When Nahl Bo heard of the wonderful change taking place at his
brother's establishment, he went himself to look into the matter. He
found the report not exaggerated, and began to upbraid his brother
with dishonest methods, which accusation the brother stoutly denied,
and further demanded where, and of whom, he could steal a house,
such rich garments, fine furniture, and have it removed in a day
to the site of his former hovel. Nahl Bo demanded an explanation,
and Hyung Bo frankly told him how he had saved the bird from the
snake and had bound up its broken limbs, so that it recovered; how
the bird in return brought him a seed engraved with gold characters,
instructing him how to plant and rear it; and how, having done so,
the four gourds were born on the stalk, and from them, on ripening,
had appeared these rich gifts. The ill-favored brother even then
persisted in his charges, and in a gruff, ugly manner accused Hyung Bo
of being worse than a thief in keeping all these fine goods, instead
of dutifully sharing them with his elder brother. This insinuation
of undutiful conduct really annoyed Hyung Bo, who, in his kindness
of heart, forgave this unbrotherly senior, his former ill conduct,
and thinking only of his own present good fortune, he kindly bestowed
considerable gifts upon the undeserving brother, and doubtless would
have done more but that the covetous man espyed the fair maiden, and at
once insisted on having her. This was too much even for the patient
Hyung Bo, who refused with a determination remarkable for him. A
quarrel ensued, during which the elder brother took his departure in
a rage, fully determined to use the secret of his brother's success
for all it was worth in securing rich gifts for himself.
Going home he struck at all the birds he could see, and ordered his
servants to do the same. After killing many, he succeeded in catching
one, and, breaking its legs, he took fish-skin and bound them up in
splints, laying the little sufferer in a warm place, till it recovered
and flew away, bandages and all. The result was as expected. The bird
being questioned by the bird king concerning its crooked legs, related
its story, dwelling, however, on the man's cruelty in killing so many
birds and then breaking its own legs. The king understood thoroughly,
and gave the little cripple a seed to present to the wicked man on
its return in the spring.
Springtime came, and one day, as Nahl Bo was sitting cross-legged
in the little room opening on the veranda off his court, he heard a
familiar bird-song. Dropping his long pipe, he threw open the paper
windows, and there, sure enough, sat a crooked-legged bird on the
clothes line, bearing a seed in its mouth. Nahl Bo would let no one
touch it, but as the bird dropped the seed and flew away, he jumped
out so eagerly that he forgot to slip his shoes on, and got his clean
white stockings all befouled. He secured the seed, however, and felt
that his fortune was made. He planted it carefully, as directed,
and gave it his personal attention.
The vines were most luxurious. They grew with great rapidity,
till they had well nigh covered the whole of his large house
and out-buildings. Instead of one gourd, or even four, as in the
brother's case, the new vines bore twelve gourds, which grew and grew
till the great beams of his house fairly groaned under their weight,
and he had to block them in place to keep them from rolling off the
roofs. He had to hire men to guard them carefully, for now that the
source of Hyung Bo's riches was understood, every one was anxious
for a gourd. They did not know the secret, however, which Nahl Bo
concealed through selfishness, and Hyung through fear that every one
would take to killing and maiming birds as his wicked brother had done.
Maintaining a guard was expensive, and the plant so loosened the roof
tiles, by the tendrils searching for earth and moisture in the great
layer of clay under the tiles, that the rainy season made great havoc
with his house. Large portions of plaster from the inside fell upon the
paper ceilings, which in turn gave way, letting the dirty water drip
into the rooms, and making the house almost uninhabitable. At last,
however, the plants could do no more harm; the frost had come, the
vines had shrivelled away, and the enormous ripe gourds were carefully
lowered, amid the yelling of a score of coolies, as each seemed to get
in the others' way trying to manipulate the ropes and poles with which
the gourds were let down to the ground. Once inside the court, and the
great doors locked, Nahl Bo felt relieved, and shutting out every one
but a carpenter and his assistant, he prepared for the great surprise
which he knew must await him, in spite of his most vivid dreams.
