these spots. As the morning went by, the +feathers grew larger and larger, until his whole body was covered with +them from head to foot. Only his face and hands were free of the strange +growth. +</p> +<p> +With a cry of horror, Wang began to pull the feathers out by handfuls, +flinging them in the dirt and stamping on them. "The gods have fooled +me!" he yelled. "They made me take the duck and eat it, and now they are +punishing me for stealing." But the faster he jerked the feathers out, +the faster they grew in again, longer and more glossy than before. Then, +too, the pain was so great that he could scarcely keep from rolling on +the ground. At last completely worn out by his useless labour, and +moaning with despair, he took to his bed. "Am I to be changed into a +bird?" he groaned. "May the gods have mercy on me!" +</p> +<p> +He tossed about on his bed: he could not sleep; his heart was sick with +fear. Finally he fell into a troubled sleep, and, sleeping, had a dream. +A fairy came to his bedside; it was Fairy Old Boy, the friend of the +people. "Ah, my poor Wang," said the fairy, "all this trouble you have +brought upon yourself by your shiftless, lazy habits. When others work, +why do you lie down and sleep your +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page197" name="page197"></a>[197]</span> +time away? Why don't you get up and shake your lazy legs? There is no +place in the world for such a man as you except the pig-sty." +</p> +<p> +"I know you are telling the truth," wailed Wang, "but how, oh, how can I +ever work with all these feathers sticking out of me? They will kill me! +They will kill me!" +</p> +<p> +"Hear the man!" laughed Old Boy. "Now, if you were a hopeful, happy +fellow, you would say, 'What a stroke of luck! No need to buy garments. +The gods have given me a suit of clothes that will never wear out.' You +are a pretty fellow to be complaining, aren't you?" +</p> +<p> +After joking in this way for a little while, the good fairy changed his +tone of voice and said, "Now, Wang, are you really sorry for the way +you have lived, sorry for your years of idleness, sorry because you +disgraced your old Father and Mother? I hear your parents died of hunger +because you would not help them." +</p> +<p> +Wang, seeing that Old Boy knew all about his past life, and, feeling his +pain growing worse and worse every minute, cried out at last: "Yes! Yes! +I will do anything you say. Only, I pray you, free me of these +feathers!" +</p> +<p> +"I wouldn't have your feathers," said Old Boy, "and I cannot free you of +them. You will have to do the whole thing yourself. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page198" name="page198"></a>[198]</span> +What you need is to hear a good scolding. Go and get Mr. Lin, the owner +of the stolen duck, to scold freely. The harder he scolds, the sooner +will your feathers drop out." +</p> +<p> +Now, of course, some readers will laugh and say, "But this was only +a silly dream, and meant nothing." Mr. Wang, however, did not think +in this way. He woke up very happy. He would go to Mr. Lin, confess +everything and take the scolding. Then he would be free of his feathers +and would go to work. Truly he had led a lazy life. What the good Fairy +Old Boy had said about his father and mother had hurt him very badly, +for he knew that every word was true. From this day on, he would not be +lazy; he would take a wife and become the father of a family. +</p> +<p> +Miser Wang meant all right when he started out from his shanty. From his +little hoard of money he took enough cash to pay Mr. Lin for the stolen +duck. He would do everything the fairy had told him and even more. But +this doing more was just where he got into trouble. As he walked along +the road jingling the string of cash, and thinking that he must soon +give it up to his neighbour, he grew very sad. He loved every copper of +his money and he disliked to part with it. After all, Old Boy had not +told him he must confess to the owner of the duck; he had said he must +go to Lin and get Lin to give a good +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page199" name="page199"></a>[199]</span> +scolding. "Old Boy did not say that Lin must scold <i>me</i>," thought the +miser. "All that I need do is to get him to <i>scold</i>, and then my +feathers will drop off and I shall be happy. Why not tell him that old +Sen stole his duck, and get him to give Sen a scolding? That will surely +do just as well, and I shall save my money as well as my face. Besides, +if I tell Lin that I am a thief, perhaps he will send for a policeman +and they will haul me off to prison. Surely going to jail would be as +bad as wearing feathers. Ha, ha! This will be a good joke on Sen, Lin, +and the whole lot of them. I shall fool Fairy Old Boy too. Really he had +no right to speak of my father and mother in the way he did. After all, +they died of fever, and I was no doctor to cure them. How could he say +it was my fault?" +</p> +<p> +The longer Wang talked to himself, the surer he became that it was +useless to tell Lin that he had stolen the duck. By the time he had +reached the duck man's house he had fully made up his mind to deceive +him. Mr. Lin invited him to come in and sit down. He was a plain-spoken, +honest kind of man, this Lin. Everybody liked him, for he never spoke +ill of any man and he always had something good to say of his +neighbours. +</p> +<p> +"Well, what's your business, friend Wang? You have come +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page200" name="page200"></a>[200]</span> +out bright and early, and it's a long walk from your place to mine." +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I had something important I wanted to talk to you about," began +Wang slyly. "That's a fine flock of ducks you have over in the meadow." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Mr. Lin smiling, "a fine flock indeed." But he said nothing +of the stolen fowl. +</p> +<p> +"How many have you?" questioned Wang more boldly. +</p> +<p> +"I counted them yesterday morning and there were fifteen." +</p> +<p> +"But did you count them again last night?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I did," answered Lin slowly. +</p> +<p> +"And there were only fourteen then?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite right, friend Wang, one of them was missing; but one duck is of +little importance. Why do you speak of it?" +</p> +<p> +"What, no importance! losing a duck? How can you say so? A duck's a +duck, isn't it, and surely you would like to know how you lost it?" +</p> +<p> +"A hawk most likely." +</p> +<p> +"No, it wasn't a hawk, but if you would go and look in old Sen's duck +yard, you would likely find feathers." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page201" name="page201"></a>[201]</span> +"Nothing more natural, I am sure, in a duck yard." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, but your duck's feathers," persisted Wang. +</p> +<p> +"What! you think old Sen is a thief, do you, and that he has been +stealing from me?" +</p> +<p> +"Exactly! you have it now." +</p> +<p> +"Well, well, that is too bad! I am sorry the old fellow is having such +a hard time. He is a good worker and deserves better luck. I should +willingly have given him the duck if he had only asked for it. Too bad +that he had to steal it." +</p> +<p> +Wang waited to see how Mr. Lin planned to punish the thief, feeling sure +that the least he could do, would be to go and give him a good scolding. +</p> +<p> +But nothing of the kind happened. Instead of growing angry, Mr. Lin +seemed to be sorry for Sen, sorry that he was poor, sorry that he was +willing to steal. +</p> +<p> +"Aren't you even going to give him a scolding?" asked Wang in disgust. +"Better go to his house with me and give him a good raking over the +coals." +</p> +<p> +"What use, what use? Hurt a neighbour's feelings just for a duck? That +would be foolish indeed." +</p> +<p> +By this time the Miser King had begun to feel an itching all over +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page202" name="page202"></a>[202]</span> +his body. The feathers had begun hurting again, and he was frightened +once more. He became excited and threw himself on the floor in front of +Mr. Lin. +</p> +<p> +"Hey! what's the matter, man?" cried Lin, thinking Wang was in a fit. +"What's the matter? Are you ill?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, very ill," wailed Wang. "Mr. Lin, I'm a bad man, and I may as well +own it at once and be done with it. There is no use trying to dodge the +truth or hide a fault. I stole your duck last night, and to-day I came +sneaking over here and tried to put the thing off on old Sen." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I knew it," answered Lin. "I saw you carrying the duck off under +your garment. Why did you come to see me at all if you thought I did not +know you were guilty?" +</p> +<p> +"Only wait, and I'll tell you everything," said Wang, bowing still +lower. "After I had boiled your duck and eaten it, I went to bed. Pretty +soon I felt an itching all over my body. I could not sleep and in the +morning I found that I had a thick growth of duck's feathers from head +to foot. The more I pulled them out, the thicker they grew in. I could +hardly keep from screaming. I took to my bed, and after I had tossed +about for hours a fairy came and told me that I could never get rid of +my trouble unless I got you to give me a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page203" name="page203"></a>[203]</span> +thorough scolding. Here is the money for your duck. Now for the love of +mercy, scold, and do it quickly, for I can't stand the pain much +longer." +</p> +<p> +Wang was grovelling in the dirt at Lin's feet, but Lin answered him only +with a loud laugh which finally burst into a roar. "Duck feathers! ha! +ha! ha! and all over your body? Why, that's too good a story to believe! +You'll be wanting to live in the water next. Ha! Ha! Ha!" +</p> +<p> +"Scold me! scold me!" begged Wang, "for the love of the gods scold me!" +</p> +<p> +But Lin only laughed the louder. "Pray let me see this wonderful growth +of feathers first, and then we'll talk about the scolding." +</p> +<p> +Wang willingly opened his garment and showed the doubting Lin that he +had been really speaking the truth. +</p> +<p> +"They must be warm," said Lin, laughing. "Winter is soon coming and you +are not over fond of work. Won't they save you the trouble of wearing +clothing?" +</p> +<p> +"But they make me itch so I can scarcely stand it! I feel like screaming +out, the pain is so great," and again Wang got down and began to kowtow +to the other; that is, he knelt and bumped his forehead against the +ground. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page204" name="page204"></a>[204]</span> +"Be calm, my friend, and give me time to think of some good +scold-words," said Lin at last. "I am not in the habit of using strong +language, and very seldom lose my temper. Really you must give me time +to think of what to say." +</p> +<p> +By this time Wang was in such pain that he lost all power over himself. +He seized Mr. Lin by the legs crying out, "Scold me! scold me!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Lin was now out of patience with his visitor. Besides Wang was +holding him so tightly that it really felt as if Lin were being pinched +by some gigantic crawfish. Suddenly Lin could hold his tongue no longer: +"You lazy hound! you whelp! you turtle! you lazy, good-for-nothing +creature! I wish you would hurry up and roll out of this!" +</p> +<p> +Now, in China, this is very strong language, and, with a cry of joy, +Wang leaped from the ground, for he knew that Lin had scolded him. No +sooner had the first hasty words been spoken than the feathers began +falling from the lazy man's body, and, at last, the dreadful itching +had entirely stopped. On the floor in front of Lin lay a great pile of +feathers, and Wang freed from his trouble, pointed to them and said, +"Thank you kindly, my dear friend, for the pretty names you have called +me. You have saved my life, and, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page205" name="page205"></a>[205]</span> +although I have paid for the duck, I wish to add to the bargain by +making you a present of these handsome feathers. They will, in a +measure, repay you for your splendid set of scold-words. I have learned +my lesson well, I hope, and I shall go out from here a better man. Fairy +Old Boy told me that I was lazy. You agree with the fairy. From this +day, however, you shall see that I can bend my back like a good fellow. +Good-bye, and, many thanks for your kindness." +</p> +<p> +So saying, with many low bows and polite words, Wang left the duck +owner's house, a happier and a wiser man. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page206" name="page206"></a>[206]</span> +</p> + +<a name="h2H_4_0016" id="h2H_4_0016"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> +LU-SAN, DAUGHTER OF HEAVEN +</h2> + +<a name="image-0026"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/i-232a.png" style="width: 400px;" +alt="LU-SAN, DAUGHTER OF HEAVEN" /> +</div> + +<img src="images/i-232b.png" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;" +alt="L" /> +<p style="text-indent: -0.5em; margin-top: 0em;"> +<!--L-->u-san went to bed without any supper, but her little heart was hungry +for something more than food. She nestled up close beside her sleeping +brothers, but even in their slumber they seemed to deny her that love +which she craved. The gentle lapping of the water against the sides of +the houseboat, music which had so often lulled her into dreamland, could +not quiet her now. Scorned and treated badly by the entire family, her +short life had been full of grief and shame. +</p> +<p> +Lu-san's father was a fisherman. His life had been one long fight +against poverty. He was ignorant and wicked. He had no more feeling of +love for his wife and five children than for the street +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page207" name="page207"></a>[207]</span> +dogs of his native city. Over and over he had threatened to drown them +one and all, and had been prevented from doing so only by fear of the +new mandarin. His wife did not try to stop her husband when he sometimes +beat the children until they fell half dead upon the deck. In fact, she +herself was cruel to them, and often gave the last blow to Lu-san, her +only daughter. Not on one day in the little girl's memory had she +escaped this daily whipping, not once had her parents pitied her. +</p> +<p> +On the night with which this story opens, not knowing that +Lu-san was listening, her father and mother were planning how to +get rid of her. +</p> +<p> +"The mandarin cares only about boys," said he roughly. "A man might kill +a dozen girls and he wouldn't say a word." +</p> +<p> +"Lu-san's no good anyway," added the mother. "Our boat is small, and +she's always in the wrong place." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and it takes as much to feed her as if she were a boy. If you say +so, I'll do it this very night." +</p> +<p> +"All right," she answered, "but you'd better wait till the moon has +set." +</p> +<p> +"Very well, wife, we'll let the moon go down first, and then the girl." +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page208" name="page208"></a>[208]</span> +No wonder Lu-san's little heart beat fast with terror, for there could +be no doubt as to the meaning of her parents' words. +</p> +<p> +At last when she heard them snoring and knew they were both sound +asleep, she got up silently, dressed herself, and climbed the ladder +leading to the deck. Only one thought was in her heart, to save herself +by instant flight. There were no extra clothes, not a bite of food to +take with her. Besides the rags on her back there was only one thing +she could call her own, a tiny soapstone image of the goddess Kwan-yin, +which she had found one day while walking in the sand. This was the only +treasure and plaything of her childhood, and if she had not watched +carefully, her mother would have taken even this away from her. Oh, +how she had nursed this idol, and how closely she had listened to the +stories an old priest had told about Kwan-yin the Goddess of Mercy, the +best friend of women and children, to whom they might always pray in +time of trouble. +</p> +<p> +It was very dark when Lu-san raised the trapdoor leading to the outer +air, and looked out into the night. The moon had just gone down, and +frogs were croaking along the shore. Slowly and carefully she pushed +against the door, for she was afraid that the wind coming in suddenly +might awaken the sleepers or, worse still, cause her to let the trap +fall with a bang. At last, however, she +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page209" name="page209"></a>[209]</span> +stood on the deck, alone and ready to go out into the big world. As she +stepped to the side of the boat the black water did not make her feel +afraid, and she went ashore without the slightest tremble. +</p> +<p> +Now she ran quickly along the bank, shrinking back into the shadows +whenever she heard the noise of footsteps, and thus hiding from the +passers-by. Only once did her heart quake, full of fear. A huge boat dog +ran out at her barking furiously. The snarling beast, however, was not +dangerous, and when he saw this trembling little girl of ten he sniffed +in disgust at having noticed any one so small, and returned to watch his +gate. +</p> +<p> +Lu-san had made no plans. She thought that if she could escape the +death her parents had talked about, they would be delighted at her +leaving them and would not look for her. It was not, then, her own +people that she feared as she passed the rows of dark houses lining the +shore. She had often heard her father tell of the dreadful deeds done +in many of these houseboats. The darkest memory of her childhood was of +the night when he had almost decided to sell her as a slave to the owner +of a boat like these she was now passing. Her mother had suggested that +they should wait until Lu-san was a little older, for she would then be +worth more money. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page210" name="page210"></a>[210]</span> +So her father had not sold her. Lately, perhaps, he +had tried and failed. +</p> +<p> +That was why she hated the river dwellers and was eager to get past +their houses. On and on she sped as fast as her little legs could carry +her. She would flee far away from the dark water, for she loved the +bright sunshine and the land. +</p> +<p> +As Lu-san ran past the last houseboat she breathed a sigh of relief and +a minute later fell in a little heap upon the sand. Not until now had +she noticed how lonely it was. Over there was the great city with its +thousands of sleepers. Not one of them was her friend. She knew nothing +of friendship, for she had had no playmates. Beyond lay the open fields, +the sleeping villages, the unknown world. Ah, how tired she was! How far +she had run! Soon, holding the precious image tightly in her little hand +and whispering a childish prayer to Kwan-yin, she fell asleep. +</p> +<p> +When Lu-san awoke, a cold chill ran through her body, for bending over +her stood a strange person. Soon she saw to her wonder that it was a +woman dressed in beautiful clothes like those worn by a princess. The +child had never seen such perfect features or so fair a face. At first, +conscious of her own filthy rags, she shrank back fearfully, wondering +what would happen if this beautiful +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page211" name="page211"></a>[211]</span> +being should chance to touch her and thus soil those slender white +fingers. As the child lay there trembling on the ground, she felt as if +she would like to spring into the fairy creature's arms and beg for +mercy. Only the fear that the lovely one would vanish kept her from so +doing. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, the little girl, bending +forward, stretched out her hand to the woman, saying, "Oh, you are so +beautiful! Take this, for it must be you who lost it in the sand." +</p> +<p> +The princess took the soapstone figure, eyed it curiously, and then with +a start of surprise said, "And do you know, my little creature, to whom +you are thus giving your treasure?" +</p> +<p> +"No," answered the child simply, "but it is the only thing I have in all +the world, and you are so lovely that I know it belongs to you. I found +it on the river bank." +</p> +<p> +Then a strange thing happened. The graceful, queenly woman bent over, +and held out her arms to the ragged, dirty child. With a cry of joy the +little one sprang forward; she had found the love for which she had been +looking so long. +</p> +<p> +"My precious child, this little stone which you have kept so lovingly, +and which without a thought of self you have given to me—do you know of +whom it is the image?" +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page212" name="page212"></a>[212]</span> +"Yes," answered Lu-san, the colour coming to her cheeks again as she +snuggled up contentedly in her new friend's warm embrace, "it is the +dear goddess Kwan-yin, she who makes the children happy." +</p> +<p> +"And has this gracious goddess brought sunshine into your life, my +pretty one?" said the other, a slight flush covering her fair cheeks at +the poor child's innocent words. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes indeed; if it had not been for her I should not have escaped +to-night. My father would have killed me, but the good lady of heaven +listened to my prayer and bade me stay awake. She told me to wait until +he was sleeping, then to arise and leave the houseboat." +</p> +<p> +"And where are you going, Lu-san, now that you have left your father? +Are you not afraid to be alone here at night on the bank of this great +river?" +</p> +<p> +"No, oh no! for the blessed mother will shield me. She has heard my +prayers, and I know she will show me where to go." +</p> +<p> +The lady clasped Lu-san still more tightly, and something glistened in +her radiant eye. A tear-drop rolled down her cheek and fell upon the +child's head, but Lu-san did not see it, for she had fallen fast asleep +in her protector's arms. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page213" name="page213"></a>[213]</span> +When Lu-san awoke, she was lying all alone on her bed in the houseboat, +but, strange to say, she was not frightened at finding herself once more +near her parents. A ray of sunlight came in, lighting up the child's +face and telling her that a new day had dawned. At last she heard the +sound of low voices, but she did not know who were the speakers. Then +as the tones grew louder she knew that her parents were talking. Their +speech, however, seemed to be less harsh than usual, as if they were +near the bed of some sleeper whom they did not wish to wake. +</p> +<p> +"Why," said her father, "when I bent over to lift her from the bed, +there was a strange light about her face. I touched her on the arm, and +at once my hand hung limp as if it had been shot. Then I heard a voice +whispering in my ears, 'What! would you lay your wicked hands on one who +made the tears of Kwan-yin flow? Do you not know that when she cries the +gods themselves are weeping?'" +</p> +<p> +"I too heard that voice," said the mother, her voice trembling; "I heard +it, and it seemed as if a hundred wicked imps pricked me with spears, at +every prick repeating these terrible words, 'And would you kill a +daughter of the gods?'" +</p> +<p> +"It is strange," he added, "to think how we had begun to hate +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page214" name="page214"></a>[214]</span> +this child, when all the time she belonged to another world than ours. +How wicked we must be since we could not see her goodness." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, and no doubt for every time we have struck her, a thousand blows +will be given us by Yama, for our insults to the gods." +</p> +<p> +Lu-san waited no longer, but rose to dress herself. Her heart was +burning with love for everything around her. She would tell her parents +that she forgave them, tell them how she loved them still in spite of +all their wickedness. To her surprise the ragged clothes were nowhere +to be seen. In place of them she found on one side of the bed the most +beautiful garments. The softest of silks, bright with flowers—so lovely +that she fancied they must have been taken from the garden of the +gods—were ready to slip on her little body. As she dressed herself she +saw with surprise that her fingers were shapely, that her skin was soft +and smooth. Only the day before, her hands had been rough and cracked by +hard work and the cold of winter. More and more amazed, she stooped to +put on her shoes. Instead of the worn-out soiled shoes of yesterday, the +prettiest little satin slippers were there all ready for her tiny feet. +</p> + +<a name="image-0027"><!--IMG--></a> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"> +<a href="images/0270-1.jpg"><img src="images/0270-1-s.jpg" style="width: 100%;" +alt="AS SHE DRESSED HERSELF SHE SAW WITH SURPRISE THAT HER FINGERS WERE SHAPELY." /></a> +<br /> +AS SHE DRESSED HERSELF SHE SAW WITH SURPRISE THAT HER +FINGERS WERE SHAPELY. +</div> +<p> + +Finally she climbed the rude ladder, and lo, everything she touched +seemed to be changed as if by magic, like her gown. The +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page215" name="page215"></a>[215]</span> +narrow rounds of the ladder had become broad steps of polished wood, +and it seemed as if she was mounting the polished stairway of some +fairy-built pagoda. When she reached the deck everything was changed. +The ragged patchwork which had served so long as a sail had become a +beautiful sheet of canvas that rolled and floated proudly in the river +breeze. Below were the dirty fishing smacks which Lu-san was used to, +but here was a stately ship, larger and fairer than any she had ever +dreamed of, a ship which had sprung into being as if at the touch of her +feet. +</p> +<p> +After searching several minutes for her parents she found them trembling +in a corner, with a look of great fear on their faces. They were clad +in rags, as usual, and in no way changed except that their savage faces +seemed to have become a trifle softened. Lu-san drew near the wretched +group and bowed low before them. +</p> +<p> +Her mother tried to speak; her lips moved, but made no sound: she had +been struck dumb with fear. +</p> +<p> +"A goddess, a goddess!" murmured the father, bending forward three times +and knocking his head on the deck. As for the brothers, they hid their +faces in their hands as if dazzled by a sudden burst of sunlight. +</p> +<p> +For a moment Lu-san paused. Then, stretching out her hand, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page216" name="page216"></a>[216]</span> +she touched her father on the shoulder. "Do you not know me, father? It +is Lu-san, your little daughter." +</p> +<p> +The man looked at her in wonder. His whole body shook, his lips +trembled, his hard brutish face had on it a strange light. Suddenly he +bent far over and touched his forehead to her feet. Mother and sons +followed his example. Then all gazed at her as if waiting for her +command. +</p> +<p> +"Speak, father," said Lu-san. "Tell me that you love me, say that you +will not kill your child." +</p> +<p> +"Daughter of the gods, and not of mine," he mumbled, and then paused as +if afraid to continue. +</p> +<p> +"What is it, father? Have no fear." +</p> +<p> +"First, tell me that you forgive me." +</p> +<p> +The child put her left hand upon her father's forehead and held the +right above the heads of the others, "As the Goddess of Mercy has given +me her favour, so I in her name bestow on you the love of heaven. Live +in peace, my parents. Brothers, speak no angry words. Oh, my dear ones, +let joy be yours for ever. When only love shall rule your lives, this +ship is yours and all that is in it." +</p> +<p> +Thus did Lu-san change her loved ones. The miserable family which had +lived in poverty now found itself enjoying peace and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page217" name="page217"></a>[217]</span> +happiness. At first they did not know how to live as Lu-san had +directed. The father sometimes lost his temper and the mother spoke +spiteful words; but as they grew in wisdom and courage they soon began +to see that only love must rule. +</p> +<p> +All this time the great boat was moving up and down the river. Its +company of sailors obeyed Lu-san's slightest wish. When their nets were +cast overboard they were always drawn back full of the largest, choicest +fish. These fish were sold at the city markets, and soon people began to +say that Lu-san was the richest person in the whole country. +</p> +<p> +One beautiful day during the Second Moon, the family had just returned +from the temple. It was Kwan-yin's birthday, and, led by Lu-san, they +had gone gladly to do the goddess honour. They had just mounted to the +vessel's deck when Lu-san's father, who had been looking off towards the +west, suddenly called the family to his side. "See!" he exclaimed. "What +kind of bird is that yonder in the sky?" +</p> +<p> +As they looked, they saw that the strange object was coming nearer and +nearer, and directly towards the ship. Every one was excited except +Lu-san. She was calm, as if waiting for something she had long expected. +</p> +<p> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page218" name="page218"></a>[218]</span> +"It is a flight of doves," cried the father in astonishment, "and they +seem to be drawing something through the air." +</p> +<p> +At last, as the birds flew right over the vessel, the surprised +onlookers saw that floating beneath their wings was a wonderful chair, +all white and gold, more dazzling even than the one they had dreamed the +Emperor himself sat in on the Dragon Throne. Around each snow-white neck +was fastened a long streamer of pure gold, and these silken ribbons were +tied to the chair in such a manner as to hold it floating wherever its +light-winged coursers chose to fly. +</p> +<p> +Down, down, over the magic vessel came the empty chair, and as it +descended, a shower of pure white lilies fell about the feet of Lu-san, +until she, the queen of all the flowers, was almost buried. The doves +hovered above her head for an instant, and then gently lowered their +burden until it was just in front of her. +</p> +<p> +With a farewell wave to her father and mother, Lu-san stepped into the +fairy car. As the birds began to rise, a voice from the clouds spoke +in tones of softest music: "Thus Kwan-yin, Mother of Mercies, rewards +Lu-san, daughter of the earth. Out of the dust spring the flowers; +out of the soil comes goodness. Lu-san! that tear which you drew from +Kwan-yin's eye fell upon the dry ground and softened it; it touched +the hearts of those who loved you not. Daughter of +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page219" name="page219"></a>[219]</span> +earth no longer, rise into the Western Heaven, there to take your place +among the fairies, there to be a star within the azure realms above." +</p> +<p> +As Lu-san's doves disappeared in the distant skies, a rosy light +surrounded her flying car. It seemed to those who gazed in wonder that +heaven's gates were opening to receive her. At last when she was gone +beyond their sight, suddenly it grew dark upon the earth, and the eyes +of all that looked were wet with tears. +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;"> + +[<b>Transcriber's Notes</b>: In the list of illustrations, the following +typos were corrected: climed for climbed, lamp for lump. Note also that +a few of the captions do not match the text on the images, this +idiosyncracy is in the original and has not been corrected. + +On page 6 the missing word 'the' was added: "for joy at thought" became +"for joy at the thought". + +The Front Matter in the original is unnumbered, and has been assigned +i-vi for disambiguation in the HTML.] +</p> + + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Chinese Wonder Book, by Norman Hinsdale Pitman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHINESE WONDER BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 18674-h.htm or 18674-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/6/7/18674/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Chinese Wonder Book + +Author: Norman Hinsdale Pitman + +Illustrator: Li Chu-T'ang + +Release Date: June 24, 2006 [EBook #18674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHINESE WONDER BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: (Front cover image)] + +[Illustration: "SNAKE'S BLOOD MIXED WITH POWDERED DEER-HORN."] + + + + + + + A CHINESE WONDER BOOK + + BY + + NORMAN HINSDALE PITMAN + + + ILLUSTRATED BY + LI CHU-T'ANG + + + [Illustration: Colophon] + + + NEW YORK + E. P. DUTTON & CO. + 681 FIFTH AVENUE + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1919 + By + E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY + + _All rights reserved_ + + * * * * * + + Printed in the United States of America + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + The Golden Beetle or Why the Dog Hates the Cat 1 + + The Great Bell 21 + + The Strange Tale of Doctor Dog 39 + + How Footbinding Started 52 + + The Talking Fish 68 + + Bamboo and the Turtle 88 + + The Mad Goose and the Tiger Forest 104 + + The Nodding Tiger 120 + + The Princess Kwan-Yin 134 + + The Two Jugglers 147 + + The Phantom Vessel 160 + + The Wooden Tablet 172 + + The Golden Nugget 187 + + The Man Who Would Not Scold 193 + + Lu-San, Daughter of Heaven 206 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Facing + Page + + "Snake's blood mixed with powdered deer-horn" _Frontispiece_ + + "Here son!" she cried, "look at my treasure!" 