Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-09
CHINESE STORY TELLERs.
n sample story Told by n PROBES.
sfonnl by the Wayside.

from the Youths Companion.
On pleasant day ore car rot go far I'm
Pekin without meeting professional sto-
ry teller standing. with a crowd of listen
efs 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 eonsecrated to
The service Of the temple. The following is
typical story in which they appear:
Once upon a time-so the story goes-an
old priest said to his young companion: Il
am going away, little priest and l leave
the temple in your charge. No matter who
comes, don't lend them anything
AN right. sir. I'll obey your words
Not long after the old man left an old wo-
man came 10 worship. She FRUSTRATED her.
self before the idols and Tray ed and prayed
until it rained. Then she said to the boy:
Your master knows me Well. for / coma
OFTEN to worship. VIII you please lend me-
his umbrella
No" was the prompt reply. IT 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 worshpers. You will
spoil my business. You should always DO
polite. You should say. Won't you please
step in and have a chair? | will steep YOU
fresh tea and bring you little cakes. Mako
yourself as comfortable possible: but
am very sorry to say, my master was out
In storm one day. and it blew and II
blew, ard Ii look the skin right off of his
umbrella. and strewed the bones all around,
and so Ne have none Say that and she
could not be angry
.,Al right. sir. I'll say 1t next time"
Not long after this the master went away
again, and there came a man who said:
Little priest, l have been high up on the
mountains and gathered big load OF kind
ling wood. 1t is too heavy. / carnot get II
home. VIII you please let me take your
masters horse?"
Come in sir" said the little man. "And
make yourself very comfortable / will
trfng you little cakes and steep you fresh
tea; but L am very sorry to say. the old
horse was out in a. storm. and Ii blew and
IL blew, and IL took the skin right of and
blew the bones away. and We haven't any"
The man gnzed in establishment upon the
10y, and turned away in disgust.
When the master returned the boy re-
lated all that mad happened. and received q
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 At. You should have said: L
am very sorry to say the old horse was
cut in the field and thn.bled I'm hole and
spraincd his leg and went lame. and We
hrr ed him out to grass, and We haven't
any"
time"
Again the boy was left in charge. and
there came a man who said: Your mas
ter is my dear old friend. I would like to
see him. .-sa..-.,.-
Come in. sir; take a seat. sir. will
bring you new cakes and steep you fresh
tea. Please be as comfortable possible.
sir. 1 am very sorry to say my master was
out in the field and stumbled and went
lame. and we have turned him out to grass,
and we haven't any!"