The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-12

tTENEhAL ~ LhUSSlAs
About the year 1853 1 found a. the city
soo,ital in Savanna, Ga, a Chinese peas
ant probably % years old, who, tempted t.
,rv his fortune in a new world, had found
himself sick and stranded among strange
people.
A the solicitation of the house physician
tgsve him a homo with ma for the sum-
mer. He proved to bea valuable acquisition
and an entertaining companion; for, al
though Chong long was heath ~, Chong
long was gentleman; that is, IL considera-
ZION for the feelings of his associates, polite
ness to interiors. gratitude for the smallest
fsvor5, a kindly heart, and, with ell of
that, a gentle demeanor, constitute
The hallmark" of a gentleman.
Many long sultry day and summer
siyht he heguiled with the. legends and folk
lore Of peasant China. For example, he
told The Legend of the Lost Pleiad, u ''Che
Ieyend Of the Creation Of the Milky Way"
WTbe Story of That Group OF Stars Known
as Jobs Coffin" The Loves of the Rival
Mandarins," The Mission of the Twelve
Sons of God" THE Origin OF the Name
Celestial Empire" besides quaint ana oriZi-
nal descriptions of the marriage and burial
rites among the country folk of China,
mingled with criticisms upon English,
French and American civilizations as they
appeared to him. simple, shrewd and OBJ
servant Chinese lad.
These stories are original. They have
never been met with in any work upon
China, nor have they been related by any
traveller to my knowledge. At the solicita-
ton Of all who have ever heard their recital
Publish them for the first time. OF course
thew lose much of their charm by the elm
nation of the "Pid-gin English" dialect,
but to employ it in all cases would be to
mar the beauty and psthos of thu story, so
have tried to preserve the substance, using
the idiom In exceptional cases only.
''rHE LEGEND OF THE LOST PLEAD"
Pointing long, bony finger, tipped with
two inches of finger nail. to the seven stars,
be asked:
Mister Charley. how many stars do you
see thereF
''Seven," replied.
"No, sir; before time seven, now six.n
In China 100000 or 800 900 years ago
there dwelt an old beggarman named At
sing. He was rich in his youth, but as he
was OF an amiable disposition he soon
parted with his fortune, and was compelled
to beg his bread from day to day.
He ate and slept upon the steps Of q great
temple, hoping that the good and kind pep
pie, seeing his helplessness, would aid him
as they went in to worship the Almighty
Father, "Tuk-wong." Many a worshiper
dropped "a cash" into his outstretched
palm before they approached the door
leading to the altar, and many a dole given
him did he share with his less fortunate
companions on the steps Of ''the churc IN
house"
Now TUX wong" had observed his old
servant for many year and had found no
sin in him. Thus it happened that one
night he sent an angel to call to him the
youngest sister Of the Seven Stars, named
"Sou-chee"
My daughter of my right hand" said
he, 81 have called upon you 60 make long
journey and to perform a deed requiring
great personal sacrifice and self denial"
20, merciful and glorious Creator" said
she, speak and thy daughter will obey"
Then said ''Tuk-wong;" "a servant of
mine-one At-sing dwells upon the steps OF
a temple in China. He is old, inflrm
poor and in rags, but l have found no sin
nor guile In him. You must give up the
shining glcry of your sisters-your place 10
the sky, and you must speed to the earth to-
night conveyed by legion of my angels.
You must awaken him from the deep sleep
have caused to fall upon him-endow him
with youth-with wealth and you must
marry him. Remember, however, that if
you perform your duty faithfully within
a twelvemonth l shall recall you to the
heavens. Co."
Swift as light she few to earth surrounded
by the legions of angels, who, leaving her
on the steps Of the temple, returned to
"Tuk-wong." To this day In China the
tradition dwells, and mothers tell their
pratthng children how the stars once upon
a time fell TO earth. accompanied by bands
Of angels. and that in their midst there ap-
peared young girl with the face OF god
dess Sitting down upon the cold marble
"Sou-chee" took the head of poor old "At-
sing" in her lap and said:
Wake up, my dear 'At-sing.' 1t is your
lover who has come to claim you as her
husband. Wake upl Hasten while the old
priest serves the altar. Let us go to him
and pledge our lives TO each other"
Who is this who nocks poor old AT
slngF" said he. "Do you know that l am
beUgar man sleeping on the steps of
church house clothed in rags, cold, hungry
and inirm?"
my dear 'At-sing' try TO rise You will
md your youth and strength renewed.
Search your pockets and you will find there
IN tho ransom of an emperor. 1t is the gift
OF 'Tuk-wong.' Doubt not but that he sent
me TO you. he has sent me to reward you
for your faith and trust in him."
SpringtnR to his feet he found that 1t was
no longer dream Youth and vigor had
returned 60 him, and as he stood erect in
manly strength his voice went up in praise
10 the great "Tuk-wongn who had preserved
MIN and had granted him such a manifesto.
ton OF his divine power.
Taxing her baud they went into the temple
Wnhe the remaining poor "Deggar men"
sept upon the steps Of the ''church house"
Inc old priest was just about to eXtinguish
cue lights. when "Ar-sing" and 'Sou-chee"
presented themselves before him.
sad "Sou-chee, A." "Father, We have come
before you TO take our marriage VOWS. but
my lover is 80 bashful. win you marry us
quickly and quietlyg
-, Not bashful, father" said "At-sing,"
hersN
Only in dreams, my children, "only in
dreams" said the old rest. after long
ViSlls 'Iuk-wong' has let my sleepy eyes
eaten eaten tieeting glance Of some such face.
Uue tne day comes. Join your hands"
- ana so they were marrled-the glorious
laughter OF Heaven to the poor old beRgar
man Arising" who, for fifty years, had
sept upon the steps Of the temple.
-, me following morning, going into the
ol'Y "Sou-chee,n said to him; "Now, you
ere no longer the old 'At-sing, you are my
young husband 'Tau-kung,' ami by that
ma the transformed begRar was known.
Hney bought magnifcenJ villa, filed with
zen tapestries and gorgeous furniture. Sur
FUNDED by all that wealth could give,
susy hVed life OF perfect happiness. No
oue knew what had become Of old AT