8 + + Clinging to the animal's shaggy hair was Honeysuckle 50 + + Throwing herself at his feet she thanked him for his mercy 56 + + "Ah," sighed the turtle, "if only the good god, P'anku, + were here" 102 + + Putting his bill close to her ear, he told Hu-Lin of + his recent discovery 108 + + The tiger gravely nodded his head 130 + + All day she was busy carrying water 138 + + Higher and higher he climbed 154 + + They saw shining in the pathway directly in front of them + a lump of gold 188 + + As she dressed herself she saw with surprise that her fingers + were shapely 214 + + + + +THE GOLDEN BEETLE OR WHY THE DOG HATES THE CAT + +[Illustration] + + +"What we shall eat to-morrow, I haven't the slightest idea!" said Widow +Wang to her eldest son, as he started out one morning in search of work. + +"Oh, the gods will provide. I'll find a few coppers somewhere," replied +the boy, trying to speak cheerfully, although in his heart he also had +not the slightest idea in which direction to turn. + +The winter had been a hard one: extreme cold, deep snow, and violent +winds. The Wang house had suffered greatly. The roof had fallen in, +weighed down by heavy snow. Then a hurricane had blown a wall over, and +Ming-li, the son, up all night and exposed to a bitter cold wind, had +caught pneumonia. Long days of illness followed, with the spending of +extra money for medicine. All their scant savings had soon melted away, +and at the shop where Ming-li had been employed his place was filled by +another. When at last he arose from his sick-bed he was too weak for +hard labour and there seemed to be no work in the neighbouring villages +for him to do. Night after night he came home, trying not to be +discouraged, but in his heart feeling the deep pangs of sorrow that come +to the good son who sees his mother suffering for want of food and +clothing. + +"Bless his good heart!" said the poor widow after he had gone. "No +mother ever had a better boy. I hope he is right in saying the gods will +provide. It has been getting so much worse these past few weeks that it +seems now as if my stomach were as empty as a rich man's brain. Why, +even the rats have deserted our cottage, and there's nothing left for +poor Tabby, while old Blackfoot is nearly dead from starvation." + +When the old woman referred to the sorrows of her pets, her +remarks were answered by a pitiful mewing and woebegone barking +from the corner where the two unfed creatures were curled up together +trying to keep warm. + +Just then there was a loud knocking at the gate. When the widow Wang +called out, "Come in!" she was surprised to see an old bald-headed +priest standing in the doorway. "Sorry, but we have nothing," she went +on, feeling sure the visitor had come in search of food. "We have fed on +scraps these two weeks--on scraps and scrapings--and now we are living +on the memories of what we used to have when my son's father was living. +Our cat was so fat she couldn't climb to the roof. Now look at her. You +can hardly see her, she's so thin. No, I'm sorry we can't help you, +friend priest, but you see how it is." + +"I didn't come for alms," cried the clean-shaven one, looking at her +kindly, "but only to see what I could do to help you. The gods have +listened long to the prayers of your devoted son. They honour him +because he has not waited till you die to do sacrifice for you. They +have seen how faithfully he has served you ever since his illness, and +now, when he is worn out and unable to work, they are resolved to reward +him for his virtue. You likewise have been a good mother and shall +receive the gift I am now bringing." + +"What do you mean?" faltered Mrs. Wang, hardly believing her ears at +hearing a priest speak of bestowing mercies. "Have you come here to +laugh at our misfortunes?" + +"By no means. Here in my hand I hold a tiny golden beetle which you will +find has a magic power greater than any you ever dreamed of. I will +leave this precious thing with you, a present from the god of filial +conduct." + +"Yes, it will sell for a good sum," murmured the other, looking closely +at the trinket, "and will give us millet for several days. Thanks, good +priest, for your kindness." + +"But you must by no means sell this golden beetle, for it has the power +to fill your stomachs as long as you live." + +The widow stared in open-mouthed wonder at the priest's surprising +words. + +"Yes, you must not doubt me, but listen carefully to what I tell you. +Whenever you wish food, you have only to place this ornament in a kettle +of boiling water, saying over and over again the names of what you want +to eat. In three minutes take off the lid, and there will be your +dinner, smoking hot, and cooked more perfectly than any food you have +ever eaten." + +"May I try it now?" she asked eagerly. + +"As soon as I am gone." + +When the door was shut, the old woman hurriedly kindled a fire, boiled +some water, and then dropped in the golden beetle, repeating these words +again and again: + + + "Dumplings, dumplings, come to me, + I am thin as thin can be. + Dumplings, dumplings, smoking hot, + Dumplings, dumplings, fill the pot." + + +Would those three minutes never pass? Could the priest have told the +truth? Her old head was nearly wild with excitement as clouds of steam +rose from the kettle. Off came the lid! She could wait no longer. Wonder +of wonders! There before her unbelieving eyes was a pot, full to the +brim of pork dumplings, dancing up and down in the bubbling water, the +best, the most delicious dumplings she had ever tasted. She ate and ate +till there was no room left in her greedy stomach, and then she feasted +the cat and the dog until they were ready to burst. + +"Good fortune has come at last," whispered Blackfoot, the dog, to +Whitehead, the cat, as they lay down to sun themselves outside. "I fear +I couldn't have held out another week without running away to look for +food. I don't know just what's happened, but there's no use questioning +the gods." + +Mrs. Wang fairly danced for joy at the thought of her son's return and +of how she would feast him. + +"Poor boy, how surprised he will be at our fortune--and it's all on +account of his goodness to his old mother." + +When Ming-li came, with a dark cloud overhanging his brow, the widow saw +plainly that disappointment was written there. + +"Come, come, lad!" she cried cheerily, "clear up your face and smile, +for the gods have been good to us and I shall soon show you how richly +your devotion has been rewarded." So saying, she dropped the golden +beetle into the boiling water and stirred up the fire. + +Thinking his mother had gone stark mad for want of food, Ming-li stared +solemnly at her. Anything was preferable to this misery. Should he sell +his last outer garment for a few pennies and buy millet for her? +Blackfoot licked his hand comfortingly, as if to say, "Cheer up, master, +fortune has turned in our favour." Whitehead leaped upon a bench, +purring like a sawmill. + +Ming-li did not have long to wait. Almost in the twinkling of an eye he +heard his mother crying out, + +"Sit down at the table, son, and eat these dumplings while they are +smoking hot." + +Could he have heard correctly? Did his ears deceive him? No, there on +the table was a huge platter full of the delicious pork dumplings he +liked better than anything else in all the world, except, of course, his +mother. + +"Eat and ask no questions," counselled the Widow Wang. "When you are +satisfied I will tell you everything." + +Wise advice! Very soon the young man's chopsticks were twinkling like +a little star in the verses. He ate long and happily, while his good +mother watched him, her heart overflowing with joy at seeing him at last +able to satisfy his hunger. But still the old woman could hardly wait +for him to finish, she was so anxious to tell him her wonderful secret. + +"Here, son!" she cried at last, as he began to pause between mouthfuls, +"look at my treasure!" And she held out to him the golden beetle. + +"First tell me what good fairy of a rich man has been filling our hands +with silver?" + +"That's just what I am trying to tell you," she laughed, "for there was +a fairy here this afternoon sure enough, only he was dressed like a bald +priest. That golden beetle is all he gave me, but with it comes a secret +worth thousands of cash to us." + +The youth fingered the trinket idly, still doubting his senses, and +waiting impatiently for the secret of his delicious dinner. "But, +mother, what has this brass bauble to do with the dumplings, these +wonderful pork dumplings, the finest I ever ate?" + +"Baubles indeed! Brass! Fie, fie, my boy! You little know what you are +saying. Only listen and you shall hear a tale that will open your eyes." + +She then told him what had happened, and ended by setting all of the +left-over dumplings upon the floor for Blackfoot and Whitehead, a thing +her son had never seen her do before, for they had been miserably poor +and had had to save every scrap for the next meal. + +Now began a long period of perfect happiness. Mother, son, dog and +cat--all enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content. All manner of new +foods such as they had never tasted were called forth from the pot by +the wonderful little beetle. Bird-nest soup, shark's fins, and a hundred +other delicacies were theirs for the asking, and soon Ming-li regained +all his strength, but, I fear, at the same time grew somewhat lazy, for +it was no longer necessary for him to work. As for the two animals, they +became fat and sleek and their hair grew long and glossy. + +[Illustration: "HERE SON!" SHE CRIED, "HAVE A LOOK AT MY TREASURE!"] + +But alas! according to a Chinese proverb, pride invites sorrow. The +little family became so proud of their good fortune that they began to +ask friends and relatives to dinner that they might show off their good +meals. One day a Mr. and Mrs. Chu came from a distant village. They were +much astonished at seeing the high style in which the Wangs lived. They +had expected a beggar's meal, but went away with full stomachs. + +"It's the best stuff I ever ate," said Mr. Chu, as they entered their +own tumble-down house. + +"Yes, and I know where it came from," exclaimed his wife. "I saw Widow +Wang take a little gold ornament out of the pot and hide it in a +cupboard. It must be some sort of charm, for I heard her mumbling to +herself about pork and dumplings just as she was stirring up the fire." + +"A charm, eh? Why is it that other people have all the luck? It looks as +if we were doomed forever to be poor." + +"Why not borrow Mrs. Wang's charm for a few days until we can pick up a +little flesh to keep our bones from clattering? Turn about's fair play. +Of course, we'll return it sooner or later." + +"Doubtless they keep very close watch over it. When would you find them +away from home, now that they don't have to work any more? As their +house only contains one room, and that no bigger than ours, it would be +difficult to borrow this golden trinket. It is harder, for more reasons +than one, to steal from a beggar than from a king." + +"Luck is surely with us," cried Mrs. Chu, clapping her hands. "They are +going this very day to the Temple fair. I overheard Mrs. Wang tell her +son that he must not forget he was to take her about the middle of the +afternoon. I will slip back then and borrow the little charm from the +box in which she hid it." + +"Aren't you afraid of Blackfoot?" + +"Pooh! he's so fat he can do nothing but roll. If the widow comes back +suddenly, I'll tell her I came to look for my big hair-pin, that I lost +it while I was at dinner." + +"All right, go ahead, only of course we must remember we're borrowing +the thing, not stealing it, for the Wangs have always been good friends +to us, and then, too, we have just dined with them." + +So skilfully did this crafty woman carry out her plans that within an +hour she was back in her own house, gleefully showing the priest's charm +to her husband. Not a soul had seen her enter the Wang house. The dog +had made no noise, and the cat had only blinked her surprise at seeing a +stranger and had gone to sleep again on the floor. + +Great was the clamour and weeping when, on returning from the fair in +expectation of a hot supper, the widow found her treasure missing. It +was long before she could grasp the truth. She went back to the little +box in the cupboard ten times before she could believe it was empty, and +the room looked as if a cyclone had struck it, so long and carefully did +the two unfortunates hunt for the lost beetle. + +Then came days of hunger which were all the harder to bear since the +recent period of good food and plenty. Oh, if they had only not got used +to such dainties! How hard it was to go back to scraps and scrapings! + +But if the widow and her son were sad over the loss of the good meals, +the two pets were even more so. They were reduced to beggary and had to +go forth daily upon the streets in search of stray bones and refuse that +decent dogs and cats turned up their noses at. + +One day, after this period of starvation had been going on for some +time, Whitehead began suddenly to frisk about in great excitement. + +"Whatever is the matter with you?" growled Blackfoot. "Are you mad from +hunger, or have you caught another flea?" + +"I was just thinking over our affairs, and now I know the cause of all +our trouble." + +"Do you indeed?" sneered Blackfoot. + +"Yes, I do indeed, and you'd better think twice before you mock me, for +I hold your future in my paw, as you will very soon see." + +"Well, you needn't get angry about nothing. What wonderful discovery +have you made--that every rat has one tail?" + +"First of all, are you willing to help me bring good fortune back to our +family?" + +"Of course I am. Don't be silly," barked the dog, wagging his tail +joyfully at the thought of another good dinner. "Surely! surely! I will +do anything you like if it will bring Dame Fortune back again." + +"All right. Here is the plan. There has been a thief in the house who +has stolen our mistress's golden beetle. You remember all our big +dinners that came from the pot? Well, every day I saw our mistress take +a little golden beetle out of the black box and put it into the pot. One +day she held it up before me, saying, 'Look, puss, there is the cause of +all our happiness. Don't you wish it was yours?' Then she laughed and +put it back into the box that stays in the cupboard." + +"Is that true?" questioned Blackfoot. "Why didn't you say something +about it before?" + +"You remember the day Mr. and Mrs. Chu were here, and how Mrs. Chu +returned in the afternoon after master and mistress had gone to the +fair? I saw her, out of the tail of my eye, go to that very black box +and take out the golden beetle. I thought it curious, but never dreamed +she was a thief. Alas! I was wrong! She took the beetle, and if I am not +mistaken, she and her husband are now enjoying the feasts that belong +to us." + +"Let's claw them," growled Blackfoot, gnashing his teeth. + +"That would do no good," counselled the other, "for they would be sure +to come out best in the end. We want the beetle back--that's the main +thing. We'll leave revenge to human beings; it is none of our business." + +"What do you suggest?" said Blackfoot. "I am with you through thick and +thin." + +"Let's go to the Chu house and make off with the beetle." + +"Alas, that I am not a cat!" moaned Blackfoot. "If we go there I +couldn't get inside, for robbers always keep their gates well locked. If +I were like you I could scale the wall. It is the first time in all my +life I ever envied a cat." + +"We will go together," continued Whitehead. "I will ride on your back +when we are fording the river, and you can protect me from strange +animals. When we get to the Chu house, I will climb over the wall and +manage the rest of the business myself. Only you must wait outside to +help me to get home with the prize." + +No sooner arranged than done. The companions set out that very night on +their adventure. They crossed the river as the cat had suggested, and +Blackfoot really enjoyed the swim, for, as he said, it took him back to +his puppyhood, while the cat did not get a single drop of water on her +face. It was midnight when they reached the Chu house. + +"Just wait till I return," purred Whitehead in Blackfoot's ear. + +With a mighty spring she reached the top of the mud wall, and then +jumped down to the inside court. While she was resting in the shadow, +trying to decide just how to go about her work, a slight rustling +attracted her attention, and pop! one giant spring, one stretch-out of +the claws, and she had caught a rat that had just come out of his hole +for a drink and a midnight walk. + +Now, Whitehead was so hungry that she would have made short work of this +tempting prey if the rat had not opened its mouth and, to her amazement, +begun to talk in good cat dialect. + +"Pray, good puss, not so fast with your sharp teeth! Kindly be careful +with your claws! Don't you know it is the custom now to put prisoners on +their honour? I will promise not to run away." + +"Pooh! what honour has a rat?" + +"Most of us haven't much, I grant you, but my family was brought up +under the roof of Confucius, and there we picked up so many crumbs of +wisdom that we are exceptions to the rule. If you will spare me, I will +obey you for life, in fact, will be your humble slave." Then, with a +quick jerk, freeing itself, "See, I am loose now, but honour holds me as +if I were tied, and so I make no further attempt to get away." + +"Much good it would do you," purred Whitehead, her fur crackling +noisily, and her mouth watering for a taste of rat steak. "However, +I am quite willing to put you to the test. First, answer a few polite +questions and I will see if you're a truthful fellow. What kind of food +is your master eating now, that you should be so round and plump when +I am thin and scrawny?" + +"Oh, we have been in luck lately, I can tell you. Master and mistress +feed on the fat of the land, and of course we hangers-on get the +crumbs." + +"But this is a poor tumble-down house. How can they afford such eating?" + +"That is a great secret, but as I am in honour bound to tell you, here +goes. My mistress has just obtained in some manner or other, a fairy's +charm----" + +"She stole it from our place," hissed the cat, "I will claw her eyes out +if I get the chance. Why, we've been fairly starving for want of that +beetle. She stole it from us just after she had been an invited guest! +What do you think of that for honour, Sir Rat? Were your mistress's +ancestors followers of the sage?" + +"Oh, oh, oh! Why, that explains everything!" wailed the rat. "I have +often wondered how they got the golden beetle, and yet of course I dared +not ask any questions." + +"No, certainly not! But hark you, friend rat--you get that golden +trinket back for me, and I will set you free at once of all obligations. +Do you know where she hides it?" + +"Yes, in a crevice where the wall is broken. I will bring it to you in +a jiffy, but how shall we exist when our charm is gone? There will be +a season of scanty food, I fear; beggars' fare for all of us." + +"Live on the memory of your good deed," purred the cat. "It is splendid, +you know, to be an honest beggar. Now scoot! I trust you completely, +since your people lived in the home of Confucius. I will wait here for +your return. Ah!" laughed Whitehead to herself, "luck seems to be coming +our way again!" + +Five minutes later the rat appeared, bearing the trinket in its mouth. +It passed the beetle over to the cat, and then with a whisk was off for +ever. Its honour was safe, but it was afraid of Whitehead. It had seen +the gleam of desire in her green eyes, and the cat might have broken her +word if she had not been so anxious to get back home where her mistress +could command the wonderful kettle once more to bring forth food. + +The two adventurers reached the river just as the sun was rising above +the eastern hills. + +"Be careful," cautioned Blackfoot, as the cat leaped upon his back for +her ride across the stream, "be careful not to forget the treasure. In +short, remember that even though you are a female, it is necessary to +keep your mouth closed till we reach the other side." + +"Thanks, but I don't think I need your advice," replied Whitehead, +picking up the beetle and leaping on to the dog's back. + +But alas! just as they were nearing the farther shore, the excited cat +forgot her wisdom for a moment. A fish suddenly leaped out of the water +directly under her nose. It was too great a temptation. Snap! went her +jaws in a vain effort to land the scaly treasure, and the golden beetle +sank to the bottom of the river. + +"There!" said the dog angrily, "what did I tell you? Now all our trouble +has been in vain--all on account of your stupidity." + +For a time there was a bitter dispute, and the companions called each +other some very bad names--such as turtle and rabbit. Just as they were +starting away from the river, disappointed and discouraged, a friendly +frog who had by chance heard their conversation offered to fetch the +treasure from the bottom of the stream. No sooner said than done, and +after thanking this accommodating animal profusely, they turned homeward +once more. + +When they reached the cottage the door was shut, and, bark as he would, +Blackfoot could not persuade his master to open it. There was the sound +of loud wailing inside. + +"Mistress is broken-hearted," whispered the cat, "I will go to her and +make her happy." + +So saying, she sprang lightly through a hole in the paper window, which, +alas! was too small and too far from the ground for the faithful dog to +enter. + +A sad sight greeted the gaze of Whitehead. The son was lying on the bed +unconscious, almost dead for want of food, while his mother, in despair, +was rocking backwards and forwards wringing her wrinkled hands and +crying at the top of her voice for some one to come and save them. + +"Here I am, mistress," cried Whitehead, "and here is the treasure you +are weeping for. I have rescued it and brought it back to you." + +The widow, wild with joy at sight of the beetle, seized the cat in her +scrawny arms and hugged the pet tightly to her bosom. + +"Breakfast, son, breakfast! Wake up from your swoon! Fortune has come +again. We are saved from starvation!" + +Soon a steaming hot meal was ready, and you may well imagine how the old +woman and her son, heaping praises upon Whitehead, filled the beast's +platter with good things, but never a word did they say of the faithful +dog, who remained outside sniffing the fragrant odours and waiting in +sad wonder, for all this time the artful cat had said nothing of +Blackfoot's part in the rescue of the golden beetle. + +At last, when breakfast was over, slipping away from the others, +Whitehead jumped out through the hole in the window. + +"Oh, my dear Blackfoot," she began laughingly, "you should have been +inside to see what a feast they gave me! Mistress was so delighted at +my bringing back her treasure that she could not give me enough to eat, +nor say enough kind things about me. Too bad, old fellow, that you are +hungry. You'd better run out into the street and hunt up a bone." + +Maddened by the shameful treachery of his companion, the enraged dog +sprang upon the cat and in a few seconds had shaken her to death. + +"So dies the one who forgets a friend and who loses honour," he cried +sadly, as he stood over the body of his companion. + +Rushing out into the street, he proclaimed the treachery of Whitehead +to the members of his tribe, at the same time advising that all +self-respecting dogs should from that time onwards make war upon the +feline race. + +And that is why the descendants of old Blackfoot, whether in China or +in the great countries of the West, have waged continual war upon the +children and grandchildren of Whitehead, for a thousand generations of +dogs have fought them and hated them with a great and lasting hatred. + + + + +THE GREAT BELL + +[Illustration] + + +The mighty Yung-lo sat on the great throne surrounded by a hundred +attendants. He was sad, for he could think of no wonderful thing to do +for his country. He flirted his silken fan nervously and snapped his +long finger-nails in the impatience of despair. + +"Woe is me!" he cried at last, his sorrow getting the better of his +usual calmness. "I have picked up the great capital and moved it from +the South to Peking and have built here a mighty city. I have surrounded +my city with a wall, even thicker and greater than the famous wall of +China. I have constructed in this city scores of temples and palaces. +I have had the wise men and scholars compile a great book of wisdom, +made up of 23,000 volumes, the largest and most wonderful collection +of learning ever gathered together by the hands of men. I have built +watch-towers, bridges, and giant monuments, and now, alas! as I approach +the end of my days as ruler of the Middle Kingdom there is nothing more +to be done for my people. Better far that I should even now close my +tired eyes for ever and mount up on high to be the guest of the dragon, +than live on in idleness, giving to my children an example of +uselessness and sloth." + +"But, your Majesty," began one of Yung-lo's most faithful courtiers, +named Ming-lin, falling upon his knees and knocking his head three times +on the ground, "if you would only deign to listen to your humble slave, +I would dare to suggest a great gift for which the many people of +Peking, your children, would rise up and bless you both now and in +future generations." + +"Only tell me of such a gift and I will not only grant it to the +imperial city, but as a sign of thanksgiving to you for your sage +counsel I will bestow upon you the royal peacock feather." + +"It is not for one of my small virtues," replied the delighted official, +"to wear the feather when others so much wiser are denied it, but if it +please your Majesty, remember that in the northern district of the city +there has been erected a bell-tower which as yet remains empty. The +people of the city need a giant bell to sound out the fleeting hours of +the day, that they may be urged on to perform their labours and not be +idle. The water-clock already marks the hours, but there is no bell to +proclaim them to the populace." + +"A good suggestion in sooth," answered the Emperor, smiling, "and yet +who is there among us that has skill enough in bell-craft to do the task +you propose? I am told that to cast a bell worthy of our imperial city +requires the genius of a poet and the skill of an astronomer." + +"True, most mighty one, and yet permit me to say that Kwan-yu, who so +skilfully moulded the imperial cannon, can also cast a giant bell. He +alone of all your subjects is worthy of the task, for he alone can do +it justice." + +Now, the official who proposed the name of Kwan-yu to the Emperor had +two objects in so doing. He wished to quiet the grief of Yung-lo, who +was mourning because he had nothing left to do for his people, and, +at the same time, to raise Kwan-yu to high rank, for Kwan-yu's only +daughter had for several years been betrothed to Ming-lin's only +son, and it would be a great stroke of luck for Ming-lin if his +daughter-in-law's father should come under direct favour of the Emperor. + +"Depend upon it, Kwan-yu can do the work better than any other man +within the length and breadth of your empire," continued Ming-lin, again +bowing low three times. + +"Then summon Kwan-yu at once to my presence, that I may confer with him +about this important business." + +In great glee Ming-lin arose and backed himself away from the golden +throne, for it would have been very improper for him to turn his +coat-tails on the Son of Heaven. + +But it was with no little fear that Kwan-yu undertook the casting of the +great bell. + +"Can a carpenter make shoes?" he had protested, when Ming-lin had broken +the Emperor's message to him. + +"Yes," replied the other quickly, "if they be like those worn by the +little island dwarfs, and, therefore, made of wood. Bells and cannon are +cast from similar material. You ought easily to adapt yourself to this +new work." + +Now when Kwan-yu's daughter found out what he was about to undertake, +she was filled with a great fear. + +"Oh, honoured father," she cried, "think well before you give this +promise. As a cannon-maker you are successful, but who can say about the +other task? And if you fail, the Great One's wrath will fall heavily +upon you." + +"Just hear the girl," interrupted the ambitious mother. "What do you +know about success and failure? You'd better stick to the subject of +cooking and baby-clothes, for you will soon be married. As for your +father, pray let him attend to his own business. It is unseemly for +a girl to meddle in her father's affairs." + +And so poor Ko-ai--for that was the maiden's name--was silenced, and +went back to her fancy-work with a big tear stealing down her fair +cheek, for she loved her father dearly and there had come into her heart +a strange terror at thought of his possible danger. + +Meanwhile, Kwan-yu was summoned to the Forbidden City, which is in the +centre of Peking, and in which stands the Imperial palace. There he +received his instructions from the Son of Heaven. + +"And remember," said Yung-lo in conclusion, "this bell must be so great +that the sound of it will ring out to a distance of thirty-three miles +on every hand. To this end, you should add in proper proportions gold +and brass, for they give depth and strength to everything with which +they mingle. Furthermore, in order that this giant may not be lacking in +the quality of sweetness, you must add silver in due proportion, while +the sayings of the sages must be graven on its sides." + +Now when Kwan-yu had really received his commission from the +Emperor he searched the bookstalls of the city to find if possible +some ancient descriptions of the best methods used in bell-casting. Also +he offered generous wages to all who had ever had experience in the +great work for which he was preparing. Soon his great foundry was alive +with labourers; huge fires were burning; great piles of gold, silver and +other metals were lying here and there, ready to be weighed. + +Whenever Kwan-yu went out to a public tea-house all of his friends plied +him with questions about the great bell. + +"Will it be the largest in the world?" + +"Oh, no," he would reply, "that is not necessary, but it must be the +sweetest-toned, for we Chinese strive not for size, but for purity; not +for greatness, but for virtue." + +"When will it be finished?" + +"Only the gods can tell, for I have had little experience, and perhaps I +shall fail to mix the metals properly." + +Every few days the Son of Heaven himself would send an imperial +messenger to ask similar questions, for a king is likely to be just as +curious as his subjects, but Kwan-yu would always modestly reply that he +could not be certain; it was very doubtful when the bell would be ready. + +At last, however, after consulting an astrologer, Kwan-yu appointed +a day for the casting, and then there came another courtier robed in +splendid garments, saying that at the proper hour the Great One himself +would for the first time cross Kwan-yu's threshold--would come to see +the casting of the bell he had ordered for his people. On hearing this, +Kwan-yu was sore afraid, for he felt that somehow, in spite of all his +reading, in spite of all the advice he had received from well-wishers, +there was something lacking in the mixture of the boiling metals that +would soon be poured into the giant mould. In short, Kwan-yu was about +to discover an important truth that this great world has been thousands +of years in learning--namely, that mere reading and advice cannot +produce skill, that true skill can come only from years of experience +and practice. On the brink of despair, he sent a servant with money to +the temple, to pray to the gods for success in his venture. Truly, +despair and prayer rhyme in every language. + +Ko-ai, his daughter, was also afraid when she saw the cloud on her +father's brow, for she it was, you remember, who had tried to prevent +him from undertaking the Emperor's commission. She also went to the +temple, in company with a faithful old servant, and prayed to heaven. + +The great day dawned. The Emperor and his courtiers were assembled, the +former sitting on a platform built for the occasion. Three attendants +waved beautiful hand-painted fans about his imperial brow, for the room +was very warm, and a huge block of ice lay melting in a bowl of carved +brass, cooling the hot air before it should blow upon the head of the +Son of Heaven. + +Kwan-yu's wife and daughter stood in a corner at the back of the room, +peering anxiously towards the cauldron of molten liquid, for well they +knew that Kwan-yu's future rank and power depended on the success of +this enterprise. Around the walls stood Kwan-yu's friends, and at the +windows groups of excited servants strained their necks, trying to catch +a glimpse of royalty, and for once afraid to chatter. Kwan-yu himself +was hurrying hither and thither, now giving a final order, now gazing +anxiously at the empty mould, and again glancing towards the throne to +see if his imperial master was showing signs of impatience. + +At last all was ready; everyone was waiting breathlessly for the sign +from Yung-lo which should start the flowing of the metal. A slight bow +of the head, a lifting of the finger! The glowing liquid, hissing with +delight at being freed even for a moment from its prison, ran forward +faster and faster along the channel that led into the great earthen bed. + +The bell-maker covered his eyes with his fan, afraid to look at the +swiftly-flowing stream. Were all his hopes to be suddenly dashed by the +failure of the metals to mix and harden properly? A heavy sigh escaped +him as at last he looked up at the thing he had created. Something had +indeed gone wrong; he knew in the flash of an eye that misfortune had +overtaken him. + +Yes! sure enough, when at last the earthen casting had been broken, even +the smallest child could see that the giant bell, instead of being a +thing of beauty was a sorry mass of metals that would not blend. + +"Alas!" said Yung-lo, "here is indeed a mighty failure, but even in this +disappointment I see an object lesson well worthy of consideration, for +behold! in yonder elements are all the materials of which this country +is made up. There are gold and silver and the baser metals. United in +the proper manner they would make a bell so wonderfully beautiful and so +pure of tone that the very spirits of the Western heavens would pause to +look and listen. But divided they form a thing that is hideous to eye +and ear. Oh, my China! how many wars are there from time to time among +the different sections, weakening the country and making it poor! If +only all these peoples, great and small, the gold and silver and the +baser elements, would unite, then would this land be really worthy of +the name of the Middle Kingdom!" + +The courtiers all applauded this speech of the great Yung-lo, but +Kwan-yu remained on the ground where he had thrown himself at the feet +of his sovereign. Still bowing his head and moaning, he cried out: + +"Ah! your Majesty! I urged you not to appoint me, and now indeed you see +my unfitness. Take my life, I beg you, as a punishment for my failure." + +"Rise, Kwan-yu," said the great Prince. "I would be a mean master indeed +if I did not grant you another trial. Rise up and see that your next +casting profits by the lesson of this failure." + +So Kwan-yu arose, for when the King speaks, all men must listen. The +next day he began his task once more, but still his heart was heavy, +for he knew not the reason of his failure and was therefore unable to +correct his error. For many months he laboured night and day. Hardly a +word would he speak to his wife, and when his daughter tried to tempt +him with a dish of sunflower seed that she had parched herself, he would +reward her with a sad smile, but would by no means laugh with her and +joke as had formerly been his custom. On the first and fifteenth day of +every moon he went himself to the temple and implored the gods to grant +him their friendly assistance, while Ko-ai added her prayers to his, +burning incense and weeping before the grinning idols. + +Again the great Yung-lo was seated on the platform in Kwan-yu's foundry, +and again his courtiers hovered round him, but this time, as it was +winter, they did not flirt the silken fans. The Great One was certain +that this casting would be successful. He had been lenient with Kwan-yu +on the first occasion, and now at last he and the great city were to +profit by that mercy. + +Again he gave the signal; once more every neck was craned to see the +flowing of the metal. But, alas! when the casing was removed it was seen +that the new bell was no better than the first. It was, in fact, a +dreadful failure, cracked and ugly, for the gold and silver and the +baser elements had again refused to blend into a united whole. + +With a bitter cry which touched the hearts of all those present, the +unhappy Kwan-yu fell upon the floor. This time he did not bow before his +master, for at the sight of the miserable conglomeration of useless +metals his courage failed him, and he fainted. When at last he came to, +the first sight that met his eyes was the scowling face of Yung-lo. Then +he heard, as in a dream, the stern voice of the Son of Heaven: + +"Unhappy Kwan-yu, can it be that you, upon whom I have ever heaped my +favours, have twice betrayed the trust? The first time, I was sorry +for you and willing to forget, but now that sorrow has turned into +anger--yea, the anger of heaven itself is upon you. Now, I bid you mark +well my words. A third chance you shall have to cast the bell, but if on +that third attempt you fail--then by order of the Vermilion Pencil both +you and Ming-lin, who recommended you, shall pay the penalty." + +For a long time after the Emperor had departed, Kwan-yu lay on the floor +surrounded by his attendants, but chief of all those who tried to +restore him was his faithful daughter. For a whole week he wavered +between life and death, and then at last there came a turn in his +favour. Once more he regained his health, once more he began his +preparations. + +Yet all the time he was about his work his heart was heavy, for he felt +that he would soon journey into the dark forest, the region of the great +yellow spring, the place from which no pilgrim ever returns. Ko-ai, too, +felt more than ever that her father was in the presence of a great +danger. + +"Surely," she said one day to her mother, "a raven must have flown over +his head. He is like the proverb of the blind man on the blind horse +coming at midnight to a deep ditch. Oh, how can he cross over?" + +Willingly would this dutiful daughter have done anything to save her +loved one. Night and day she racked her brains for some plan, but all to +no avail. + +On the day before the third casting, as Ko-ai was sitting in front of +her brass mirror braiding her long black hair, suddenly a little bird +flew in at the window and perched upon her head. Immediately the +startled maiden seemed to hear a voice as if some good fairy were +whispering in her ear: + +"Do not hesitate. You must go and consult the famous juggler who even +now is visiting the city. Sell your jade-stones and other jewels, for +this man of wisdom will not listen unless his attention is