Chinese Folk-Lore Tales,by J.Macgowan 6 "By the way,exclaimed this man whose business it was to break into homes when the small hours of the morning found their inmates wrapped in slumber,"some time ago I had a most remarkable experience,and as you have shown yourself such a good fellow,I will tell you about it,if you do not think it too late to do so." "I shall be most delighted to hear you relate it,"said his guest."I have been greatly entertained by your vivid way of describing the adventures through which you have passed.You deserve to be classed amongst the great heroes of old,who have made their names famous by their deeds of daring.Go on,I pray you,and tell me the particulars of this unusual experience." "Well,"proceeded the man,"I had very carefully planned to pay a visit to a certain house just outside the walls of the city.It was an easy one to get in to without any danger of being observed,for it was in a quiet street,where passers-by are very few after dark.It was a gloomy place after sunset,for the high walls that looked down upon it threw deep and heavy shadows,which faint-hearted people declare are really unhappy and restless ghosts prowling about to harass and distress the unwary. "It was a little after midnight,when with stealthy footsteps I crept along the narrow streets,keeping as much as I could under cover of the houses,where the darkness lay deepest.Every home was hushed in slumber.The only things that really troubled me were the dogs,which,with an intelligence far greater than that of their masters,suspected me of some evil purpose,and barked at me and made wild snaps at my legs.I managed, however,to evade them and finally to arrive at the house I intended to rob. "When I got close up to it,I was surprised to find a light burning inside.There was another thing,too,that I could not understand,and this was that a little side door by which I had planned to enter had not been bolted, but had been left ajar so that any prowling robber could easily gain admittance through it.Taking off my shoes,I walked on tiptoe along the stone-paved courtyard in the direction of the room where the light was burning,and [Transcriber's note:pages 13 and 14 missing from source book] have had his heart lightened of the load that was weighing it down if I could only have had the opportunity of whispering a single sentence into his ear." "It is your duty,"interposed his guest,"to proceed to-morrow morning to the mandarin's yamen,and tell your story to the county magistrate,so that a great wrong may not go unpunished." "That I can never do,"promptly replied the man."What do you think would happen were I to do what you suggest?I am a thief.I get my living by thieving.I was in the house on the night of the murder for the purpose of robbery.That would all come out when I give my evidence.After I had proved the murder,what would become of me?I should be cast into prison,and I might have to lie there for years,for who would ever bail out a thief?And then my poor mother would starve,for she has to depend on me entirely for her living,and she would be compelled to go on the streets and beg for charity from door to door.No,it is impossible for me ever to interfere in this case." Shih-Kung recognized the difficulty in which the man was placed,and yet without his evidence it would be impossible to convict the woman of the crime she had committed.He accordingly thought out a plan which he felt would remove the obstacles that stood in the way of securing him as a witness. Turning to the man,he said,"I have had a very pleasant evening with you,and I thank you for your courtesy and hospitality.I feel my heart moved with a desire for a deeper friendship than mere words can ever express, and so I propose that you and I become sworn brothers,so that whatever may befall us in the future we shall stand by each other to the very death
"By the way," exclaimed this man whose business it was to break into homes when the small hours of the morning found their inmates wrapped in slumber, "some time ago I had a most remarkable experience, and as you have shown yourself such a good fellow, I will tell you about it, if you do not think it too late to do so." "I shall be most delighted to hear you relate it," said his guest. "I have been greatly entertained by your vivid way of describing the adventures through which you have passed. You deserve to be classed amongst the great heroes of old, who have made their names famous by their deeds of daring. Go on, I pray you, and tell me the particulars of this unusual experience." "Well," proceeded the man, "I had very carefully planned to pay a visit to a certain house just outside the walls of the city. It was an easy one to get in to without any danger of being observed, for it was in a quiet street, where passers-by are very few after dark. It was a gloomy place after sunset, for the high walls that looked down upon it threw deep and heavy shadows, which faint-hearted people declare are really unhappy and restless ghosts prowling about to harass and distress the unwary. "It was a little after midnight, when with stealthy footsteps