--- title: Opening, part 8 — The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 8, «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The husbandman was in a great rage at thus being outwitted, and threw his club at the fleeing Deer with all his might. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/8/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/) / Opening, part 8 # Opening, part 8 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/8/) **2** “But there is something else I will do for you, and that is to send you to the Island of Continual Life, where death is unknown.”[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Jofuku gave Opulo a small bird made of paper, and told him to sit upon it.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") This the wondering Opulo did, and the bird began to grow.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon it was large enough for him to ride on comfortably.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") With wings outspread it rose high up in the air, and away it flew.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") The flight through the air was swift; on and on they went for hundreds and hundreds of miles without a stop, until at last they came to an island, and there the bird alighted.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") Opulo stepped to the ground and the bird grew smaller and smaller.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") At last it became the same size as when Jofuku gave it to him, so he folded it up and put it in his pocket.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") He walked on until he came to a town, where he found a place to lodge.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Everything, of course, was strange to him; the streets and buildings were different from what he had been used to, and all the people looked prosperous.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Opulo told the owner of the house in which he obtained lodgings that he intended to live there permanently, so the worthy man kindly promised to help him all he could.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") He found a suitable house for him, and servants to attend to his comfort, so Opulo took up his residence in the land of Continual Life.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a strange country indeed in which he now lived.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") No one ever died there, nor even became sick, so doctors were unknown.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") But the people were not happy and contented; they had heard of a place called Paradise, but it was only a legend to them.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") They knew that one could not reach this wonderful land without dying, and death was something they longed for, but which never came to them.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Ordinary people have a dread of death, but these were very different, for they looked upon it as something very much to be desired.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") How they wished it could come to them, so that they could enter the happy land of Paradise\![79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") To Opulo everything seemed to be upside down.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") He had come here hoping to live forever, and found the inhabitants wishing more than anything else that they could die.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") They had tried everything they could think of to bring this about, but without success.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") No one could even make himself ill, try as hard as he might; he couldn’t even raise a corn on his toe.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") But Opulo was happy, for he had found what he sought.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") He assured himself that he would never tire of living, and was the only contented man on the island.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") He changed from his former mode of living, and instead of doing nothing, he set himself up in business.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") And now that he had something to do, time passed very quickly.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Strange to say, after having lived there for two hundred years life began to be somewhat dull and monotonous.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") He wanted a change, for it was the same thing day after day, and year after year.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") He began to think that perhaps the other people were not so foolish when they wanted to die\![90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") It would be fine if he could see his own country again; things would never be any different where he was now, and how wearisome it was getting to be\![91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Now he wanted to die, but couldn’t, and it was no use trying to.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") One day he happened to think that his prayers to Jofuku had resulted in bringing him to this country.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") He would pray to Jofuku to take him away from it.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Why did he not think of this before?[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") So he prayed, and to his surprise the paper bird came into his hand.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") It grew and grew as it had done before in the temple of Jofuku, and soon it was large enough for him to mount.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") It spread its wings, and they went flying through the air.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") On and on they flew, stopping neither for rest nor food, and at length they reached the Japan Sea.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he suddenly thought of the valuable business he had left behind.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Why hadn’t he sold it, and taken the proceeds with him?[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as this thought came to him a storm came on.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") It rained hard, and of course the paper bird became wet, and being paper, it crumpled up and fell into the sea.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Now he was in danger of being drowned, and he was afraid.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Not long ago he would have welcomed death.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") He called aloud to Jofuku to save him, but there was no reply.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") He swam and swam, doing his best to keep from sinking.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Then right in front of him he saw a huge fish, its mouth wide open, ready to devour him.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") In his fright he screamed so loudly for Jofuku to save him that he awakened himself.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") For, behold, he had fallen asleep during his long prayers before the shrine, and all of this had come to him in a dream.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he heard a voice, and before him stood a messenger, who said:[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") “As you have prayed, so has Jofuku permitted you in a dream to see the land of Continual Life.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") You were not contented there and wished to return to your own country that you might die.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") And even your desire for death was not real, for when the fish was there to swallow you, you called on Jofuku to save you.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") There is only one thing for you to do; return to your home and live an industrious life, be helpful to yourself and to others, and thus will you be happy and live to a good old age.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") And be sure that any selfish desire you may have, even if it be granted, will never bring you happiness.”[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") THE CRANE AND THE CRAB[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") There was a small lake in Malwa called Lily-Water, and on its bank one day stood a Crane who seemed to be lost in thought.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") It was the dry season and the water was low in the pond, in which were a good many fish.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the Crane was very fond of fish, and he was trying to figure out a plan whereby he could satisfy his appetite.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he went to the water’s edge, and there he sat down.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") He assumed a most dejected look, and appeared to be so miserable that a Crab, who had been watching him, asked him why he was so down-hearted.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is because I am thinking of all who live in this pond that I am so sad,” said the Crane.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why should that be the reason?” asked the Crab.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will tell you,” said the Crane.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") “This morning I heard the fishermen who live near here say that they meant to catch every fish that swims in this water.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Now I love a dish of fish myself, and the few that I should take would make but little difference among so many.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") And although if the fish in this pond are all captured there would be none left for me to subsist upon, it breaks my heart to think of the fate that is in store for them.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore am I so sad.”[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/8/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/8/) - next →: [Opening, part 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/9/) - ↑ back to [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/)