The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-12

he dIJdck naQ Deen so sudden and
the incendIary's daring so astonishing
that the men had not realized the cruel
ty of their act. But now, as they gath
cred round the prostrate form, every
man expressed pity for him and wished
they had not yielded to the frenzy of
the moment
Bidding them form into two compa-
nies and search the lower part of the is
land, and eXtinguish the fire, the lieu
tenant said to me
1.-The poor fellow is speaking. VIII
you ascertain what he SAYS, while I look
after my people ?''
Advancing to the sufferer. l raised
him in my arms, when / discovered he
was Sung-Wang, the youngest son of
the unfortunate man confined in the
fort. Then it flashed across my mind
that he had sacrificed his life to save
lis fathers.
Aided by kind-heaIted seaman, 1
carried him into the fort, and having
placed him on a lounge in on quarters,
informed him who [ was. Upon this he
opened his eyes and family said
Tell me, has my father escaped !
cannot die until know"
As he spoke, my host entered the pag-
oda, and hurriedly remarked that the
men had been unsuccessful in their
search. Then he mounted to the floor
above, but returned in a moment with
an angry exclamation on his lips and de-
claring that the prisoner had got away.
His handouts and irons were there, but
the man had vanished. 4 rope was
hanging out of the windows, by which
he must have descended, between two
of the sentries.
''See what you can get out Of the bov, -
r1t r-a1xr
something of the affair :" and then he
rushed away, leaving me with the dying
lad, to whom l Immediately translated
what had been said.
1t appeared to give Sung Wang mo-
mentary strength, for he half rose and
exclaimed
Now L am happy-am happy Do
not weep for ne but rejoice in my hon
orable death. Fortunate is the child
who dies for his parent. Tell my father
that my last thoughts were of him.
As he uttered these words he sank
back into my arms and died as peaceful
~ as child sleeps.
Noble boy - said the lieutenant,
when he learned the full extent Of Sung
Wang's heroism. ''What a love of his
it must have been to give him courage
enough to face that hail of bullets
Well, we'll bury him with naval hon
Ors'
An hour before sunrise l quilted Ma
Gao Fort, carrying with me all that was
mortal of the faithful Chinese lad. Two
months after. when the blockade was
raised, visited Faatee, when learned
from his brothers the particulars of their
fathers rescue
They had drawn lots to decide which
of them should act as decoy while the
others scaled the walls of the fort. The
dangerous duty fell to the Youngest
brother and he had Indignantly refused
to yield it to either of the other brothers.
| entered a sedan-chair and was con-
yeyed to Sung-Seen'5 house. In the re-
ception room found the venerable faith
er. He was surrounded by a number
OF his friends, who were proud that the
village should be the birth place of such
a son as Sung-Wang.
Had not understood the Chinese char
acter, | should have been astonished at
the conduct Of the Chinaman when he
was told the last words of the heroic
boy His face gave no indication of
the terrible grief he felt.
Bowing gravely, he thanked me for
bringing to him the body of the child !;
and also for the visit | had made him
when he was a prisoner. After this he
received the congratulations of the as
sembly and then retired, leaving the Wis
itors to take their departure.
AS soon az the crowd had left, Sung
Seen re-cntered the apartment, and i'll
q tremulous voice requested me to fol-
low him.
With his sons accompanying us at q
respectful distance, he led the way
across the fields Of rice, just then devel-
oping their first green leaves and con-
Quoted us to grove of trees upon a
knoll, in the side Of which was built a
horseshoe shaped tomb.
Up to.that time he had restrained all
emotion but as he pointed to the grave
/ tears rolled down his cheeks. MY boy
/ sleeps there, lie said and covering his
/ face with both hands, he sank, sobbing
/ upon the marble slab.
! According to the custom of the coun-
/ try, I decorated the tomb with bOughs
! Of the beautiful peach-blossOm, which in
/ China signifies remembrance, and thus
/ paid my last tribute of respect to Sung
/ Wang, who died a martyr to ilial devO-
tion.
The Chinese as a nation have most
assuredly secured the fulfillment of the
promise of the fifth commandment
Honor thy father and thy mother that
thy days may be long in the land -