I crept along the narrow streets, keeping as much as I could under cover of the houses, where the darkness lay deepest. Every home was hushed in slumber. The only things that really troubled me were the dogs, which, with an intelligence far greater than that of their masters, suspected me of some evil purpose, and barked at me and made wild snaps at my legs. I managed, however, to evade them and finally to arrive at the house I intended to rob. "When I got close up to it, I was surprised to find a light burning inside. There was another thing, too, that I could not understand, and this was that a little side door by which I had planned to enter had not been bolted, but had been left ajar so that any prowling robber could easily gain admittance through it. Taking off my shoes, I walked on tiptoe along the stone-paved courtyard in the direction of the room where the light was burning, and [Transcriber's note: pages 13 and 14 missing from source book] have had his heart lightened of the load that was weighing it down if I could only have had the opportunity of whispering a single sentence into his ear." "It is your duty," interposed his guest, "to proceed to-morrow morning to the mandarin's yamen, and tell your story to the county magistrate, so that a great wrong may not go unpunished." "That I can never do," promptly replied the man. "What do you think would happen were I to do what you suggest? I am a thief. I get my living by thieving. I was in the house on the night of the murder for the purpose of robbery. That would all come out when I give my evidence. After I had proved the murder, what would become of me? I should be cast into prison, and I might have to lie there for years, for who would ever bail out a thief? And then my poor mother would starve, for she has to depend on me entirely for her living, and she would be compelled to go on the streets and beg for charity from door to door. No, it is impossible for me ever to interfere in this case." Shih-Kung recognized the difficulty in which the man was placed, and yet without his evidence it would be impossible to convict the woman of the crime she had committed. He accordingly thought out a plan which he felt would remove the obstacles that stood in the way of securing him as a witness. Turning to the man, he said, "I have had a very pleasant evening with you, and I thank you for your courtesy and hospitality. I feel my heart moved with a desire for a deeper friendship than mere words can ever express, and so I propose that you and I become sworn brothers, so that whatever may befall us in the future we shall stand by each other to the very death." Chinese Folk-Lore Tales, by J. Macgowan 6
Chinese Folk-Lore Tales,by J.Macgowan 7 The young man looked up with astonishment at this unexpected proposal,but the sudden flash in his eyes and the smile that overspread his countenance showed that it was very pleasing to him. "I shall be delighted to agree,"he quickly replied,"but when shall we have an opportunity of appearing in the temple,and of registering our vow in the presence of the god?" "There is no need to go to any temple,"Shih-Kung replied."Your family idol,which sits over there enshrined before us,will be quite sufficient for our purpose.Give me a pen and paper,and I will write out the articles of our brotherhood and present them to the god." In a few minutes the document was written out according to the minute rules laid down by the law which binds two men in a sworn brotherhood.By the most solemn oaths Shih-Kung and this thief agreed to assist each other in any extremity in which either might be placed in the future.Any call from one to the other must be instantly responded to.No danger and no peril to life or limb must be allowed to deter either of them when the cry for help or deliverance was heard.Each was to regard the interests of the other as identical with his own,and as long as life lasted,the obligation to succour in every time of need could never be relaxed or annulled. To prove that this solemn engagement was no mere passing whim of the moment,it had to be read in the hearing of the household god,who happened to be the Goddess of Mercy.She would then be an everlasting witness of the transaction,and with the invisible forces at her command would visit pains and penalties on the one who broke his oath.Standing in front of her shrine,Shih-Kung read out the articles of agreement,word by word,in a slow and measured tone suited to the solemnity of the occasion.He then lighted the paper at the lamp,and both men gazed at it until nothing was left but ashes,when each of them knew that the Goddess had received the document and had placed it in her archives in the far-off Western Heaven as a record of the vows made in her presence in those early hours of the morning. When they sat down again,Shih-Kung looked with a strong and masterful gaze at his newly-created brother and said to him:-"You and I are now sworn brothers,and of course we must be frank with each other.I do not wish to deceive you any longer,so I must tell you that I am neither a peddler of cloth,nor a benevolent thief in