--- title: A Story of Old China, part 2 — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees · page 2 description: A Story of Old China, part 2, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: With this and many tears they embraced each other, then with much weeping she knelt before him, and touching her head to the --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/18/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/) / [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/) / A Story of Old China, part 2 # A Story of Old China, part 2 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/18/) **2** The theatre man came up and declared the boy was his; upon which Mr. Wang quarrelled with him, and in the fight that followed the man was killed.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Wang was arrested, but managed first to get the boy out of the city and, giving him a little money, went back to stand his trial.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") After many long, weary days of travel, but without serious trouble, the hungry, footsore, and weary boy found his way to the city to which he had been directed.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us turn and follow the footsteps of the father during the twelve sad years.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Kao was greatly depressed by his many sorrows, and when he parted from his wife, he felt he should never see her again, neither did he even then comprehend what a true and remarkable wife was his.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") After reaching the city of Hsiang Yang, to which he had been banished, he was obliged to walk about with chain and ball attached to his feet, carrying a gun on his shoulder.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") For food he was given permission to take a handful of grain from each bag of tribute rice that he saw on carts passing through the city.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") This he could cook and so keep from starving.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") This kind of life was very trying to him and he endured it for some months, and then, being a proud, spirited man, he determined that he would either die or change for the better in some way.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") He begged a few bits of money, bought a pen, ink, and some paper, and as he was a very beautiful writer, he employed his time in writing Chinese characters and selling them on the street.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") This was a wise change, and as he sat writing day by day by the roadside, his fame spread all over the city.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") One day a very rich old gentleman, who had been observing him quietly for many days, drew near and entered into conversation.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") After passing the time of day, he remarked on the beauty of Mr. Kao’s writing and his evident familiarity with the Chinese Classics; “Neither do you look to me to be a man of the common people or one who should be in this prison dress.”[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") As he talked his kindly manner warmed the heart of Mr. Kao, who had come to feel that all the world, even the gods, were against him, and little by little he told the story of his father’s life and their deadly enemy, the great Yen Sung.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") He did not tell of his wife and the great sorrow of his family life, but said his father’s enemy had been the cause of his banishment for life.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") The old gentleman said, “My name is Hu.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") I have been observing you for days though you did not know it, and I was certain that you could not be a guilty man.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Have you any family in the north?”[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") “No,” said the unhappy Kao.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") “All is lost to me.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") I am alone in the world.”[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") On hearing this the gentleman said, “I have a proposition to make to you; I am a rich man and have large estates, but I have no son to inherit them or care for me when I am old.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") I have a beautiful daughter; will you marry her, come and live with us, take my cares upon you; when I am old care for me?[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") If so, when I am gone all shall be yours.”[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") The young man could hardly believe his ears, and looked in amazement, and at last said, “How can that be?[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") I am a criminal, under sentence of the government, a man whose very name has been changed.”[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") “That is easy for me,” said Mr. Hu.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") “Did I not tell you I was rich; is there anything money will not do?[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") I can buy your freedom at the magistrate’s here and if you are ready and willing we will receive you into our family.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") I ask you again only this: have you a family in the north?”[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Again Mr. Kao replied, “No, I am alone.”[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") “All is well then,” replied Mr. Hu.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will see to the rest,” and in a few days what seemed as a dream to Mr. Kao, or Mr. Tu, as he took back his old name, became a reality.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Tu was much overcome; the temptation to a life of luxury after his suffering had been too great, and after his marriage to the beautiful daughter of the “House of Hu” he did not dare to tell of the brave, true-hearted wife and mother in the city of Peking.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") He put it off from month to month, but it did not become any easier as time went by, and the riches, beautiful home, and family were driving all that dark past more and more from his mind.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Their home was all the heart could desire, and later a little son came to share it with them, and then indeed were the bitter days of the past cast out of heart and mind as far as possible.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, in comfort and joy, the twelve years passed away; Mr. Hu thanking the gods for giving him such a son, content that old age should come to him and his old wife under these most auspicious circumstances.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") How different a life was this from that of the wife and mother in the far north.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Mr. Tu went with some companions for a ride outside of the city.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") As they neared the gate they saw a lot of people gathered about a young lad of remarkably fine face and form, but in very poor clothing.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") He had in his hand a broken comb and, spread out before him, a part of a silk handkerchief and a broken mirror, and with tears in his eyes Mr. Tu waved the men aside and asked the boy who he was and where he came from.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy said, “I am Ting Lang and am come in search of my father, Tu Ching Ling, known by the name of Kao.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") He was banished to this city and I am in search of him.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") He came here twelve years ago.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") If any of you know him or where I can find him, will you please tell me.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Not a word was spoken for a moment, then Mr. Tu said, pointing to the keepsakes, “What are those things?[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you call such stuff treasure?”[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” said Ting Lang.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") “My mother gave them to me, the other half of each my father has and he was to know me by these.”[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") A man standing near said, “This must be your son.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") You have not told us all the truth about yourself.”[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Tu was angry then and also afraid, and striking the boy with his riding-whip, he said, as he threw him some silver, “Get you gone, you are an impostor; you are not my son, but because you are a poor boy I will help you a little and not put you in prison.”[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Saying this, he rode on, followed by his friends.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") As the men rode away, the bystanders all said, “That is your father.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") He is Tu Ching Ling, also Kao Ching Chi.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") He was banished here twelve years ago.”[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") When the boy heard this, he gathered his treasures together, and went into a temple near, where he sat down to think.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") What had he to live for?[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") His father had disowned him; had struck him.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/18/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/18/) - next →: [A Story of Old China, part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)