attracted +by huge sums of money." + +The feathered messenger flew out of her room, but Ko-ai had heard enough +to make her happy. She despatched a trusted servant to sell her jade and +her jewels, charging him on no account to tell her mother. Then, with a +great sum of money in her possession she sought out the magician who was +said to be wiser than the sages in knowledge of life and death. + +"Tell me," she implored, as the greybeard summoned her to his presence, +"tell me how I can save my father, for the Emperor has ordered his death +if he fails a third time in the casting of the bell." + +The astrologer, after plying her with questions, put on his +tortoise-shell glasses and searched long in his book of knowledge. He +also examined closely the signs of the heavens, consulting the mystic +tables over and over again. Finally, he turned toward Ko-ai, who all the +time had been awaiting his answer with impatience. + +"Nothing could be plainer than the reason of your father's failure, for +when a man seeks to do the impossible, he can expect Fate to give him no +other answer. Gold cannot unite with silver, nor brass with iron, unless +the blood of a maiden is mingled with the molten metals, but the girl +who gives up her life to bring about the fusion must be pure and good." + +With a sigh of despair Ko-ai heard the astrologer's answer. She loved +the world and all its beauties; she loved her birds, her companions, her +father; she had expected to marry soon, and then there would have been +children to love and cherish. But now all these dreams of happiness must +be forgotten. There was no other maiden to give up her life for Kwan-yu. +She, Ko-ai, loved her father and must make the sacrifice for his sake. + +And so the day arrived for the third trial, and a third time Yung-lo +took his place in Kwan-yu's factory, surrounded by his courtiers. There +was a look of stern expectancy on his face. Twice he had excused his +underling for failure. Now there could be no thought of mercy. If the +bell did not come from its cast perfect in tone and fair to look upon, +Kwan-yu must be punished with the severest punishment that could be +meted out to man--even death itself. That was why there was a look of +stern expectancy on Yung-lo's face, for he really loved Kwan-yu and did +not wish to send him to his death. + +As for Kwan-yu himself, he had long ago given up all thought of success, +for nothing had happened since his second failure to make him any surer +this time of success. He had settled up his business affairs, arranging +for a goodly sum to go to his beloved daughter; he had bought the coffin +in which his own body would be laid away and had stored it in one of the +principal rooms of his dwelling; he had even engaged the priests and +musicians who should chant his funeral dirge, and, last but not least, +he had arranged with the man who would have charge of chopping off his +head, that one fold of skin should be left uncut, as this would bring +him better luck on his entry into the spiritual world than if the head +were severed entirely from the body. + +And so we may say that Kwan-yu was prepared to die. In fact, on the +night before the final casting he had a dream in which he saw himself +kneeling before the headsman and cautioning him not to forget the +binding agreement the latter had entered into. + +Of all those present in the great foundry, perhaps the devoted Ko-ai was +the least excited. Unnoticed, she had slipped along the wall from the +spot where she had been standing with her mother and had planted herself +directly opposite the huge tank in which the molten, seething liquid +bubbled, awaiting the signal when it should be set free. Ko-ai gazed at +the Emperor, watching intently for the well-known signal. When at last +she saw his head move forward she sprang with a wild leap into the +boiling liquid, at the same time crying in her clear, sweet voice: + +"For thee, dear father! It is the only way!" + +The molten white metal received the lovely girl into its ardent embrace, +received her, and swallowed her up completely, as in a tomb of liquid +fire. + +And Kwan-yu--what of Kwan-yu, the frantic father? Mad with grief at the +sight of his loved one giving up her life, a sacrifice to save him, he +had sprung forward to hold her back from her terrible death, but had +succeeded only in catching one of her tiny jewelled slippers as she sank +out of sight for ever--a dainty, silken slipper, to remind him always of +her wonderful sacrifice. In his wild grief as he clasped this pitiful +little memento to his heart he would himself have leaped in and followed +her to her death, if his servants had not restrained him until the +Emperor had repeated his signal and the liquid had been poured into the +cast. As the sad eyes of all those present peered into the molten river +of metals rushing to its earthen bed, they saw not a single sign +remaining of the departed Ko-ai. + +This, then, my children, is the time-worn legend of the great bell +of Peking, a tale that has been repeated a million times by poets, +story-tellers and devoted mothers, for you must know that on this third +casting, when the earthen mould was removed, there stood revealed the +most beautiful bell that eye had ever looked upon, and when it was swung +up into the bell-tower there was immense rejoicing among the people. The +silver and the gold and the iron and the brass, held together by the +blood of the virgin, had blended perfectly, and the clear voice of the +monster bell rang out over the great city, sounding a deeper, richer +melody than that of any other bell within the limits of the Middle +Kingdom, or, for that matter, of all the world. And, strange to say, +even yet the deep-voiced colossus seems to cry out the name of the +maiden who gave herself a living sacrifice, "Ko-ai! Ko-ai! Ko-ai!" so +that all the people may remember her deed of virtue ten thousand years +ago. And between the mellow peals of music there often seems to come a +plaintive whisper that may be heard only by those standing near, "Hsieh! +hsieh"--the Chinese word for slipper. "Alas!" say all who hear it, +"Ko-ai is crying for her slipper. Poor little Ko-ai!" + +And now, my dear children, this tale is almost finished, but there is +still one thing you must by no means fail to remember. By order of the +Emperor, the face of the great bell was graven with precious sayings +from the classics, that even in its moments of silence the bell might +teach lessons of virtue to the people. + +"Behold," said Yung-lo, as he stood beside the grief-stricken father, +"amongst all yonder texts of wisdom, the priceless sayings of our +honoured sages, there is none that can teach to my children so sweet a +lesson of filial love and devotion as that one last act of your devoted +daughter. For though she died to save you, her deed will still be sung +and extolled by my people when you are passed away, yea, even when the +bell itself has crumbled into ruins." + + + + +THE STRANGE TALE OF DOCTOR DOG + +[Illustration] + + +Far up in the mountains of the Province of Hunan in the central part of +China, there once lived in a small village a rich gentleman who had only +one child. This girl, like the daughter of Kwan-yu in the story of the +Great Bell, was the very joy of her father's life. + +Now Mr. Min, for that was this gentleman's name, was famous throughout +the whole district for his learning, and, as he was also the owner of +much property, he spared no effort to teach Honeysuckle the wisdom of +the sages, and to give her everything she craved. Of course this was +enough to spoil most children, but Honeysuckle was not at all like other +children. As sweet as the flower from which she took her name, she +listened to her father's slightest command, and obeyed without ever +waiting to be told a second time. + +Her father often bought kites for her, of every kind and shape. There +were fish, birds, butterflies, lizards and huge dragons, one of which +had a tail more than thirty feet long. Mr. Min was very skilful in +flying these kites for little Honeysuckle, and so naturally did his +birds and butterflies circle round and hover about in the air that +almost any little western boy would have been deceived and said, "Why, +there is a real bird, and not a kite at all!" Then again, he would +fasten a queer little instrument to the string, which made a kind of +humming noise, as he waved his hand from side to side. "It is the wind +singing, Daddy," cried Honeysuckle, clapping her hands with joy; +"singing a kite-song to both of us." Sometimes, to teach his little +darling a lesson if she had been the least naughty, Mr. Min would fasten +queerly twisted scraps of paper, on which were written many Chinese +words, to the string of her favourite kite. + +"What are you doing, Daddy?" Honeysuckle would ask. "What can those +queer-looking papers be?" + +"On every piece is written a sin that we have done." + +"What is a sin, Daddy?" + +"Oh, when Honeysuckle has been naughty; that is a sin!" he answered +gently. "Your old nurse is afraid to scold you, and if you are to grow +up to be a good woman, Daddy must teach you what is right." + +Then Mr. Min would send the kite up high--high over the house-tops, +even higher than the tall Pagoda on the hillside. When all his cord +was let out, he would pick up two sharp stones, and, handing them to +Honeysuckle, would say, "Now, daughter, cut the string, and the wind +will carry away the sins that are written down on the scraps of paper." + +"But, Daddy, the kite is so pretty. Mayn't we keep our sins a little +longer?" she would innocently ask. + +"No, child; it is dangerous to hold on to one's sins. Virtue is the +foundation of happiness," he would reply sternly, choking back his +laughter at her question. "Make haste and cut the cord." + +So Honeysuckle, always obedient--at least with her father--would saw +the string in two between the sharp stones, and with a childish cry of +despair would watch her favourite kite, blown by the wind, sail farther +and farther away, until at last, straining her eyes, she could see it +sink slowly to the earth in some far-distant meadow. + +"Now laugh and be happy," Mr. Min would say, "for your sins are all +gone. See that you don't get a new supply of them." + +Honeysuckle was also fond of seeing the Punch and Judy show, for, +you must know, this old-fashioned amusement for children was enjoyed +by little folks in China, perhaps three thousand years before your +great-grandfather was born. It is even said that the great Emperor, Mu, +when he saw these little dancing images for the first time, was greatly +enraged at seeing one of them making eyes at his favourite wife. He +ordered the showman to be put to death, and it was with difficulty the +poor fellow persuaded his Majesty that the dancing puppets were not +really alive at all, but only images of cloth and clay. + +No wonder then Honeysuckle liked to see Punch and Judy if the Son of +Heaven himself had been deceived by their queer antics into thinking +them real people of flesh and blood. + +But we must hurry on with our story, or some of our readers will be +asking, "But where is Dr. Dog? Are you never coming to the hero of this +tale?" One day when Honeysuckle was sitting inside a shady pavilion that +overlooked a tiny fish-pond, she was suddenly seized with a violent +attack of colic. Frantic with pain, she told a servant to summon her +father, and then without further ado, she fell over in a faint upon the +ground. + +When Mr. Min reached his daughter's side, she was still unconscious. +After sending for the family physician to come post haste, he got his +daughter to bed, but although she recovered from her fainting fit, the +extreme pain continued until the poor girl was almost dead from +exhaustion. + +Now, when the learned doctor arrived and peered at her from under his +gigantic spectacles, he could not discover the cause of her trouble. +However, like some of our western medical men, he did not confess his +ignorance, but proceeded to prescribe a huge dose of boiling water, to +be followed a little later by a compound of pulverized deer's horn and +dried toadskin. + +Poor Honeysuckle lay in agony for three days, all the time growing +weaker and weaker from loss of sleep. Every great doctor in the district +had been summoned for consultation; two had come from Changsha, the +chief city of the province, but all to no avail. It was one of those +cases that seem to be beyond the power of even the most learned +physicians. In the hope of receiving the great reward offered by the +desperate father, these wise men searched from cover to cover in the +great Chinese Cyclopedia of Medicine, trying in vain to find a method of +treating the unhappy maiden. There was even thought of calling in a +certain foreign physician from England, who was in a distant city, and +was supposed, on account of some marvellous cures he had brought to +pass, to be in direct league with the devil. However, the city +magistrate would not allow Mr. Min to call in this outsider, for fear +trouble might be stirred up among the people. + +Mr. Min sent out a proclamation in every direction, describing his +daughter's illness, and offering to bestow on her a handsome dowry and +give her in marriage to whoever should be the means of bringing her back +to health and happiness. He then sat at her bedside and waited, feeling +that he had done all that was in his power. There were many answers to +his invitation. Physicians, old and young, came from every part of the +Empire to try their skill, and when they had seen poor Honeysuckle and +also the huge pile of silver shoes her father offered as a wedding gift, +they all fought with might and main for her life; some having been +attracted by her great beauty and excellent reputation, others by the +tremendous reward. + +But, alas for poor Honeysuckle! Not one of all those wise men could cure +her! One day, when she was feeling a slight change for the better, she +called her father, and, clasping his hand with her tiny one said, "Were +it not for your love I would give up this hard fight and pass over into +the dark wood; or, as my old grandmother says, fly up into the Western +Heavens. For your sake, because I am your only child, and especially +because you have no son, I have struggled hard to live, but now I feel +that the next attack of that dreadful pain will carry me away. And oh, +I do not want to die!" + +Here Honeysuckle wept as if her heart would break, and her old father +wept too, for the more she suffered the more he loved her. + +Just then her face began to turn pale. "It is coming! The pain is +coming, father! Very soon I shall be no more. Good-bye, father! +Good-bye; good----." Here her voice broke and a great sob almost broke +her father's heart. He turned away from her bedside; he could not bear +to see her suffer. He walked outside and sat down on a rustic bench; his +head fell upon his bosom, and the great salt tears trickled down his +long grey beard. + +As Mr. Min sat thus overcome with grief, he was startled at hearing a +low whine. Looking up he saw, to his astonishment, a shaggy mountain dog +about the size of a Newfoundland. The huge beast looked into the old +man's eyes with so intelligent and human an expression, with such a sad +and wistful gaze, that the greybeard addressed him, saying, "Why have +you come? To cure my daughter?" + +The dog replied with three short barks, wagging his tail vigorously and +turning toward the half-opened door that led into the room where the +girl lay. + +By this time, willing to try any chance whatever of reviving his +daughter, Mr. Min bade the animal follow him into Honeysuckle's +apartment. Placing his forepaws upon the side of her bed, the dog looked +long and steadily at the wasted form before him and held his ear +intently for a moment over the maiden's heart. Then, with a slight cough +he deposited from his mouth into her outstretched hand, a tiny stone. +Touching her wrist with his right paw, he motioned to her to swallow the +stone. + +"Yes, my dear, obey him," counselled her father, as she turned to him +inquiringly, "for good Dr. Dog has been sent to your bedside by the +mountain fairies, who have heard of your illness and who wish to invite +you back to life again." + +Without further delay the sick girl, who was by this time almost burned +away by the fever, raised her hand to her lips and swallowed the tiny +charm. Wonder of wonders! No sooner had it passed her lips than a +miracle occurred. The red flush passed away from her face, the pulse +resumed its normal beat, the pains departed from her body, and she arose +from the bed well and smiling. + +Flinging her arms about her father's neck, she cried out in joy, "Oh, +I am well again; well and happy; thanks to the medicine of the good +physician." + +The noble dog barked three times, wild with delight at hearing these +tearful words of gratitude, bowed low, and put his nose in Honeysuckle's +outstretched hand. + +Mr. Min, greatly moved by his daughter's magical recovery, turned to the +strange physician, saying, "Noble Sir, were it not for the form you have +taken, for some unknown reason, I would willingly give four times the +sum in silver that I promised for the cure of the girl, into your +possession. As it is, I suppose you have no use for silver, but remember +that so long as we live, whatever we have is yours for the asking, and +I beg of you to prolong your visit, to make this the home of your old +age--in short, remain here for ever as my guest--nay, as a member of +my family." + +The dog barked thrice, as if in assent. From that day he was treated as +an equal by father and daughter. The many servants were commanded to +obey his slightest whim, to serve him with the most expensive food on +the market, to spare no expense in making him the happiest and best-fed +dog in all the world. Day after day he ran at Honeysuckle's side as she +gathered flowers in her garden, lay down before her door when she was +resting, guarded her Sedan chair when she was carried by servants into +the city. In short, they were constant companions; a stranger would have +thought they had been friends from childhood. + +One day, however, just as they were returning from a journey outside her +father's compound, at the very instant when Honeysuckle was alighting +from her chair, without a moment's warning, the huge animal dashed past +the attendants, seized his beautiful mistress in his mouth, and before +anyone could stop him, bore her off to the mountains. By the time the +alarm was sounded, darkness had fallen over the valley and as the night +was cloudy no trace could be found of the dog and his fair burden. + +Once more the frantic father left no stone unturned to save his +daughter. Huge rewards were offered, bands of woodmen scoured the +mountains high and low, but, alas, no sign of the girl could be found! +The unfortunate father gave up the search and began to prepare himself +for the grave. There was nothing now left in life that he cared +for--nothing but thoughts of his departed daughter. Honeysuckle was gone +for ever. + +"Alas!" said he, quoting the lines of a famous poet who had fallen into +despair: + + + "My whiting hair would make an endless rope, + Yet would not measure all my depth of woe." + + +Several long years passed by; years of sorrow for the ageing man, pining +for his departed daughter. One beautiful October day he was sitting in +the very same pavilion where he had so often sat with his darling. His +head was bowed forward on his breast, his forehead was lined with grief. +A rustling of leaves attracted his attention. He looked up. Standing +directly in front of him was Dr. Dog, and lo, riding on his back, +clinging to the animal's shaggy hair, was Honeysuckle, his long-lost +daughter; while standing near by were three of the handsomest boys he +had ever set eyes upon! + +"Ah, my daughter! My darling daughter, where have you been all these +years?" cried the delighted father, pressing the girl to his aching +breast. "Have you suffered many a cruel pain since you were snatched +away so suddenly? Has your life been filled with sorrow?" + +"Only at the thought of your grief," she replied, tenderly, stroking +his forehead with her slender fingers; "only at the thought of your +suffering; only at the thought of how I should like to see you every day +and tell you that my husband was kind and good to me. For you must know, +dear father, this is no mere animal that stands beside you. This Dr. +Dog, who cured me and claimed me as his bride because of your promise, +is a great magician. He can change himself at will into a thousand +shapes. He chooses to come here in the form of a mountain beast so that +no one may penetrate the secret of his distant palace." + +"Then he is your husband?" faltered the old man, gazing at the animal +with a new expression on his wrinkled face. + +"Yes; my kind and noble husband, the father of my three sons, your +grandchildren, whom we have brought to pay you a visit." + +"And where do you live?" + +"In a wonderful cave in the heart of the great mountains; a beautiful +cave whose walls and floors are covered with crystals, and encrusted +with sparkling gems. The chairs and tables are set with jewels; the +rooms are lighted by a thousand glittering diamonds. Oh, it is lovelier +than the palace of the Son of Heaven himself! We feed of the flesh of +wild deer and mountain goats, and fish from the clearest mountain +stream. We drink cold water out of golden goblets, without first boiling +it, for it is purity itself. We breathe fragrant air that blows through +forests of pine and hemlock. We live only to love each other and our +children, and oh, we are so happy! And you, father, you must come back +with us to the great mountains and live there with us the rest of your +days, which, the gods grant, may be very many." + +[Illustration: "CLINGING TO THE ANIMAL'S SHAGGY HAIR WAS HONEYSUCKLE"] + +The old man pressed his daughter once more to his breast and fondled the +children, who clambered over him rejoicing at the discovery of a +grandfather they had never seen before. + +From Dr. Dog and his fair Honeysuckle are sprung, it is said, the +well-known race of people called the Yus, who even now inhabit the +mountainous regions of the Canton and Hunan provinces. It is not for +this reason, however, that we have told the story here, but because we +felt sure every reader would like to learn the secret of the dog that +cured a sick girl and won her for his bride. + + + + +HOW FOOTBINDING STARTED + +[Illustration] + + +In the very beginning of all things, when the gods were creating the +world, at last the time came to separate the earth from the heavens. +This was hard work, and if it had not been for the coolness and skill of +a young goddess all would have failed. This goddess was named Lu-o. She +had been idly watching the growth of the planet, when, to her horror, +she saw the newly made ball slipping slowly from its place. In another +second it would have shot down into the bottomless pit. Quick as a flash +Lu-o stopped it with her magic wand and held it firmly until the chief +god came dashing up to the rescue. + +But this was not all. When men and women were put on the earth Lu-o +helped them greatly by setting an example of purity and kindness. Every +one loved her and pointed her out as the one who was always willing to +do a good deed. After she had left the world and gone into the land of +the gods, beautiful statues of her were set up in many temples to keep +her image always before the eyes of sinful people. The greatest of these +was in the capital city. Thus, when sorrowful women wished to offer up +their prayers to some virtuous goddess they would go to a temple of Lu-o +and pour out their hearts before her shrine. + +At one time the wicked Chow-sin, last ruler of the Yins, went to pray in +the city Temple. There his royal eyes were captivated by the sight of a +wonderful face, the beauty of which was so great that he fell in love +with it at once, telling his ministers that he wished he might take this +goddess, who was no other than Lu-o, for one of his wives. + +Now Lu-o was terribly angry that an earthly prince should dare to make +such a remark about her. Then and there she determined to punish the +Emperor. Calling her assistant spirits, she told them of Chow-sin's +insult. Of all her servants the most cunning was one whom we shall call +Fox Sprite, because he really belonged to the fox family. Lu-o ordered +Fox Sprite to spare himself no trouble in making the wicked ruler suffer +for his impudence. + +For many days, try as he would, Chow-sin, the great Son of Heaven, could +not forget the face he had seen in the temple. + +"He is stark mad," laughed his courtiers behind his back, "to fall in +love with a statue." + +"I must find a woman just like her," said the Emperor, "and take her to +wife." + +"Why not, most Mighty One," suggested a favourite adviser, "send forth a +command throughout the length and breadth of your Empire, that no maiden +shall be taken in marriage until you have chosen yourself a wife whose +beauty shall equal that of Lu-o?" + +Chow-sin was pleased with this suggestion and doubtless would have +followed it had not his Prime Minister begged him to postpone issuing +the order. "Your Imperial Highness," began the official, "since you have +been pleased once or twice to follow my counsel, I beg of you to give +ear now to what I say." + +"Speak, and your words shall have my best attention," replied Chow-sin, +with a gracious wave of the hand. + +"Know then, Great One, that in the southern part of your realm there +dwells a viceroy whose bravery has made him famous in battle." + +"Are you speaking of Su-nan?" questioned Chow-sin, frowning, for this +Su-nan had once been a rebel. + +"None other, mighty Son of Heaven. Famous is he as a soldier, but his +name is now even greater in that he is the father of the most beautiful +girl in all China. This lovely flower that has bloomed of late within +his household is still unmarried. Why not order her father to bring her +to the palace that you may wed her and place her in your royal +dwelling?" + +"And are you sure of this wondrous beauty you describe so prettily?" +asked the ruler, a smile of pleasure lighting up his face. + +"So sure that I will stake my head on your being satisfied." + +"Enough! I command you at once to summon the viceroy and his daughter. +Add the imperial seal to the message." + +The Prime Minister smilingly departed to give the order. In his heart he +was more than delighted that the Emperor had accepted his suggestion, +for Su-nan, the viceroy, had long been his chief enemy, and he planned +in this way to overthrow him. The viceroy, as he knew, was a man of +iron. He would certainly not feel honoured at the thought of having his +daughter enter the Imperial Palace as a secondary wife. Doubtless he +would refuse to obey the order and would thus bring about his own +immediate downfall. + +Nor was the Prime Minister mistaken. When Su-nan received the imperial +message his heart was hot with anger against his sovereign. To be robbed +of his lovely Ta-ki, even by the throne, was, in his eyes, a terrible +disgrace. Could he have been sure that she would be made Empress it +might have been different, but with so many others sharing Chow-sin's +favour, her promotion to first place in the Great One's household was by +no means certain. Besides, she was Su-nan's favourite child, and the old +man could not bear the thought of separation from her. Rather would he +give up his life than let her go to this cruel ruler. + +"No, you shall not do it," said he to Ta-ki, "not though I must die to +save you." + +The beautiful girl listened to her father's words, in tears. Throwing +herself at his feet she thanked him for his mercy and promised to love +him more fondly than ever. She told him that her vanity had not been +flattered by what most girls might have thought an honour, that she +would rather have the love of one good man like her father, than share +with others the affections of a king. + +After listening to his daughter, the viceroy sent a respectful answer to +the palace, thanking the Emperor for his favour, but saying he could not +give up Ta-ki. "She is unworthy of the honour you purpose doing her," he +said, in conclusion, "for, having been the apple of her father's eye, +she would not be happy to share even your most august favour with the +many others you have chosen." + +[Illustration: "THROWING HERSELF AT HIS FEET SHE THANKED HIM FOR HIS +MERCY."] + +When the Emperor learned of Su-nan's reply he could hardly believe his +ears. To have his command thus disobeyed was an unheard-of crime. Never +before had a subject of the Middle Kingdom offered such an insult to a +ruler. Boiling with rage, he ordered his prime minister to send forth +an army that would bring the viceroy to his senses. "Tell him if he +disobeys that he and his family, together with all they possess, shall +be destroyed." + +Delighted at the success of his plot against Su-nan, the Prime Minister +sent a regiment of soldiers to bring the rebel to terms. In the meantime +the friends of the daring viceroy had not been idle. Hearing of the +danger threatening their ruler, who had become a general favourite, +hundreds of men offered him their aid against the army of Chow-sin. Thus +when the Emperor's banners were seen approaching and the war drums were +heard rolling in the distance, the rebels, with a great shout, dashed +forth to do battle for their leader. In the fight that took place the +Imperial soldiers were forced to run. + +When the Emperor heard of this defeat he was hot with anger. He called +together his advisers and commanded that an army, double the size of the +first one, should be sent to Su-nan's country to destroy the fields and +villages of the people who had risen up against him. "Spare not one of +them," he shouted, "for they are traitors to the Dragon Throne." + +Once more the viceroy's friends resolved to support him, even to the +death. Ta-ki, his daughter, went apart from the other members of the +family, weeping most bitterly that she had brought such sorrow upon +them. "Rather would I go into the palace and be the lowest among +Chow-sin's women than to be the cause of all this grief," she cried, +in desperation. + +But her father soothed her, saying, "Be of good cheer, Ta-ki. The +Emperor's army, though it be twice as large as mine, shall not overcome +us. Right is on our side. The gods of battle will help those who fight +for justice." + +One week later a second battle was fought, and the struggle was so close +that none could foresee the result. The Imperial army was commanded by +the oldest nobles in the kingdom, those most skilled in warfare, while +the viceroy's men were young and poorly drilled. Moreover, the members +of the Dragon Army had been promised double pay if they should +accomplish the wishes of their sovereign, while Su-nan's soldiers knew +only too well that they would be put to the sword if they should be +defeated. + +Just as the clash of arms was at its highest, the sound of gongs was +heard upon a distant hill. The government troops were amazed at seeing +fresh companies marching to the rescue of their foe. With a wild cry of +disappointment they turned and fled from the field. These unexpected +reinforcements turned out to be women whom Ta-ki had persuaded to dress +up as soldiers and go with her for the purpose of frightening the enemy. +Thus for a second time was Su-nan victorious. + +During the following year several battles occurred that counted for +little, except that in each of them many of Su-nan's followers were +killed. At last one of the viceroy's best friends came to him, saying, +"Noble lord, it is useless to continue the struggle. I fear you must +give up the fight. You have lost more than half your supporters; the +remaining bowmen are either sick or wounded and can be of little use. +The Emperor, moreover, is even now raising a new army from the distant +provinces, and will soon send against us a force ten times as great as +any we have yet seen. There being no hope of victory, further fighting +would be folly. Lead, therefore, your daughter to the palace. Throw +yourself upon the mercy of the throne. You must accept cheerfully the +fate the gods have suffered you to bear." + +Ta-ki, chancing to overhear this conversation, rushed in and begged her +father to hold out no longer, but to deliver her up to the greed of the +wicked Chow-sin. + +With a sigh, the viceroy yielded to their wishes. The next day he +despatched a messenger to the Emperor, promising to bring Ta-ki at once +to the capital. + +Now we must not forget Fox Sprite, the demon, who had been commanded by +the good goddess Lu-o to bring a dreadful punishment upon the Emperor. +Through all the years of strife between Chow-sin and the rebels, Fox +Sprite had been waiting patiently for his chance. He knew well that some +day, sooner or later, there would come an hour when Chow-sin would be at +his mercy. When the time came, therefore, for Ta-ki to go to the palace, +Fox Sprite felt that at last his chance had come. The beautiful maiden +for whom Chow-sin had given up so many hundreds of his soldiers, would +clearly have great power over the Emperor. She must be made to help +in the punishment of her wicked husband. So Fox Sprite made himself +invisible and travelled with the viceroy's party as it went from central +China to the capital. + +On the last night of their journey Su-nan and his daughter stopped for +rest and food at a large inn. No sooner had the girl gone to her room +for the night than Fox Sprite followed her. Then he made himself +visible. At first she was frightened to see so strange a being in her +room, but when Fox Sprite told her he was a servant of the great +goddess, Lu-o, she was comforted, for she knew that Lu-o was the friend +of women and children. + +"But how can _I_ help to punish the Emperor?" she faltered, when the +sprite told her he wanted her assistance. "I am but a helpless girl," +and here she began to cry. + +"Dry your tears," he said soothingly. "It will be very easy. Only let me +take your form for a little. When I am the Emperor's wife," laughing, "I +shall find a way to punish him, for no one can give a man more pain that +his wife can, if she desires to do so. You know, I am a servant of Lu-o +and can do anything I wish." + +"But the Emperor won't have a fox for a wife," she sobbed. + +"Though I am still a fox I shall look like the beautiful Ta-ki. Make +your heart easy. He will never know." + +"Oh, I see," she smiled, "you will put your spirit into my body and you +will look just like me, though you really won't be me. But what will +become of the real me? Shall I have to be a fox and look like you?" + +"No, not unless you want to. I will make you invisible, and you can be +ready to go back into your own body when I have got rid of the Emperor." + +"Very well," replied the girl, somewhat relieved by his explanation, +"but try not to be too long about it, because I don't like the idea of +somebody else walking about in my body." + +So Fox Sprite caused his own spirit to enter the girl's body, and no +one could have told by her outward appearance that any change had taken +place. The beautiful girl was now in reality the sly Fox Sprite, but in +one way only did she look like a fox. When the fox-spirit entered her +body, her feet suddenly shrivelled up and became very similar in shape +and size to the feet of the animal who had her in his power. When the +fox noticed this, at first he was somewhat annoyed, but, feeling that no +one else would know, he did not take the trouble to change the fox feet +back to human form. + +On the following morning, when the viceroy called his daughter for the +last stage of their journey, he greeted Fox Sprite without suspecting +that anything unusual had happened since he had last seen Ta-ki. So well +did this crafty spirit perform his part that the father was completely +deceived, by look, by voice, and by gesture. + +The next day the travellers arrived at the capital and Su-nan presented +himself before Chow-sin, the Emperor, leading Fox Sprite with him. Of +course the crafty fox with all his magic powers was soon able to gain +the mastery over the wicked ruler. The Great One pardoned Su-nan, +although he had fully intended to put him to death as a rebel. + +Now the chance for which Fox Sprite had been waiting had come. He began +at once, causing the Emperor to do many deeds of violence. The people +had already begun to dislike Chow-sin, and soon he became hateful in +their sight. Many of the leading members of the court were put to death +unjustly. Horrible tortures were devised for punishing those who did not +find favour with the crown. At last there was open talk of a rebellion. +Of