The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
CHINESE STORY-TELLER Frs
A Sample Story rs Told by n Professional By
the WnJside.
From the Youths Companion.

From the Youths Companion.
On a pleasant day one cannot go far in Pekin
without meeting a professional story-teller
standing. will a crowd OF listeners about him,
under n big umbrella by the roadside, telling
stories in n loud, earnest tone. The characters
In the tales are often 1.-The big prizes" and the
little priest"-a boy whom his parents have con.
secrated to tho service of the temple. The fol.
owing is a typical story in which they appear:
Once upon a time-so the story goes-an old
priest said to his young companion: lam going
away, little priest. and I leave the temple in
your charge. No matter who comes, don't lend
them anything
Not long after the old man left an old woman
came to worship. She Frustrated herself before
the idols and prayed and prayed until it rsincd.
me well, for / come often TO worship. Will you
please lend me his umbrella q.
No" was the prompt reply. IL cannot lend
So the oldlady went homo in the rain. and she
Upon the masters return tho faithful boy re-
lated his experiences; but instead OF praise he
received stern %rcpr,oof:.
than thnti Why. you have driven away one OF
my best yo wo sshiPG YG Hn will spoil my bgsi;
s msss' . Won SnS you please please St sIe 9o'iiI IN and q" b snos' a
little cakes. Make yourself a. comfortable az
possible but i am very sorry to say, my master
was ont In n storm one day. and II blew and 1t
blew, and 1t took the skin right Off of his UNI
brella. and strewed the bones all around, and so
We have none Say that, and she could not DO
angry"
al right. sir. III say it next time"
Not long after this the master went away
again, a id tn re came n man who said. Little
priest, ] have Jeen high up on the mountains
and gathered q big load of kindlinR wood. II Is
too heavy. i cannot get II home. Will you
please lot me AXE your masters horsel'
Come In. SIR said the little man. "And
mako yourself very comfortable. j will bring
you little cakes and steep YOU fresh tea: but /
am very sorry TO say. the old horse was out in
a storm, and it blew and IL blew. and II took the
skin right off and blew the bones away, and wo
haven't any T.
and turned away in disgust. .
that had happened, and received n round scold-
ing: "Oh, you small idiot; you grow worse and
worse. Don't tell the. same story every time.
Have some sense-make your story 1T. You
should have said. Il AIN very sorry to say, the
old horse was out in the field and tumbled in a
hole and spraincd his leg and went lame. and wo
turned him out to grass. and we haven't any"
'"All right, sir; j will say 1t the next time"
Again tho boy was left In charge, and there
camo n man who said: Your master Is my
dear old friend. 1 would like TO see him."
Come in, sir; take u scat, sir. i will bring
you new cakes and steep You fresh tea. Please
DO as comfortable as possible. sir. / am very
sorry To say my master was out In the leld
and stumbled and went lame, and we have
turned him out TO grass. and We haven't aDyl"
So the story runs ON, as long as the story-teller
ploases, until it Is time 70 take y collection.