The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-11-28
A Faithful Tiger
A CHINESE LEGEND.

In the town Of Chao.Ch' Eng many
years ago there dwelt an old woman who
had an only sou. One day Hsia, the
son, went up to the hills TO look for work
md tiger sprang upon him and killed
him.
When the news was brought Ia his
mother she ran TO the nearest magistrate.
weeping aud wringing her hands, and
begged for justice.
Tho magistrate laughed, and said,
"Foolish woman, how can the law be
brought to bear upon iigcr?' But she
tore her white hair, and, lifting up her
voice, cried, Justice Justice T. until
the hall rang. Then he lost his temper,
and babe her bcgone. But with stream.
ing eyes and trembling limbs she ran
around the courtroom. "Justice INV
son, my son Justice |" was still her
cry; and the magistrate, seeing her great
age and grief, took pity on her, and
promised to have the tiger arrested.
But even then she would not 20 until
the warrant was issued. The magistrate
much puzzled M to how no could do il
began TO drawup the papers and Thought
and thought until the perspiration rolled
down his fat cheeks. Finally he nsked
his attendants which Of them would
take the case. Li-Ncng, who WIS n very
young lawyer and something Of n iester
stepped forward and said he would,
whereupon the warrant was Immediately
issued and the old woman went away.
Tho next morning when Li.Ncng
hwoke, and began to think seriously
about what he had done, he was nj first
much frightened, but after breakfast he
concluded 1t was n trick Of his masters
to get rid of the old woman, and few
days later he handed in tho warrant M
II the arrest had been made.
mot 30" cried the magistrate. "Yop
said You could do this, and now Won
shall"
Li.Neng was at his Wits end md, in
great trouble, begged permission TO i'm.
press the hunters Of the district TO assist
him.
This was granted, and, calling together
the men, no went up TO the hills. where
no spent days aud nights watching for
the tiger.
But month passed away, and he was
last growing too lame to hunt; for con.
stables and detectives in China arc BAN.
boocd nj intervals of three and five DAYS
until they accomplish successfully whit
they have undertaken TO do.
Al last III despair he went TO tho On.
cng-hiang temple, in tho eastern sub.
urbs, and, falling on his knees. he wen,
and prayed by turns. Suddenly tiger
walked in, and Li-Neng shut his eyes.
and waited to DO eaten. But the tiger
did not seem to notice him, and sat still
in the doorway
Seeing this, Li-Neng plucked up cour.
age and addressed him.
20 tiger, If thou ddst slny that old
woman's son, let me bind thee with iha
cord" and drawing rope from hi,
pocket no threw it over the tigcr's ncck
and went ont of the temple. The t;ci
followed, dropping his head, and trailmi
his tail in the dust
When they got to tho hall of jllsIic,
the magistrate asked
odd You eat the old woman's son p
Tho tiger nodded his head.
has ever been the Inv. Besides, this old
woman had but one son, and by killing
INN you took from her the sole support
OF her declining years"
Then the magistrate stopped, and the
tiger hid his face on the ground.
"But," added the justice, "ii now you
wiil be as II son TO her, your crime shall
be pardoned."
The tiger looked up and nodded again
and he was unbound and went his way,
at which the mother of tho dead man
was angry, for she thought the tiger
should have been slain
All night she lay hungry and sorrow.
fnl, but when she opened her door il
the morning there was dead deer before
it. Ii was II fine fat buck, and she sold
tho flesh and skin and tho handsome
horns for such a good price that she had
food for days.
Again deer was brought, and then
the tiger came often, always with u rift, |
ana sometimes with money and Jewels:
no she grew rich, and was much better
cared for than she had been even by her
own son. The widow even became very
fond OF her wild guest, and she used to
watch anxiously for him, fearing that
some day he would forgekto come. But
the tiger was very faithful, and he bc.
came CAM, very gentle and harmed no one: h,
sept on the porch, and lay at her feet
and in cold weather breathed on bcr
hands to warm them.
This went on for several wears whom
she died. and all her relations came 10
her funeral. While they disputod 1 ,or
the first seat Of honor, the tiger walked
in and stood by it, roaring his lamenta.
tons until the wall trembled-so did tbe
relations.
That night he ran off to the hills. and
was seen no more. The people thought
ne had gone forever, and went on making
preparations for the funeral. Finally
'verything was ready, and they were
bout to lay her in her grave, when. NJ
he mourners stood about, he came rusL.
lg down with eyes like fire, and roaring
Handicapped. They scattered in fright.
Mt he disappeared az suddenly as he | .
Ime, and was never seen again q