course, all these things delighted the wily fox, for he saw that, +sooner or later, the Son of Heaven would be turned out of the palace, +and he knew that then his work for the goddess Lu-o would be finished. + +Besides worming his way into the heart of the Emperor, the fox became +a general favourite with the ladies of the palace. These women saw in +Chow-sin's latest wife the most beautiful woman who had ever lived in +the royal harem. One would think that this beauty might have caused +them to hate Fox Sprite, but such was not the case. They admired the +plumpness of Fox Sprite's body, the fairness of Fox Sprite's complexion, +the fire in Fox Sprite's eyes, but most of all they wondered at the +smallness of Fox Sprite's feet, for, you remember, the supposed Ta-ki +now had fox's feet instead of those of human shape. + +Thus small feet became the fashion among women. All the court ladies, +old and young, beautiful and ugly, began thinking of plans for making +their own feet as tiny as those of Fox Sprite. In this way they thought +to increase their chances of finding favour with the Emperor. + +Gradually people outside the palace began to hear of this absurd +fashion. Mothers bound the feet of their little girls, in such a manner +as to stop their growth. The bones of the toes were bent backwards and +broken, so eager were the elders to have their daughters grow up into +tiny-footed maidens. Thus, for several years of their girlhood the +little ones were compelled to endure the most severe tortures. It was +not long before the new fashion took firm root in China. It became +almost impossible for parents to get husbands for their daughters unless +the girls had suffered the severe pains of foot-binding. And even to +this day we find that many of the people are still under the influence +of Fox Sprite's magic, and believe that a tiny, misshapen foot is more +beautiful than a natural one. + +But let us return to the story of Fox Sprite and the wicked Emperor. For +a number of years matters grew continually worse in the country. At last +the people rose in a body against the ruler. A great battle was fought. +The wicked Chow-sin was overthrown and put to death by means of those +very instruments of torture he had used so often against his subjects. +By this time it had become known to all the lords and noblemen that the +Emperor's favourite had been the main cause of their ruler's wickedness; +hence they demanded the death of Fox Sprite. But no one wished to kill +so lovely a creature. Every one appointed refused to do the deed. + +Finally, a grey-headed member of the court allowed himself to be +blindfolded. With a sharp sword he pierced the body of Fox Sprite to the +heart. Those standing near covered their eyes with their hands, for they +could not bear to see so wonderful a woman die. Suddenly, as they looked +up, they saw a sight so strange that all were filled with amazement. +Instead of falling to the ground, the graceful form swayed backward and +forward for a moment, when all at once there seemed to spring from her +side a huge mountain fox. The animal glanced around him, then, with a +cry of fear, dashing past officials, courtiers and soldiers, he rushed +through the gate of the enclosure. + +"A fox!" cried the people, full of wonder. + +At that moment Ta-ki fell in a swoon upon the floor. When they picked +her up, thinking, of course, that she had died from the sword thrust, +they could find no blood on her body, and, on looking more closely, they +saw that there was not even the slightest wound. + +"Marvel of marvels!" they all shouted. "The gods have shielded her!" + +Just then Ta-ki opened her eyes and looked about her. "Where am I?" she +asked, in faint voice. "Pray tell me what has happened." + +Then they told her what they had seen, and at last it was plain to the +beautiful woman that, after all these years, Fox Sprite had left her +body. She was herself once more. For a long time she could not make the +people believe her story; they all said that she must have lost her +mind; that the gods had saved her life, but had punished her for her +wickedness by taking away her reason. + +But that night, when her maids were undressing her in the palace, they +saw her feet, which had once more become their natural size, and then +they knew she had been telling the truth. + +How Ta-ki became the wife of a good nobleman who had long admired her +great beauty is much too long a story to be told here. Of one thing, +however, we are certain, that she lived long and was happy ever +afterwards. + + + + +THE TALKING FISH + +[Illustration] + + +Long, long before your great-grandfather was born there lived in the +village of Everlasting Happiness two men called Li and Sing. Now, these +two men were close friends, living together in the same house. Before +settling down in the village of Everlasting Happiness they had ruled as +high officials for more than twenty years. They had often treated the +people very harshly, so that everybody, old and young, disliked and +hated them. And yet, by robbing the wealthy merchants and by cheating +the poor, these two evil companions had become rich, and it was in order +to spend their ill-gotten gains in idle amusements that they sought out +the village of Everlasting Happiness. "For here," said they, "we can +surely find that joy which has been denied us in every other place. Here +we shall no longer be scorned by men and reviled by women." + +Consequently these two men bought for themselves the finest house in +the village, furnished it in the most elegant manner, and decorated +the walls with scrolls filled with wise sayings and pictures by famous +artists. Outside there were lovely gardens filled with flowers and +birds, and oh, ever so many trees with queer twisted branches growing +in the shape of tigers and other wild animals. + +Whenever they felt lonely Li and Sing invited rich people of the +neighbourhood to come and dine with them, and after they had eaten, +sometimes they would go out upon the little lake in the centre of their +estate, rowing in an awkward flat-bottomed boat that had been built by +the village carpenter. + +One day, on such an occasion, when the sun had been beating down +fiercely upon the clean-shaven heads of all those on the little barge, +for you must know this was long before the day when hats were worn--at +least, in the village of Everlasting Happiness--Mr. Li was suddenly +seized with a giddy feeling, which rapidly grew worse and worse until +he was in a burning fever. + +"Snake's blood mixed with powdered deer-horn is the thing for him," +said the wise-looking doctor who was called in, peering at Li carefully +through his huge glasses, "Be sure," he continued, addressing Li's +personal attendant, and, at the same time, snapping his long +finger-nails nervously, "be sure, above all, not to leave him alone, for +he is in danger of going raving mad at any moment, and I cannot say what +he may do if he is not looked after carefully. A man in his condition +has no more sense than a baby." + +Now, although these words of the doctor's really made Mr. Li angry, he +was too ill to reply, for all this time his head had been growing hotter +and hotter, until at last a feverish sleep overtook him. No sooner had +he closed his eyes than his faithful servant, half-famished, rushed out +of the room to join his fellows at their mid-day meal. + +Li awoke with a start. He had slept only ten minutes. "Water, water," +he moaned, "bathe my head with cold water. I am half dead with pain!" +But there was no reply, for the attendant was dining happily with his +fellows. + +"Air, air," groaned Mr. Li, tugging at the collar of his silk shirt. +"I'm dying for water. I'm starving for air. This blazing heat will kill +me. It is hotter than the Fire god himself ever dreamed of making it. +Wang, Wang!" clapping his hands feebly and calling to his servant, +"air and water, air and water!" + +But still no Wang. + +At last, with the strength that is said to come from despair, Mr. Li +arose from his couch and staggered toward the doorway. Out he went into +the paved courtyard, and then, after only a moment's hesitation, made +his way across it into a narrow passage that led into the lake garden. + +"What do they care for a man when he is sick?" he muttered. "My good +friend Sing is doubtless even now enjoying his afternoon nap, with a +servant standing by to fan him, and a block of ice near his head to cool +the air. What does he care if I die of a raging fever? Doubtless he +expects to inherit all my money. And my servants! That rascal Wang has +been with me these ten years, living on me and growing lazier every +season! What does he care if I pass away? Doubtless he is certain that +Sing's servants will think of something for him to do, and he will have +even less work than he has now. Water, water! I shall die if I don't +soon find a place to soak myself!" + +So saying, he arrived at the bank of a little brook that flowed in +through a water gate at one side of the garden and emptied itself into +the big fish-pond. Flinging himself down by a little stream Li bathed +his hands and wrists in the cool water. How delightful! If only it were +deep enough to cover his whole body, how gladly would he cast himself in +and enjoy the bliss of its refreshing embrace! + +For a long time he lay on the ground, rejoicing at his escape from the +doctor's clutches. Then, as the fever began to rise again, he sprang up +with a determined cry, "What am I waiting for? I will do it. There's no +one to prevent me, and it will do me a world of good. I will cast myself +head first into the fish-pond. It is not deep enough near the shore to +drown me if I should be too weak to swim, and I am sure it will restore +me to strength and health." + +He hastened along the little stream, almost running in his eagerness to +reach the deeper water of the pond. He was like some small Tom Brown who +had escaped from the watchful eye of the master and run out to play in a +forbidden spot. + +Hark! Was that a servant calling? Had Wang discovered the absence of his +employer? Would he sound the alarm, and would the whole place soon be +alive with men searching for the fever-stricken patient? + +With one last sigh of satisfaction Li flung himself, clothes and all, +into the quiet waters of the fish-pond. Now Li had been brought up in +Fukien province on the seashore, and was a skilful swimmer. He dived and +splashed to his heart's content, then floated on the surface. "It takes +me back to my boyhood," he cried, "why, oh why, is it not the fashion +to swim? I'd love to live in the water all the time and yet some of my +countrymen are even more afraid than a cat of getting their feet wet. +As for me, I'd give anything to stay here for ever." + +"You would, eh?" chuckled a hoarse voice just under him, and then there +was a sort of wheezing sound, followed by a loud burst of laughter. Mr. +Li jumped as if an arrow had struck him, but when he noticed the fat, +ugly monster below, his fear turned into anger. "Look here, what do you +mean by giving a fellow such a start! Don't you know what the Classics +say about such rudeness?" + +The giant fish laughed all the louder. "What time do you suppose I have +for Classics? You make me laugh till I cry!" + +"But you must answer my question," cried Mr. Li, more and more +persistently, forgetting for the moment that he was not trying some poor +culprit for a petty crime. "Why did you laugh? Speak out at once, +fellow!" + +"Well, since you are such a saucy piece," roared the other, "I will tell +you. It was because you awkward creatures, who call yourselves men, the +most highly civilized beings in the world, always think you understand a +thing fully when you have only just found out how to do it." + +"You are talking about the island dwarfs, the Japanese," interrupted Mr. +Li, "We Chinese seldom undertake to do anything new." + +"Just hear the man!" chuckled the fish. "Now, fancy your wishing to stay +in the water for ever! What do you know about water? Why you're not even +provided with the proper equipment for swimming. What would you do if +you really lived here always?" + +"What am I doing now?" spluttered Mr. Li, so angry that he sucked in a +mouthful of water before he knew it. + +"Floundering," retorted the other. + +"Don't you see me swimming? Are those big eyes of yours made of glass?" + +"Yes, I see you all right," guffawed the fish, "that's just it! I see +you too well. Why you tumble about as awkwardly as a water buffalo +wallowing in a mud puddle!" + +Now, as Mr. Li had always considered himself an expert in water sports, +he was, by this time, speechless with rage, and all he could do was to +paddle feebly round and round with strokes just strong enough to keep +himself from sinking. + +"Then, too," continued the fish, more and more calm as the other lost +his temper, "you have a very poor arrangement for breathing. If I am not +mistaken, at the bottom of this pond you would find yourself worse off +than I should be at the top of a palm tree. What would you do to keep +yourself from starving? Do you think it would be convenient if you had +to flop yourself out on to the land every time you wanted a bite to eat? +And yet, being a man, I doubt seriously if you would be content to take +the proper food for fishes. You have hardly a single feature that would +make you contented if you were to join an under-water school. Look at +your clothes, too, water-soaked and heavy. Do you think them suitable +to protect you from cold and sickness? Nature forgot to give you any +scales. Now I'm going to tell you a joke, so you must be sure to laugh. +Fishes are like grocery shops--always judged by their scales. As you +haven't a sign of a scale, how will people judge you? See the point, eh? +Nature gave you a skin, but forgot the outer covering, except, perhaps +at the ends of your fingers and your toes You surely see by this time +why I consider your idea ridiculous?" + +Sure enough, in spite of his recent severe attack of fever, Mr. Li had +really cooled completely off. He had never understood before what great +disadvantages there were connected with being a man. Why not make use of +this chance acquaintance, find out from him how to get rid of that +miserable possession he had called his manhood, and gain the delights +that only a fish can have? "Then, are you indeed contented with your +lot?" he asked finally. "Are there not moments when you would prefer to +be a man?" + +"I, a man!" thundered the other, lashing the water with his tail. "How +dare you suggest such a disgraceful change! Can it be that you do not +know my rank? Why, my fellow, you behold in me a favourite nephew of +the king!" + +"Then, may it please your lordship," said Mr. Li, softly, "I should +be exceedingly grateful if you would speak a kind word for me to your +master. Do you think it possible that he could change me in some manner +into a fish and accept me as a subject?" + +"Of course!" replied the other, "all things are possible to the king. +Know you not that my sovereign is a loyal descendant of the great water +dragon, and, as such, can never die, but lives on and on and on, for +ever and ever and ever, like the ruling house of Japan?" + +"Oh, oh!" gasped Mr. Li, "even the Son of Heaven, our most worshipful +emperor, cannot boast of such long years. Yes, I would give my fortune +to be a follower of your imperial master." + +"Then follow me," laughed the other, starting off at a rate that made +the water hiss and boil for ten feet around him. + +Mr. Li struggled vainly to keep up. If he had thought himself a good +swimmer, he now saw his mistake and every bit of remaining pride was +torn to tatters. "Please wait a moment," he cried out politely, "I beg +of you to remember that I am only a man!" + +"Pardon me," replied the other, "it was stupid of me to forget, +especially as I had just been talking about it." + +Soon they reached a sheltered inlet at the farther side of the pond. +There Mr. Li saw a gigantic carp idly floating about in a shallow pool, +and then lazily flirting his huge tail or fluttering his fins proudly +from side to side. Attendant courtiers darted hither and thither, ready +to do the master's slightest bidding. One of them, splendidly attired in +royal scarlet, announced, with a downward flip of the head, the approach +of the King's nephew who was leading Mr. Li to an audience with his +Majesty. + +"Whom have you here, my lad?" began the ruler, as his nephew, hesitating +for words to explain his strange request, moved his fins nervously +backwards and forwards. "Strange company, it seems to me, you are +keeping these days." + +"Only a poor man, most royal sir," replied the other, "who beseeches +your Highness to grant him your gracious favour." + + + "When man asks favour of a fish, + 'Tis hard to penetrate his wish-- + He often seeks a lordly dish + To serve upon his table," + + +repeated the king, smiling. "And yet, nephew, you think this fellow is +really peaceably inclined and is not coming among us as a spy?" + +Before his friend could answer, Mr. Li had cast himself upon his knees +in the shallow water, before the noble carp, and bowed thrice, until his +face was daubed with mud from the bottom of the pool. "Indeed, your +Majesty, I am only a poor mortal who seeks your kindly grace. If you +would but consent to receive me into your school of fishes. I would for +ever be your ardent admirer and your lowly slave." + +"In sooth, the fellow talks as if in earnest," remarked the king, after +a moment's reflection, "and though the request is, perhaps, the +strangest to which I have ever listened, I really see no reason why I +should not turn a fishly ear. But, have the goodness first to cease your +bowing. You are stirring up enough mud to plaster the royal palace of a +shark." + +Poor Li, blushing at the monarch's reproof, waited patiently for the +answer to his request. + +"Very well, so be it," cried the king impulsively, "your wish is +granted. Sir Trout," turning to one of his courtiers, "bring hither a +fish-skin of proper size for this ambitious fellow." + +No sooner said than done. The fish-skin was slipped over Mr. Li's head, +and his whole body was soon tucked snugly away in the scaly coat. Only +his arms remained uncovered. In the twinkling of an eye Li felt sharp +pains shoot through every part of his body. His arms began to shrivel up +and his hands changed little by little until they made an excellent pair +of fins, just as good as those of the king himself. As for his legs and +feet, they suddenly began to stick together until, wriggle as he would, +Li could not separate them. "Ah, ha!" thought he, "my kicking days are +over, for my toes are now turned into a first-class tail." + +"Not so fast," laughed the king, as Li, after thanking the royal +personage profusely, started out to try his new fins; "not so fast, my +friend. Before you depart, perhaps I'd better give you a little friendly +advice, else your new powers are likely to land you on the hook of some +lucky fisherman, and you will find yourself served up as a prize of the +pond." + +"I will gladly listen to your lordly counsel, for the words of the Most +High to his lowly slave are like pearls before sea slugs. However, as I +was once a man myself I think I understand the simple tricks they use to +catch us fish, and I am therefore in position to avoid trouble." + +"Don't be so sure about it. 'A hungry carp often falls into danger,' +as one of our sages so wisely remarked. There are two cautions I would +impress upon you. One is, never, never, eat a dangling worm; no matter +how tempting it looks there are sure to be horrible hooks inside. +Secondly, always swim like lightning if you see a net, but in the +opposite direction. Now, I will have you served your first meal out of +the royal pantry, but after that, you must hunt for yourself, like every +other self-respecting citizen of the watery world." + +After Li had been fed with several slugs, followed by a juicy worm for +dessert, and after again thanking the king and the king's nephew for +their kindness, he started forth to test his tail and fins. It was no +easy matter, at first, to move them properly. A single flirt of the +tail, no more vigorous than those he had been used to giving with his +legs, would send him whirling round and round in the water, for all +the world like a living top; and when he wriggled his fins, ever so +slightly, as he thought, he found himself sprawling on his back in a +most ridiculous fashion for a dignified member of fishkind. It took +several hours of constant practice to get the proper stroke, and then he +found he could move about without being conscious of any effort. It was +the easiest thing he had ever done in his life; and oh! the water was so +cool and delightful! "Would that I might enjoy that endless life the +poets write of!" he murmured blissfully. + +Many hours passed by until at last Li was compelled to admit that, +although he was not tired, he was certainly hungry. How to get something +to eat? Oh! why had he not asked the friendly nephew a few simple +questions? How easily his lordship might have told him the way to get +a good breakfast! But alas! without such advice, it would be a whale's +task to accomplish it. Hither and thither he swam, into the deep +still water, and along the muddy shore; down, down to the pebbly +bottom--always looking, looking for a tempting worm. He dived into the +weeds and rushes, poked his nose among the lily pads. All for nothing! +No fly or worm of any kind to gladden his eager eyes! Another hour +passed slowly away, and all the time his hunger was growing greater and +greater. Would the fish god, the mighty dragon, not grant him even one +little morsel to satisfy his aching stomach, especially since, now that +he was a fish, he had no way of tightening up his belt, as hungry +soldiers do when they are on a forced march? + +Just as Li was beginning to think he could not wriggle his tail +an instant longer, and that soon, very soon, he would feel himself +slipping, slipping, slipping down to the bottom of the pond to die--at +that very moment, chancing to look up, he saw, oh joy! a delicious red +worm dangling a few inches above his nose. The sight gave new strength +to his weary fins and tail. Another minute, and he would have had the +delicate morsel in his mouth, when alas! he chanced to recall the advice +given him the day before by great King Carp. "No matter how tempting it +looks, there are sure to be horrible hooks inside." For an instant Li +hesitated. The worm floated a trifle nearer to his half-open mouth. How +tempting! After all, what was a hook to a fish when he was dying? Why be +a coward? Perhaps this worm was an exception to the rule, or perhaps, +perhaps any thing--really a fish in such a plight as Mr. Li could not be +expected to follow advice--even the advice of a real KING. + +Pop! He had it in his mouth. Oh, soft morsel, worthy of a king's desire! +Now he could laugh at words of wisdom, and eat whatever came before his +eye. But ugh! What was that strange feeling that--Ouch! it was the fatal +hook! + +With one frantic jerk, and a hundred twists and turns, poor Li sought +to pull away from the cruel barb that stuck so fast in the roof of his +mouth. It was now too late to wish he had kept away from temptation. +Better far to have starved at the bottom of the cool pond than to be +jerked out by some miserable fisherman to the light and sunshine of the +busy world. Nearer and nearer he approached the surface. The more he +struggled the sharper grew the cruel barb. Then, with one final splash, +he found himself dangling in mid-air, swinging helplessly at the end of +a long line. With a chunk he fell into a flat-bottomed boat, directly +on top of several smaller fish. + +"Ah, a carp!" shouted a well-known voice gleefully; "the biggest fish +I've caught these three moons. What good luck!" + +It was the voice of old Chang, the fisherman, who had been supplying +Mr. Li's table ever since that official's arrival in the village of +Everlasting Happiness. Only a word of explanation, and he, Li, would be +free once more to swim about where he willed. And then there should be +no more barbs for him. An escaped fish fears the hook. + +"I say, Chang," he began, gasping for breath, "really now, you must +chuck me overboard at once, for, don't you see, I am Mr. Li, your old +master. Come, hurry up about it. I'll excuse you this time for your +mistake, for, of course, you had no way of knowing. Quick!" + +But Chang, with a savage jerk, pulled the hook from Li's mouth, and +looked idly towards the pile of glistening fish, gloating over his +catch, and wondering how much money he could demand for it. He had heard +nothing of Mr. Li's remarks, for Chang had been deaf since childhood. + +"Quick, quick, I am dying for air," moaned poor Li, and then, with a +groan, he remembered the fisherman's affliction. + +By this time they had arrived at the shore, and Li, in company with his +fellow victims, found himself suddenly thrown into a wicker basket. Oh, +the horrors of that journey on land! Only a tiny bit of water remained +in the closely-woven thing. It was all he could do to breathe. + +Joy of joys! At the door of his own house he saw his good friend Sing +just coming out. "Hey, Sing," he shouted, at the top of his voice, +"help, help! This son of a turtle wants to murder me. He has me in here +with these fish, and doesn't seem to know that I am Li, his master. +Kindly order him to take me to the lake and throw me in, for it's cool +there and I like the water life much better than that on land." + +Li paused to hear Sing's reply, but there came not a single word. + +"I beg your honour to have a look at my catch," said old Chang to Sing. +"Here is the finest fish of the season. I have brought him here so that +you and my honoured master, Mr. Li, may have a treat. Carp is his +favourite delicacy." + +"Very kind of you, my good Chang, I'm sure, but I fear poor Mr. Li will +not eat fish for some time. He has a bad attack of fever." + +"There's where you're wrong," shouted Li, from his basket, flopping +about with all his might, to attract attention, "I'm going to die of a +chill. Can't you recognise your old friend? Help me out of this trouble +and you may have all my money for your pains." + +"Hey, what's that!" questioned Sing, attracted, as usual, by the word +money. "Shades of Confucius! It sounds as if the carp were talking." + +"What, a talking fish," laughed Chang. "Why, master, I've lived nigh on +to sixty year, and such a fish has never come under my sight. There are +talking birds and talking beasts for that matter; but talking fish, who +ever heard of such a wonder? No, I think your ears must have deceived +you, but this carp will surely cause talk when I get him into the +kitchen. I'm sure the cook has never seen his like. Oh, master! I hope +you will be hungry when you sit down to this fish. What a pity Mr. Li +couldn't help you to devour it!" + +"Help to devour myself, eh?" grumbled poor Li, now almost dead for lack +of water. "You must take me for a cannibal, or some other sort of +savage." + +Old Chang had now gone round the house to the servants' quarters, and, +after calling out the cook, held up poor Li by the tail for the chef to +inspect. + +With a mighty jerk Li tore himself away and fell at the feet of his +faithful cook. "Save me, save me!" he cried out in despair; "this +miserable Chang is deaf and doesn't know that I am Mr. Li, his master. +My fish voice is not strong enough for his hearing. Only take me back to +the pond and set me free. You shall have a pension for life, wear good +clothes and eat good food, all the rest of your days. Only hear me and +obey! Listen, my dear cook, listen!" + +"The thing seems to be talking," muttered the cook, "but such wonders +cannot be. Only ignorant old women or foreigners would believe that a +fish could talk." And seizing his former master by the tail, he swung +him on to a table, picked up a knife, and began to whet it on a stone. + +"Oh, oh!" screamed Li, "you will stick a knife into me! You will scrape +off my beautiful shiny scales! You will whack off my lovely new fins! +You will murder your old master!" + +"Well, you won't talk much longer," growled the cook, "I'll show you a +trick or two with the blade." + +So saying, with a gigantic thrust, he plunged the knife deep into the +body of the trembling victim. + +With a shrill cry of horror and despair, Mr. Li awoke from the deep +sleep into which he had fallen. His fever was gone, but he found himself +trembling with fear at thought of the terrible death that had come to +him in dreamland. + +"Thanks be to Buddha, I am not a fish!" he cried out joyfully; "and now +I shall be well enough to enjoy the feast to which Mr. Sing has bidden +guests for to-morrow. But alas, now that I can eat the old fisherman's +prize carp, it has changed back into myself. + + + "If only the good of our dreams came true, + I shouldn't mind dreaming the whole day through." + + + + +BAMBOO AND THE TURTLE + +[Illustration] + + +A party of visitors had been seeing the sights at Hsi Ling. They had +just passed down the Holy Way between the huge stone animals when +Bamboo, a little boy of twelve, son of a keeper, rushed out from his +father's house to see the mandarins go by. Such a parade of great men +he had never seen before, even on the feast days. There were ten sedan +chairs, with bearers dressed in flaming colours, ten long-handled, red +umbrellas, each carried far in front of its proud owner, and a long line +of horsemen. + +When this gay procession had filed past, Bamboo was almost ready to cry +because he could not run after the sightseers as they went from temple +to temple and from tomb to tomb. But, alas! his father had ordered him +never to follow tourists. "If you do, they will take you for a beggar, +Bamboo," he had said shrewdly, "and if you're a beggar, then your +daddy's one too. Now they don't want any beggars around the royal +tombs." So Bamboo had never known the pleasure of pursuing the rich. +Many times he had turned back to the little mud house, almost +broken-hearted at seeing his playmates running, full of glee, after the +great men's chairs. + +On the day when this story opens, just as the last horseman had passed +out of sight among the cedars, Bamboo chanced to look up toward one of +the smaller temple buildings of which his father was the keeper. It was +the house through which the visitors had just been shown. Could his eyes +be deceiving him? No, the great iron doors had been forgotten in the +hurry of the moment, and there they stood wide open, as if inviting him +to enter. + +In great excitement he scurried toward the temple. How often he had +pressed his head against the bars and looked into the dark room, wishing +and hoping that some day he might go in. And yet, not once had he been +granted this favour. Almost every day since babyhood he had gazed at the +high stone shaft, or tablet, covered with Chinese writing, that stood +in the centre of the lofty room, reaching almost to the roof. But +with still greater surprise his eyes had feasted on the giant turtle +underneath, on whose back the column rested. There are many such tablets +to be seen in China, many such turtles patiently bearing their loads of +stone, but this was the only sight of the kind that Bamboo had seen. He +had never been outside the Hsi Ling forest, and, of course, knew very +little of the great world beyond. + +It is no wonder then that the turtle and the tablet had always +astonished him. He had asked his father to explain the mystery. "Why +do they have a turtle? Why not a lion or an elephant?" For he had seen +stone figures of these animals in the park and had thought them much +better able than his friend, the turtle, to carry loads on their backs. +"Why it's just the custom," his father had replied--the answer always +given when Bamboo asked a question, "just the custom." The boy had tried +to imagine it all for himself, but had never been quite sure that he +was right, and now, joy of all joys, he was about to enter the very +turtle-room itself. Surely, once inside, he could find some answer +to this puzzle of his childhood. + +Breathless, he dashed through the doorway, fearing every minute that +some one would notice the open gates and close them before he could +enter. Just in front of the giant turtle he fell in a little heap on the +floor, which was covered inch-deep with dust. His face was streaked, his +clothes were a sight to behold; but Bamboo cared nothing for such +trifles. He lay there for a few moments, not daring to move. Then, +hearing a noise outside, he crawled under the ugly stone beast and +crouched in his narrow hiding-place, as still as a mouse. + +"There, there!" said a deep voice. "See what you are doing, stirring up +such a dust! Why, you will strangle me if you are not careful." + +It was the turtle speaking, and yet Bamboo's father had often told him +that it was not alive. The boy lay trembling for a minute, too much +frightened to get up and run. + +"No use in shaking so, my lad," the voice continued, a little more +kindly. "I suppose all boys are alike--good for nothing but kicking up +a dust." He finished this sentence with a hoarse chuckle, and the boy, +seeing that he was laughing, looked up with wonder at the strange +creature. + +"I meant no harm in coming," said the child finally. "I only wanted to +look at you more closely." + +"Oh, that was it, hey? Well, that is strange. All the others come and +stare at the tablet on my back. Sometimes they read aloud the nonsense +written there about dead emperors and their titles, but they never so +much as look at me, at _me_ whose father was one of the great four who +made the world." + +Bamboo's eyes shone with wonder. "What! _your_ father helped make the +world?" he gasped. + +"Well, not my father exactly, but one of my grandfathers, and it amounts +to the same thing, doesn't it. But, hark! I hear a voice. The keeper is +coming back. Run up and close those doors, so he won't notice that they +have not been locked. Then you may hide in the corner there until he has +passed. I have something more to tell you." + +Bamboo did as he was told. It took all his strength to swing the heavy +doors into place. He felt very important to think that he was doing +something for the grandson of a maker of the world, and it would have +broken his heart if this visit had been ended just as it was beginning. + +Sure enough, his father and the other keepers passed on, never dreaming +that the heavy locks were not fastened as usual. They were talking about +the great men who had just gone. They seemed very happy and were +jingling some coins in their hands. + +"Now, my boy," said the stone turtle when the sound of voices had died +away and Bamboo had come out from his corner, "maybe you think I'm proud +of my job. Here I've been holding up this chunk for a hundred years, I +who am fond of travel. During all this time night and day, I have been +trying to think of some way to give up my position. Perhaps it's +honourable, but, you may well imagine, it's not very pleasant." + +"I should think you would have the backache," ventured Bamboo timidly. + +"Backache! well, I think so; back, neck, legs, eyes, everything I have +is aching, aching for freedom. But, you see, even if I had kicked up +my heels and overthrown this monument, I had no way of getting through +those iron bars," and he nodded toward the gate. + +"Yes, I understand," agreed Bamboo, beginning to feel sorry for his old +friend. + +"But, now that you are here, I have a plan, and a good one it is, too, I +think. The watchmen have forgotten to lock the gate. What is to prevent +my getting my freedom this very night? You open the gate, I walk out, +and no one the wiser." + +"But my father will lose his head if they find that he has failed to do +his duty and you have escaped." + +"Oh, no; not at all. You can slip his keys to-night, lock the gates +after I am gone, and no one will know just what has happened. Why it +will make this building famous. It won't hurt your father, but will do +him good. So many travellers will be anxious to see the spot from which +I vanished. I am too heavy for a thief to carry off, and they will be +sure that it is another miracle of the gods. Oh, I shall have a good +time out in the big world." + +Just here Bamboo began to cry. + +"Now what is the silly boy blubbering about?" sneered the turtle. "Is he +nothing but a cry-baby?" + +"No, but I don't want you to go." + +"Don't want me to go, eh? Just like all the others. You're a fine +fellow! What reason have you for wanting to see me weighed down here all +the rest of my life with a mountain on my back? Why, I thought you were +sorry for me, and it turns out that you are as mean as anybody else." + +"It is so