the sense in which you understood the term.I am in fact Shih-Kung,the Viceroy of this Province." No sooner did the man hear the name of this great mandarin,who was a profound source of terror to the criminals and evil-doers within his jurisdiction,than he fell on his knees before him in the most abject fright, and repeatedly knocking his head on the ground,besought him to have mercy on him. Raising him up gently with his hand,Shih-Kung told him to lay aside all his fears."You are my brother now," he said,"and we have just sworn in the presence of the Goddess to defend each other with our lives.I shall certainly perform my part of the oath.From this moment your fortune is made;and as for your mother,who received me with such gracious courtesy,it shall be my privilege to provide for her as long as she lives." Emboldened by these words of the great statesman,the young man appeared at the second inquest,which Shih-Kung ordered to be held,and gave such testimony that the guilt of the wretched wife was clearly established,and due punishment meted out to her. Ⅱ KWANG-JUI AND THE GOD OF THE RIVER China is a land where the great masses of the people have to toil and struggle incessantly in order to obtain even the bare necessities of daily existence.Unnumbered multitudes never enjoy a sufficiency of food,but have to be contented with whatever Heaven may send them;and profoundly thankful they are when they can
The young man looked up with astonishment at this unexpected proposal, but the sudden flash in his eyes and the smile that overspread his countenance showed that it was very pleasing to him. "I shall be delighted to agree," he quickly replied, "but when shall we have an opportunity of appearing in the temple, and of registering our vow in the presence of the god?" "There is no need to go to any temple," Shih-Kung replied. "Your family idol, which sits over there enshrined before us, will be quite sufficient for our purpose. Give me a pen and paper, and I will write out the articles of our brotherhood and present them to the god." In a few minutes the document was written out according to the minute rules laid down by the law which binds two men in a sworn brotherhood. By the most solemn oaths Shih-Kung and this thief agreed to assist each other in any extremity in which either might be placed in the future. Any call from one to the other must be instantly responded to. No danger and no peril to life or limb must be allowed to deter either of them when the cry for help or deliverance was heard. Each was to regard the interests of the other as identical with his own, and as long as life lasted, the obligation to succour in every time of need could never be relaxed or annulled. To prove that this solemn engagement was no mere passing whim of the moment, it had to be read in the hearing of the household god, who happened to be the Goddess of Mercy. She would then be an everlasting witness of the transaction, and with the invisible forces at her command would visit pains and penalties on the one who broke his oath. Standing in front of her shrine, Shih-Kung read out the articles of agreement, word by word, in a slow and measured tone suited to the solemnity of the occasion. He then lighted the paper at the lamp, and both men gazed at it until nothing was left but ashes, when each of them knew that the Goddess had received the document and had placed it in her archives in the far-off Western Heaven as a record of the vows made in her presence in those early hours of the morning. When they sat down again, Shih-Kung looked with a strong and masterful gaze at his newly-created brother and said to him:-"You and I are now sworn brothers, and of course we must be frank with each other. I do not wish to deceive you any longer, so I must tell you that I am neither a peddler of cloth, nor a benevolent thief in the sense in which you understood the term. I am in fact Shih-Kung, the Viceroy of this Province." No sooner did the man hear the name of this great mandarin, who was a profound source of terror to the criminals and evil-doers within his jurisdiction, than he fell on his knees before him in the most abject fright, and repeatedly knocking his head on the ground, besought him to have mercy on him. Raising him up gently with his hand, Shih-Kung told him to lay aside all his fears. "You are my brother now," he said, "and we have just sworn in the presence of the Goddess to defend each other with our lives. I shall certainly perform my part of the oath. From this moment your fortune is made; and as for your mother, who received me with such gracious courtesy, it shall be my privilege to provide for her as long as she lives." Emboldened by these words of the great statesman, the young man appeared at the second inquest, which Shih-Kung ordered to be held, and gave such testimony that the guilt of the wretched wife was clearly established, and due punishment meted out to her. II KWANG-JUI AND THE GOD OF THE RIVER China is a land where the great masses of the people have to toil and struggle incessantly in order to obtain even the bare necessities of daily existence. Unnumbered multitudes never enjoy a sufficiency of food, but have to be contented with whatever Heaven may send them; and profoundly thankful they are when they can Chinese Folk-Lore Tales, by J. Macgowan 7
