the stone where he found himself in a large room. The ceiling and floor
were covered with peculiar cloth that had seven wide strips of red
alternating with a like number of yellow stripes. When the master of the
place appeared his trousers were of seven colors, as were also his
jacket and the kerchief about his head.
The master ordered betel-nut, and when it was brought they chewed
together. Then he called for wine, and it was brought in a jar so large
that it had to be set on the ground under the house, and even then the
top came so high above the floor that they brought a seat for the
widow’s son, and it raised him just high enough to drink from the reed
in the top of the jar. He drank seven cups of wine, and then they ate
rice and fish and talked together.
The master did not blame the boy for killing the pig, and declared that
he wished to make a brother of him. So they became friends, and the boy
remained seven days in the stone. At the end of that time he said that
he must return to his mother, who would be worried about him. In the
early morning he left the strange house and started for home.
At first he walked briskly, but as the morning wore on he went more
slowly, and finally when the sun was high he sat down on a rock to rest.
Suddenly looking up, he saw before him seven men, each armed with a
spear, a shield, and a sword. They were dressed in different colors, and
each man had eyes the same color as his clothes. The leader, who was
dressed all in red, with red eyes to match, spoke first, asking the boy
where he was going. The boy replied that he was going home to his mother
who would be looking for him, and added:
“Now I ask where you are going, all armed ready for war.”
“We are warriors,” replied the man in red, “and we go up and down the
world killing whatever we see that has life. Now that we have met you,
we must kill you also.”
The boy, startled by this strange speech, was about to answer when he
heard a voice near him say: “Fight, for they will try to kill you,” and
upon looking up he saw his spear, shield, and sword which he had left at
home. Then he knew that the command came from a spirit, so he took his
weapons and began to fight. For three days and nights they contended,
and never before had the seven seen one man so brave. On the fourth day
the leader was wounded and fell dead, and then, one by one, the other
six fell.
When they were all killed, the widow’s son was so crazed with fighting
that he thought no longer of returning home, but started out to find
more to slay.
In his wanderings he came to the home of a great giant whose house was
already full of men he had conquered in battle, and he called up from
outside:
“Is the master of the house at home? If he is, let him come out and
fight.”
This threw the giant into a rage, and seizing his shield and his spear,
the shaft of which was the trunk of a tree, he sprang to the door and
leaped to the ground, not waiting to go down the notched pole that
served for steps. He looked around for his antagonist, and seeing only
the widow’s son he roared:
“Where is the man that wants to fight? That thing? It is only a fly!”
The boy did not stop to answer, but rushed at the giant with his knife;
and for three days and nights they struggled, till the giant fell,
wounded at the waist.
After that the widow’s son stopped only long enough to burn the giant’s
house, and then rushed on looking for someone else to slay. Suddenly he
again heard the voice which had bade him fight with the seven men, and
this time it said: “Go home now, for your mother is grieved at your
absence.” In a rage he sprang forward with his sword, though he could
see no enemy. Then the spirit which had spoken to him made him sleep for
a short time. When he awoke the rage was spent.
Again the spirit appeared, and it said: “The seven men whom you killed
were sent to kill you by the spirit of the great stone, for he looked in
your hand and saw that you were to marry the orphan girl whom he himself
wished to wed. But you have conquered. Your enemies are dead. Go home
now and prepare a great quantity of wine, for I shall bring your enemies
to life again, and you will all live in peace.”
So the widow’s son went home, and his mother, who had believed him dead,
was filled with joy at his coming, and all the people in the town came
out to welcome him. When he had told them his story, they hastened to
get wine, and all day they bore jarsful to the widow’s house.
That night there was a great feast, and the spirit of the great stone,
his seven warriors, the friendly spirit, and the giant all came. The
widow’s son married the orphan girl, while another beautiful woman
became the wife of the spirit of the stone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MR. SIN, THE CARP
Some years ago there lived in a small town in the province of “The Four
Streams” two retired magistrates. Mr. Le, the elder of the two, had been
asked to leave the last position he held because it was his custom to
levy blackmail whenever he could do so, and he was also charged, let us
hope unjustly, with having inflicted torture upon those unfortunate ones
who could not, or would not, meet his demands. In fact, he had become so
greedy that the people were in a state of rebellion. He was at length
made to retire, but not until he had become quite rich.