lonely here, and I have no playmates. You are the only friend +I have." + +The tortoise laughed loudly. "Ho, ho! so it's because I make you a +good playmate, eh? Now, if that's your reason, that's another story +altogether. What do you say to going with me then? I, too, need a +friend, and if you help me to escape, why, you are the very friend +for me." + +"But how shall you get the tablet off your back?" questioned Bamboo +doubtfully. "It's very heavy." + +"That's easy, just walk out of the door. The tablet is too tall to go +through. It will slide off and sit on the floor instead of on my shell." + +Bamboo, wild with delight at the thought of going on a journey with the +turtle, promised to obey the other's commands. After supper, when all +were asleep in the little house of the keeper, he slipped from his bed, +took down the heavy key from its peg, and ran pell-mell to the temple. + +"Well, you didn't forget me, did you?" asked the turtle when Bamboo +swung the iron gates open. + +"Oh, no, I would not break a promise. Are you ready?" + +"Yes, quite ready." So saying, the turtle took a step. The tablet swayed +backward and forward, but did not fall. On walked the turtle until +finally he stuck his ugly head through the doorway. "Oh, how good it +looks outside," he said. "How pleasant the fresh air feels! Is that the +moon rising over yonder? It's the first time I've seen it for an age. +My word! just look at the trees! How they have grown since they set that +tombstone on my back! There's a regular forest outside now." + +Bamboo was delighted when he saw the turtle's glee at escaping. "Be +careful," he cried, "not to let the tablet fall hard enough to break +it." + +Even as he spoke, the awkward beast waddled through the door. The upper +end of the monument struck against the wall, toppled off, and fell with +a great crash to the floor. Bamboo shivered with fear. Would his father +come and find out what had happened? + +"Don't be afraid, my boy. No one will come at this hour of the night to +spy on us." + +Bamboo quickly locked the gates, ran back to the house, and hung the +key on its peg. He took a long look at his sleeping parents, and then +returned to his friend. After all, he would not be gone long and his +father would surely forgive him. + +Soon the comrades were walking down the broad road, very slowly, for the +tortoise is not swift of foot and Bamboo's legs were none too long. + +"Where are you going?" said the boy at last, after he had begun to feel +more at home with the turtle. + +"Going? Where should you think I would want to go after my century in +prison? Why, back to the first home of my father, back to the very spot +where the great god, P'anku, and his three helpers hewed out the world." + +"And is it far?" faltered the boy, beginning to feel just the least bit +tired. + +"At this rate, yes, but, bless my life, you didn't think we could travel +all the way at this snail's pace, I hope. Jump on my back, and I'll show +you how to go. Before morning we shall be at the end of the world, or +rather, the beginning." + +"Where is the beginning of the world?" asked Bamboo. "I have never +studied geography." + +"We must cross China, then Thibet, and at last in the mountains just +beyond we shall reach the spot which P'anku made the centre of his +labour." + +At that moment Bamboo felt himself being lifted from the ground. At +first he thought he would slip off the turtle's rounded shell, and he +cried out in fright. + +"Never fear," said his friend. "Only sit quietly, and there will be no +danger." + +They had now risen far into the air, and Bamboo could look down over the +great forest of Hsi Ling all bathed in moonlight. There were the broad +white roads leading up to the royal tombs, the beautiful temples, the +buildings where oxen and sheep were prepared for sacrifice, the lofty +towers, and the high tree-covered hills under which the emperors were +buried. Until that night Bamboo had not known the size of this royal +graveyard. Could it be that the turtle would carry him beyond the +forest? Even as he asked himself this question he saw that they had +reached a mountain, and the turtle was ascending higher, still higher, +to cross the mighty wall of stone. + +Bamboo grew dizzy as the turtle rose farther into the sky. He felt as he +sometimes did when he played whirling games with his little friends, and +got so dizzy that he tumbled over upon the ground. However, this time +he knew that he must keep his head and not fall, for it must have been +almost a mile to the ground below him. At last they had passed over the +mountain and were flying above a great plain. Far below Bamboo could see +sleeping villages and little streams of water that looked like silver +in the moonlight. Now, directly beneath them was a city. A few feeble +lights could be seen in the dark narrow streets, and Bamboo thought he +could hear the faint cries of peddlers crying their midnight wares. + +"That's the capital of Shan-shi just below us," said the turtle, +breaking his long silence. "It is almost two hundred miles from here to +your father's house, and we have taken less than half an hour. Beyond +that is the Province of the Western Valleys. In one hour we shall be +above Thibet." + +On they whizzed at lightning speed. If it had not been hot summer time +Bamboo would have been almost frozen. As it was, his hands and feet were +cold and stiff. The turtle, as if knowing how chilly he was, flew nearer +to the ground where it was warmer. How pleasant for Bamboo! He was so +tired that he could keep his eyes open no longer and he was soon soaring +in the land of dreams. + +When he waked up it was morning. He was lying on the ground in a wild, +rocky region. Not far away burned a great wood fire, and the turtle was +watching some food that was cooking in a pot. + +"Ho, ho, my lad! so you have at last waked up after your long ride. You +see we are a little early. No matter if the dragon does think he can fly +faster, I beat him, didn't I? Why, even the phoenix laughs at me and +says I am slow, but the phoenix has not come yet either. Yes, I have +clearly broken the record for speed, and I had a load to carry too, +which neither of the others had, I am sure." + +"Where are we?" questioned Bamboo. + +"In the land of the beginning," said the other wisely. "We flew over +Thibet, and then went northwest for two hours. If you haven't studied +geography you won't know the name of the country. But, here we are, and +that is enough, isn't it, enough for any one? And to-day is the yearly +feast-day in honour of the making of the world. It was very fortunate +for me that the gates were left open yesterday. I am afraid my old +friends, the dragon and the phoenix, have almost forgotten what I look +like. It is so long since they saw me. Lucky beasts they are, not to be +loaded down under an emperor's tablet. Hello! I hear the dragon coming +now, if I am not mistaken. Yes, here he is. How glad I am to see him!" + +Bamboo heard a great noise like the whirr of enormous wings, and then, +looking up, saw a huge dragon just in front of him. He knew it was a +dragon from the pictures he had seen and the carvings in the temples. + +The dragon and the turtle had no sooner greeted each other, both very +happy at the meeting, than they were joined by a queer-looking bird, +unlike any that Bamboo had ever seen, but which he knew was the +phoenix. This phoenix looked somewhat like a wild swan, but it had +the bill of a cock, the neck of a snake, the tail of a fish and the +stripes of a dragon. Its feathers were of five colours. + +When the three friends had chatted merrily for a few minutes, the turtle +told them how Bamboo had helped him to escape from the temple. + +"A clever boy," said the dragon, patting Bamboo gently on the back. + +"Yes, yes, a clever boy indeed," echoed the phoenix. + +"Ah," sighed the turtle, "if only the good god, P'anku, were here, +shouldn't we be happy! But, I fear he will never come to this +meeting-place. No doubt he is off in some distant spot, cutting out +another world. If I could only see him once more, I feel that I should +die in peace." + +"Just listen!" laughed the dragon. "As if one of us could die! Why, you +talk like a mere mortal." + +All day long the three friends chatted, feasted, and had a good time +looking round at the places where they had lived so happily when P'anku +had been cutting out the world. They were good to Bamboo also and showed +him many wonderful things of which he had never dreamed. + +"You are not half so mean-looking and so fierce as they paint you on the +flags," said Bamboo in a friendly voice to the dragon just as they were +about to separate. + +The three friends laughed heartily. + +"Oh, no, he's a very decent sort of fellow, even if he is covered with +fish-scales," joked the phoenix. + +Just before they bade each other good-bye, the phoenix gave Bamboo a +long scarlet tail-feather for a keepsake, and the dragon gave him a +large scale which turned to gold as soon as the boy took it into his +hand. + +"Come, come, we must hurry," said the turtle. "I am afraid your father +will think you are lost." So Bamboo, after having spent the happiest day +of his life, mounted the turtle's back, and they rose once more above +the clouds. Back they flew even faster than they had come. Bamboo had so +many things to talk about that he did not once think of going to sleep, +for he had really seen the dragon and the phoenix, and if he never +were to see anything else in his life, he would always be happy. + +Suddenly the turtle stopped short in his swift flight, and Bamboo felt +himself slipping. Too late he screamed for help, too late he tried to +save himself. Down, down from that dizzy height he tumbled, turning, +twisting, thinking of the awful death that was surely coming. Swish! +he shot through the tree tops trying vainly to clutch the friendly +branches. Then with a loud scream he struck the ground, and his long +journey was ended. + +[Illustration: "AH," SIGHED THE TURTLE, "IF ONLY THE GOOD GOD, P'ANKU, +WERE HERE."] + +"Come out from under that turtle, boy! What are you doing inside the +temple in the dirt? Don't you know this is not the proper place for +you?" + +Bamboo rubbed his eyes. Though only half awake, he knew it was his +father's voice. + +"But didn't it kill me?" he said as his father pulled him out by the +heel from under the great stone turtle. + +"What killed you, foolish boy? What can you be talking about? But I'll +half-kill you if you don't hurry out of this and come to your supper. +Really I believe you are getting too lazy to eat. The idea of sleeping +the whole afternoon under that turtle's belly!" + +Bamboo, not yet fully awake, stumbled out of the tablet room, and his +father locked the iron doors. + + + + +THE MAD GOOSE AND THE TIGER FOREST + +[Illustration] + + +Hu-lin was a little slave girl. She had been sold by her father when +she was scarcely more than a baby, and had lived for five years with +a number of other children in a wretched houseboat. Her cruel master +treated her very badly. He made her go out upon the street, with the +other girls he had bought, to beg for a living. This kind of life was +especially hard for Hu-lin. She longed to play in the fields, above +which the huge kites were sailing in the air like giant birds. She liked +to see the crows and magpies flying hither and thither. It was great fun +to watch them build their stick nests in the tall poplars. But if her +master ever caught her idling her time away in this manner he beat her +most cruelly and gave her nothing to eat for a whole day. In fact he was +so wicked and cruel that all the children called him Black Heart. + +Early one morning when Hu-lin was feeling very sad about the way she was +treated, she resolved to run away, but, alas! she had not gone more than +a hundred yards from the houseboat when she saw Black Heart following +her. He caught her, scolded her most dreadfully, and gave her such a +beating that she felt too faint to stir. + +For several hours she lay on the ground without moving a muscle, moaning +as if her heart would break. "Ah! if only someone would save me!" she +thought, "how good I would be all the rest of my days!" + +Now, not far from the river there lived an old man in a tumble-down +shanty. The only companion he had was a goose that watched the gate for +him at night and screamed out loudly if any stranger dared to prowl +about the place. Hu-lin and this goose were close friends, and the slave +girl often stopped to chat with the wise fowl as she was passing the old +man's cottage. In this way she had learned that the bird's owner was a +miser who kept a great deal of money hidden in his yard. Ch'ang, the +goose, had an unusually long neck, and was thus able to pry into most of +his master's affairs. As the fowl had no member of his own family to +talk with, he told all he knew to Hu-lin. + +On the very morning when Black Heart gave Hu-lin a beating for trying +to run away, Ch'ang made a startling discovery. His lord and master was +not really an old miser, but a young man in disguise. Ch'ang, feeling +hungry, had slipped into the house at daybreak to see if any scraps had +been left from the last evening's meal. The bedroom door had blown open +in the night, and there lay a young man sound asleep, instead of the +greybeard whom the gander called his master. Then, before his very eyes, +the youth changed suddenly into his former shape and was an old man +again. + +In his excitement, forgetting all about his empty stomach, the +terror-stricken goose rushed out into the yard to think over the +mystery, but the longer he puzzled, the more strange it all seemed. Then +he thought of Hu-lin, and wished that she would come by, that he might +ask her opinion. He had a high regard for the slave girl's knowledge and +believed that she would understand fully what had taken place. + +Ch'ang went to the gate. As usual, it was locked, and there was nothing +for him to do but wait for his master to rise. Two hours later the miser +walked out into the yard. He seemed in good spirits, and he gave Ch'ang +more to eat than usual. After taking his morning smoke on the street in +front of the house, he strolled around it leaving the front gate ajar. + +This was precisely what the gander had been expecting. Slipping quietly +into the road, he turned towards the river where he could see the +houseboats lined up at the wharf. On the sand near by lay a well-known +form. + +"Hu-lin," he called as he drew near, "wake up, for I have something to +tell you." + +"I am not asleep," she answered, turning her tear-stained face towards +her friend. + +"Why, what's the matter? You've been crying again. Has old Black Heart +been beating you?" + +"Hush! he's taking a nap in the boat. Don't let him hear you." + +"It's not likely he would understand goose-talk if he did," replied +Ch'ang, smiling. "However, I suppose it's always best to be on the safe +side, so I'll whisper what I have to say." + +Putting his bill close to her ear, he told Hu-lin of his recent +discovery, and ended by asking her to tell him what it all meant. + +The child forgot her own misery at hearing his wonderful story. "Are you +quite sure there was not some friend of the miser's spending the night +with him?" she asked gravely. + +"Yes, yes, perfectly sure, for he has no friends," replied the gander. +"Besides, I was in the house just before he locked up for the night, and +I saw neither hair nor hide of any other person." + +"Then he must be a fairy in disguise!" announced Hu-lin wisely. + +"A fairy! what's that?" questioned Ch'ang, more and more excited. + +"Why, you old goose, don't you know what a fairy is?" And Hu-lin laughed +outright. By this time she had forgotten her own troubles and was +becoming more and more amused at what she had heard. "Hark!" she said in +a low tone, and speaking very slowly, "a fairy is----" Here she lowered +her voice to a whisper. + +The gander nodded violently as she went on with her explanation, and +when she had finished, was speechless with amazement, for a few moments. +"Well," he said finally, "if my master is that kind of man, suppose you +slip away quietly and come with me, for, if a fairy is what you say he +is, he can save you from all your troubles and make me happy for the +rest of my days." + +[Illustration: "PUTTING HIS BILL TO HER EAR, HE TOLD HU-LIN OF HIS +RECENT DISCOVERY."] + +"I wonder if I dare?" she answered, looking round fearfully towards the +houseboat, from the open scuttle of which came the sound of deep +snoring. + +"Yes, yes, of course!" coaxed Ch'ang. "He gave you such a beating that +he won't be afraid of your taking to your heels again very soon." + +Hurriedly they went to the miser's compound. Hu-lin's heart was beating +fast as she tried to decide what to say when she should actually stand +before the fairy. The gate was still partly open and the two friends +entered boldly. + +"Come this way," said Ch'ang. "He must be in the back-yard digging in +his garden." + +But when they reached the vegetable patch there was no one to be seen. + +"This is very strange," whispered the gander. "I don't understand it, +for I have never known him to grow tired of work so early. Surely he +cannot have gone in to rest." + +Led by her friend, Hu-lin entered the house on tiptoe. The door of the +miser's bedroom stood wide open, and they saw that there was no one +either in that room or any other room of the miserable cottage. + +"Come! let's see what kind of bed he sleeps on," said Hu-lin, filled +with curiosity. "I have never been in a fairy's room. It must be +different from other people's rooms." + +"No, no! just a plain brick bed, like all the rest," answered Ch'ang, as +they crossed the threshold. + +"Does he have a fire in cold weather?" asked Hu-lin, stooping to examine +the small fire hole in the bricks. + +"Oh, yes, a hot fire every night, and even in spring when other people +have stopped having fires, the brick bed is hot every night." + +"Well, that's rather strange for a miser, don't you think?" said the +girl. "It costs more to keep a fire going than it does to feed a man." + +"Yes, that's true," agreed Ch'ang, pruning his feathers. "I hadn't +thought of that. It is strange, very. Hu-lin, you're a wise child. Where +did you learn so much?" + +At that moment the gander turned pale at hearing the gate slam loudly +and the bar thrown into place. + +"Good gracious! what ever shall we do?" asked Hu-lin. "What will he say +if he finds us here?" + +"No telling," said the other, trembling, "but, my dear little friend, we +are certainly caught, for we can't get away without his seeing us." + +"Yes, and I've already had one beating to-day! And such a hard one that +I don't believe I could live through another," sighed the child, as the +tears began to flow. + +"There, there, little girl, don't worry! Let's hide in this dark corner +behind the baskets," suggested the gander, just as the master's step was +heard at the front door. + +Soon the frightened companions were crouching on the ground, trying +to hide. Much to their relief, however, the miser did not go into his +bedroom, and they soon heard him hard at work in the garden. All that +day the two remained in their hiding place, afraid to show themselves +outside the door. + +"I can't imagine what he would say if he found out that his watch-goose +had brought a stranger into the house," said Ch'ang. + +"Perhaps he would think we were trying to steal some of the money he +has hidden away," she answered, laughing, for as Hu-lin became used +to her cramped quarters she grew less frightened. At any rate she +was not nearly so much afraid of the miser as she had thought she was. +"Besides," she reflected, "he can't be so bad as old Black Heart." + +Thus the day wore on and darkness fell over the land. By this time girl +and goose were fast asleep in one corner of the miser's room and knew +nothing more of what was happening. + +When the first light of a new day filtered through the paper-covered +window above the miser's bed, Hu-lin awoke with a start, and at first +she could not think where she was. Ch'ang was staring at her with +wide-open frightened eyes that seemed to be asking, "What can it all +mean? It is more than my goose brain can think out." + +For on the bed, instead of the miser, there lay a young man whose hair +was a black as a raven's wing. A faint smile lightened up his handsome +face, as if he was enjoying some delightful dream. A cry of wonder +escaped Hu-lin's lips before she could hold it back. The sleeper's eyes +opened instantly and were fixed upon her. The girl was so frightened +that she could not move, and the gander trembled violently as he saw the +change that had come over his master. + +The young man was even more surprised than his guests, and for two +minutes he was speechless. "What does this mean?" he asked, finally, +looking at Ch'ang. "What are you doing in my bedroom and who is this +child who seems so frightened?" + +"Forgive me, kind sir, but what have you done to my master?" asked the +gander, giving question for question. + +"Am I not your master, you mad creature?" said the man, laughing. "You +are more stupid than ever this morning." + +"My master was old and ugly, but you are still young and handsome," +replied Ch'ang in a tone of flattery. + +"What," shouted the other, "you say I am still young?" + +"Why, yes. Ask Hu-lin, if you don't believe me." + +The man turned towards the little girl. + +"Yes, indeed you are, sir," she replied in answer to his look. "Never +have I seen a man so beautiful." + +"At last! at last!" he cried, laughing joyfully, "I am free, free, free +from all my troubles, but how it has come about is more than I can say!" + +For a few minutes he stood in a deep study, snapping his long fingers +as if trying to solve some hard problem. At last a smile lighted up his +face. "Ch'ang," he asked, "what was it you called your guest when you +spoke of her a minute ago?" + +"I am Hu-lin," said the child simply, "Hu-lin, the slave girl." + +He clapped his hands. "That's right! That's right!" he cried. "I see it +all now; it is as plain as day." Then, noticing the look of wonder on +her face, "It is to you that I owe my freedom from a wicked fairy, and +if you like, I'll tell you the story of my misfortune." + +"Pray do, kind sir," she replied eagerly. "I told Ch'ang that you were +a fairy, and I should like to know if I was right." + +"Well, you see," he began, "my father is a rich man who lives in a +distant county. When I was a boy he gave me everything I wished. I was +so humoured and petted from earliest childhood that at last I began to +think there was nothing at all in the world I could not have for the +asking, and nothing that I must not do if I wished to. + +"My teacher often scolded me for having such notions. He told me there +was a proverb: 'Men die for gain, birds perish to get food.' He thought +such men were very foolish. He told me that money would go a long way +towards making a man happy, but he always ended by saying that the gods +were more powerful than men. He said I must always be careful not to +make the evil spirits angry. Sometimes I laughed in his face, telling +him that I was rich and could buy the favour of gods and fairies. The +good man would shake his head, saying, 'Take care, my boy, or you will +be sorry for these rash speeches.'" + +"One day, after he had been giving me a long lecture of this sort, we +were walking in the garden of my father's compound. I was even more +daring than usual and told him that I cared nothing for the rules other +people followed. 'You say,' said I, 'that this well here in my father's +yard is ruled by a spirit, and that if I were to anger him by jumping +over it, he would be vexed and give me trouble.' 'Yes,' said he, 'that +is exactly what I said, and I repeat it. Beware, young man, beware of +idle boasting and of breaking the law.' 'What do I care for a spirit +that lives on my father's land?' I answered with a sneer. 'I don't +believe there is a spirit in this well. If there is, it is only another +of my father's slaves.' + +"So saying, and before my tutor could stop me, I leaped across the mouth +of the well. No sooner had I touched the ground than I felt a strange +shrinking of my body. My strength left me in the twinkling of an eye, +my bones shortened, my skin grew yellow and wrinkled. I looked at my +pigtail and found that the hair had suddenly grown thin and white. In +every way I had been changed completely into an old man. + +"My teacher stared at me in amazement, and when I asked him what it all +meant my voice was as shrill as that of early childhood. 'Alas! my dear +pupil,' he replied, 'now you will believe what I told you. The spirit of +the well is angry at your wicked conduct and has punished you. You have +been told a hundred times that it is wrong to leap over a well; yet you +did this very thing,' 'But is there nothing that can be done,' I cried; +'is there no way of restoring my lost youth?' He looked at me sadly and +shook his head. + +"When my father learned of my sad condition he was terribly upset. He +did everything that could be done to find some way for me to regain my +youth. He had incense burned at a dozen temples and he himself offered +up prayers to various gods. I was his only son, and he could not be +happy without me. At last, when everything else had been done, my worthy +teacher thought of asking a fortune-teller who had become famous in the +city. After inquiring about everything that had led up to my sad plight, +the wise man said that the spirit of the well, as a punishment, had +changed me into a miser. He said that only when I was sleeping would +I be in my natural state, and even then if any one chanced to enter my +room or catch a glimpse of my face, I would be at once changed back into +a greybeard." + +"I saw you yesterday morning," shouted the gander. "You were young and +handsome, and then before my very eyes you were changed back into an old +man!" + +"To continue my story," said the young man, "the fortune-teller at last +announced that there was only one chance for my recovery and that a very +small one. If at any time, while I was in my rightful shape, that is, as +you see me now, a mad goose should come in, leading a tiger-forest out +of slavery, the charm would be broken, and the evil spirit would no +longer have control over me. When the fortune-teller's answer was +brought to my father, he gave up hope, and so did I, for no one +understood the meaning of such a senseless riddle. + +"That night I left my native city, resolved not to disgrace my people +any longer by living with them. I came to this place, bought this house +with some money my father had given me, and at once began living the +life of a miser. Nothing satisfied my greed for money. Everything must +be turned into cash. For five years I have been storing away money, and, +at the same time, starving myself, body and soul. + +"Soon after my arrival here, remembering the fortune-teller's riddle, +I decided that I would keep a goose to serve as night watch-man instead +of a dog. In this way I made a start at working out the riddle." + +"But I am not a mad goose," hissed the gander angrily. "If it had not +been for me you would still be a wrinkled miser." + +"Quite right, dear Ch'ang, quite right," said the young man soothingly; +"you were not mad; so I gave you the name _Ch'ang_, which means mad, and +thus made a mad goose of you." + +"Oh, I see," said Hu-lin and Ch'ang together. "How clever!" + +"So, you see, I had part of my cure here in my back-yard all the time; +but though I thought as hard as I could, I could think of no way of +securing that Ch'ang should lead a tiger-forest into my room while I was +sleeping. The thing seemed absurd, and I soon gave up trying to study it +out. To-day by accident it has really come to pass." + +"So I am the tiger-forest, am I?" laughed Hu-lin. + +"Yes, indeed, you are, my dear child, a pretty little tiger-forest, for +_Hu_ means _tiger_, and _lin_ is surely good Chinese for a _grove of +trees_. Then, too, you told me you were a slave girl. Hence, Ch'ang led +you out of slavery." + +"Oh, I am so glad!" said Hu-lin, forgetting her own poverty, "so glad +that you don't have to be a horrible old miser any longer." + +Just at that moment there was a loud banging on the front gate. + +"Who can be knocking in that fashion?" asked the young man in +astonishment. + +"Alas! it must be Black Heart, my master," said Hu-lin, beginning to +cry. + +"Don't be frightened," said the youth, soothingly stroking the child's +head. "You have saved me, and I shall certainly do as much for you. If +this Mr. Black Heart doesn't agree to a fair proposal he shall have a +black eye to remember his visit by." + +It did not take long for the grateful young man to buy Hu-lin's liberty, +especially as he offered as much for her freedom as her master had +expected to get when she was fourteen or fifteen years of age. + +When Hu-lin was told of the bargain she was wild with delight. She bowed +low before her new master and then, kneeling, touched her head nine +times on the floor. Rising, she cried out, "Oh, how happy I am, for now +I shall be yours for ever and ever and ever, and good old Ch'ang shall +be my playmate." + +"Yes, indeed," he assured her, "and when you are a little older I shall +make you my wife. At present you will go with me to my father's house +and become my little betrothed." + +"And I shall never again have to beg for crusts on the street?" she +asked him, her eyes full of wonder. + +"No! never!" he answered, laughing, "and you need never fear another +beating." + + + + +THE NODDING TIGER + +[Illustration] + + +Just outside the walls of a Chinese city there lived a young woodcutter +named T'ang and his old mother, a woman of seventy. They were very poor +and had a tiny one-room shanty, built of mud and grass, which they +rented from a neighbour. Every day young T'ang rose bright and early and +went up on the mountain near their house. There he spent the day cutting +firewood to sell in the city near by. In the evening he would return +home, take the wood to market, sell it, and bring back food for his +mother and himself. Now, though these two people were poor, they were +very happy, for the young man loved his mother dearly, and the old woman +thought there was no one like her son in all the world. Their friends, +however, felt sorry for them and said, "What a pity we have no +grasshoppers here, so that the T'angs could have some food from heaven!" + +One day young T'ang got up before daylight and started for the hills, +carrying his axe on his shoulder. He bade his mother good-bye, telling +her that he would be back early with a heavier load of wood than usual, +for the morrow would be a holiday and they must eat good food. All day +long Widow T'ang waited patiently, saying to herself over and over as +she went about her simple work, "The good boy, the good boy, how he +loves his old mother!" + +In the afternoon she began watching for his return--but in vain. +The sun was sinking lower and lower in the west, but still he did not +come. At last the old woman was frightened. "My poor son!" she muttered. +"Something has happened to him." Straining her feeble eyes, she looked +along the mountain path. Nothing was to be seen there but a flock of +sheep following the shepherd. "Woe is me!" moaned the woman. "My boy! +my boy!" She took her crutch from its corner and limped off to a +neighbour's house to tell him of her trouble and beg him to go and look +for the missing boy. + +Now this neighbour was kind-hearted, and willing to help old Mother +T'ang, for he felt very sorry for her. "There are many wild beasts in +the mountains," he said, shaking his head as he walked away with her, +thinking to prepare the frightened woman for the worst, "and I fear that +your son has been carried off by one of them." Widow T'ang gave a scream +of horror and sank upon the ground. Her friend walked slowly up the +mountain path, looking carefully for signs of a struggle. At last when +he had gone half way up the slope he came to a little pile of torn +clothing spattered with blood. The woodman's axe was lying by the side +of the path, also his carrying pole and some rope. There could be no +mistake: after making a brave fight, the poor youth had been carried off +by a tiger. + +Gathering up the torn garments, the man went sadly down the hill. He +dreaded seeing the poor mother and telling her that her only boy was +indeed gone for ever. At the foot of the mountain he found her still +lying on the ground. When she looked up and saw what he was carrying, +with a cry of despair she fainted away. She did not need to be told what +had happened. + +Friends bore her into the little house and gave her food, but they could +not comfort her. "Alas!" she cried, "of what use is it to live? He was +my only boy. Who will take care of me in my old age? Why have the gods +treated me in this cruel way?" + +She wept, tore her hair, and beat her chest, until people said she had +gone mad. The longer she mourned, the more violent she became. + +The next day, however, much to the surprise of her neighbours, she set +out for the city, making her way along slowly by means of her crutch. It +was a pitiful sight to see her, so old, so feeble, and so lonely. Every +one was sorry for her and pointed her out, saying, "See! the poor old +soul has no one to help her!" + +In the city she asked her way to the public hall. When she found the +place she knelt at the front gate, calling out loudly and telling of her +ill-fortune. Just at this moment the mandarin, or city judge, walked +into the court room to try any cases which might be brought before him. +He heard the old woman weeping and wailing outside, and bade one of the +servants let her enter and tell him of her wrongs. + +Now this was just what the Widow T'ang had come for. Calming herself, +she hobbled into the great hall of trial. + +"What is the matter, old woman? Why do you raise such an uproar in front +of my yamen? Speak up quickly and tell me of your trouble." + +"I am old and feeble," she began; "lame and almost blind. I have no +money and no way of earning money. I have not one relative now in all +the empire. I depended on my only son for a living. Every day he climbed +the mountain, for he was a woodcutter, and every evening he came back +home, bringing enough money for our food. But yesterday he went and did +not return. A mountain tiger carried him off and ate him, and now, alas! +there seems to be no help for it--I must die of hunger. My bleeding +heart cries out for justice. I have come into this hall to-day, to beg +your worship to see that the slayer of my son is punished. Surely the +law says that none may shed blood without giving his own blood in +payment." + +"But, woman, are you mad?" cried the mandarin, laughing loudly. "Did you +not say it was a tiger that killed your son? How can a tiger be brought +to justice? Of a truth, you must have lost your senses." + +The judge's questions were of no avail. The Widow T'ang kept up her +clamour. She would not be turned away until she had gained her purpose. +The hall echoed with the noise of her howling. The mandarin could stand +it no longer. "Hold! woman," he cried, "stop your shrieking. I will do +what you ask. Only go home and wait until I summon you to court. The +slayer of your son shall be caught and punished." + +The judge was, of course, only trying to get rid of the demented mother, +thinking that if she were only once out of his sight, he could give +orders not to let her into the hall again. The old woman, however, was +too sharp for him. She saw through his plan and became more stubborn +than ever. + +"No, I cannot go," she answered, "until I have seen you sign the order +for that tiger to be caught and brought into this judgment hall." + +Now, as the judge was not really a bad man, he decided to humour the old +woman in her strange plea. Turning to the assistants in the court room +he asked which of them would be willing to go in search of the tiger. +One of these men, named Li-neng, had been leaning against the wall, half +asleep. He had been drinking heavily and so had not heard what had been +going on in the room. One of his friends gave him a poke in the ribs +just as the judge asked for volunteers. + +Thinking the judge had called him by name, he stepped forward, knelt on +the floor, saying, "I, Li-neng, can go and do the will of your worship." + +"Very well, you will do," answered the judge. "Here is your order. Go +forth and do your duty." So saying, he handed the warrant to Li-neng. +"Now, old woman, are you satisfied?" he continued. + +"Quite satisfied, your worship," she replied. + +"Then go home and wait there until I send for you." + +Mumbling a few words of thanks, the unhappy mother left the