Chinese Folk-Lore Tales,by J.Macgowan 8 be sure of two meals a day to stave off the pangs of hunger from themselves and their children. How many there are who cannot by the severest toil obtain even these two meals is evident from the organized beggar communities,which are to be found in connection with every great city in the Empire,and from the vast numbers of tramps,who wander over the country on the highways and byways with pale and sodden faces and with garments nearly falling to pieces,picking up a scanty livelihood from the benevolent as they pass from village to village. Whatever may be their inmost thoughts,the Chinese bear their terrible hardships and privations with a splendid heroism,with little complaining,with no widespread outbreaks of robbery,and with no pillaging of rice-shops and public granaries by organized mobs driven mad by hunger. There is one beautiful feature about the Chinese that has been an important factor in steadying the nation. They are imbued with at least one great ideal,which touches their common life in every direction.Every man in the Empire,rich or poor,learned or unlearned,has a profound respect for what he calls Tien-Li,or Divine Righteousness.By this the Chinese judge all actions.It is the standard by which Kings and Princes and common people direct their conduct,whether in the highest affairs of state,or in the ordinary engagements of common every-day life. In addition to this,the minds of the Chinese are filled with romance and poetry,so that to them the invisible world is peopled with fairies and all kinds of spirits,both good and bad,the former relieving in mysterious ways the dull greyness that sorrow and disaster often shed upon the lives of men. The story of Kwang-Jui is a remarkable evidence of the unbounded faith which the Chinese have in the intervention of these mysterious beings to deliver men from calamities which would otherwise prove fatal to them. When we first meet with Kwang-Jui,he is living with his widowed mother in a retired part of the country.His father had been dead for some time,and Kwang-Jui was now the only one upon whom the fortunes of the home could be built.He was a very studious lad,and was possessed of remarkable abilities,the result being that he successfully passed the various Imperial Examinations,even the final one in the capital,where the Sovereign himself presided as examiner. After this last examination,as the men were waiting outside the Hall for the names of those who had satisfied the Emperor to be read out a considerable crowd had collected.Most of these people had come from mere curiosity to see the Imperial Edict,and to discover who the scholar was that stood first on the list.The excitement was intense,and speculation ran rife as to which of the candidates,who had come from almost every province in the Empire,was going to obtain the place of honour which was the dream and the ambition of every scholar in the land. At last every breath was hushed,and every voice stilled in silence,as one of the high officials of the Palace, attended by an imposing retinue,came out of the great central doors,which had been flung wide open at his approach.In a clear voice he began to read the list.It was headed by the name of Kwang-Jui. At this precise moment occurred an incident which was destined to change the whole current of Kwang-Jui's career.As he was standing overcome with emotion in consequence of the supreme honour which had been conferred upon him by the Emperor's Edict,a small round ball,beautifully embroidered,was thrown from an upper window of a house across the way,and struck him on the shoulder. It may here be explained that it was a custom in the early days of the history of China to allow any young maiden who was reluctant to have her husband chosen for her by her parents,to make use of what was called "The throwing of the embroidered ball"in order to discover the man whom the gods intended her to marry
be sure of two meals a day to stave off the pangs of hunger from themselves and their children. How many there are who cannot by the severest toil obtain even these two meals is evident from the organized beggar communities, which are to be found in connection with every great city in the Empire, and from the vast numbers of tramps, who wander over the country on the highways and byways with pale and sodden faces and with garments nearly falling to pieces, picking up a scanty livelihood from the benevolent as they pass from village to village. Whatever may be their inmost thoughts, the Chinese bear their terrible hardships and privations with a splendid heroism, with little complaining, with no widespread outbreaks of robbery, and with no pillaging of rice-shops and public granaries by organized mobs driven mad by hunger. There is one beautiful feature about the Chinese that has been an important factor in steadying the nation. They are imbued with at least