The carpenter insisted upon the enormous sum of 1,000 cash for
opening each gourd, and as he was too impatient to await the arrival
of another, and as he expected to be of princely wealth in a few
moments, Nahl Bo agreed to the exorbitant price. Whereupon, carefully
bracing a gourd, the men began sawing it through. It seemed a long
time before the gourd fell in halves. When it did, out came a party
of rope-dancers, such as perform at fairs and public places. Nahl Bo
was unprepared for any such surprise as this, and fancied it must
be some great mistake. They sang and danced about as well as the
crowded condition of the court would allow, and the family looked on
complacently, supposing that the band had been sent to celebrate their
coming good fortune. But Nahl Bo soon had enough of this. He wanted
to get at his riches, and seeing that the actors were about to stretch
their ropes for a more extensive performance, he ordered them to cease
and take their departure. To his amazement, however, they refused to
do this, until he had paid them 5,000 cash for their trouble. "You
sent for us and we came," said the leader. "Now pay us, or we will
live with you till you do." There was no help for it, and with great
reluctance and some foreboding, he gave them the money and dismissed
them. Then Nahl Bo turned to the carpenter, who chanced to be a man
with an ugly visage, made uglier by a great hare-lip. "You," he said,
"are the cause of all this. Before you entered this court these gourds
were filled with gold, and your ugly face has changed it to beggars."
Number two was opened with no better results, for out came a body of
Buddhist priests, begging for their temple, and promising many sons
in return for offerings of suitable merit. Although disgusted beyond
measure, Nahl Bo still had faith in the gourds, and to get rid of the
priests, lest they should see his riches, he gave them also 5,000 cash.
As soon as the priests were gone, gourd number three was opened,
with still poorer results, for out came a procession of paid mourners
followed by a corpse borne by bearers. The mourners wept as loudly
as possible, and all was in a perfect uproar. When ordered to go,
the mourners declared they must have money for mourning, and to pay
for burying the body. Seeing no possible help for it, 5,000 cash was
finally given them, and they went out with the bier. Then Nahl Bo's
wife came into the court, and began to abuse the hare-lipped man for
bringing upon them all this trouble. Whereupon the latter became angry
and demanded his money that he might leave. They had no intention
of giving up the search as yet, however, and, as it was too late to
change carpenters, the ugly fellow was paid for the work already done,
and given an advance on that yet remaining. He therefore set to work
upon the fourth gourd, which Nahl Bo watched with feverish anxiety.
From this one there came a band of gee sang, or dancing girls. There
was one woman from each province, and each had her song and dance. One
sang of the yang wang, or wind god; another of the wang jay, or
pan deity; one sang of the sung jee, or money that is placed as a
christening on the roof tree of every house. There was the cuckoo
song. The song of the ancient tree that has lived so long that its
heart is dead and gone, leaving but a hollow space, yet the leaves
spring forth every spring-tide. The song of laughter and mourning,
with an injunction to see to it that the rice offering be made to the
departed spirits. To the king of the sun and stars a song was sung. And
last of all, one votary sang of the twelve months that make the year,
the twelve hours that make the day, the thirty days that make the
month, and of the new year's birth, as the old year dies, taking with
it their ills to be buried in the past, and reminding all people to
celebrate the New Year holidays by donning clean clothes and feasting
on good food, that the following year may be to them one of plenty and
prosperity. Having finished their songs and their graceful posturing
and waving of their gay silk banners, the gee sang demanded their pay,
which had to be given them, reducing the family wealth 5,000 cash more.
The wife now tried to persuade Nahl Bo to stop and not open more,
but the hare-lip man offered to open the next for 500 cash, as he was
secretly enjoying the sport. So the fifth was opened a little, when a
yellow-looking substance was seen inside, which was taken to be gold,
and they hurriedly opened it completely. But instead of gold, out
came an acrobatic pair,--being a strong man with a youth dressed to
represent a girl. The man danced about, holding his young companion
balanced upon his shoulders, singing meanwhile a song of an ancient
king, whose riotous living was so distasteful to his subjects that
he built him a cavernous palace, the floor of which was covered with
quicksilver, the walls were decorated with jewels, and myriad lamps
turned the darkness into day. Here were to be found the choicest
viands and wines, with bands of music to entertain the feasters:
most beautiful women; and he enjoyed himself most luxuriously until
his enemy, learning the secret, threw open the cavern to the light
of day, when all of the beautiful women immediately disappeared in
the sun's rays.
Before he could get these people to discontinue their performance,
Nahl Bo had to give them also 5,000 cash. Yet in spite of all his
ill luck, he decided to open another. Which being done, a jester
came forth, demanding the expense money for his long journey. This
was finally given him, for Nahl Bo had hit upon what he deemed a
clever expedient. He took the wise fool aside, and asked him to use
his wisdom in pointing out to him which of these gourds contained
gold. Whereupon the jester looked wise, tapped several gourds, and
motioned to each one as being filled with gold.
