Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-12-01
THE GODDESS TCHI-NIU.
A Beautiful Legend from Chinese
Literature.

In the quaint commentary accompany
Ing tho text of that holy book Of
Lao-tseu called Ran-ing-p'in may be
found little story so old that the name
OF the one who first told 1t has been for
gotten for a thousand years, yet so beau
tiful that 1t lives still In the memory Of
four hundred millions of people. like a
prayer that, once learned. is forever re
mombered. The Chinese writer makes
no mention of any city nor of any prov
ince, although even In the relation of
the most ancient traditions 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 be-
came youth of nineteen years his
father also passed away, leaving him
utterly alone In the world, and without
resources Of any sort, for, being O yery
poor man, Tong's father had put him
self TO great straits to educste the lad.
and had not been able TO Law by even
one copper coin Of his earnings. And
Tong lamented greatly to find himself
so destitute that be could not honor the
memory of that good father by having
the customary rites Of burial performed,
and u carven tomb erected upon pro.
piLious site. The poor only are friends
Of the poor. and among ali those whom
Tong knew there was no ono able 10 as.
sist him In defraylng the expenses, Of the
funeral, In one way only could the
youth obtain money-by selling himself
as slave TO some rich cultHator, and
this at last be decided to do. In vain
his friends did their utmost TO dIssuade
him, and 10 no purpose did they attempt
TO delay the accomplishment Of his Soc
rifoe BY beguiling promises Of future
aid. Tong only replied that he would
sell his freedom hundred times, II It
were possible, rather than suffer his
fathers memory TO remain unhonored
even for brief season. And further
more, oonfding In his youth and
strength, be determined 10 put high
price upon bis seryitude--a price that
would enable him to build n handsome
tomb, but which it would be well-niph
impossible for him ever to repay, and
thereby repurchase his freedom.
Accordingly he repaired to the broad
public place where slaves and debtors
were exposed for sale, and seated him
self upon a bench Of stone, having
affixed to his shoulders placard in,
scribed with the terms of his servitude
and the list Of his qualifications rs a
laborer. Many who read the characters
upon the placard smiled disdainfully at
the price asked, and passed on without
u word; others fingered only to question
him out of simple curiosity; some COM
mcnded him with hollow praise; some
openly mooked his unsslhshness and
laughed at his childish piety. Thus
many hours wearily passed, and Tong
had almost despaired Of finding q mas
tor, when there roao up a high official
OF the province. a grave and handsome
man, lord OF n thousand slaves and
owner Of vast estates. Refining in his
Tartar horse, the official halted to read
the placard and to consider the value Of
the slave. He did not smile, or advise.
or utter any questions; but having OBJ.
served the price asked and the fine strong
limbs OF the youth, purchased him with
out further ado, merely ordering his at.
tendant to pay the sum and to see that.
the necessary papers were made out
Thus Tong found himself enabled to,
fulfill the wish of his heart, and to have
o monument built which, although of
small size, was destined to delight the,
eyes of oil who beheld 1t, designed by
cunning artists and executed by sklllful.
sculptors. And whilejit was yet design
cd only, the pious rites inexperienced,
the silver coin was placed in the mouth.
of the dead, the white lanterns were,
hung at the door, the holy prayers were
recited, and paper shapes Of all things
the departed might need In the land Of
the Genii were consumed In consecrated
fire. And after the geomancers and the
necromancers had chosen burial spot,
which no unlucky star could shine upon,
place Of rest which no demon or
dragon might ever disturb, the beautiful
shih was built. Then was the phantoml
money strewn along the way, and the
funeral procession departed from the
dwelling Of the dead, and with prayers
and lamentation the mortal remains Of
Tong's good father were borne to the
tomb.
Then Tong entered as q slave into the
service Of his purchaser, who allotted
him little hut to dwell in; and thither
Tong carried with him those wooden
tablets, bearing the ancestral names, be-
fore which filial piety must daily burn
the incense Of prayer, and perform the
tender duties of family worship.
Thrice had spring perfumed Che breast
Of the land with flowers, and thrice had
been celebrated that festival Of the dead
which Sin,fanti. and thrice had Tong
swept and garnished his fathers tomb,
and presented his fivefold offering Of
fruits and meats. The period Of mourn
ing had passed, yet helhad not ceased to
mourn for his parent. The years re-
volved with their moons, bringing him
no hour Of Joy, no day of happy rest,
yet he never relented his servitude, or
failed to perform the rites Of ancestral
worship, until at last the fever Of the
rico fields laid strong hold upon him,
and he could not arise from his couch,
and his fellow hnrefa, thuuUht him dna.