The other ex-official, Mr. Sin, was quite impulsive. He had been in the
habit of worrying the people of his district, and whenever he began to
worry anyone, that person had to pay in order to live peacefully. The
Chinese are slow to change, but even they will turn in time on a
constant worrier. And so Mr. Sin’s superiors requested him to resign,
and this he did, but not before he also had become quite wealthy.
Chance led these two worthies to the same town, and as their fates had
been so much alike, they decided to set up house together. They were
both rich, and so able to make themselves very comfortable indeed.
One day Mr. Sin fell sick of a fever, and though this annoyed Mr. Le,
who was expecting some rich friends to dinner, he sent for the doctor,
and gave directions that Mr. Sin was to be properly looked after.
When the doctor arrived, his patient was in a high fever, so he at once
prescribed a mixture of powdered deer horns and dragon’s blood, and
pills made from hare’s liver, these medicines to be taken at intervals.
Before leaving the house he took Ting, Sin’s valet, aside, and ordered
him on no account to leave his master alone, as he might become
delirious at any moment.
Ting promised not to leave his master for an instant, but a little later
on he heard sounds of merriment in the servants’ quarters, and as Mr.
Sin had fallen asleep, he quietly went out to enjoy himself among his
fellows. He had scarcely left the room, however, when Sin became very
restless, rolling his aching head from side to side.
“My head burns, and the pillow scorches!” moaned he. “I am suffocating!
O for a breath of the fresh air in the fields and woods! Why should I
not go and enjoy it? I will!” he exclaimed, and with that he sprang out
of bed, ran out of the room and through the front door, and then down
the road and into a neighboring field.
“This is delicious!” he said, as he threw himself down. “Now I can
breathe, and am myself again.”
But soon his tongue again became parched; his skin burned, and pains
pierced his head. “Oh,” he cried, “the fire-demon has followed me here!
If only I could plunge into a river of cold water I should be well.” He
arose and wandered on until he saw before him a broad, shining river,
into which he immediately plunged.
He was an expert swimmer, and he dived to the bottom, then skimmed along
the top, his queue floating on the water, and looking like an eel. “This
is happiness,” he said; “who would live on land who could live in
water?”
Just then he heard close to him a funny sort of chuckle, and turning
round, he saw a large fish staring at him with round eyes, and with a
peculiar twist of its mouth which Sin could see was caused by laughter.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked.
“You,” replied the fish.
“Why do you laugh at me?” he inquired.
“I laughed at what you said,” answered the fish. “The idea of a man
knowing what the delight of living in water is was so funny that I
couldn’t help laughing, and it has made me feel very uncomfortable,
because I am not used to doing that.”
Then Sin asked why a fish should enjoy the water more than a man, and
the fish replied that a man would like to swim and dive for a little
while, but his ugly limbs, which made him look like a frog, would soon
tire. And then, when a man is hungry, he has to seek his food on land,
while a fish can find nourishment while gliding through the water, and
that without fatigue and almost without movement.
Then said Sin: “I would give a good deal to be like you.”
“Do you mean that you would like to become a fish?”
“I do,” said Sin; “and I would give up all the money I squeezed out of
the people when I was a magistrate if I could enjoy the river as you
do.”
“Then come with me,” said the fish; and turning round he swam up-stream,
going very slowly so that Sin should not lose sight of him.
At length they reached a spot where a huge carp lay, surrounded by
attendant fishes. Sin could see he was the king fish by the reverent
manner with which the others regarded him.
Sin’s guide approached the fish king, and said:
“Your Highness, here is a poor man who wants very much to become a fish,
and so I have ventured to bring him into your presence.” He then
motioned Sin to approach.
“Do you really wish to become a fish?” inquired the king.
“I do, your Majesty,” replied Sin. “The gentleman who brought me to you
has shown me that only fishes can really appreciate life in the river,
and I am sure that the full enjoyment of such must be wonderful.”
“Then you shall have your desire,” said the king, and turning to one of
his attendants, he told him to fetch a large fish’s skin.