one great ideal, which touches their common life in every direction. Every man in the Empire, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, has a profound respect for what he calls Tien-Li, or Divine Righteousness. By this the Chinese judge all actions. It is the standard by which Kings and Princes and common people direct their conduct, whether in the highest affairs of state, or in the ordinary engagements of common every-day life. In addition to this, the minds of the Chinese are filled with romance and poetry, so that to them the invisible world is peopled with fairies and all kinds of spirits, both good and bad, the former relieving in mysterious ways the dull greyness that sorrow and disaster often shed upon the lives of men. The story of Kwang-Jui is a remarkable evidence of the unbounded faith which the Chinese have in the intervention of these mysterious beings to deliver men from calamities which would otherwise prove fatal to them. When we first meet with Kwang-Jui, he is living with his widowed mother in a retired part of the country. His father had been dead for some time, and Kwang-Jui was now the only one upon whom the fortunes of the home could be built. He was a very studious lad, and was possessed of remarkable abilities, the result being that he successfully passed the various Imperial Examinations, even the final one in the capital, where the Sovereign himself presided as examiner. After this last examination, as the men were waiting outside the Hall for the names of those who had satisfied the Emperor to be read out a considerable crowd had collected. Most of these people had come from mere curiosity to see the Imperial Edict, and to discover who the scholar was that stood first on the list. The excitement was intense, and speculation ran rife as to which of the candidates, who had come from almost every province in the Empire, was going to obtain the place of honour which was the dream and the ambition of every scholar in the land. At last every breath was hushed, and every voice stilled in silence, as one of the high officials of the Palace, attended by an imposing retinue, came out of the great central doors, which had been flung wide open at his approach. In a clear voice he began to read the list. It was headed by the name of Kwang-Jui. At this precise moment occurred an incident which was destined to change the whole current of Kwang-Jui's career. As he was standing overcome with emotion in consequence of the supreme honour which had been conferred upon him by the Emperor's Edict, a small round ball, beautifully embroidered, was thrown from an upper window of a house across the way, and struck him on the shoulder. It may here be explained that it was a custom in the early days of the history of China to allow any young maiden who was reluctant to have her husband chosen for her by her parents, to make use of what was called "The throwing of the embroidered ball" in order to discover the man whom the gods intended her to marry. Chinese Folk-Lore Tales, by J. Macgowan 8
Chinese Folk-Lore Tales,by J.Macgowan 9 This ball was made of some soft material,wrapped round with a piece of red silk which was covered with variegated figures,worked by the damsel's own hands and emblematic of the love by which the hearts of husband and wife are bound indissolubly to each other.It was firmly believed by every maiden of this romantic type that the man who was struck by the ball from her fair hands was the one whom Heaven had selected as her husband;and no parent would ever dream of refusing to accept a choice made in this way. Whilst Kwang-Jui was gazing in amused wonder at the symbol which he understood so well,a messenger from the house from which it had been thrown requested him in respectful tones to accompany him to his master,who desired to discuss with him a most important subject. As Kwang-Jui entered the house,he discovered to his astonishment that it belonged to the Prime Minister, who received him with the utmost cordiality,and after a long conversation declared that he was prepared to submit to the will of the gods,and to accept him as his son-in-law.Kwang-Jui was of course in raptures at the brilliant prospects which were suddenly opening up before him.The day,indeed,was a red-letter one-an omen,he hoped,that fate was preparing to pour down upon him good fortune in the future.In one brief day he had been hailed as the most distinguished scholar in the Empire,and he had also been acknowledged as the son-in-law of the Empire's greatest official,who had the power of placing him in high positions where he could secure not only honours but also wealth sufficient to drive poverty away for ever from his home. As there was no reason for delay,the hand of the beautiful daughter who had thrown the embroidered ball, and who was delighted that Heaven had chosen for her such a brilliant husband,was bestowed upon him by her parents.Times of great rejoicing succeeded,and when Kwang-Jui thought of the quiet and uninteresting days when he was still unknown to fame,and contrasted them with his present life,it seemed to him as though he