Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-04
THE GODDESS TCHI-NIU.
A Beautiful Legend from Chinese
Literature.

lnthe quaint commentary accompany
ing the text of that holy book of
Lao-tseu called h0n-mg-p'an may be
found a little story so old that the name
of the one who first told i, has been for
gotten for q thousand years. yet so beau
tiful that it lives still in the memory of
four hundred millions of people, like a
prayer that. M learned is forever re-
mcmbered. The Chinese writer makes
no mention of any city nor Of any PROV
lncc, although even i'll the relation of
the most ancient traditions such an
omission is rare; VIC are only told that
the name OF the hero of the legend was
Iong-yong, and that he lived in the
years Of the great dynasty of Han. some
twenty centuries ago.
Tong-yong's mother had died while
he was yet an infant, and when he be-
came 4 youth of nineteen years his
father also passed away. leaving him
utterly alone in the world. and without
VI of any sort. for, being a very
poor man, longs father had put him
self to great straits to educate the lad.
and had not been able to lav by even
one copper coin of his earnings. And
Tong lamcnted greatly to find himself
so destitute that he could O honor the
memory of that good father by having
the customary rites of burial performed.
n - carven tomb erected upon a pro-
pltious site. The poor only are friends
OF the poor. and among all those whom
Tong knew there was no one able to as
slst him in defraying the expenses of the
funeral. In one way only could the
youth obtain money-by selling himself
Us a slave to some rich c%ultivator. and
this ut last he decided to do. In v;.in
his friends did their utmost to dissuadc
him, and to no purpose did they attempt
To delay the accomplishment OF his sac
rl'ice by beguiliug promises of future
AID. Tong only replied that he would
sell his freedom a hundred times, if it
were possible, rather than suffer his
fathers memory to remain %unhonored
even for a brief season. And further
more, contiding in his youth and
strength, he determined to put a high
price upon his servitude-a price that
would enable him to build q handsome
tomb, bit which it would be well-njoh
impossible for him ever to repay. and
thereby rcpurchasc his freedom.
Accordingly he repaired to the broad
public place where slaves and debtors
were exposed for sale. and seated him
self upon u bench of stone, hayino
affixed to his shoulders a placard in
scribed with the terms of his servitude
and the list of his qualifications as u
iaborcr. Many who read the characters
upon the placard smiled disdainfullv at
the price asked. and passed on without
a word; others fingered only to question
him out OF simple curiosity: some COM
mended him with hollow praise; some
openly Knocked his unseltishness and
laughed at his childish piety. Thus
many hours YEARLY passed, and Tong
had almost %dcspaired of finding a mas
Bel, when there rode up a high official
of the province, q grave and handsome
man, lord of a 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 o smile, or advise,
or utter any questions; but having OBJ
served the price askcdan n 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
Il monument built which, although of
small size, was destined to delight the
eyes of all who bcheld it, designed by
cunning artists and executed by skillful
scuIptors. And while it was yet design
ed 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
Ivci,cd. and paper shapes of all things
The departed might need in the land Of
1hc Gcnii were consumed in consecrated
fire. And after the geoInancers and the
Gcrromanecrs had chosen q burial spot
which no unlucky could shine upon,
u place of rest which no demon or
dragon might cver disturb, the beautiful
.hM was built. Then was the phantom
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
Iong's good father were borne to the
somb.
Then Tong entered as a slave into the
service Of his purchaser, who allotted
him a little hut to dwell in; and thither
Tong carried with him those wooden