Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-11-06
THE LEGEND OF rToHE-NIU


A Chinese story Of FiIIaI Piesy.
In the quaint commentary accompanying
the text of that holy book Of Lso-tseu called
Kan ing pieR may be found q little story 80
old that the name of the one who first told IL
has been forgotten for a thousand years, vet
80 beautiful that 1t lives still in the memory
Of four hundred millions Of people, like pray.
er that, once learned, is forever remem bered.
The Chinese writer makes no mention of any
city nor Of any province, although even in
the relation Of the most ancient tradition such
an omission is rare we are only told that
the name Of the hero of the legend was Tong
yong, and that he lived in the years Of the
great dynasty Of Han, some twenty centuries
ago.
Tong.yongs mother had died while he was
yet an infant, and when he became a youth
of nineteen years, his father also passed
away, leaving him utterly alone In the world,
and without resources Of any sort for, be-
ing very poor man, Tong's father had put
himself TO great straits to educate the lad,
and had not been able 10 lay by even one
copper coin Of his earnings. And Tong la
mented greatly to find himself 30 destitute
that he could not honor the memory of that
good father by having the customary rites Of
burial performed, and a carven tomb erected
upon q propitious site. The poor only are
friends Of the poor, and among all those
whom Tong knew there was no one able to
assist him in defraying the expenses of the
funeral. In one way only could the youth
obtain money--by selling himself as a slave
TO some rich cultivator, and this he at last de-
Acided to do. In vain his friends did their ut
most to dissuade him, and TO no purpose did
they attempt to delay the accomplishment of
his sacrifice by beguiling promises of future
aid. Tong only replied that he would sell
his freedom q hundred times, IL it we're pos
sible, rather than suffer bis fathers memory
TO remain unhonored even for brief season.
And furthermore, confding in his youth and
strength, he determined to put high price
upon his servitude-a price that would ena-
BILE him 10 build handsome tomb, but which
1t would be well-nigh impossible for him ev-
er to repay and thereby repurchase his free
dom.
Accordingly he repaired to the broad pub
lie place where slaves and debtors were ex-
posed for sale, and seated himself upon q
bench Of stone, having affixed to his shoul-
ders placard inscribed with the terms OF his
servitude and the list OF his qualifications as
q laborer. Many who read the characters
upon the placard smiled disdainfully at the
price asked, and passed on without word
others fingered only to question him out of
curiosity some connected him with hollow
praise some openly Knocked his unselfish-
ness and laughed at his childish piety. Thus
many hours YEARLY passed, and Tong had al
most despaired Of finding q master, when
there rode up high official Of the province,
grave and handsome man, lord of a thous-
and slaves and owner OF vast estates. Rein
ing in his Tartar horse, the official halted TO
read the placard and 10 consider the value OF
the slave. He did not smile, or advise, or
utter any questions but having observed the
price asked and the fine strong limbs Of the
youth, purchased him without further ado,
merely ordering his attendant to pay the sum
and to see that the necessary papers were
made out.
Thus Tong found himself enabled to fulfil
the wish Of heart, and to have q monument
built which, although of small size, was des-
tined to delight the eyes Of all who beheld
it. being designed by cunning artists and ex-
ecuted by skillful sculptors. And while 1t
was yet designed only, the pious rites were
performed, the silver coin was placed in the
mouth of the dead, the white lanterns were
hung at the door, the holy prayers were re-
cited, and paper shapes OF all things the de-
parted might need in the land of the Genii
were consumed in oonsecrated fire. And af-
ter the geomRncers and the necromancers
had chosen q burial spot which no unlucky
star could shine upon, place of rest which
~ uoLuou Ut uIhBOu ulBnt ever disturb, the
beautiful shh was built. Then was the phan-
tom money strewn along the way, and the
funeral procession departed from the dwell
ing Of the dead, and with prayers and lamen-
tation the mortal remains of Tong's good
father were borne to the tomb.
Then Tong entered as q slave into the SER
vice Of his purchaser, who allotted him lit
tie hut to dwell in and thither Tong carried
with him those wooden tablets, bearing the
ancestral psnes, before which hlial piety
must daily burn the incense of prayer, and
perform the tender duties of family wor-
ship.
Thrice had spring perfumed the breast Of
the land with flowers, and thrice had been
celebrated that festival OF the dead which is
called Sin fant, and thrice had Tong swept
and garnished his fathers tomb, and present
ed his fvefold offering of fruits and meats.
The period Of mourning had passed, yet he
never lamented his servitude, or failed to
perform the rites of ancestral worship, until
at last the fever Of the rice fields laid strong
hold upon him, and he could not arise from
his couch, and bis fellow-laborers thought he
must die. There was no one TO wait upon
him, no one TO care for his needs, inasmuch
as slaves and servants were wholly busted
with the duties of the household or the labor
Of the fields, all departing to toll at sunrise.
and returning weary only after the sundown.
Now while the sick youth sumbered the
ftful slumber of exhaustion one sultry noon,
he dreamed that a strange and beautiful
woman stood by him, and bent above him
and touched his forehead with the long fine
fingers Of her shapely hand. And at her
cool touch weird sweet shock passed through
him and all his veins tingled as il thrilled by
new life. Opening his eyes in wonder,
he saw verify bending over him the charming
being of whom he had dreamed, and he
knew that her 1.-THE hand really caressed his
throbbing forehead. But the fame of the
fever was gone, delicious GOODNESS now pen
etrated every fibre of his body, and the thrill
of which he had dreamed still tingled In his
blood like q great Joy. Even at the same
moment the eyes Of the gentle visitor met
his own, and he saw that they were singu-
larly beautiful, and shone like splendid black
jewels under brows curved like the wings Of
the swallow, Yet their calm gaze seemed TO
pass through him as light through crystal
and q vague awe came upon him, so that the
question which had risen TO his lips found no
utteranoe. Then she, still caressing him,
smiled and said 81 have come TO restore thy
strength, and to be thy wife. Arise and Wor-
ship with me-"
Her clear voice had tones as melodious as
a birds song, but In her gaze there was an
imperious power which Tong felt he could
not resist. Rising from his couch, be was
astounded to find his strength wholly re-
stored but the cool slender hand which held
his own led him away so swiftly that he had
little time for amAzement He would have
given years OF existence for courage TO speak
OF his misery, to declare his utter inability 10
maintain a wife but something irresistible
in he daN nf m for