were living in fairy-land.His wildest dreams in the past had never conjured up anything so grand as the life he was now leading.In one bound he had leaped from comparative poverty to fame and riches. After a time,through the influence of his father-in-law,and with the hearty consent of the Emperor,who remembered what a brilliant student he had been,Kwang-Jui was appointed to be Prefect of an important district in the centre of China. Taking his bride with him,he first of all proceeded to his old home,where his mother was waiting with great anxiety to welcome her now famous son.The old lady felt rather nervous at meeting her new daughter-in-law, seeing that the latter came from a family which was far higher in rank and far more distinguished than any in her own clan.As it was very necessary that Kwang-Jui should take up his office as Prefect without any undue delay,he and his mother and his bride set out in the course of a few days on the long journey to the distant Prefecture,where their lives were destined to be marred by sorrow and disaster. They had travelled the greater part of the way,and had reached a country market-town that lay on their route, when Kwang-Jui's mother,worn out with the toilsome journey,fell suddenly ill.The doctor who was called in shook his head and pronounced that she was suffering from a very serious complaint,which,whilst not necessarily fatal,would necessitate a complete rest for at least two or three months.Any further travelling must therefore be abandoned for the present,as it might be attended with the most serious consequences to the old lady. Both husband and wife were greatly distressed at the unlucky accident which placed them in such an awkward position at this wayside inn.They were truly grieved at the serious sickness of their mother,but they were still more puzzled as to what course they should pursue in these most trying circumstances.The Imperial Rescript appointing Kwang-Jui to his office as Prefect commanded him to take up his post on a certain definite date. To delay until his mother would again be able to endure the fatigues of travel was out of the question,as disobedience to the Emperor's orders would be attended by his grave displeasure.Eventually his mother suggested that he and his wife should go on ahead,and that after taking up the duties of his office he should then delegate them for a time to his subordinates and return to take her home
This ball was made of some soft material, wrapped round with a piece of red silk which was covered with variegated figures, worked by the damsel's own hands and emblematic of the love by which the hearts of husband and wife are bound indissolubly to each other. It was firmly believed by every maiden of this romantic type that the man who was struck by the ball from her fair hands was the one whom Heaven had selected as her husband; and no parent would ever dream of refusing to accept a choice made in this way. Whilst Kwang-Jui was gazing in amused wonder at the symbol which he understood so well, a messenger from the house from which it had been thrown requested him in respectful tones to accompany him to his master, who desired to discuss with him a most important subject. As Kwang-Jui entered the house, he discovered to his astonishment that it belonged to the Prime Minister, who received him with the utmost cordiality, and after a long conversation declared that he was prepared to submit to the will of the gods, and to accept him as his son-in-law. Kwang-Jui was of course in raptures at the brilliant prospects which were suddenly opening up before him. The day, indeed, was a red-letter one-an omen, he hoped, that fate was preparing to pour down upon him good fortune in the future. In one brief day he had been hailed as the most distinguished scholar in the Empire, and he had also been acknowledged as the son-in-law of the Empire's greatest official, who had the power of placing him in high positions where he could secure not only honours but also wealth sufficient to drive poverty away for ever from his home. As there was no reason for delay, the hand of the beautiful daughter who had thrown the embroidered ball, and who was delighted that Heaven had chosen for her such a brilliant husband, was bestowed upon him by her parents. Times of great rejoicing succeeded, and when Kwang-Jui thought of the quiet and uninteresting days when he was still unknown to fame, and contrasted them with his present life, it seemed to him as though he were living in fairy-land. His wildest dreams in the past had never conjured up anything so grand as the life he was now leading. In one bound he had leaped from comparative poverty to fame and riches. After a time, through the influence of his father-in-law, and with the hearty consent of the Emperor, who remembered what a brilliant student he had been, Kwang-Jui was appointed to be Prefect of an important district in the centre of China. Taking his bride with him, he first of all proceeded to his old home, where his mother was waiting with great anxiety to welcome her now famous son. The old lady felt rather nervous at meeting