building. + +When Li-neng went outside the court room, his friends crowded round him. +"Drunken sot!" they laughed; "do you know what you have done?" + +Li-neng shook his head. "Just a little business for the mandarin, isn't +it? Quite easy." + +"Call it easy, if you like. What! man, arrest a tiger, a man-eating +tiger and bring him to the city! Better go and say good-bye to your +father and mother. They will never see you again." + +Li-neng slept off his drunkenness, and then saw that his friends were +right. He had been very foolish. But surely the judge had meant the +whole thing only as a joke! No such order had ever been written before! +It was plain that the judge had hit on this plan simply to get rid of +the wailing old woman. Li-neng took the warrant back to the judgment +hall and told the mandarin that the tiger could not be found. + +But the judge was in no mood for joking. "Can't be found? And why not? +You agreed to arrest this tiger. Why is it that to-day you try to get +out of your promise? I can by no means permit this, for I have given my +word to satisfy the old woman in her cry for justice." + +Li-neng knelt and knocked his head on the floor. "I was drunk," he +cried, "when I gave my promise. I knew not what you were asking. I can +catch a man, but not a tiger. I know nothing of such matters. Still, if +you wish it, I can go into the hills and hire hunters to help me." + +"Very well, it makes no difference how you catch him, as long as you +bring him into court. If you fail in your duty, there is nothing left +but to beat you until you succeed. I give you five days." + +During the next few days Li-neng left no stone unturned in trying to +find the guilty tiger. The best hunters in the country were employed. +Night and day they searched the hills, hiding in mountain caves, +watching and waiting, but finding nothing. It was all very trying for +Li-neng, since he now feared the heavy hands of the judge more than the +claws of the tiger. On the fifth day he had to report his failure. He +received a thorough beating, fifty blows on the back. But that was not +the worst of it. During the next six weeks, try as he would, he could +find no traces of the missing animal. At the end of each five days, he +got another beating for his pains. The poor fellow was in despair. +Another month of such treatment would lay him on his deathbed. This he +knew very well, and yet he had little hope. His friends shook their +heads when they saw him. "He is drawing near the wood," they said to +each other, meaning that he would soon be in his coffin. "Why don't you +flee the country?" they asked him. "Follow the tiger's example. You see +he has escaped completely. The judge would make no effort to catch you +if you should go across the border into the next province." + +Li-neng shook his head on hearing this advice. He had no desire to leave +his family for ever, and he felt sure of being caught and put to death +if he should try to run away. + +One day after all the hunters had given up the search in disgust and +gone back to their homes in the valley, Li-neng entered a mountain +temple to pray. The tears rained down his cheeks as he knelt before the +great fierce-looking idol. "Alas! I am a dead man!" he moaned between +his prayers; "a dead man, for now there is no hope. Would that I had +never touched a drop of wine!" + +Just then he heard a slight rustling near by. Looking up, he saw a huge +tiger standing at the temple gate. But Li-neng was no longer afraid of +tigers. He knew there was only one way to save himself. "Ah," he said, +looking the great cat straight in the eye, "you have come to eat me, +have you? Well, I fear you would find my flesh a trifle tough, since I +have been beaten with four hundred blows during these six weeks. You are +the same fellow that carried off the woodman last month, aren't you? +This woodman was an only son, the sole support of an old mother. Now +this poor woman has reported you to the mandarin, who, in turn, has had +a warrant drawn up for your arrest. I have been sent out to find you and +lead you to trial. For some reason or other you have acted the coward, +and remained in hiding. This has been the cause of my beating. Now I +don't want to suffer any longer as a result of your murder. You must +come with me to the city and answer the charge of killing the woodman." + +All the time Li-neng was speaking, the tiger listened closely. When +the man was silent, the animal made no effort to escape, but, on the +contrary, seemed willing and ready to be captured. He bent his head +forward and let Li-neng slip a strong chain over it. Then he followed +the man quietly down the mountain, through the crowded streets of the +city, into the court room. All along the way there was great excitement. +"The man-slaying tiger has been caught," shouted the people. "He is +being led to trial." + +The crowd followed Li-neng into the hall of justice. When the judge +walked in, every one became as quiet as the grave. All were filled with +wonder at the strange sight of a tiger being called before a judge. + +The great animal did not seem to be afraid of those who were watching so +curiously. He sat down in front of the mandarin, for all the world like +a huge cat. The judge rapped on the table as a signal that all was ready +for the trial. + +"Tiger," said he, turning toward the prisoner, "did you eat the woodman +whom you are charged with killing?" + +The tiger gravely nodded his head. + +"Yes, he killed my boy!" screamed the aged mother. "Kill him! Give him +the death that he deserves!" + +"A life for a life is the law of the land," continued the judge, paying +no attention to the forlorn mother, but looking the accused directly +in the eye. "Did you not know it? You have robbed a helpless old woman +of her only son. There are no relatives to support her. She is crying +for vengeance. You must be punished for your crime. The law must be +enforced. However, I am not a cruel judge. If you can promise to take +the place of this widow's son and support the woman in her old age, I am +quite willing to spare you from a disgraceful death. What say you, will +you accept my offer?" + +[Illustration: "THE TIGER GRAVELY NODDED HIS HEAD."] + +The gaping people craned their necks to see what would happen, and once +more they were surprised to see the savage beast nod his head in silent +agreement. + +"Very well, then, you are free to return to your mountain home; only, of +course, you must remember your promise." + +The chains were taken from the tiger's neck, and the great animal walked +silently out of the yamen, down the street, and through the gate opening +towards his beloved mountain cave. + +Once more the old woman was very angry. As she hobbled from the room, +she cast sour glances at the judge, muttering over and over again, "Who +ever heard of a tiger taking the place of a son? A pretty game this is, +to catch the brute, and then to set him free." There was nothing for her +to do, however, but to return home, for the judge had given strict +orders that on no account was she to appear before him again. + +Almost broken-hearted she entered her desolate hovel at the foot of the +mountain. Her neighbours shook their heads as they saw her. "She cannot +live long," they said. "She has the look of death on her wrinkled face. +Poor soul! she has nothing to live for, nothing to keep her from +starving." + +But they were mistaken. Next morning when the old woman went outside to +get a breath of fresh air she found a newly killed deer in front of her +door. Her tiger-son had begun to keep his promise, for she could see the +marks of his claws on the dead animal's body. She took the carcass into +the house and dressed it for the market. On the city streets next day +she had no trouble in selling the flesh and skin for a handsome sum of +money. All had heard of the tiger's first gift, and no one was anxious +to drive a close bargain. + +Laden with food, the happy woman went home rejoicing, with money enough +to keep her for many a day. A week later the tiger came to her door +with a roll of cloth and some money in his mouth. He dropped these new +gifts at her feet and ran away without even waiting for her thank-you. +The Widow T'ang now saw that the judge had acted wisely. She stopped +grieving for her dead son and began to love in his stead the handsome +animal that had come to take his place so willingly. + +The tiger grew much attached to his foster-mother and often purred +contentedly outside her door, waiting for her to come and stroke his +soft fur. He no longer had the old desire to kill. The sight of blood +was not nearly so tempting as it had been in his younger days. Year +after year he brought the weekly offerings to his mistress until she was +as well provided for as any other widow in the country. + +At last in the course of nature the good old soul died. Kind friends +laid her away in her last resting place at the foot of the great +mountain. There was money enough left out of what she had saved to put +up a handsome tombstone, on which this story was written just as you +have read it here. The faithful tiger mourned long for his dear +mistress. He lay on her grave, wailing like a child that had lost its +mother. Long he listened for the voice he had loved so well, long he +searched the mountain-slopes, returning each night to the empty cottage, +but all in vain. She whom he loved was gone for ever. + +One night he vanished from the mountain, and from that day to this no +one in that province has ever seen him. Some who know this story say +that he died of grief in a secret cave which he had long used as a +hiding-place. Others add, with a wise shrug of the shoulders, that, like +Shanwang, he was taken to the Western Heaven, there to be rewarded for +his deeds of virtue and to live as a fairy for ever afterwards. + + + + +THE PRINCESS KWAN-YIN + +[Illustration] + + +Once upon a time in China there lived a certain king who had three +daughters. The fairest and best of these was Kwan-yin, the youngest. +The old king was justly proud of this daughter, for of all the women who +had ever lived in the palace she was by far the most attractive. It did +not take him long, therefore, to decide that she should be the heir to +his throne, and her husband ruler of his kingdom. But, strange to say, +Kwan-yin was not pleased at this good fortune. She cared little for the +pomp and splendour of court life. She foresaw no pleasure for herself in +ruling as a queen, but even feared that in so high a station she might +feel out of place and unhappy. + +Every day she went to her room to read and study. As a result of this +daily labour she soon went far beyond her sisters along the paths of +knowledge, and her name was known in the farthest corner of the kingdom +as "Kwan-yin, the wise princess." Besides being very fond of books, +Kwan-yin was thoughtful of her friends. She was careful about her +behaviour both in public and in private. Her warm heart was open at all +times to the cries of those in trouble. She was kind to the poor and +suffering. She won the love of the lower classes, and was to them a sort +of goddess to whom they could appeal whenever they were hungry and in +need. Some people even believed that she was a fairy who had come to +earth from her home within the Western Heaven, while others said that +once, long years before, she had lived in the world as a prince instead +of a princess. However this may be, one thing is certain--Kwan-yin was +pure and good, and well deserved the praises that were showered upon +her. + +One day the king called this favourite daughter to the royal bedside, +for he felt that the hour of death was drawing near. Kwan-yin kowtowed +before her royal father, kneeling and touching her forehead on the floor +in sign of deepest reverence. The old man bade her rise and come closer. +Taking her hand tenderly in his own, he said, "Daughter, you know well +how I love you. Your modesty and virtue, your talent and your love of +knowledge, have made you first in my heart. As you know already, I chose +you as heir to my kingdom long ago. I promised that your husband should +be made ruler in my stead. The time is almost ripe for me to ascend upon +the dragon and become a guest on high. It is necessary that you be given +at once in marriage." + +"But, most exalted father," faltered the princess, "I am not ready to be +married." + +"Not ready, child! Why, are you not eighteen? Are not the daughters of +our nation often wedded long before they reach that age? Because of your +desire for learning I have spared you thus far from any thought of a +husband, but now we can wait no longer." + +"Royal father, hear your child, and do not compel her to give up her +dearest pleasures. Let her go into a quiet convent where she may lead +a life of study!" + +The king sighed deeply at hearing these words. He loved his daughter and +did not wish to wound her. "Kwan-yin," he continued, "do you wish to +pass by the green spring of youth, to give up this mighty kingdom? Do +you wish to enter the doors of a convent where women say farewell to +life and all its pleasures? No! your father will not permit this. It +grieves me sorely to disappoint you, but one month from this very day +you shall be married. I have chosen for your royal partner a man of many +noble parts. You know him by name already, although you have not seen +him. Remember that, of the hundred virtues filial conduct is the chief, +and that you owe more to me than to all else on earth." + +Kwan-yin turned pale. Trembling, she would have sunk to the floor, but +her mother and sisters supported her, and by their tender care brought +her back to consciousness. + +Every day of the month that followed, Kwan-yin's relatives begged her to +give up what they called her foolish notion. Her sisters had long since +given up hope of becoming queen. They were amazed at her stupidity. The +very thought of any one's choosing a convent instead of a throne was to +them a sure sign of madness. Over and over again they asked her reason +for making so strange a choice. To every question, she shook her head, +replying, "A voice from the heavens speaks to me, and I must obey it." + +On the eve of the wedding day Kwan-yin slipped out of the palace, and, +after a weary journey, arrived at a convent called, "The Cloister of the +White Sparrow." She was dressed as a poor maiden. She said she wished to +become a nun. The abbess, not knowing who she was, did not receive her +kindly. Indeed, she told Kwan-yin that they could not receive her into +the sisterhood, that the building was full. Finally, after Kwan-yin had +shed many tears, the abbess let her enter, but only as a sort of +servant, who might be cast out for the slightest fault. + +Now that Kwan-yin found herself in the life which she had long dreamt +of leading, she tried to be satisfied. But the nuns seemed to wish to +make her stay among them most miserable. They gave her the hardest tasks +to do, and it was seldom that she had a minute to rest. All day long +she was busy, carrying water from a well at the foot of the convent hill +or gathering wood from a neighbouring forest. At night when her back +was almost breaking, she was given many extra tasks, enough to have +crushed the spirit of any other woman than this brave daughter of +a king. Forgetting her grief, and trying to hide the lines of pain +that sometimes wrinkled her fair forehead, she tried to make these +hard-hearted women love her. In return for their rough words, she +spoke to them kindly, and never did she give way to anger. + +One day while poor Kwan-yin was picking up brushwood in the forest she +heard a tiger making his way through the bushes. Having no means of +defending herself, she breathed a silent prayer to the gods for help, +and calmly awaited the coming of the great beast. To her surprise, when +the bloodthirsty animal appeared, instead of bounding up to tear her in +pieces, he began to make a soft purring noise. He did not try to hurt +Kwan-yin, but rubbed against her in a friendly manner, and let her pat +him on the head. + +[Illustration: "ALL DAY SHE WAS BUSY CARRYING WATER."] + +The next day the princess went back to the same spot. There she found +no fewer than a dozen savage beasts working under the command of the +friendly tiger, gathering wood for her. In a short time enough brush and +firewood had been piled up to last the convent for six months. Thus, +even the wild animals of the forest were better able to judge of her +goodness than the women of the sisterhood. + +At another time when Kwan-yin was toiling up the hill for the twentieth +time, carrying two great pails of water on a pole, an enormous dragon +faced her in the road. Now, in China, the dragon is sacred, and Kwan-yin +was not at all frightened, for she knew that she had done no wrong. + +The animal looked at her for a moment, switched its horrid tail, and +shot out fire from its nostrils. Then, dashing the burden from the +startled maiden's shoulder, it vanished. Full of fear, Kwan-yin hurried +up the hill to the nunnery. As she drew near the inner court, she was +amazed to see in the centre of the open space a new building of solid +stone. It had sprung up by magic since her last journey down the hill. +On going forward, she saw that there were four arched doorways to the +fairy house. Above the door facing west was a tablet with these words +written on it: "In honour of Kwan-yin, the faithful princess." Inside +was a well of the purest water, while, for drawing this water, there a +strange machine, the like of which neither Kwan-yin nor the nuns had +ever seen. + +The sisters knew that this magic well was a monument to Kwan-yin's +goodness. For a few days they treated her much better. "Since the gods +have dug a well at our very gate," they said, "this girl will no longer +need to bear water from the foot of the hill. For what strange reason, +however, did the gods write this beggar's name on the stone?" + +Kwan-yin heard their unkind remarks in silence. She could have explained +the meaning of the dragon's gift, but she chose to let her companions +remain in ignorance. At last the selfish nuns began to grow careless +again, and treated her even worse than before. They could not bear to +see the poor girl enjoy a moment's idleness. + +"This is a place for work," they told her. "All of us have laboured hard +to win our present station. You must do likewise." So they robbed her of +every chance for study and prayer, and gave her no credit for the magic +well. + +One night the sisters were awakened from their sleep by strange noises, +and soon they heard outside the walls of the compound the blare of a +trumpet. A great army had been sent by Kwan-yin's father to attack the +convent, for his spies had at last been able to trace the runaway +princess to this holy retreat. + +"Oh, who has brought this woe upon us?" exclaimed all the women, looking +at each other in great fear. "Who has done this great evil? There is one +among us who has sinned most terribly, and now the gods are about to +destroy us." They gazed at one another, but no one thought of Kwan-yin, +for they did not believe her of enough importance to attract the anger +of heaven, even though she might have done the most shocking of deeds. +Then, too, she had been so meek and lowly while in their holy order that +they did not once dream of charging her with any crime. + +The threatening sounds outside grew louder and louder. All at once a +fearful cry arose among the women: "They are about to burn our sacred +dwelling." Smoke was rising just beyond the enclosure where the soldiers +were kindling a great fire, the heat of which would soon be great enough +to make the convent walls crumble into dust. + +Suddenly a voice was heard above the tumult of the weeping sisters: +"Alas! I am the cause of all this trouble." + +The nuns, turning in amazement, saw that it was Kwan-yin who was +speaking. "You?" they exclaimed, astounded. + +"Yes, I, for I am indeed the daughter of a king. My father did not wish +me to take the vows of this holy order. I fled from the palace. He has +sent his army here to burn these buildings and to drag me back a +prisoner." + +"Then, see what you have brought upon us, miserable girl!" exclaimed the +abbess. "See how you have repaid our kindness! Our buildings will be +burned above our heads! How wretched you have made us! May heaven's +curses rest upon you!" + +"No, no!" exclaimed Kwan-yin, springing up, and trying to keep the +abbess from speaking these frightful words. "You have no right to say +that, for I am innocent of evil. But, wait! You shall soon see whose +prayers the gods will answer, yours or mine!" So saying, she pressed her +forehead to the floor, praying the almighty powers to save the convent +and the sisters. + +Outside the crackling of the greedy flames could already be heard. The +fire king would soon destroy every building on that hill-top. Mad with +terror, the sisters prepared to leave the compound and give up all their +belongings to the cruel flames and still more cruel soldiers. Kwan-yin +alone remained in the room, praying earnestly for help. + +Suddenly a soft breeze sprang up from the neighbouring forest, dark +clouds gathered overhead, and, although it was the dry season a +drenching shower descended on the flames. Within five minutes the fire +was put out and the convent was saved. Just as the shivering nuns were +thanking Kwan-yin for the divine help she had brought them, two soldiers +who had scaled the outer wall of the compound came in and roughly asked +for the princess. + +The trembling girl, knowing that these men were obeying her father's +orders, poured out a prayer to the gods, and straightway made herself +known. They dragged her from the presence of the nuns who had just begun +to love her. Thus disgraced before her father's army, she was taken to +the capital. + +On the morrow, she was led before the old king. The father gazed sadly +at his daughter, and then the stern look of a judge hardened his face as +he beckoned the guards to bring her forward. + +From a neighbouring room came the sounds of sweet music. A feast was +being served there amid great splendour. The loud laughter of the guests +reached the ears of the young girl as she bowed in disgrace before her +father's throne. She knew that this feast had been prepared for her, and +that her father was willing to give her one more chance. + +"Girl," said the king, at last regaining his voice, "in leaving the +royal palace on the eve of your wedding day, not only did you insult +your father, but your king. For this act you deserve to die. However, +because of the excellent record you had made for yourself before you ran +away, I have decided to give you one more chance to redeem yourself. +Refuse me, and the penalty is death: obey me, and all may yet be +well--the kingdom that you spurned is still yours for the asking. All +that I require is your marriage to the man whom I have chosen." + +"And when, most august King, would you have me decide?" asked Kwan-yin +earnestly. + +"This very day, this very hour, this very moment," he answered sternly. +"What! would you hesitate between love upon a throne and death? Speak, +my daughter, tell me that you love me and will do my bidding!" + +It was now all that Kwan-yin could do to keep from throwing herself at +her father's feet and yielding to his wishes, not because he offered her +a kingdom, but because she loved him and would gladly have made him +happy. But her strong will kept her from relenting. No power on earth +could have stayed her from doing what she thought her duty. + +"Beloved father," she answered sadly, and her voice was full of +tenderness, "it is not a question of my love for you--of that there is +no question, for all my life I have shown it in every action. Believe +me, if I were free to do your bidding, gladly would I make you happy, +but a voice from the gods has spoken, has commanded that I remain a +virgin, that I devote my life to deeds of mercy. When heaven itself has +commanded, what can even a princess do but listen to that power which +rules the earth?" + +The old king was far from satisfied with Kwan-yin's answer. He grew +furious, his thin wrinkled skin turned purple as the hot blood rose to +his head. "Then you refuse to do my bidding! Take her, men! Give to her +the death that is due to a traitor to the king!" As they bore Kwan-yin +away from his presence the white-haired monarch fell, swooning, from his +chair. + +That night, when Kwan-yin was put to death, she descended into the lower +world of torture. No sooner had she set foot in that dark country of the +dead than the vast region of endless punishment suddenly blossomed forth +and became like the gardens of Paradise. Pure white lilies sprang up on +every side, and the odour of a million flowers filled all the rooms and +corridors. King Yama, ruler of the dominion, rushed forth to learn the +cause of this wonderful change. No sooner did his eyes rest upon the +fair young face of Kwan-yin than he saw in her the emblem of a purity +which deserved no home but heaven. + +"Beautiful virgin, doer of many mercies," he began, after addressing +her by her title, "I beg you in the name of justice to depart from this +bloody kingdom. It is not right that the fairest flower of heaven should +enter and shed her fragrance in these halls. Guilt must suffer here, and +sin find no reward. Depart thou, then, from my dominion. The peach of +immortal life shall be bestowed upon you, and heaven alone shall be your +dwelling place." + +Thus Kwan-yin became the Goddess of Mercy; thus she entered into that +glad abode, surpassing all earthly kings and queens. And ever since that +time, on account of her exceeding goodness, thousands of poor people +breathe out to her each year their prayers for mercy. There is no fear +in their gaze as they look at her beautiful image, for their eyes are +filled with tears of love. + + + + +THE TWO JUGGLERS + +[Illustration] + + +One beautiful spring day two men strolled into the public square of +a well-known Chinese city. They were plainly dressed and looked like +ordinary countrymen who had come in to see the sights. Judging by their +faces, they were father and son. The elder, a wrinkled man of perhaps +fifty, wore a scant grey beard. The younger had a small box on his +shoulder. + +At the hour when these strangers entered the public square, a large +crowd had gathered, for it was a feast day, and every one was bent on +having a good time. All the people seemed very happy. Some, seated in +little open-air booths, were eating, drinking, and smoking. Others were +buying odds and ends from the street-vendors, tossing coins, and playing +various games of chance. + +The two men walked about aimlessly. They seemed to have no friends among +the pleasure-seekers. At last, however, as they stood reading a public +notice posted at the entrance of the town-hall or yamen, a bystander +asked them who they were. + +"Oh, we are jugglers from a distant province," said the elder, smiling +and pointing towards the box. "We can do many tricks for the amusement +of the people." + +Soon it was spread about among the crowd that two famous jugglers had +just arrived from the capital, and that they were able to perform many +wonderful deeds. Now it happened that the mandarin or mayor of the city, +at that very moment was entertaining a number of guests in the yamen. +They had just finished eating, and the host was wondering what he should +do to amuse his friends, when a servant told him of the jugglers. + +"Ask them what they can do," said the mandarin eagerly. "I will pay them +well if they can really amuse us, but I want something more than the old +tricks of knife-throwing and balancing. They must show us something +new." + +The servant went outside and spoke to the jugglers: "The great man bids +you tell him what you can do. If you can amuse his visitors he will +bring them out to the private grand stand, and let you perform before +them and the people who are gathered together." + +"Tell your honourable master," said the elder, whom we shall call Chang, +"that, try us as he will, he will not be disappointed. Tell him that we +come from the unknown land of dreams and visions, that we can turn rocks +into mountains, rivers into oceans, mice into elephants, in short, that +there is nothing in magic too difficult for us to do." + +The official was delighted when he heard the report of his servant. +"Now we may have a little fun," he said to his guests, "for there are +jugglers outside who will perform their wonderful tricks before us." + +The guests filed out on to the grand stand at one side of the public +square. The mandarin commanded that a rope should be stretched across +so as to leave an open space in full view of the crowd, where the two +Changs might give their exhibition. + +For a time the two strangers entertained the people with some of the +simpler tricks, such as spinning plates in the air, tossing bowls up and +catching them on chopsticks, making flowers grow from empty pots, and +transforming one object into another. At last, however, the mandarin +cried out: "These tricks are very good of their kind, but how about +those idle boasts of changing rivers into oceans and mice into +elephants? Did you not say that you came from the land of dreams? These +tricks you have done are stale and shopworn. Have you nothing new with +which to regale my guests on this holiday?" + +"Most certainly, your excellency. But surely you would not have a +labourer do more than his employer requires? Would that not be quite +contrary to the teachings of our fathers? Be assured, sir, anything that +you demand I can do for you. Only say the word." + +The mandarin laughed outright at this boasting language. "Take care, my +man! Do not go too far with your promises. There are too many impostors +around for me to believe every stranger. Hark you! no lying, for if you +lie in the presence of my guests, I shall take great pleasure in having +you beaten." + +"My words are quite true, your excellency," repeated Chang earnestly. +"What have we to gain by deceit, we who have performed our miracles +before the countless hosts of yonder Western Heaven?" + +"Ha, ha! hear the braggarts!" shouted the guests. "What shall we command +them to do?" + +For a moment they consulted together, whispering and laughing. + +"I have it," cried the host finally. "Our feast was short of fruit, +since this is the off season. Suppose we let this fellow supply us. +Here, fellow, produce us a peach, and be quick about it. We have no time +for fooling." + +"What, masters, a peach?" exclaimed the elder Chang in mock dismay. +"Surely at this season you do not expect a peach." + +"Caught at his own game," laughed the guests, and the people began to +hoot derisively. + +"But, father, you promised to do anything he required," urged the son. +"If he asks even a peach, how can you refuse and at the same time save +your face?" + +"Hear the boy talk," mumbled the father, "and yet, perhaps he's right. +Very well, masters," turning to the crowd, "if it's a peach you want, +why, a peach you shall have, even though I must send into the garden of +the Western Heaven for the fruit." + +The people became silent and the mandarin's guests forgot to laugh. The +old man, still muttering, opened the box from which he had been taking +the magic bowls, plates, and other articles. "To think of people wanting +peaches at this season! What is the world coming to?" + +After fumbling in the box for some moments he drew out a skein of golden +thread, fine spun and as light as gossamer. No sooner had he unwound a +portion of this thread than a sudden gust of wind carried it up into the +air above the heads of the onlookers. Faster and faster the old man +paid out the magic coil, higher and higher the free end rose into the +heavens, until, strain his eyes as he would, no one present could see +into what far-region it had vanished. + +"Wonderful, wonderful!" shouted the people with one voice, "the old man +is a fairy." + +For a moment they forgot all about the mandarin, the jugglers, and the +peach, so amazed were they at beholding the flight of the magic thread. + +At last the old man seemed satisfied with the distance to which his cord +had sailed, and, with a bow to the spectators, he tied the end to a +large wooden pillar which helped to support the roof of the grand stand. +For a moment the structure trembled and swayed as if it too would be +carried off into the blue ether, the guests turned pale and clutched +their chairs for support, but not even the mandarin dared to speak, so +sure were they now that they were in the presence of fairies. + +"Everything is ready for the journey," said old Chang calmly. + +"What! shall you leave us?" asked the mayor, finding his voice again. + +"I? Oh, no, my old bones are not spry enough for quick climbing. My son +here will bring us the magic peach. He is handsome and active enough to +enter that heavenly garden. Graceful, oh graceful is that peach tree--of +course, you remember the line from the poem--and a graceful man must +pluck the fruit." + +The mandarin was still more surprised at the juggler's knowledge of a +famous poem from the classics. It made him and his friends all the more +certain that the newcomers were indeed fairies. + +The young man at a sign from his father tightened his belt and the bands +about his ankles, and then, with a graceful gesture to the astonished +people, sprang upon the magic string, balanced himself for a moment on +the steep incline, and then ran as nimbly up as a sailor would have +mounted a rope ladder. Higher and higher he climbed till he seemed no +bigger than a lark ascending into the blue sky, and then, like some tiny +speck, far, far away, on the western horizon. + +The people gazed in open-mouthed wonder. They were struck dumb and +filled with some nameless fear; they hardly dared to look at the +enchanter who stood calmly in their midst, smoking his long-stemmed +pipe. + +The mandarin, ashamed of having laughed at and threatened this man +who was clearly a fairy, did not know what to say. He snapped his long +finger nails and looked at his guests in mute astonishment. The visitors +silently drank their tea, and the crowd of sightseers craned their necks +in a vain effort to catch sight of the vanished fairy. Only one in all +that assembly, a bright-eyed little boy of eight, dared to break the +silence, and he caused a hearty burst of merriment by crying out, "Oh, +daddy, will the bad young man fly off into the sky and leave his poor +father all alone?" + +The greybeard laughed loudly with the others, and tossed the lad a +copper. "Ah, the good boy," he said smiling, "he has been well trained +to love his father; no fear of foreign ways spoiling his filial piety." + +After a few moments of waiting, old Chang laid aside his pipe and fixed +his eyes once more on the western sky. "It is coming," he said quietly. +"The peach will soon be here." + +[Illustration: "HIGHER AND HIGHER HE CLIMBED."] + +Suddenly he held out his hand as if to catch some falling object, but, +look as they would, the people could see nothing. Swish! thud! it came +like a streak of light, and, lo, there in the magician's fingers was a +peach, the most beautiful specimen the people had ever seen, large and +rosy. "Straight from the garden of the gods," said Chang, handing the +fruit to the mandarin, "a peach in the Second Moon, and the snow hardly +off the ground." + +Trembling with excitement, the official took the peach and cut it open. +It was large enough for all his guests to have a taste, and such a taste +it was! They smacked their lips and wished for more, secretly thinking +that never again would ordinary fruit be worth the eating. + +But all this time the old juggler, magician, fairy or whatever you +choose to call him, was looking anxiously into the sky. The result of +this trick was more than he had bargained for. True, he had been able to +produce the magic peach which the mandarin had called for, but his son, +where was his son? He shaded his eyes and looked far up into the blue +heavens, and so did the people, but no one could catch a glimpse of the +departed youth. + +"Oh, my son, my son," cried the old man in despair, "how cruel is the +fate that has robbed me of you, the only prop of my declining years! Oh, +my boy, my boy, would that I had not sent you on so perilous a journey! +Who now will look after my grave when I am gone?" + +Suddenly the silken cord on which the young man had sped so daringly +into the sky, gave a quick jerk which almost toppled over the post to +which it was tied, and there, before the very eyes of the people, it +fell from the lofty height, a silken pile on the ground in front of +them. + +The greybeard uttered a loud cry and covered his face with his hands. +"Alas! the whole story is plain enough," he sobbed. "My boy was caught +in the act of plucking the magic peach from the garden of the gods, and +they have thrown him into prison. Woe is me! Ah! woe is me!" + +The mandarin and his friends were deeply touched by the old man's grief, +and tried in vain to comfort him. "Perhaps he will return," they said. +"Have courage!" + +"Yes, but in what a shape?" replied the magician. "See! even now they +are restoring him to his father." + +The people looked, and they saw twirling and twisting through the air +the young man's arm. It fell upon the ground in front of them at the +fairy's feet. Next came the head, a leg, the body. One by one before the +gasping, shuddering people, the parts of the unfortunate young man were +restored to his father. + +After the first outburst of wild, frantic grief the old man by a great +effort gained control of his feelings, and began to gather up these +parts, putting them tenderly into the wooden box. + +By this time many of the spectators were weeping at the sight of the +father's affliction. "Come," said the mandarin at last, deeply moved, +"let us present the old man with sufficient money to give his boy a +decent burial." + +All present agreed willingly, for there is no sight in China that causes +greater pity than that of an aged parent robbed by death of an only son. +The copper cash fell in a shower at the juggler's feet, and soon tears +of gratitude were mingled with those of sorrow. He gathered up the money +and tied it in a large black cloth. Then a wonderful change came over +his face. He seemed all of a sudden to forget his grief. Turning to the +box, he raised the lid. The people heard him say: "Come, my son; the +crowd is waiting for you to thank them. Hurry up! They have been very +kind to us." + +In an instant the box was thrown open with a bang, and before the +mandarin and his friends, before the eyes of all the sightseers the +young man, strong and whole once more, stepped forth and bowed, clasping +his hands and giving the national salute. + +For a moment all were silent. Then, as the wonder of the whole thing +dawned upon them, the people broke forth into a tumult of shouts, +laughter, and compliments. "The fairies have surely come to visit us!" +they shouted. "The city will be blessed with good fortune! Perhaps it is +Fairy Old Boy himself who is among us!" + +The mandarin rose and addressed the jugglers, thanking them in the name +of the city for their visit and for the taste they had given to him and +his guests of the peach from the heavenly orchard. + +Even as he spoke, the magic box opened again; the two fairies +disappeared inside, the lid closed, and the chest rose from the ground +above the heads of the people. For a moment it floated round in a circle +like some homing pigeon trying to find its bearings before starting on +a return journey. