The Ravalli Republican., 1898-04-06
CHINESE STORY TELLERS.
A Sample of the Xarns They Spia For
Consideration.

A Sample of the Harms They Spin For q
Consideration.
On pleasant day one cannot go
far in Peking without meeting a
professional story teller standing,
with a crowd Of listeners about him,
under big umbrella by the road
side, telling stories in a loud, ear
nest tone. The characters in the tales
aro often "the big priest and "the
littlo priest "a boy whom his par
ents have consecruted to the service
of the temple. The following is a
tyIical story in which they appear.
Once upon q time-so the story
goes-an old priest said to lis young
companion: II am going away, lit
tie priest, and leave the temple in
your charge No matter who comes,
don't lend them anything. -
"All right. sir. Ill obey your
words. +"
Not long after the old man left
an old woman came to worship.
She prostrated herself before the
idols and prayed and prayed until it
rained Then she said to the boy:
"Yonr master knows me WE'LL for ]
como often to worship. Will you
please lend me his umbrc]la2'
mo was the prompt reply, II
cannot lend anybody anything"
So the old lady went home in the
rain, and she was very angry.
Upon the masters return the
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 my.
best worshipor;s! You will spoil my
business. You should always be
polite. You should say: Won't you
please step III and have a chair? I
will steep you fresh tea and bring
you little cakes. Make yourself as
comfortable as possible, but I am
very sorry to say my master WAS
out III 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.
''All right, sir. I'll say it noxt
time.'
Not long after this the master
went away again, and there came a
man who said: "Little priest, I have
been high up on the mountains and
gathered a big load of kindling wood.
It is too heavy. I cannot get it
home. VIII you please let me take
your masters S horsef''
"Come in, sir" said the little
man, land make yourself comfort
able. I will bring you little cakes
and steep you fresh tea, but am
very sorry to say the old horse was
out i'll storm and it blew and il
blew and it took the skin right of
and blew the bones away, and We
haven't any!''
The man gazed III astonishmen1
upon the boy and turned away il
disgust.
When the master returned, the
boy related all that had happened
and received around scolding: ooh
you small idiot. You grow worse ant
worse. Don't tell the same story
every time. Have some sense
make your story fit. You shoult
have said, I am very sorry to say
the ola horse was out in the tiel'
and tu1nbled in a hole and spraine'
his leg and went lame, and we turn
ed him out to grass and we haven
any.
''All right, sir. will say it tn
next time.'
Again the boy was left in charge
and there came a man who s;ao
"Your master is my dear old friene
would like to see him.
Come i'll, Sill; take q seat, slr.
will bring you new cakes and stee
yo,. fresh tea. Please be as con
Portable as possible, sir. | am ver
sorry TO say my master was out
the field and stumbled in a hole an
went lame, and we have turned hi
out to grass, and we haven t amy /
So tile story runs on, as long ;
the story teller p]eases, until it
time to take collection.--Clara \
Cushman in Youths Companion.