her new daughter-in-law, seeing that the latter came from a family which was far higher in rank and far more distinguished than any in her own clan. As it was very necessary that Kwang-Jui should take up his office as Prefect without any undue delay, he and his mother and his bride set out in the course of a few days on the long journey to the distant Prefecture, where their lives were destined to be marred by sorrow and disaster. They had travelled the greater part of the way, and had reached a country market-town that lay on their route, when Kwang-Jui's mother, worn out with the toilsome journey, fell suddenly ill. The doctor who was called in shook his head and pronounced that she was suffering from a very serious complaint, which, whilst not necessarily fatal, would necessitate a complete rest for at least two or three months. Any further travelling must therefore be abandoned for the present, as it might be attended with the most serious consequences to the old lady. Both husband and wife were greatly distressed at the unlucky accident which placed them in such an awkward position at this wayside inn. They were truly grieved at the serious sickness of their mother, but they were still more puzzled as to what course they should pursue in these most trying circumstances. The Imperial Rescript appointing Kwang-Jui to his office as Prefect commanded him to take up his post on a certain definite date. To delay until his mother would again be able to endure the fatigues of travel was out of the question, as disobedience to the Emperor's orders would be attended by his grave displeasure. Eventually his mother suggested that he and his wife should go on ahead, and that after taking up the duties of his office he should then delegate them for a time to his subordinates and return to take her home. Chinese Folk-Lore Tales, by J. Macgowan 9
Chinese Folk-Lore Tales,by J.Macgowan 10 This advice Kwang-Jui decided to carry out;though with great reluctance,as he was most unwilling to abandon his mother to the care of strangers.He accordingly made all the arrangements he possibly could for her comfort whilst they were parted from each other;he had servants engaged to attend upon her,and he left sufficient money with her to meet all her expenses during his absence. With a mind full of consideration for his mother,and wishing to show how anxious he was to give her pleasure,he went out into the market of the town to see if he could buy a certain kind of fish of which she was passionately fond.He had hardly got outside the courtyard of the inn,when he met a fisherman with a very fine specimen of the very fish that he wished to purchase. As he was discussing the price with the man,a certain something about the fish arrested his attention.There was a peculiar look in its eyes that seemed full of pathos and entreaty.Its gaze was concentrated upon him,so human-like and with such intensity,that he instinctively felt it was pleading with him to do something to deliver it from a great disaster.This made him look at it more carefully,and to his astonishment the liquid eyes of the fish were still fixed upon him with a passionate regard that made him quiver with excitement. "Fisherman,"he said,"I want to buy this fish,and here is the price that you ask for it.I have but one stipulation to make,and that is that you take it to the river from which you caught it,and set it free to swim away wherever it pleases.Remember that if you fail to carry out this part of the bargain,great sorrow will come upon you and your home. Little did either of them dream that the fish was the presiding God of the River,who for purposes of his own had transformed himself into this form,and who,while swimming up and down the stream had been caught in the net of the fisherman. After travelling for some hours Kwang-Jui and his wife came to the bank of a considerable river,where they hired a large boat to convey them to their destination. The boatman they engaged was a man of very low character.He had originally been a scholar and of good family,but,utterly depraved and immoral,he had gradually sunk lower and lower in society,until at last he had been compelled to fly from his home to a distant province,and there to engage in his present occupation in order to earn his living.The large amount of property which Kwang-Jui had with him seemed to arouse the worst passions in this man,and while the boat was being carried along by a fair wind and a flowing tide,he planned in his mind how he was to become the possessor of it.By the time that they reached the place where they were to anchor for the night,he had already decided what measures he should adopt. A little after midnight,accordingly,he crept stealthily towards the place where Kwang-Jui was sleeping, stabbed him to the heart and threw his body into the fast-flowing river.He next threatened the wife that if she dared to utter a sound,he would murder her also and send her to join her husband in the Land of Shadows. Paralyzed with terror,she remained speechless,only a stifled sob and groan now and again breaking from her agonized heart.Her first