“I’m so glad! so glad!” shouted little Yen.
“Why?” asked Wou. “Has any one given you a gold box with jewels, or a
peacock feather fan, or a coat of many colors, or a purse of gold? Has
your father become rich or been made a high mandarin?”
Wou sighed as he put these questions. He had voiced his own longings.
“No,” answered Yen, giving a hop, skip, and jump.
“Then, why are you glad?” repeated Wou.
“Why?” Yen’s bright face grew brighter. “Oh, because I have such a
beautiful blue sky, such a rippling river, waterfalls that look like
lace and pearls and diamonds, and sun-beams brighter and more radiant
than the finest jewels. Because I have chirping insects, and flying
beetles, and dear, wiggly worms—and birds, oh, such lovely birds, all
colors! And some of them can sing. I have a sun and a moon and stars.
And flowers? Wouldn’t any one be glad at the sight of flowers?”
Wou’s sad and melancholy face suddenly lighted and overflowed with
smiles.
“Why,” said he, “I have all these bright and beautiful things. I have
the beautiful sky, and water, and birds, and flowers, too! I have the
sun, and the moon, and the stars, just as you have! I never thought of
that before!”
“Of course you have,” replied Yen. “You have all that is mine, and I all
that is yours, yet neither can take from the other!”