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, it shot off into +the heavens and vanished from the sight of those below, and not a thing +remained as proof of the strange visitors except the magic peach seed +that lay beside the teacups on the mandarin's table. + +According to the most ancient writings there is now nothing left to tell +of this story. It has been declared, however, by later scholars that the +official and his friends who had eaten the magic peach, at once began to +feel a change in their lives. While, before the coming of the fairies, +they had lived unfairly, accepting bribes and taking part in many +shameful practices, now, after tasting of the heavenly fruit, they began +to grow better. The people soon began to honour and love them, saying, +"Surely these great men are not like others of their kind, for these men +are just and honest in their dealings with us. They seem not to be +ruling for their own reward!" + +However this may be, we do know that before many years their city became +the centre of the greatest peach-growing section of China, and even +yet when strangers walk in the orchards and look up admiringly at the +beautiful sweet-smelling fruit, the natives sometimes ask proudly, "And +have you never heard about the wonderful peach which was the beginning +of all our orchards, the magic peach the fairies brought us from the +Western Heaven?" + + + + +THE PHANTOM VESSEL + +[Illustration] + + +Once a ship loaded with pleasure-seekers was sailing from North China +to Shanghai. High winds and stormy weather had delayed her, and she was +still one week from port when a great plague broke out on board. This +plague was of the worst kind. It attacked passengers and sailors alike +until there were so few left to sail the vessel that it seemed as if she +would soon be left to the mercy of winds and waves. + +On all sides lay the dead, and the groans of the dying were most +terrible to hear. Of that great company of travellers only one, a +little boy named Ying-lo, had escaped. At last the few sailors, who +had been trying hard to save their ship, were obliged to lie down upon +the deck, a prey to the dreadful sickness, and soon they too were +dead. + +Ying-lo now found himself alone on the sea. For some reason--he did not +know why--the gods or the sea fairies had spared him, but as he looked +about in terror at the friends and loved ones who had died, he almost +wished that he might join them. + +The sails flapped about like great broken wings, while the giant waves +dashed higher above the deck, washing many of the bodies overboard and +wetting the little boy to the skin. Shivering with cold, he gave himself +up for lost and prayed to the gods, whom his mother had often told him +about, to take him from this dreadful ship and let him escape the fatal +illness. + +As he lay there praying he heard a slight noise in the rigging just +above his head. Looking up, he saw a ball of fire running along a +yardarm near the top of the mast. The sight was so strange that he +forgot his prayer and stared with open-mouthed wonder. To his +astonishment, the ball grew brighter and brighter, and then suddenly +began slipping down the mast, all the time increasing in size. The poor +boy did not know what to do or to think. Were the gods, in answer to his +prayer, sending fire to burn the vessel? If so, he would soon escape. +Anything would be better than to be alone upon the sea. + +Nearer and nearer came the fireball. At last, when it reached the deck, +to Ying-lo's surprise, something very, very strange happened. Before he +had time to feel alarmed, the light vanished, and a funny little man +stood in front of him peering anxiously into the child's frightened +face. + +"Yes, you are the lad I'm looking for," he said at last, speaking in a +piping voice that almost made Ying-lo smile. "You are Ying-lo, and you +are the only one left of this wretched company." This he said, pointing +towards the bodies lying here and there about the deck. + +Although he saw that the old man meant him no harm, the child could say +nothing, but waited in silence, wondering what would happen next. + +By this time the vessel was tossing and pitching so violently that it +seemed every minute as if it would upset and go down beneath the foaming +waves, never to rise again. Not many miles distant on the right, some +jagged rocks stuck out of the water, lifting their cruel heads as if +waiting for the helpless ship. + +The newcomer walked slowly towards the mast and tapped on it three times +with an iron staff he had been using as a cane. Immediately the sails +spread, the vessel righted itself and began to glide over the sea so +fast that the gulls were soon left far behind, while the threatening +rocks upon which the ship had been so nearly dashed seemed like specks +in the distance. + +"Do you remember me?" said the stranger, suddenly turning and coming up +to Ying-lo, but his voice was lost in the whistling of the wind, and the +boy knew only by the moving of his lips that the old man was talking. +The greybeard bent over until his mouth was at Ying-lo's ear: "Did you +ever see me before?" + +With a puzzled look, at first the child shook his head. Then as he gazed +more closely there seemed to be something that he recognized about the +wrinkled face. "Yes, I think so, but I don't know when." + +With a tap of his staff the fairy stopped the blowing of the wind, and +then spoke once more to his small companion: "One year ago I passed +through your village. I was dressed in rags, and was begging my way +along the street, trying to find some one who would feel sorry for me. +Alas! no one answered my cry for mercy. Not a crust was thrown into my +bowl. All the people were deaf, and fierce dogs drove me from door to +door. Finally when I was almost dying of hunger, I began to feel that +here was a village without one good person in it. Just then you saw my +suffering, ran into the house, and brought me out food. Your heartless +mother saw you doing this and beat you cruelly. Do you remember now, my +child?" + +"Yes, I remember," he answered sadly, "and that mother is now lying +dead. Alas! all, all are dead, my father and my brothers also. Not one +is left of my family." + +"Little did you know, my boy, to whom you were giving food that day. +You took me for a lowly beggar, but, behold, it was not a poor man that +you fed, for I am Iron Staff. You must have heard of me when they were +telling of the fairies in the Western Heaven, and of their adventures +here on earth." + +"Yes, yes," answered Ying-lo, trembling half with fear and half with +joy, "indeed I have heard of you many, many times, and all the people +love you for your kind deeds of mercy." + +"Alas! they did not show their love, my little one. Surely you know that +if any one wishes to reward the fairies for their mercies, he must begin +to do deeds of the same kind himself. No one but you in all your village +had pity on me in my rags. If they had known that I was Iron Staff, +everything would have been different; they would have given me a feast +and begged for my protection. + + + "The only love that loves aright + Is that which loves in every plight. + The beggar in his sad array + Is moulded of the selfsame clay. + + "Who knows a man by what he wears, + By what he says or by his prayers? + Hidden beneath that wrinkled skin + A fairy may reside within. + + "Then treat with kindness and with love + The lowly man, the god above; + A friendly nod, a welcome smile-- + For love is ever worth the while." + + +Ying-lo listened in wonder to Iron Staff's little poem, and when he had +finished, the boy's face was glowing with the love of which the fairy +had spoken. "My poor, poor father and mother!" he cried; "they knew +nothing of these beautiful things you are telling me. They were brought +up in poverty. As they were knocked about in childhood by those around +them, so they learned to beat others who begged them for help. Is it +strange that they did not have hearts full of pity for you when you +looked like a beggar?" + +"But what about you, my boy? You were not deaf when I asked you. Have +you not been whipped and punished all your life? How then did you learn +to look with love at those in tears?" + +The child could not answer these questions, but only looked sorrowfully +at Iron Staff. "Oh, can you not, good fairy, will you not restore my +parents and brothers, and give them another chance to be good and useful +people?" + +"Listen, Ying-lo; it is impossible--unless you do two things first," he +answered, stroking his beard gravely and leaning heavily upon his staff. + +"What are they? What must I do to save my family? Anything you ask of me +will not be too much to pay for your kindness." + +"First you must tell me of some good deed done by these people for whose +lives you are asking. Name only one, for that will be enough; but it is +against our rules to help those who have done nothing." + +Ying-lo was silent, and for a moment his face was clouded. "Yes, I +know," he said finally, brightening. "They burned incense once at the +temple. That was certainly a deed of virtue." + +"But when was it, little one, that they did this?" + +"When my big brother was sick, and they were praying for him to get +well. The doctors could not save him with boiled turnip juice or with +any other of the medicines they used, so my parents begged the gods." + +"Selfish, selfish!" muttered Iron Staff. "If their eldest son had not +been dying they would have spent no money at the temple. They tried in +this way to buy back his health, for they were expecting him to support +them in their old age." + +Ying-lo's face fell. "You are right," he answered. + +"Can you think of nothing else?" + +"Yes, oh, yes, last year when the foreigner rode through our village and +fell sick in front of our house, they took him in and cared for him." + +"How long?" asked the other sharply. + +"Until he died the next week." + +"And what did they do with the mule he was riding, his bed, and the +money in his bag? Did they try to restore them to his people?" + +"No, they said they'd keep them to pay for the trouble." Ying-lo's face +turned scarlet. + +"But try again, dear boy! Is there not one little deed of goodness that +was not selfish? Think once more." + +For a long time Ying-lo did not reply. At length he spoke in a low +voice; "I think of one, but I fear it amounts to nothing." + +"No good, my child, is too small to be counted when the gods are +weighing a man's heart." + +"Last spring the birds were eating in my father's garden. My mother +wanted to buy poison from the shop to destroy them, but my father said +no, that the little things must live, and he for one was not in favour +of killing them." + +"At last, Ying-lo, you have named a real deed of mercy, and as he spared +the tiny birds from poison, so shall his life and the lives of your +mother and brothers be restored from the deadly plague. + +"But remember there is one other thing that depends on you." + +Ying-lo's eyes glistened gratefully. "Then if it rests with me, and I +can do it, you have my promise. No sacrifice should be too great for a +son to make for his loved ones even though his life itself is asked in +payment." + +"Very well, Ying-lo. What I require is that you carry out to the letter +my instructions. Now it is time for me to keep my promise to you." + +So saying, Iron Staff called on Ying-lo to point out the members of his +family, and, approaching them one by one, with the end of his iron stick +he touched their foreheads. In an instant each, without a word, arose. +Looking round and recognising Ying-lo, they stood back, frightened at +seeing him with the fairy. When the last had risen to his feet, Iron +Staff beckoned all of them to listen. This they did willingly, too much +terrified to speak, for they saw on all sides signs of the plague that +had swept over the vessel, and they remembered the frightful agony they +had suffered in dying. Each knew that he had been lifted by some magic +power from darkness into light. + +"My friends," began the fairy, "little did you think when less than a +year ago you drove me from your door that soon you yourselves would be +in need of mercy. To-day you have had a peep into the awful land of +Yama. You have seen the horror of his tortures, have heard the screams +of his slaves, and by another night you would have been carried before +him to be judged. What power is it that has saved you from his clutches? +As you look back through your wicked lives can you think of any reason +why you deserved this rescue? No, there is no memory of goodness in +your black hearts. Well, I shall tell you: it is this little boy, this +Ying-lo, who many times has felt the weight of your wicked hands and +has hidden in terror at your coming. To him alone you owe my help." + +Father, mother, and brothers all gazed in turn, first at the fairy and +then at the timid child whose eyes fell before their looks of gratitude. + +"By reason of his goodness this child whom you have scorned is worthy of +a place within the Western Heaven. In truth, I came this very day to +lead him to that fairyland. For you, however, he wishes to make a +sacrifice. With sorrow I am yielding to his wishes. His sacrifice will +be that of giving up a place among the fairies and of continuing to live +here on this earth with you. He will try to make a change within your +household. If at any time you treat him badly and do not heed his +wishes--mark you well my words--by the power of this magic staff which I +shall place in his hands, he may enter at once into the land of the +fairies, leaving you to die in your wickedness. This I command him to +do, and he has promised to obey my slightest wish. + +"This plague took you off suddenly and ended your wicked lives. Ying-lo +has raised you from its grasp and his power can lift you from the bed of +sin. No other hand than his can bear the rod which I am leaving. If one +of you but touch it, instantly he will fall dead upon the ground. + +"And now, my child, the time has come for me to leave you. First, +however, I must show you what you are now able to do. Around you lie the +corpses of sailors and passengers. Tap three times upon the mast and +wish that they shall come to life," So saying he handed Ying-lo the iron +staff. + +Although the magic rod was heavy, the child lifted it as if it were a +fairy's wand. Then, stepping forward to the mast, he rapped three times +as he had been commanded. Immediately on all sides arose the bodies, +once more full of life and strength. + +"Now command the ship to take you back to your home port, for such +sinful creatures as these are in no way fit to make a journey among +strangers. They must first return and free their homes of sin." + +Again rapping on the mast, the child willed the great vessel to take +its homeward course. No sooner had he moved the staff than, like a bird +wheeling in the heavens, the bark swung round and started on the return +journey. Swifter than a flash of lightning flew the boat, for it was +now become a fairy vessel. Before the sailors and the travellers could +recover from their surprise, land was sighted and they saw that they +were indeed entering the harbour. + +Just as the ship was darting toward the shore the fairy suddenly, with +a parting word to Ying-lo, changed into a flaming ball of fire which +rolled along the deck and ascended the spars. Then, as it reached the +top of the rigging, it floated off into the blue sky, and all on board, +speechless with surprise, watched it until it vanished. + +With a cry of thanksgiving, Ying-lo flung his arms about his parents and +descended with them to the shore. + + + + +THE WOODEN TABLET + +[Illustration] + + +"Yes, my boy, whatever happens, be sure to save that tablet. It is the +only thing we have left worth keeping." + +K'ang-p'u's father was just setting out for the city, to be gone all +day. He had been telling K'ang-p'u about some work in the little garden, +for the boy was a strong and willing helper. + +"All right, father, I'll do what you tell me; but suppose the foreign +soldiers should come while you are gone? I heard that they were over at +T'ang Shu yesterday and burned the village. If they should come here, +what must I do?" + +Mr. Lin laughed heartily. "Why, there's nothing here for them to burn, +if it comes to that!--a mud house, a grass roof, and a pile of ragged +bedding. Surely they won't bother my little hut. It's loot they're +after--money--or something they can sell." + +"But, father," persisted the boy, "haven't you forgotten? Surely you +wouldn't wish them to burn your father's tablet?" + +"Quite right; for the moment I did forget. Yes, yes, my boy, whatever +happens be sure to save the tablet. It is the only thing we have worth +keeping." + +With that, Mr. Lin went out at the gate, leaving K'ang-p'u standing all +alone. The little fellow was scarcely twelve years old. He had a bright, +sunny face and a happy heart. Being left by himself did not mean tears +and idleness for him. + +He went into the poor little house and stood for a moment looking +earnestly at the wooden tablet. It was on a shelf in the one-roomed +shanty, an oblong piece of wood about twelve inches high, enclosed in +a wooden case. Through the carved screen work in the front, K'ang-p'u +could see his grandfather's name written in Chinese characters on the +tablet. Ever since babyhood K'ang-p'u had been taught to look at this +piece of wood with a feeling of reverence. + +"Your grandfather's spirit is inside," his father had said one day. "You +must worship his spirit, for he was a good man, far better than your +dad. If I had obeyed him in all things, I, his only son, should not now +be living in this miserable hut." + +"But didn't he live here, too?" asked K'ang-p'u in surprise. + +"Oh, no, we lived in a big house over yonder in another village; in a +big house with a high stone wall." + +The little fellow had gasped with surprise at hearing this, for there +was not such a thing as a stone wall in his village, and he felt that +his grandfather must have been a rich man. He had not asked any more +questions, but from that day on he had been rather afraid of the carved +wooden box in which his grandfather's spirit was supposed to live. + +So, on this day when his father left him alone, the boy stood looking at +the tablet, wondering how a big man's spirit could squeeze into such a +small space. He put out his finger cautiously and touched the bottom of +the box, then drew back, half-frightened at his own daring. No bad +results followed. It seemed just like any other piece of wood. Somewhat +puzzled, he walked out of the house into the little garden. His father +had told him to re-set some young cabbages. This was work which +K'ang-p'u had done many times before. First, he gathered a basket of +chicken feathers, for his father had told him that a few feathers placed +at the roots of the young plant would do more to make it strong and +healthy than anything else that could be used. + +All day K'ang-p'u worked steadily in the garden. He was just beginning +to feel tired, when he heard a woman screaming in the distance. He +dropped his basket and rushed to the gate. Down the road at the far +side of the village he saw a crowd of women and children running hither +and thither, and--yes! there were the soldiers--the dreaded foreign +soldiers! They were burning the houses; they were stealing whatever they +could find. + +Now, most boys would have been frightened--would have taken to their +heels without thought of consequences. K'ang-p'u, however, though +like other lads afraid of soldiers, was too brave to run without first +doing his duty. He decided to stand his ground until he was sure the +foreigners were coming his way. Perhaps they would grow tired of their +cruel sport and leave the little house unharmed. He watched with +wide-open eyes the work of pillage. Alas! these men did not seem to +tire of their amusement. One after another the houses were entered and +robbed. Women were screaming and children crying. Nearly all the village +men were away in a distant market town, for none of them had expected +an attack. + +Nearer and nearer came the robbers. At last they were next door to +K'ang-p'u's hut, and he knew the time had come for him to do his duty. +Seizing the basket of chicken feathers, he rushed into the house, +snatched the precious tablet from the shelf, and hid it in the bottom of +the basket. Then, without stopping to say good-bye to the spot which he +had known all his life, he rushed out of the gate and down the narrow +street. + +"Kill the kid!" shouted a soldier, whom K'ang-p'u nearly ran against in +his hurry. "Put down the basket, boy! No stealing here." + +"Yes, kill him!" shouted another with a loud laugh; "he'd make a good +bit of bacon." + +But no one touched him, and K'ang-p'u, still holding tightly to his +burden, was soon far out on the winding road among the cornfields. If +they should follow, he thought of hiding among the giant cornstalks. His +legs were tired now, and he sat down under a stone memorial arch near +some crossroads to rest. + +Where was he going, and what should he do? These were the questions that +filled the boy's whirling little brain. First, he must find out if the +soldiers were really destroying all the houses in his village. Perhaps +some of them would not be burned and he could return at night to join +his father. + +After several failures he managed to climb one of the stone pillars and +from the arch above he could get a good view of the surrounding country. +Over to the west was his village. His heart beat fast when he saw that +a great cloud of smoke was rising from the houses. Clearly, the thieves +were making quick work of the place, and soon there would be nothing +left but piles of mud, brick, ashes and other rubbish. + +Night came on. K'ang-p'u clambered down from his stone perch. He was +beginning to feel hungry, and yet he dared not turn back towards home. +And besides, would not all the other villagers be hungry, too? He lay +down at the foot of the stone monument, placing the basket within reach +at one side. Soon he fell fast asleep. + +How long he had been sleeping he never knew; but it was not yet day when +he awoke with a start and looked round him in the moonlight. Some one +had called him distinctly by name. At first, he thought it must have +been his father's voice; and then as he grew wider and wider awake he +knew this could not be, for the voice sounded like that of an old man. +K'ang-p'u looked round in amazement, first at the stone columns, then +at the arch above. No one was to be seen. Had he been dreaming? + +Just as he lay back to sleep once more, the voice sounded again very +faintly, "K'ang-p'u! K'ang-p'u! why don't you let me out? I can't +breathe under all these feathers." + +Quick as a flash he knew what was the matter. Burying his hand in the +basket, he seized the wooden tablet, drew it from its hiding-place, and +stood it up on the stone base. Wonder of wonders! There before his very +eyes he saw a tiny fellow, not six inches high, sitting on top of the +wooden upright and dangling his legs over the front of the tablet. The +dwarf had a long grey beard, and K'ang-p'u, without looking twice, knew +that this was the spirit of his dead grandfather come to life and +clothed with flesh and blood. + +"Ho, ho!" said the small man, laughing, "so you thought you'd bury your +old grandfather in feathers, did you? A soft enough grave, but rather +smelly." + +"But, sir," cried K'ang-p'u, "I had to do it, to save you from the +soldiers! They were just about to burn our house and you in it." + +"There, there, my boy! don't be uneasy. I am not scolding you. You did +the best you could for your old gran'ther. If you had been like most +lads, you would have taken to your heels and left me to those sea-devils +who were sacking the village. There is no doubt about it: you saved me +from a second death much more terrible than the first one." + +K'ang-p'u shuddered, for he knew that his grandfather had been killed in +battle. He had heard his father tell the story many times. + +"Now, what do you propose doing about it?" asked the old man finally, +looking straight into the boy's face. + +"Doing about it, sir? Why, really, I don't know. I thought that perhaps +in the morning the soldiers would be gone and I could carry you back. +Surely my father will be looking for me." + +"What! looking for you in the ashes? And what could he do if he did find +you? Your house is burned, your chickens carried away and your cabbages +trampled underfoot. A sorry home he will return to. You would be just +one more mouth to feed. No! that plan will never do. If your father +thinks you are dead, he will go off to another province to get work. +That would save him from starvation." + +"But what am I to do?" wailed poor K'ang-p'u. "I don't want him to leave +me all alone!" + +"All alone! What! don't you count your old grand-daddy? Surely you are +not a very polite youngster, even if you did save me from burning to +death." + +"Count you?" repeated the boy, surprised. "Why, surely you can't help me +to earn a living?" + +"Why not, boy? Is this an age when old men are good for nothing?" + +"But, sir, you are only the _spirit_ of my grandfather, and spirits +cannot work!" + +"Ha, ha! just hear the child. Why, look you, I will show you what +spirits can do, provided you will do exactly what I tell you." + +Of course, K'ang-p'u promised, for he was always obedient; and was not +this little man who spoke so strangely, the spirit of his grandfather? +And is not every lad in China taught to honour his ancestors? + +"Now, listen, my boy. First, let me say that if you had not been kind, +brave and filial, I should not take the trouble to help you out of your +misfortune. As it is, there is nothing else for me to do. I cast your +father off because he was disobedient. He has lived in a dirty hovel +ever since. Doubtless, he has been sorry for his misdeeds, for I see +that although he was disgraced by being sent away from the family home, +he has taught you to honour and love me. Most boys would have snatched +up a blanket or a piece of bread before running from the enemy, but you +thought only of my tablet. You saved me and went to bed hungry. For this +bravery, I shall give back to you the home of your ancestors." + +"But I can't live in it," said K'ang-p'u, full of wonder, "if you will +not let my father come back to it. If he goes away he will have a very +hard time: he will be lonely without me, and may die; and then I would +not be able to take care of his grave, or to burn incense there at the +proper season!" + +"Quite right, K'ang-p'u. I see you love your father as well as your +grandfather's tablet. Very well; you shall have your way. I daresay your +father is sorry by this time that he treated me so badly." + +"Indeed, he must be," said the boy earnestly, "for I have seen him kneel +before your tablet many times and burn incense there on the proper days. +I know he is very sorry." + +"Very well; go to sleep again. Let us wait until morning and then I +shall see what I can do for you. This moonlight is not bright enough for +my old eyes. I shall have to wait for morning." + +As he spoke these last words, the little man began to grow smaller and +smaller before the eyes of his grandson, until at last he had altogether +disappeared. + +At first, K'ang-p'u was too much excited to close his eyes. He remained +for a time looking up into the starry sky and wondering if what he had +heard would really come true, or whether he could have dreamt the whole +story of his grandfather's coming to life again. Could it really be that +the old family property would be given back to his father? He remembered +now that he had once heard his father speak of having lived in a large +house on a beautiful compound. It was just before K'ang-p'u's mother had +been carried away by the fever. As she had lain tossing upon the rude +stone bed, with none of those comforts which are so necessary for the +sick, K'ang-p'u remembered that his father had said to her: "What a +shame that we are not living in my father's house! There you might have +had every luxury. It is all my fault; I disobeyed my father." + +Soon after that his mother had died, but K'ang-p'u had remembered those +words ever since, and had often wished that he could hear more about +this house where his father had spent his boyhood. Could it be possible +that they would soon be living in it? No, surely there must be some +mistake: the night fairies of his dreams had been deceiving him. With +a sigh he closed his eyes and once more fell asleep. + + * * * * * + +When K'ang-p'u next awoke, the sun was shining full in his face. He +looked around him, sleepily rubbing his eyes and trying to remember +all that had happened. Suddenly he thought of the tablet and of his +grandfather's appearance at midnight. But, strange to say, the basket +had disappeared with all its contents. The tablet was nowhere to be +seen, and even the stone arch under which he had gone to sleep had +completely vanished. Alas! his grandfather's tablet--how poorly he had +guarded it! What terrible thing would happen now that it was gone! + +K'ang-p'u stood up and looked round him in trembling surprise. What +could have taken place while he was sleeping? At first, he did not know +what to do. Fortunately, the path through the corn was still there, and +he decided to return to the village and see if he could find any trace +of his father. His talk with the old man must have been only an idle +dream, and some thief must have carried off the basket. If only the +stone arch had not vanished K'ang-p'u would not have been so perplexed. + +He hurried along the narrow road, trying to forget the empty stomach +which was beginning to cry for food. If the soldiers were still in the +village, surely they would not hurt an empty-handed little boy. More +than likely they had gone the day before. If he could only find his +father! Now he crossed the little brook where the women came to rub +their clothes upon the rocks. There was the big mulberry tree where the +boys used to gather leaves for their silkworms. Another turn of the road +and he would see the village. + +When K'ang-p'u passed round the corner and looked for the ruins of the +village hovels, an amazing sight met his gaze. There, rising directly +before him, was a great stone wall, like those he had seen round the +rich people's houses when his father had taken him to the city. The +great gate stood wide open, and the keeper, rushing out, exclaimed: + +"Ah! the little master has come!" + +Completely bewildered, the boy followed the servant through the gateway, +passed through several wide courts, and then into a garden where flowers +and strangely-twisted trees were growing. + +This, then, was the house which his grandfather had promised him--the +home of his ancestors. Ah! how beautiful! how beautiful! Many men and +women servants bowed low as he passed, saluting with great respect and +crying out: + +"Yes, it is really the little master! He has come back to his own!" + +K'ang-p'u, seeing how well dressed the servants were, felt much ashamed +of his own ragged garments, and put up his hands to hide a torn place. +What was his amazement to find that he was no longer clad in soiled, +ragged clothes, that he was dressed in the handsomest embroidered silk. +From head to foot he was fitted out like the young Prince his father had +pointed out to him one day in the city. + +Then they entered a magnificent reception-hall on the other side of the +garden. K'ang-p'u could not keep back his tears, for there stood his +father waiting to meet him. + +"My boy! my boy!" cried the father, "you have come back to me. I feared +you had been stolen away for ever." + +"Oh, no!" said K'ang-p'u, "you have not lost me, but I have lost the +tablet. A thief came and took it last night while I was sleeping." + +"Lost the tablet! A thief! Why, no, my son, you are mistaken! There it +is, just before you." + +K'ang-p'u looked, and saw standing on a handsome carved table the +very thing he had mourned as lost. As he stared in surprise he almost +expected to see the tiny figure swinging its legs over the top, and to +hear the high-pitched voice of his grandfather. + +"Yes, it is really the lost tablet!" he cried joyfully. "How glad I am +it is back in its rightful place once more." + +Then father and son fell upon their knees before the wooden emblem, and +bowed reverently nine times to the floor, thanking the spirit for all it +had done for them. When they arose their hearts were full of a new +happiness. + + + + +THE GOLDEN NUGGET + +[Illustration] + + +Once upon a time many, many years ago, there lived in China two friends +named Ki-wu and Pao-shu. These two young men, like Damon and Pythias, +loved each other and were always together. No cross words passed between +them; no unkind thoughts marred their friendship. Many an interesting +tale might be told of their unselfishness, and of how the good fairies +gave them the true reward of virtue. One story alone, however, will be +enough to show how strong was their affection and their goodness. + +It was a bright beautiful day in early spring when Ki-wu and Pao-shu set +out for a stroll together, for they were tired of the city and its +noises. + +"Let us go into the heart of the pine forest," said Ki-wu lightly. +"There we can forget the cares that worry us; there we can breathe the +sweetness of the flowers and lie on the moss-covered ground." + +"Good!" said Pao-shu, "I, too, am tired. The forest is the place for +rest." + +Happy as two lovers on a holiday, they passed along the winding road, +their eyes turned in longing toward the distant tree-tops. Their hearts +beat fast in youthful pleasure as they drew nearer and nearer to the +woods. + +"For thirty days I have worked over my books," sighed Ki-wu. "For thirty +days I have not had a rest. My head is stuffed so full of wisdom, that I +am