The messenger soon returned with a skin which proved to be just the
right size, and into this Sin was put, leaving out only his hands and
feet. It was rather uncomfortable at first, and he felt a gradual change
coming over him; his arms grew smaller and smaller, and his hands became
like fins; his legs and feet went together and took the form of a tail.
Then he felt better, and became anxious to try his new powers, so,
thanking his Majesty for his kindness, he began to swim away.
“Just a minute,” said the king. “I have some advice to give you. No one
knows better than you that men are always trying to catch fish, both by
hook and net. Now, if ever you see a worm dangling in the water in the
shape of a hook, leave it alone, or you will be a dead fish; and if you
see a net before you, turn around, and swim the other way.”
“Many thanks for your instructions, your Majesty,” said Sin, and with
that he turned down-stream. It took him a little while to get used to
his tail and fins, as he still wanted to strike out with his hands and
feet, but by degrees he became used to them, and then he swam swiftly
with the current. He felt fine, and greatly enjoyed the new experience.
But after a time he became hungry, and looked around for a worm, and
this was something new for him. Perhaps it was because he didn’t know
how to look for food, but it did seem to him that there was nothing
eatable about, although he went from one bank to the other; dived down
to the bed of the river, and nosed among the refuse there, but all to no
purpose. And he became hungrier and hungrier.
At last he saw a worm, but he noticed that it was in the shape of a
hook, and remembering the king’s instructions he passed by it, then he
came back. He swam to and fro, trying to avoid it, but somehow he
couldn’t get away from it. The demon of hunger whispered to him, “Eat
it; never mind what the old carp said, he knows less than you do. If you
are afraid of it, just nibble a little piece off its tail, instead of
gulping it all down.”
So Sin just pulled off a little piece that was wriggling about, and it
tasted so good, that he couldn’t resist taking the rest of it, so he
greedily swallowed the whole worm.
Quickly was delight turned into pain as the hook, which was hidden in
the worm, pierced the roof of his mouth. In terror he tried to swim
away, but every movement added to his misery, and soon he found he was
being pulled up to the surface. He struggled, but all in vain, and in
spite of all he could do, he was drawn out of the water. He looked up,
and to his surprise and relief, saw that his captor was one of his own
servants.
He spoke to him as well as he could, and said: “Let me go, Chang; I am
your master, Sin, and not a fish; take this awful hook out of my mouth,
and put me back into the water at once.”
Chang was puzzled, because he had never heard a fish make a noise like
this before, but he seized the fish, remarking to himself what a
wonderfully fine one it was, and tearing the hook out of its jaws, threw
it down in the boat.
“You scoundrel!” shouted Sin. “How dare you treat me like this. I
dismiss you from my service at once.”
“I have heard tales of birds talking,” said Chang, “but may I be beaten
if I haven’t got hold of a fish that talks.” With that he turned to the
shore, and then he lifted the fish by its gills, and started toward
home.
“Oh, you will kill me!” shouted Sin. “I will have you flayed alive for
this.”
But Chang took no more notice of the strange noises the fish made, and
thought only of the present he would receive for bringing home such a
fine fish. Sin was feeling weak from pain, and from being out of the
water so long. He thought that surely the old porter would know him when
he should reach the house, so he ceased his efforts for the present.
As soon as they reached the gate the porter congratulated Chang on the
fine fish he had caught, and said that Mr. Le had just sent to know
whether he had brought in anything.
“Porter,” said Sin, “I am your master, and not a fish. This fellow Chang
has caused me great pain, and refuses to put me back into the water. I
order you to take me to the river at once.”
“This is a queer fish that you have got hold of, Chang,” said the
porter; “I never heard one make a noise like this before. You had better
take it at once to Mr. Le.”
“What fools these men are,” thought Sin. “I see that I must wait until I
can explain the matter to Le.”
Chang took the fish straight to Mr. Le, and said: “Your Excellency, here
is the finest carp I have ever seen.”
“Listen to me, Le,” said Sin, as loudly as he could. “I am your friend,
Sin, and I put on this fish’s skin just to see what it is like to be a
fish. This scoundrel Chang has tortured me. Please tell him to put me
back into the river, as I wish to take my former shape again.”
“This is a very peculiar fish,” said Le; “why, he grunts like a pig.
Still, he will make a good dish, so take him to the cook.”