serious idea was to commit suicide,and she was preparing to fling herself into the water that gurgled along the sides of the boat,when she was restrained by the thought that if she destroyed herself,she would never be able to avenge her husband's death or bring punishment upon the villain who had just murdered him. It was not mere robbery,however,that was in the mind of the man who had committed this great crime.He had bigger ideas than that.He had noticed that in personal appearance he very much resembled his victim,so he determined to carry out the daring project of passing himself off as Kwang-Jui,the mandarin whom the Emperor had despatched to take up the appointment of Prefect. Having threatened the widow that instant death would be her portion if she breathed a word to anyone about the true state of the case,and having arrayed himself in the official robes of the man whom he had stabbed to
This advice Kwang-Jui decided to carry out; though with great reluctance, as he was most unwilling to abandon his mother to the care of strangers. He accordingly made all the arrangements he possibly could for her comfort whilst they were parted from each other; he had servants engaged to attend upon her, and he left sufficient money with her to meet all her expenses during his absence. With a mind full of consideration for his mother, and wishing to show how anxious he was to give her pleasure, he went out into the market of the town to see if he could buy a certain kind of fish of which she was passionately fond. He had hardly got outside the courtyard of the inn, when he met a fisherman with a very fine specimen of the very fish that he wished to purchase. As he was discussing the price with the man, a certain something about the fish arrested his attention. There was a peculiar look in its eyes that seemed full of pathos and entreaty. Its gaze was concentrated upon him, so human-like and with such intensity, that he instinctively felt it was pleading with him to do something to deliver it from a great disaster. This made him look at it more carefully, and to his astonishment the liquid eyes of the fish were still fixed upon him with a passionate regard that made him quiver with excitement. "Fisherman," he said, "I want to buy this fish, and here is the price that you ask for it. I have but one stipulation to make, and that is that you take it to the river from which you caught it, and set it free to swim away wherever it pleases. Remember that if you fail to carry out this part of the bargain, great sorrow will come upon you and your home." Little did either of them dream that the fish was the presiding God of the River, who for purposes of his own had transformed himself into this form, and who, while swimming up and down the stream had been caught in the net of the fisherman. After travelling for some hours Kwang-Jui and his wife came to the bank of a considerable river, where they hired a large boat to convey them to their destination. The boatman they engaged was a man of very low character. He had originally been a scholar and of good family, but, utterly depraved and immoral, he had gradually sunk lower and lower in society, until at last he had been compelled to fly from his home to a distant province, and there to engage in his present occupation in order to earn his living. The large amount of property which Kwang-Jui had with him seemed to arouse the worst passions in this man, and while the boat was being carried along by a fair wind and a flowing tide, he planned in his mind how he was to become the possessor of it. By the time that they reached the place where they were to anchor for the night, he had already decided what measures he should adopt. A little after midnight, accordingly, he crept stealthily towards the place where Kwang-Jui was sleeping, stabbed him to the heart and threw his body into the fast-flowing river. He next threatened the wife that if she dared to utter a sound, he would murder her also and send her to join her husband in the Land of Shadows. Paralyzed with terror, she remained speechless, only a stifled sob and groan now and again breaking from her agonized heart. Her first serious idea was to commit suicide, and she was preparing to fling herself into the water that gurgled along the sides of the boat, when she was restrained by the thought that if she destroyed herself, she would never be able to avenge her husband's death or bring punishment upon the villain who had just murdered him. It was not mere robbery, however, that was in the mind of the man who had committed this great crime. He had bigger ideas than that. He had noticed that in personal appearance he very much resembled his victim, so he determined to carry out the daring project of passing himself off as Kwang-Jui, the mandarin whom the Emperor had despatched to take up the appointment of Prefect. Having threatened the widow that instant death would be her portion if she breathed a word to anyone about the true state of the case, and having arrayed himself in the official robes of the man whom he had stabbed to Chinese Folk-Lore Tales, by J. Macgowan 10