The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-02
CHINESE STORY TELLERS.
A Sample of tho Yarns They Spin Fer ::
Consideration.

A Sample of the Yarns They Spin For 9:
Consideration.
On pleasant day one cannot so
far in Peking without meeting &
professional story teller standing,
with a crowd of listeners about him,
under big umbrella by the road
side, telling stories in loud, ear
nest tone. The characters in the tales
arc often "the big priest and "tEe
littlo priest "a boy whom his par
ents have consecratcd to the service
of the temple. The following is IL
typical story in which they appear.
Once upon time-so the story
goes-an old priest said to his young
companion: II am going away, lit
tie priest, and leave the telnpls il
your charge. No matter who comes
don't lend them anything
"All right, sir. Ill obey you.
words
Not long after the old man lei
an old woman came to worship
She prostrated herself before th>
idols and prayed and prayed until ii
rained. Then she said to the boz:
"Your master knows me we'll, fol
come often to worship. Will you
please lend me his umbrella?''
"No," was the prompt reply, Il
cannot lend anybody anything.
So the old lady went home in tie
rain, and she was very angry.
Upon the masters return tie
faithful boy related his experience.
but instead of praise he received
stern reproof:
"Oh, you stupid boy! Do you
know no better than that: Why,
you have driven away one of ny
best worshipers! You Will spoil NY
business. You should always be
polite. You should say: Won't yo;l
please step IN and have a chair? /
will steep you fresh tea and bring
you little cakes. Make yourself rs
comfortable as possible, but l am
very sorry to say my master was
out in a storm one day and it blew
and it blew and it took the skin
right off of his umbrella and strewed
the bones all around, and SO we
have none Say that, and she could
not be angry
Cali right, sir. Ill 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.
1t is too heavy. I cannot get it
home. Will you please let me take
your masters horsei"
"Come in, SIR said the little
man, "and make yourself comfort
able. will bring you little cakes
and steep you fresh tea, but am
very sorry to say the old horse was
out in storm. and it blew and it
blew and it 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 related all that had happened
and received around scolding: "Oh,
yousmall 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, I am very sorry to say,
the old horse was out in the field
and tumbled in a hole and sprained
his leg and went lame, and we turn
ed him out to grass and wo haven't
any, -
Call right, sir. l will say it the
next time
Again the boy was left in charge,
and there came man who said
"Your master is my dear old friend.
would like to see him."
"Come in, sir; take seat, sir. l
will bring you new cakes and steep
you fresh tea. Please be as COM
Portable as possible, sir. am very
eorry to say my master was out in
The field and stumbled in hole and
went lame, and we have turned him
out to grass, and we haven't any T.
So the story runs on, as long as
the story teller pleases, until il is
time to take collection.-Clara NJ.
Cushman il Youths Companion.
Her Ears.