“Oh!” groaned Sin, “would you eat your old friend, Le?”
But Le didn’t understand either, so Chang started for the kitchen. “My
only chance now is that the cook will know me,” thought Sin.
And now his last hope fled, for as Chang handed the carp to the cook,
Sin said as distinctly as he could, “Cook, I am no fish, but Mr. Sin. I
have always treated you well, so please take me back to the river.”
“This is a noisy carp you have caught, Chang,” said the cook, “but he
won’t grunt much longer. Hand me the chopper.”
And now Sin made all the noise he could. He screamed, “Spare me! Spare
me, cook.” But the cook took no notice of him. Placing him on the
kitchen block, he lifted the chopper, and gave him a violent blow on the
head.
“Oh!” exclaimed Sin, “what an awful knock I have given myself. I must
have fallen out of bed and struck my head on the floor.”
He was now thoroughly awake, but it was some time before he could
realize that he was safe in his own room, so real had his experiences
seemed. But he at length breathed a sigh of relief, for he knew that it
was only a dream.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCE ZEYN ALASNAM AND THE SULTAN OF THE GENII
There was a Sultan of Bussorah blessed with great prosperity and happy
in the affections of his people. His only source of affliction was, that
he was childless. But after many years had passed a son was born to him,
whom he named Zeyn Alasnam.
Zeyn was educated with the greatest care. While, however, the prince was
yet young, the good sultan fell sick of a disorder, which all the skill
of his physicians could not cure, and presently he died.
As soon as the mourning for his father was passed, Prince Zeyn began to
show that he was unfit to govern a kingdom. He gave way to all kinds of
dissipation and conferred on his youthful but evil associates the chief
offices in the kingdom. He lost all the respect of his people and
emptied his treasury.
The queen, his mother, tried to correct her son’s conduct, assuring him
that if he did not take another course, he would cause some revolution,
which perhaps might cost him his crown and his life. What she thus
foretold had nearly happened. The people began to murmur against the
government, and their murmurs would certainly have been followed by a
general revolt if the sultan had not listened to his mother and suffered
himself to be prevailed on. He dismissed his youthful advisers and
committed the government to discreet aged men.
Zeyn, seeing all his wealth consumed, repented that he had made no
better use of it. He fell into a profound melancholy and nothing could
comfort him. One night he saw in a dream a venerable old man coming
towards him, who with a smiling countenance said: “Know, Zeyn, that
there is no sorrow but what is followed by mirth; no misfortune but what
in the end brings some happiness. If you desire to see the end of your
affliction, set out for Grand Cairo, where great prosperity awaits you.”
The young sultan was much struck with his dream, and spoke of it very
seriously to his mother, who only laughed at it. “My son,” said she,
“would you leave your kingdom and go into Egypt on the faith of a dream,
which may be illusive?”
“Why not, madam?” answered Zeyn; “do you imagine all dreams are
worthless? No, no, they often are divinely inspired. The old man who
appeared to me had something holy about his person. I rely on the
promises he has made me, and am resolved to follow his advice.”
The queen endeavored to dissuade him, but in vain. The sultan entreated
her to undertake the government of the kingdom, and set out one night
very privately from his palace and took the road to Cairo, alone and
unattended.
After much trouble and fatigue he arrived at that famous city. He
alighted at the gate of a mosque, where, being spent with weariness, he
lay down. No sooner was he fallen asleep than he saw the same old man,
who said to him: “I am pleased with you, my son. You have believed me,
and now I want you to know that I have not imposed on you this long
journey with any other design than to try you. I find you have courage
and resolution. You deserve I should make you the richest and happiest
prince in the world. Return to Bussorah and you shall find immense
wealth in your palace. No king ever possessed so rich a treasure.”
Prince Zeyn was not pleased with his dream. “Alas!” thought he to
himself when he awoke, “how much was I mistaken! That old man is no
other than the production of my disturbed imagination. My fancy was so
full of him that it is no wonder I have seen him again. I had best
return to Bussorah. What should I do here any longer? It is fortunate
that I told none but my mother the motive of my journey. I should become
a jest to my people were they to know it.”
