Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-01-01

est he go6 many persons to give up
houses and lands, and even daughters,
to him in payment Of debts Those who
could not settle up thus had 10 settle
down in the debtors prison, where they
languished in chains and misery until
death came to their relief.
Ju Dun was withal a miser and
boarded the money he did not lend
as if he were to excel Methusaleh in
longevity. His clothes were worn as
/ long as they could stand meniing. He
grudged his wife and only child the
very necessaries Of life. In order to save
the expense Of luxurious table and at
the same time preserve the appearances
he and his family were in the habit OF
eating the c0arsest and cheapest rice
and dining on wnat seemed to be a large
fish, but which was made Of wood gar
nished with strips of salt pork and sea-
soned with sauce. ginger and onion
shoots. Instead Of meat he had lot of
pebbles fried in the most approved style
Of the culinary art, which i'll the mouth
of the diner gave relish to the ice
and could be fried over and over again
with hardly any appreciable loss OF sab
stance.
Being such a grasping usurer and
close fisted skinflint, or rather skin
pebble one would notnaturally expect
Ju Dun to view his prospective son-in-
law with favor, hut there was the mar
riage contract, which he himself had
drawn up with the elder Ding. How was
he going to get around it without Ding
Dong's consent? He saw no way Of 60
ing back on his bond at that time or
forcing Ding Dong to withdraw from
| the alliance; but like the willy rascal
that be was, he determined to bide his
time and watched for an opportunity to
gracefully give Dong the 90 by.
The opportunity came when Dong
went to him to ask for loan for the
purpose of paying his debts, when the
following conversation took place, which
we will translate for the readers benefit
"Honored sir''-thus Ding Dong be-
gam have come humbly TO solicit
the loan Of 100 taels, which your well
filled Golfers will hardly miss, that l
may go to Canton and take part i'll the
coming examination. l felt some deli
cacy in asking this Of you on account Of
our future relationship, but my urgent
necessity has banished all hesitation. "
young man." replied Ju Dun,
"what do You take me fora gold
mine? People don't know how poor l
am when they tell ridiculous stories
about my wealth. Wealth, indeedl l
wish l had only one-tenth Of what they
say | am worth. I lose money every
day. Why, only yesterday man hanged
himself to escape the payment Of moneys
rightfully due TO me. "
Il am sorry, worthy sir, " returned
( Dong, "but | am not at all likely TO
follow that mans example. ! have my
school, you know, and l propose to pay
the tuition fees TO you until l shall have
wiped out the debt. And, although you
may not have the required 100 taels On
hand, you can easily raise il. l trust
that you will permit your benevolent
/ disposition 10 do its work in my case. -
Dong knew be was administering a
rather strong dose Of tatiy.
The miser seemed to relent little,
saying:
"But l never lend without good Sc
curity. What security can you offer?'
"Nonc, my good sir, except an order
to my pupils TO pay you their tuition
fees-excepting the little that l shall
require to live and-and the word Of an
honest man.. D."
"The last I do not want, " said Ju
Dun. 1T is not negotiable in the money
market. But the other security will do
so far as the interest is concerned. But
how about the principal?"
Il expect, sir, to earn enough to pay
it of by the end Of this year. "
A look Of cunning stole into Ju Dun &
eyes as he asked:
"If not, what then?"
81 do not apprehend such a contin'
gency," -" answered Dong.
well, l do, " said Ju Dun. 81 have
mind not to lend you the money. Still,
will risk little for the friendship
bore your father. But you understand,
most talented sir, that in case you can
not pay me the principal before New
Years day our intimate relations must
cease, for | will not and cannot marry
my only child to bankrupt and dis
honored man.
The blood rushed over Dong's cheeks
and mounted his temples at the bare
possibility Of dishonor coming to him,
He was an honorable young man, wal
Dong, chock full Of fine feeling. 1t wal
his misfortune to have had such IA
ther. If he had had his say about it in
stead Of the God who presided over th'
wheel Of transmigration, he would have
preferred a more prudent man to be hi
father. He was no "chip Off the ole
block k"-not by great deal.
He felt humiliated, but nevertheless
answered spiritedly, Excellent sir, if
fail to pay you, will gladly releas
you from performing your part OF tn
marriage contract "
"You need not get so huffy over 1t,
reioined the old man. Business is busi
ness, and it is 10 harm TO let you un
derstand the conditions. Sit down her
and write promissory note with an ex
press condition to the effect that in cas-
You fail to pay up interest and principa
, in full for value received before tn
next New Years day you will renounc
all claims to nay daughters hand, ard
will try TO raise the money for you.
, Dong drew his chair up to the tabl
and wrote the note, while the old mise
went into che garden to raise the 10
taels. Making sure that no one wa
looking. ne moved large vase from II
, position, then unlocked trapdoo
, which covered sort Of stairway tina
, led to vault This vault held an iro
chest. in which all his valuables wer
deposited. 1t took but few minutes I
: descend open the box, secure the none
: and put everything back as it was b'
fore.
, The note and the money soon change