The seventh was therefore opened, and a lot of yamen runners came
forth, followed by an official. Nahl Bo tried to run from what he
knew must mean an exorbitant "squeeze," but he was caught and beaten
for his indiscretion. The official called for his valise, and took
from it a paper, which his secretary read, announcing that Nahl
Bo was the serf of this lord and must hereafter pay to him a heavy
tribute. At this they groaned in their hearts, and the wife declared
that even now the money was all gone, even to the last cash, while
the rabble which had collected had stolen nearly every thing worth
removing. Yet the officer's servants demanded pay for their services,
and they had to be given a note secured on the property before they
would leave. Matters were now so serious that they could not be made
much worse, and it was decided to open each remaining gourd, that if
there were any gold they might have it.
When the next one was opened a bevy of moo tang women (soothsayers)
came forth, offering to drive away the spirit of disease and restore
the sick to health. They arranged their banners for their usual
dancing ceremony, brought forth their drums, with which to exorcise
the demons, and called for rice to offer to the spirits and clothes
to burn for the spirits' apparel.
"Get out!" roared Nahl Bo. "I am not sick except for the visitation of
such as yourselves, who are forever burdening the poor, and demanding
pay for your supposed services. Away with you, and befool some other
pah sak ye (eight month's man--fool) if you can. I want none of
your services."
They were no easier to drive away, however, than were the other
annoying visitors that had come with his supposed good fortune. He
had finally to pay them as he had the others; and dejectedly he sat,
scarcely noticing the opening of the ninth gourd.
The latter proved to contain a juggler, and the exasperated Nahl Bo,
seeing but one small man, determined to make short work of him. Seizing
him by his topknot of hair, he was about to drag him to the door, when
the dexterous fellow, catching his tormentor by the thighs, threw him
headlong over his own back, nearly breaking his neck, and causing him
to lie stunned for a time, while the expert bound him hand and foot,
and stood him on his head, so that the wife was glad to pay the fellow
and dismiss him ere the life should be departed from her lord.
On opening the tenth a party of blind men came out, picking their
way with their long sticks, while their sightless orbs were raised
towards the unseen heavens. They offered to tell the fortunes of the
family. But, while their services might have been demanded earlier,
the case was now too desperate for any such help. The old men tinkled
their little bells, and chanted some poetry addressed to the four
good spirits stationed at the four corners of the earth, where they
patiently stand bearing the world upon their shoulders; and to the
distant heavens that arch over and fold the earth in their embrace,
where the two meet at the far horizon (as pictured in the Korean
flag). The blind men threw their dice, and, fearing lest they should
prophesy death, Nahl Bo quickly paid and dismissed them.
The next gourd was opened but a trifle, that they might first determine
as to the wisdom of letting out its contents. Before they could
determine, however, a voice like thunder was heard from within, and
the huge form of a giant arose, splitting open the gourd as he came
forth. In his anger he seized poor Nahl Bo and tossed him upon his
shoulders as though he would carry him away. Whereupon the wife plead
with tears for his release, and gladly gave an order for the amount
of the ransom. After which the monster allowed the frightened man to
fall to the ground, nearly breaking his aching bones in the fall.
The carpenter did not relish the sport any longer; it seemed to be
getting entirely too dangerous. He thereupon demanded the balance of
his pay, which they finally agreed to give him, providing he would
open the last remaining gourd. For the desperate people hoped to
find this at least in sufficient condition that they might cook or
make soup of it, since they had no food left at all and no money,
while the other gourds were so spoiled by the tramping of the feet
of their unbidden guests, as to be totally unfit for food.
The man did as requested, but had only sawed a very little when the
gourd split open as though it were rotten, while a most awful stench
arose, driving every one from the premises. This was followed by a gale
of wind, so severe as to destroy the buildings, which, in falling,
took fire from the kang, and while the once prosperous man looked
on in helpless misery, the last of his remaining property was swept
forever from him.
The seed that had brought prosperity to his honest, deserving brother
had turned prosperity into ruin to the cruel, covetous Nahl Bo, who
now had to subsist upon the charity of his kind brother, whom he had
formerly treated so cruelly.