The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-01
CHINESE STORY-TELLERs.
sample story as Told BY n Profess
siOnaI by the Wayside

From the Youths Companion.
On pleasant day one cannot go far in
Pekin without meeting a professional
story-teller standing with crowd of lis
teners about him. under a big umbrella
by the roadside, telling stories in a loud
earnest tone. The characters in the tales
are often THE big priest and the little
priest''-a boy whom his parents have
consecrated to the service of the temple
The following is typical story in which
they appear:
Once upon time-so the story goes
an old priest said to his young compan-
ion; Il am going away. little priest and
l leave the temple in your charge No
matter who comes, don't lend them any
thing
''All right, sir I'll obey your words"
Not long after the Old man left an old
woman came to worship. She prostra ted
herself before the idols and prayed ana
prayed until it rained. Then she said to
the boy. Your master knows me we'll
for / come often 20 worship. viii YOU
please lend me his umbrella ?"
No was the prompt reply, Il cannot
lend anybody anything
SO the old lady went home in the rain
and she was very angry.
Upon his masters return the faithful
boy related his experience; but instead of
praise he received ste IN reproof:
'Oh, you stupid boy! Do YOU know no
better than that? Why, you have driven
away one of my best worshppers You
Will spoil my business. You should al
ways be polite. You should say: Won't
you please step in and have a chair? |
VIII steep you fresh tea and bring you lit
Tie cakes. Make yourself as comfortable
as possible; but am very sorry to say
my master was out in a storm one dav
and it blew and it blew and it took the
skin right off Of his umbrella, and strew
ed the bones all around, and so we have
none Say that and she could not be
angry
''All right, sir. I'll say it next time"
Not long after this the master went away
again, and there came a, man who said
Little priest, have been high up on the
mountains and gathered a big load of
kindling wood. Ii is too heavy | Cannot
get it home. Will you please let me take
your masters horse?"
Come in sir said the little man. "And
make yourself very comfortable. | will
bring you little cakes and steep Won fresh
tea; but l am very sorry to say the old
horse was out in a storm. and il blew and
it blew. and 1t took the skin right off and
blew the bones away, and we haven't
any,
The man gazed in astonishment upon
the boy, and turned away in disgust
When the master returned the boy relat-
ed all that had happened, and received a
round scolding: "Oh.. you small idiot; you
grow worse and worse. Don't tell the same
story every time. Have some sense-make
your story fit. You should have said 1
am very sorry to say, the old horse was
out in the field and tumbled into a hole
and sprained his leg and went lame, aid
we turned him out to grass and we
haven't any"
"All right. sir; 1 will say 1t the next
time"
Again the boy was left in charge, snd
there came a man who said: Your mas
ter is my dear old friend. l would like to
see him"
Come in, sir; take seat, sir. I will
bring you new cakes and steep you fresh
tea. Please be as comfortable as possible,
sir | am sorry to say my master was out
in the field and stumbled and went lame
and we have turned him Quito grass, and
we haven't any!"
So the story runs on, as long as the story
teller pleases, until it is time to take a
collection.