afraid it will burst. Oh, for a breath of the pure air blowing +through the greenwood." + +"And I," added Pao-shu sadly, "have worked like a slave at my counter +and found it just as dull as you have found your books. My master treats +me badly. It seems good, indeed, to get beyond his reach." + +Now they came to the border of the grove, crossed a little stream, +and plunged headlong among the trees and shrubs. For many an hour they +rambled on, talking and laughing merrily; when suddenly on passing round +a clump of flower-covered bushes, they saw shining in the pathway +directly in front of them a lump of gold. + +"See!" said both, speaking at the same time, and pointing toward the +treasure. + +[Illustration: "THEY SAW SHINING IN THE PATHWAY, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF +THEM, A LUMP OF GOLD."] + +Ki-wu, stooping, picked up the nugget. It was nearly as large as a +lemon, and was very pretty. "It is yours, my dear friend," said he, at +the same time handing it to Pao-shu; "yours because you saw it first." + +"No, no," answered Pao-shu, "you are wrong, my brother, for you were +first to speak. Now, you can never say hereafter that the good fairies +have not rewarded you for all your faithful hours of study." + +"Repaid me for my study! Why, that is impossible. Are not the wise men +always saying that study brings its own reward? No, the gold is yours: +I insist upon it. Think of your weeks of hard labour--of the masters that +have ground you to the bone! Here is something far better. Take it," +laughing. "May it be the nest egg by means of which you may hatch out a +great fortune." + +Thus they joked for some minutes, each refusing to take the treasure +for himself; each insisting that it belonged to the other. At last, the +chunk of gold was dropped in the very spot where they had first spied +it, and the two comrades went away, each happy because he loved his +friend better than anything else in the world. Thus they turned their +backs on any chance of quarrelling. + +"It was not for gold that we left the city," exclaimed Ki-wu warmly. + +"No," replied his friend, "One day in this forest is worth a thousand +nuggets." + +"Let us go to the spring and sit down on the rocks," suggested Ki-wu. +"It is the coolest spot in the whole grove." + +When they reached the spring they were sorry to find the place already +occupied. A countryman was stretched at full length on the ground. + +"Wake up, fellow!" cried Pao-shu, "there is money for you near by. Up +yonder path a golden apple is waiting for some man to go and pick it +up." + +Then they described to the unwelcome stranger the exact spot where the +treasure was, and were delighted to see him set out in eager search. + +For an hour they enjoyed each other's company, talking of all the hopes +and ambitions of their future, and listening to the music of the birds +that hopped about on the branches overhead. + +At last they were startled by the angry voice of the man who had gone +after the nugget. "What trick is this you have played on me, masters? +Why do you make a poor man like me run his legs off for nothing on a +hot day?" + +"What do you mean, fellow?" asked Ki-wu, astonished. "Did you not find +the fruit we told you about?" + +"No," he answered, in a tone of half-hidden rage, "but in its place a +monster snake, which I cut in two with my blade. Now, the gods will +bring me bad luck for killing something in the woods. If you thought you +could drive me from this place by such a trick, you'll soon find you +were mistaken, for I was first upon this spot and you have no right to +give me orders." + +"Stop your chatter, bumpkin, and take this copper for your trouble. We +thought we were doing you a favour. If you are blind, there's no one but +yourself to blame. Come, Pao-shu, let us go back and have a look at this +wonderful snake that has been hiding in a chunk of gold." + +Laughing merrily, the two companions left the countryman and turned back +in search of the nugget. + +"If I am not mistaken," said the student, "the gold lies beyond that +fallen tree." + +"Quite true; we shall soon see the dead snake." + +Quickly they crossed the remaining stretch of pathway, with their eyes +fixed intently on the ground. Arriving at the spot where they had left +the shining treasure, what was their surprise to see, not the lump of +gold, not the dead snake described by the idler, but, instead, two +beautiful golden nuggets, each larger than the one they had seen at +first. + +Each friend picked up one of these treasures and handed it joyfully to +his companion. + +"At last the fairies have rewarded you for your unselfishness!" said +Ki-wu. + +"Yes," answered Pao-shu, "by granting me a chance to give you your +deserts." + + + + +THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT SCOLD + +[Illustration] + + +Old Wang lived in a village near Nanking. He cared for nothing in the +world but to eat good food and plenty of it. Now, though this Wang was +by no means a poor man, it made him very sad to spend money, and so +people called him in sport, the Miser King, for Wang is the Chinese word +for king. His greatest pleasure was to eat at some one else's table when +he knew that the food would cost him nothing, and you may be sure that +at such times he always licked his chopsticks clean. But when he was +spending his own money, he tightened his belt and drank a great deal +of water, eating very little but scraps such as his friends would have +thrown to the dogs. Thus people laughed at him and said: + + + "When Wang an invitation gets, + He chews and chews until he sweats, + But, when his own food he must eat. + The tears flow down and wet his feet." + + +One day while Wang was lying half asleep on the bank of a stream that +flowed near his house he began to feel hungry. He had been in that +spot all day without tasting anything. At last he saw a flock of ducks +swimming in the river. He knew that they belonged to a rich man named +Lin who lived in the village. They were fat ducks, so plump and tempting +that it made him hungry to look at them. "Oh, for a boiled duck!" he +said to himself with a sigh. "Why is it that the gods have not given me +a taste of duck during the past year? What have I done to be thus +denied?" + +Then the thought flashed into his mind: "Here am I asking why the gods +have not given me ducks to eat. Who knows but that they have sent this +flock thinking I would have sense enough to grab one? Friend Lin, many +thanks for your kindness. I think I shall accept your offer and take one +of these fowls for my dinner." Of course Mr. Lin was nowhere near to +hear old Wang thanking him. + +By this time the flock had come to shore. The miser picked himself up +lazily from the ground, and, after tiring himself out, he at last +managed to pick one of the ducks up, too. He took it home joyfully, +hiding it under his ragged garment. Once in his own yard, he lost no +time in killing and preparing it for dinner. He ate it, laughing to +himself all the time at his own slyness, and wondering what his friend +Lin would think if he chanced to count his ducks that night. "No doubt +he will believe it was a giant hawk that carried off that bird," he +said, chuckling. "My word! but didn't I do a great trick? I think I will +repeat the dose to-morrow. The first duck is well lodged in my stomach, +and I am ready to take an oath that all the others will find a bed in +the same boarding-house before many weeks are past. It would be a pity +to leave the first one to pine away in lonely grief. I could never be so +cruel." + +So old Wang went to bed happy. For several hours he snored away noisily, +dreaming that a certain rich man had promised him good food all the rest +of his life, and that he would never be forced to do another stroke of +work. At midnight, however, he was wakened from his sleep by an +unpleasant itching. His whole body seemed to be on fire, and the pain +was more than he could bear. He got up and paced the floor. There was no +oil in the house for his lamp, and he had to wait until morning to see +what was the matter. At early dawn he stepped outside his shanty. Lo, +and behold! he found little red spots all over his body. Before his very +eyes he saw tiny duck feathers sprouting from these spots. As the +morning went by, the feathers grew larger and larger, until his whole +body was covered with them from head to foot. Only his face and hands +were free of the strange growth. + +With a cry of horror, Wang began to pull the feathers out by handfuls, +flinging them in the dirt and stamping on them. "The gods have fooled +me!" he yelled. "They made me take the duck and eat it, and now they are +punishing me for stealing." But the faster he jerked the feathers out, +the faster they grew in again, longer and more glossy than before. Then, +too, the pain was so great that he could scarcely keep from rolling on +the ground. At last completely worn out by his useless labour, and +moaning with despair, he took to his bed. "Am I to be changed into a +bird?" he groaned. "May the gods have mercy on me!" + +He tossed about on his bed: he could not sleep; his heart was sick with +fear. Finally he fell into a troubled sleep, and, sleeping, had a dream. +A fairy came to his bedside; it was Fairy Old Boy, the friend of the +people. "Ah, my poor Wang," said the fairy, "all this trouble you have +brought upon yourself by your shiftless, lazy habits. When others work, +why do you lie down and sleep your time away? Why don't you get up and +shake your lazy legs? There is no place in the world for such a man as +you except the pig-sty." + +"I know you are telling the truth," wailed Wang, "but how, oh, how can I +ever work with all these feathers sticking out of me? They will kill me! +They will kill me!" + +"Hear the man!" laughed Old Boy. "Now, if you were a hopeful, happy +fellow, you would say, 'What a stroke of luck! No need to buy garments. +The gods have given me a suit of clothes that will never wear out.' You +are a pretty fellow to be complaining, aren't you?" + +After joking in this way for a little while, the good fairy changed his +tone of voice and said, "Now, Wang, are you really sorry for the way +you have lived, sorry for your years of idleness, sorry because you +disgraced your old Father and Mother? I hear your parents died of hunger +because you would not help them." + +Wang, seeing that Old Boy knew all about his past life, and, feeling his +pain growing worse and worse every minute, cried out at last: "Yes! Yes! +I will do anything you say. Only, I pray you, free me of these +feathers!" + +"I wouldn't have your feathers," said Old Boy, "and I cannot free you of +them. You will have to do the whole thing yourself. What you need is to +hear a good scolding. Go and get Mr. Lin, the owner of the stolen duck, +to scold freely. The harder he scolds, the sooner will your feathers +drop out." + +Now, of course, some readers will laugh and say, "But this was only +a silly dream, and meant nothing." Mr. Wang, however, did not think +in this way. He woke up very happy. He would go to Mr. Lin, confess +everything and take the scolding. Then he would be free of his feathers +and would go to work. Truly he had led a lazy life. What the good Fairy +Old Boy had said about his father and mother had hurt him very badly, +for he knew that every word was true. From this day on, he would not be +lazy; he would take a wife and become the father of a family. + +Miser Wang meant all right when he started out from his shanty. From his +little hoard of money he took enough cash to pay Mr. Lin for the stolen +duck. He would do everything the fairy had told him and even more. But +this doing more was just where he got into trouble. As he walked along +the road jingling the string of cash, and thinking that he must soon +give it up to his neighbour, he grew very sad. He loved every copper of +his money and he disliked to part with it. After all, Old Boy had not +told him he must confess to the owner of the duck; he had said he must +go to Lin and get Lin to give a good scolding. "Old Boy did not say that +Lin must scold _me_," thought the miser. "All that I need do is to get +him to _scold_, and then my feathers will drop off and I shall be happy. +Why not tell him that old Sen stole his duck, and get him to give Sen a +scolding? That will surely do just as well, and I shall save my money as +well as my face. Besides, if I tell Lin that I am a thief, perhaps he +will send for a policeman and they will haul me off to prison. Surely +going to jail would be as bad as wearing feathers. Ha, ha! This will be +a good joke on Sen, Lin, and the whole lot of them. I shall fool Fairy +Old Boy too. Really he had no right to speak of my father and mother in +the way he did. After all, they died of fever, and I was no doctor to +cure them. How could he say it was my fault?" + +The longer Wang talked to himself, the surer he became that it was +useless to tell Lin that he had stolen the duck. By the time he had +reached the duck man's house he had fully made up his mind to deceive +him. Mr. Lin invited him to come in and sit down. He was a plain-spoken, +honest kind of man, this Lin. Everybody liked him, for he never spoke +ill of any man and he always had something good to say of his +neighbours. + +"Well, what's your business, friend Wang? You have come out bright and +early, and it's a long walk from your place to mine." + +"Oh, I had something important I wanted to talk to you about," began +Wang slyly. "That's a fine flock of ducks you have over in the meadow." + +"Yes," said Mr. Lin smiling, "a fine flock indeed." But he said nothing +of the stolen fowl. + +"How many have you?" questioned Wang more boldly. + +"I counted them yesterday morning and there were fifteen." + +"But did you count them again last night?" + +"Yes, I did," answered Lin slowly. + +"And there were only fourteen then?" + +"Quite right, friend Wang, one of them was missing; but one duck is of +little importance. Why do you speak of it?" + +"What, no importance! losing a duck? How can you say so? A duck's a +duck, isn't it, and surely you would like to know how you lost it?" + +"A hawk most likely." + +"No, it wasn't a hawk, but if you would go and look in old Sen's duck +yard, you would likely find feathers." + +"Nothing more natural, I am sure, in a duck yard." + +"Yes, but your duck's feathers," persisted Wang. + +"What! you think old Sen is a thief, do you, and that he has been +stealing from me?" + +"Exactly! you have it now." + +"Well, well, that is too bad! I am sorry the old fellow is having such +a hard time. He is a good worker and deserves better luck. I should +willingly have given him the duck if he had only asked for it. Too bad +that he had to steal it." + +Wang waited to see how Mr. Lin planned to punish the thief, feeling sure +that the least he could do, would be to go and give him a good scolding. + +But nothing of the kind happened. Instead of growing angry, Mr. Lin +seemed to be sorry for Sen, sorry that he was poor, sorry that he was +willing to steal. + +"Aren't you even going to give him a scolding?" asked Wang in disgust. +"Better go to his house with me and give him a good raking over the +coals." + +"What use, what use? Hurt a neighbour's feelings just for a duck? That +would be foolish indeed." + +By this time the Miser King had begun to feel an itching all over his +body. The feathers had begun hurting again, and he was frightened once +more. He became excited and threw himself on the floor in front of Mr. +Lin. + +"Hey! what's the matter, man?" cried Lin, thinking Wang was in a fit. +"What's the matter? Are you ill?" + +"Yes, very ill," wailed Wang. "Mr. Lin, I'm a bad man, and I may as well +own it at once and be done with it. There is no use trying to dodge the +truth or hide a fault. I stole your duck last night, and to-day I came +sneaking over here and tried to put the thing off on old Sen." + +"Yes, I knew it," answered Lin. "I saw you carrying the duck off under +your garment. Why did you come to see me at all if you thought I did not +know you were guilty?" + +"Only wait, and I'll tell you everything," said Wang, bowing still +lower. "After I had boiled your duck and eaten it, I went to bed. Pretty +soon I felt an itching all over my body. I could not sleep and in the +morning I found that I had a thick growth of duck's feathers from head +to foot. The more I pulled them out, the thicker they grew in. I could +hardly keep from screaming. I took to my bed, and after I had tossed +about for hours a fairy came and told me that I could never get rid of +my trouble unless I got you to give me a thorough scolding. Here is the +money for your duck. Now for the love of mercy, scold, and do it +quickly, for I can't stand the pain much longer." + +Wang was grovelling in the dirt at Lin's feet, but Lin answered him only +with a loud laugh which finally burst into a roar. "Duck feathers! ha! +ha! ha! and all over your body? Why, that's too good a story to believe! +You'll be wanting to live in the water next. Ha! Ha! Ha!" + +"Scold me! scold me!" begged Wang, "for the love of the gods scold me!" + +But Lin only laughed the louder. "Pray let me see this wonderful growth +of feathers first, and then we'll talk about the scolding." + +Wang willingly opened his garment and showed the doubting Lin that he +had been really speaking the truth. + +"They must be warm," said Lin, laughing. "Winter is soon coming and you +are not over fond of work. Won't they save you the trouble of wearing +clothing?" + +"But they make me itch so I can scarcely stand it! I feel like screaming +out, the pain is so great," and again Wang got down and began to kowtow +to the other; that is, he knelt and bumped his forehead against the +ground. + +"Be calm, my friend, and give me time to think of some good +scold-words," said Lin at last. "I am not in the habit of using strong +language, and very seldom lose my temper. Really you must give me time +to think of what to say." + +By this time Wang was in such pain that he lost all power over himself. +He seized Mr. Lin by the legs crying out, "Scold me! scold me!" + +Mr. Lin was now out of patience with his visitor. Besides Wang was +holding him so tightly that it really felt as if Lin were being pinched +by some gigantic crawfish. Suddenly Lin could hold his tongue no longer: +"You lazy hound! you whelp! you turtle! you lazy, good-for-nothing +creature! I wish you would hurry up and roll out of this!" + +Now, in China, this is very strong language, and, with a cry of joy, +Wang leaped from the ground, for he knew that Lin had scolded him. No +sooner had the first hasty words been spoken than the feathers began +falling from the lazy man's body, and, at last, the dreadful itching +had entirely stopped. On the floor in front of Lin lay a great pile of +feathers, and Wang freed from his trouble, pointed to them and said, +"Thank you kindly, my dear friend, for the pretty names you have called +me. You have saved my life, and, although I have paid for the duck, I +wish to add to the bargain by making you a present of these handsome +feathers. They will, in a measure, repay you for your splendid set of +scold-words. I have learned my lesson well, I hope, and I shall go out +from here a better man. Fairy Old Boy told me that I was lazy. You agree +with the fairy. From this day, however, you shall see that I can bend my +back like a good fellow. Good-bye, and, many thanks for your kindness." + +So saying, with many low bows and polite words, Wang left the duck +owner's house, a happier and a wiser man. + + + + +LU-SAN, DAUGHTER OF HEAVEN + +[Illustration] + + +Lu-san went to bed without any supper, but her little heart was hungry +for something more than food. She nestled up close beside her sleeping +brothers, but even in their slumber they seemed to deny her that love +which she craved. The gentle lapping of the water against the sides of +the houseboat, music which had so often lulled her into dreamland, could +not quiet her now. Scorned and treated badly by the entire family, her +short life had been full of grief and shame. + +Lu-san's father was a fisherman. His life had been one long fight +against poverty. He was ignorant and wicked. He had no more feeling of +love for his wife and five children than for the street dogs of his +native city. Over and over he had threatened to drown them one and all, +and had been prevented from doing so only by fear of the new mandarin. +His wife did not try to stop her husband when he sometimes beat the +children until they fell half dead upon the deck. In fact, she herself +was cruel to them, and often gave the last blow to Lu-san, her only +daughter. Not on one day in the little girl's memory had she escaped +this daily whipping, not once had her parents pitied her. + +On the night with which this story opens, not knowing that +Lu-san was listening, her father and mother were planning how to +get rid of her. + +"The mandarin cares only about boys," said he roughly. "A man might kill +a dozen girls and he wouldn't say a word." + +"Lu-san's no good anyway," added the mother. "Our boat is small, and +she's always in the wrong place." + +"Yes, and it takes as much to feed her as if she were a boy. If you say +so, I'll do it this very night." + +"All right," she answered, "but you'd better wait till the moon has +set." + +"Very well, wife, we'll let the moon go down first, and then the girl." + +No wonder Lu-san's little heart beat fast with terror, for there could +be no doubt as to the meaning of her parents' words. + +At last when she heard them snoring and knew they were both sound +asleep, she got up silently, dressed herself, and climbed the ladder +leading to the deck. Only one thought was in her heart, to save herself +by instant flight. There were no extra clothes, not a bite of food to +take with her. Besides the rags on her back there was only one thing +she could call her own, a tiny soapstone image of the goddess Kwan-yin, +which she had found one day while walking in the sand. This was the only +treasure and plaything of her childhood, and if she had not watched +carefully, her mother would have taken even this away from her. Oh, +how she had nursed this idol, and how closely she had listened to the +stories an old priest had told about Kwan-yin the Goddess of Mercy, the +best friend of women and children, to whom they might always pray in +time of trouble. + +It was very dark when Lu-san raised the trapdoor leading to the outer +air, and looked out into the night. The moon had just gone down, and +frogs were croaking along the shore. Slowly and carefully she pushed +against the door, for she was afraid that the wind coming in suddenly +might awaken the sleepers or, worse still, cause her to let the trap +fall with a bang. At last, however, she stood on the deck, alone and +ready to go out into the big world. As she stepped to the side of the +boat the black water did not make her feel afraid, and she went ashore +without the slightest tremble. + +Now she ran quickly along the bank, shrinking back into the shadows +whenever she heard the noise of footsteps, and thus hiding from the +passers-by. Only once did her heart quake, full of fear. A huge boat dog +ran out at her barking furiously. The snarling beast, however, was not +dangerous, and when he saw this trembling little girl of ten he sniffed +in disgust at having noticed any one so small, and returned to watch his +gate. + +Lu-san had made no plans. She thought that if she could escape the +death her parents had talked about, they would be delighted at her +leaving them and would not look for her. It was not, then, her own +people that she feared as she passed the rows of dark houses lining the +shore. She had often heard her father tell of the dreadful deeds done +in many of these houseboats. The darkest memory of her childhood was of +the night when he had almost decided to sell her as a slave to the owner +of a boat like these she was now passing. Her mother had suggested that +they should wait until Lu-san was a little older, for she would then be +worth more money. So her father had not sold her. Lately, perhaps, he +had tried and failed. + +That was why she hated the river dwellers and was eager to get past +their houses. On and on she sped as fast as her little legs could carry +her. She would flee far away from the dark water, for she loved the +bright sunshine and the land. + +As Lu-san ran past the last houseboat she breathed a sigh of relief and +a minute later fell in a little heap upon the sand. Not until now had +she noticed how lonely it was. Over there was the great city with its +thousands of sleepers. Not one of them was her friend. She knew nothing +of friendship, for she had had no playmates. Beyond lay the open fields, +the sleeping villages, the unknown world. Ah, how tired she was! How far +she had run! Soon, holding the precious image tightly in her little hand +and whispering a childish prayer to Kwan-yin, she fell asleep. + +When Lu-san awoke, a cold chill ran through her body, for bending over +her stood a strange person. Soon she saw to her wonder that it was a +woman dressed in beautiful clothes like those worn by a princess. The +child had never seen such perfect features or so fair a face. At first, +conscious of her own filthy rags, she shrank back fearfully, wondering +what would happen if this beautiful being should chance to touch her and +thus soil those slender white fingers. As the child lay there trembling +on the ground, she felt as if she would like to spring into the fairy +creature's arms and beg for mercy. Only the fear that the lovely one +would vanish kept her from so doing. Finally, unable to hold back any +longer, the little girl, bending forward, stretched out her hand to the +woman, saying, "Oh, you are so beautiful! Take this, for it must be you +who lost it in the sand." + +The princess took the soapstone figure, eyed it curiously, and then with +a start of surprise said, "And do you know, my little creature, to whom +you are thus giving your treasure?" + +"No," answered the child simply, "but it is the only thing I have in all +the world, and you are so lovely that I know it belongs to you. I found +it on the river bank." + +Then a strange thing happened. The graceful, queenly woman bent over, +and held out her arms to the ragged, dirty child. With a cry of joy the +little one sprang forward; she had found the love for which she had been +looking so long. + +"My precious child, this little stone which you have kept so lovingly, +and which without a thought of self you have given to me--do you know of +whom it is the image?" + +"Yes," answered Lu-san, the colour coming to her cheeks again as she +snuggled up contentedly in her new friend's warm embrace, "it is the +dear goddess Kwan-yin, she who makes the children happy." + +"And has this gracious goddess brought sunshine into your life, my +pretty one?" said the other, a slight flush covering her fair cheeks at +the poor child's innocent words. + +"Oh, yes indeed; if it had not been for her I should not have escaped +to-night. My father would have killed me, but the good lady of heaven +listened to my prayer and bade me stay awake. She told me to wait until +he was sleeping, then to arise and leave the houseboat." + +"And where are you going, Lu-san, now that you have left your father? +Are you not afraid to be alone here at night on the bank of this great +river?" + +"No, oh no! for the blessed mother will shield me. She has heard my +prayers, and I know she will show me where to go." + +The lady clasped Lu-san still more tightly, and something glistened in +her radiant eye. A tear-drop rolled down her cheek and fell upon the +child's head, but Lu-san did not see it, for she had fallen fast asleep +in her protector's arms. + +When Lu-san awoke, she was lying all alone on her bed in the houseboat, +but, strange to say, she was not frightened at finding herself once more +near her parents. A ray of sunlight came in, lighting up the child's +face and telling her that a new day had dawned. At last she heard the +sound of low voices, but she did not know who were the speakers. Then +as the tones grew louder she knew that her parents were talking. Their +speech, however, seemed to be less harsh than usual, as if they were +near the bed of some sleeper whom they did not wish to wake. + +"Why," said her father, "when I bent over to lift her from the bed, +there was a strange light about her face. I touched her on the arm, and +at once my hand hung limp as if it had been shot. Then I heard a voice +whispering in my ears, 'What! would you lay your wicked hands on one who +made the tears of Kwan-yin flow? Do you not know that when she cries the +gods themselves are weeping?'" + +"I too heard that voice," said the mother, her voice trembling; "I heard +it, and it seemed as if a hundred wicked imps pricked me with spears, at +every prick repeating these terrible words, 'And would you kill a +daughter of the gods?'" + +"It is strange," he added, "to think how we had begun to hate this +child, when all the time she belonged to another world than ours. How +wicked we must be since we could not see her goodness." + +"Yes, and no doubt for every time we have struck her, a thousand blows +will be given us by Yama, for our insults to the gods." + +Lu-san waited no longer, but rose to dress herself. Her heart was +burning with love for everything around her. She would tell her parents +that she forgave them, tell them how she loved them still in spite of +all their wickedness. To her surprise the ragged clothes were nowhere +to be seen. In place of them she found on one side of the bed the most +beautiful garments. The softest of silks, bright with flowers--so lovely +that she fancied they must have been taken from the garden of the +gods--were ready to slip on her little body. As she dressed herself she +saw with surprise that her fingers were shapely, that her skin was soft +and smooth. Only the day before, her hands had been rough and cracked by +hard work and the cold of winter. More and more amazed, she stooped to +put on her shoes. Instead of the worn-out soiled shoes of yesterday, the +prettiest little satin slippers were there all ready for her tiny feet. + +[Illustration: AS SHE DRESSED HERSELF SHE SAW WITH SURPRISE THAT HER +FINGERS WERE SHAPELY.] + +Finally she climbed the rude ladder, and lo, everything she touched +seemed to be changed as if by magic, like her gown. The narrow rounds of +the ladder had become broad steps of polished wood, and it seemed as if +she was mounting the polished stairway of some fairy-built pagoda. When +she reached the deck everything was changed. The ragged patchwork which +had served so long as a sail had become a beautiful sheet of canvas that +rolled and floated proudly in the river breeze. Below were the dirty +fishing smacks which Lu-san was used to, but here was a stately ship, +larger and fairer than any she had ever dreamed of, a ship which had +sprung into being as if at the touch of her feet. + +After searching several minutes for her parents she found them trembling +in a corner, with a look of great fear on their faces. They were clad +in rags, as usual, and in no way changed except that their savage faces +seemed to have become a trifle softened. Lu-san drew near the wretched +group and bowed low before them. + +Her mother tried to speak; her lips moved, but made no sound: she had +been struck dumb with fear. + +"A goddess, a goddess!" murmured the father, bending forward three times +and knocking his head on the deck. As for the brothers, they hid their +faces in their hands as if dazzled by a sudden burst of sunlight. + +For a moment Lu-san paused. Then, stretching out her hand, she touched +her father on the shoulder. "Do you not know me, father? It is Lu-san, +your little daughter." + +The man looked at her in wonder. His whole body shook, his lips +trembled, his hard brutish face had on it a strange light. Suddenly he +bent far over and touched his forehead to her feet. Mother and sons +followed his example. Then all gazed at her as if waiting for her +command. + +"Speak, father," said Lu-san. "Tell me that you love me, say that you +will not kill your child." + +"Daughter of the gods, and not of mine," he mumbled, and then paused as +if afraid to continue. + +"What is it, father? Have no fear." + +"First, tell me that you forgive me." + +The child put her left hand upon her father's forehead and held the +right above the heads of the others, "As the Goddess of Mercy has given +me her favour, so I in her name bestow on you the love of heaven. Live +in peace, my parents. Brothers, speak no angry words. Oh, my dear ones, +let joy be yours for ever. When only love shall rule your lives, this +ship is yours and all that is in it." + +Thus did Lu-san change her loved ones. The miserable family which had +lived in poverty now found itself enjoying peace and happiness. At first +they did not know how to live as Lu-san had directed. The father +sometimes lost his temper and the mother spoke spiteful words; but as +they grew in wisdom and courage they soon began to see that only love +must rule. + +All this time the great boat was moving up and down the river. Its +company of sailors obeyed Lu-san's slightest wish. When their nets were +cast overboard they were always drawn back full of the largest, choicest +fish. These fish were sold at the city markets, and soon people began to +say that Lu-san was the richest person in the whole country. + +One beautiful day during the Second Moon, the family had just returned +from the temple. It was Kwan-yin's birthday, and, led by Lu-san, they +had gone gladly to do the goddess honour. They had just mounted to the +vessel's deck when Lu-san's father, who had been looking off towards the +west, suddenly called the family to his side. "See!" he exclaimed. "What +kind of bird is that yonder in the sky?" + +As they looked, they saw that the strange object was coming nearer and +nearer, and directly towards the ship. Every one was excited except +Lu-san. She was calm, as if waiting for something she had long expected. + +"It is a flight of doves," cried the father in astonishment, "and they +seem to be drawing something through the air." + +At last, as the birds flew right over the vessel, the surprised +onlookers saw that floating beneath their wings was a wonderful chair, +all white and gold, more dazzling even than the one they had dreamed the +Emperor himself sat in on the Dragon Throne. Around each snow-white neck +was fastened a long streamer of pure gold, and these silken ribbons were +tied to the chair in such a manner as to hold it floating wherever its +light-winged coursers chose to fly. + +Down, down, over the magic vessel came the empty chair, and as it +descended, a shower of pure white lilies fell about the feet of Lu-san, +until she, the queen of all the flowers, was almost buried. The doves +hovered above her head for an instant, and then gently lowered their +burden until it was just in front of her. + +With a farewell wave to her father and mother, Lu-san stepped into the +fairy car. As the birds began to rise, a voice from the clouds spoke in +tones of softest music: "Thus Kwan-yin, Mother of Mercies, rewards +Lu-san, daughter of the earth. Out of the dust spring the flowers; out +of the soil comes goodness. Lu-san! that tear which you drew from +Kwan-yin's eye fell upon the dry ground and softened it; it touched the +hearts of those who loved you not. Daughter of earth no longer, rise +into the Western Heaven, there to take your place among the fairies, +there to be a star within the azure realms above." + +As Lu-san's doves disappeared in the distant skies, a rosy light +surrounded her flying car. It seemed to those who gazed in wonder that +heaven's gates were opening to receive her. At last when she was gone +beyond their sight, suddenly it grew dark upon the earth, and the eyes +of all that looked were wet with tears. + + * * * * * + +[Transcriber's Notes: In the list of illustrations, the following typos +were corrected: climed for climbed, lamp for lump. Note also that a few +of the captions do not match the text on the images, this idiosyncracy +is in the original and has not been corrected. On page 6 the missing +word 'the' was added: "for joy at thought" became "for joy at the +thought". The Front Matter in the original is unnumbered, and has been +assigned i-vi for disambiguation in the HTML.] + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Chinese Wonder Book, by Norman Hinsdale Pitman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHINESE WONDER BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 18674.txt or 18674.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/6/7/18674/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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