Accordingly, he set out for his kingdom, and as soon as he arrived there
the queen asked him whether he returned well pleased. He told her all
that had happened, and was so much concerned for having been so foolish
that the queen, instead of adding to his vexation by reproving or
laughing at him, comforted him. “Forbear afflicting yourself, my son,”
said she; “if God has appointed you riches, you will have them without
any trouble. Be contented. Apply yourself to making your subjects happy.
By securing their happiness you will establish your own.”
Sultan Zeyn vowed that he would for the future follow his mother’s
advice and be directed by the wise viziers she had chosen to assist him
in the government. But the very night after he returned to his palace he
saw the old man the third time in a dream, who said to him: “The time of
your prosperity is come, brave Zeyn. To-morrow morning, as soon as you
are up, take a pick-axe and dig in the late sultan’s private room. You
will there find a rich treasure.”
As soon as the sultan awoke he got up, ran to the queen’s apartment, and
with much eagerness told her the new dream of that night. “Really, my
son,” said the queen, smiling, “this is a very queer old man; but have
you a mind to believe him again? At any rate, the task now enjoined on
you is not so bad as your former long journeys.”
“Well, madam,” answered the sultan, “I must own that this third dream
has restored my confidence. Last night he exactly pointed out to me the
place where the treasures are. I would rather search in vain than blame
myself as long as I live for having, perhaps, missed great riches, by
being too unbelieving.”
Having spoken thus he left the queen’s apartment, caused a pick-axe to
be brought to him, and went alone into the late sultan’s private room.
He immediately began work, and took up more than half the square stones
it was paved with, yet saw not the least appearance of what he sought.
He ceased working to take a little rest, thinking within himself, “I am
much afraid my mother had cause enough to laugh at me.”
However, he took heart and went on with his labor, until he discovered a
white slab, which he took up, and under it found a staircase of white
marble. He immediately lighted a lamp and went down the stairs into a
room, the floor whereof was laid with tiles of chinaware, while the roof
and walls were of crystal. The room contained four golden tables, on
each of which were ten urns of porphyry. He went up to one of the urns,
took off the cover, and, with no less joy than surprise, perceived it
was full of pieces of gold. He looked into all the forty, one after
another, and found them full of the same coin, and taking out a handful,
he carried it to the queen.
The queen, as may be imagined, was amazed when the sultan gave her an
account of what he had discovered. “Oh my son!” said she, “take heed you
do not squander all this wealth foolishly, as you have already done the
royal treasure. Let not your enemies have so much occasion to rejoice.”
“No, madam,” answered Zeyn, “I will henceforward live in such a manner
as shall be pleasing to you.”
The queen desired her son to conduct her to the wonderful underground
place, which the late sultan her husband had made with such secrecy that
she had never heard of it. Zeyn led her to the private room, down the
marble stairs, and into the chamber where the urns were. She observed
everything with the eye of curiosity, and in a corner spied a little urn
of the same sort of stone as the others. The prince had not before taken
notice of it, but, opening it, found inside a golden key. “My son,” said
the queen, “this key certainly belongs to some other treasure. Let us
search well. Perhaps we may discover the use it is designed for.”
They examined the chamber with the utmost exactness and at length found
a keyhole in one of the panels of the wall. The sultan immediately tried
the key, and readily opened the door which led into a chamber. In the
midst of this room were nine pedestals of massy gold, on eight of which
stood as many statues, each of them made of a single diamond, and from
them darted such a brightness that the whole room was perfectly light.
“Oh heavens!” cried Zeyn, in astonishment, “where could my father find
such rarities?”
The ninth pedestal redoubled this amazement, for it was covered with a
piece of white satin, on which were written these words: “Dear son, it
cost me much toil to procure these eight statues; but though they are
extraordinarily beautiful, you must understand that there is a ninth in
the world, which surpasses them all. That alone is worth more than a
thousand such as these. If you desire to be master of it, go to the city
of Cairo in Egypt. One of my old slaves, whose name is Mobarec, lives
there. You will easily find him. Visit him and tell him all that has
befallen you. He will conduct you to the place where that wonderful
statue is, which you will obtain with safety.”
The young sultan having read these words said to the queen, “I will set
out for Grand Cairo; nor do I believe, madam, that you will now oppose
my design.”
“No, my son,” answered the queen, “I am not against it.”