--- title: A Story of Old China, part 3 — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees description: A Story of Old China, part 3, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: “Alas!” said he. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/) [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 3 # A Story of Old China, part 3 A Story of Old China, part 3 of «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole text, 145 sentences and 2534 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/page/2/) “Alas!” said he.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") “There is for me no living road, I will end it here.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") I have failed in my promise to my mother.”[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Taking his girdle, he was fastening it about a beam in the temple when an old priest came in and said, “Son, what would you do?[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") I may be able to help you.”[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor lad poured out his sad story, and at its close the priest said:[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") “Son, listen to me; I will help you find your father again, and a plan by which he must own you.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") You dry your tears and stay here with me a few days, and I promise you, you will yet be a happy boy.”[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he thought a while and at last disclosed his plan in part to the lad.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") He taught the boy some songs and helped him put his own life-story into rhyme, and one day said, “I want you to sing for the ‘foundation beaters,’ who are preparing the ground for a beautiful pavilion in a flower garden belonging to a rich man.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") They are in need of a leading voice such as you have, and you can sing for them; you may also sing your own song at that place.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Ting Lang went with him, and his beautiful voice and handsome face won the hearts of all the workmen, and they joined in the choruses with a will, throwing all their strength into the work.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") For a day or two he caught no glimpse of the family, and his heart was sad and heavy; so also was the heart of the father, had he but known it.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") The sight of the boy had brought back the memory of his early life and the parting with the boy’s mother.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy was in the city; people would know all and talk and it would come to his father-in-law’s ears, yet he could not bring himself to tell him first.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") The third day Ting Lang was singing he caught sight of a lady sitting by the window listening.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") She was greatly interested in this child-singer as she had heard him leading the workmen, and what was her horror when she saw one of her servants go up and strike the child a sharp blow, knocking him from the bench on which he was standing.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Seeing the child did not get up, she called to the servant and berated him soundly for his brutality.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why did you strike him?”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") To which the servant answered, “He used the name of my master.”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “Fool,” said the lady, “you are more than stupid.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Can there not be many by your master’s name in all these provinces?[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Go and bring the boy in here at once and revive him, and I will pardon you this cruelty.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The servant obeyed her, and the boy was brought to the lady’s room.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") After he revived and was quite himself again, she asked him who he was and how old; why he had left his mother and come to another province, as she could tell by his voice that he was from the north.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") He told her he was twelve years old; had come from his home in the north to seek his father, and then he went on and told her how his mother fainted when he left her, and of his own sad and lonely journey.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") “How old is your mother?” asked the lady.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “She is thirty-six,” was his reply.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “And your father, how old is he?”[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") “I remember hearing my mother say that he was older than she by two years, and so he should be thirty-eight.”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is your father’s name?” was her next question.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tu Ching Ling,” was the answer.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The room was quiet a moment, and then came the question, “How does your mother live?”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") To this Ting Lang replied, “At first we were supported by my grandparents, but they are dead now; died poor, and my mother, for some time, has had to take in washing.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") She has only one eye, so she cannot see to do fine sewing.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") She is reduced almost to a beggar.”[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “Have you any proof of your father?” was the next question.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, I have the three mementos.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") The half of each are in my father’s possession.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") These I have are the half my mother kept, and I was to present them when I found my father.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") “When she gave you these, did she tell you when she gave the other half to your father?”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Ting Lang said, “Yes.”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he told of their parting as he had learned it from the lips of his mother.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went on and told how he came to start out in search of his father, the long, lonely road; how and why his father was banished.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") It was with many sobs and tears that the story was told, and before he was through the lady was weeping with him.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") As he closed she put her arm around him and said:[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am your second mother.”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") When the boy heard this he was frightened and said, “Alas! alas! what have I done!”[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nothing,” was the reply; “rest your heart, you are indeed my son, for I also am your father’s wife.”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she told him the story of his father’s coming to the city, her father’s interest in him, and her marriage.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") “He said he had no family when we asked him and I could not know of your mother.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") You have a younger brother, my little son, who is nine years old.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") His name is Kan Lang; that corresponds with the name your father left you, and I believe all your story.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The mistake is all your father’s.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") You are indeed his son.”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Ting Lang knelt and knocked his head to his second mother.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") As she raised him up she said, “You have indeed suffered; you are the best and bravest boy I ever heard of; you shall never leave us.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") This mother, Hu Yüch Ying, was also a very beautiful character, and her sweet, gentle manners won the heart of Ting Lang and he believed her word.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") She sent a servant to call her own little son, Kan Lang, and when he came he asked, “Did you call me, mother?”[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” she said.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is your older brother.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Greet him first.”[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") “But, mother, I never saw or heard of him before,” was the reply of Kan Lang.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") “Greet him as I tell you, and afterward I will explain matters to you.”[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") The boys then bent the knee to each other and then the mother told her son that she was a second wife; that the first wife was the mother of Ting Lang, and she was also his mother; that Ting Lang was also her son, and they were to care tenderly for each other.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she sent a servant to find his master and invite him to come to her apartments.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") When he came in she asked, “Do you know this lad?”[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Her husband replied, “I saw him outside the gate of the city.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Who is he and what does he want here?”[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Then his wife said:[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are an ungrateful man.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") You deserve the severest punishment Heaven can give.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") When I asked you if I had an ‘older sister’ you said no\![73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") My father and mother treated you as a piece of fine gold.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") You had nothing when you came to them.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") You should have told them the truth, and after marriage told me the truth.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") You dress in silk, satin, and broadcloth; you eat the best of the land, live in a great house, read, write, and have tens of servants to wait at your door.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") You go out; it is either on horse, in chair, or by cart, and ever with your outriders.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") You left my poor sister in sorrow and poverty for twelve long years, while you have lived in luxury and pleasures.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Twelve years for her of bitterness and death, forgotten by the man she trusted and for whom she gave her beauty of person.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") You with your four seasons’ clothing, she almost a beggar.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Look at this your son, and think of his twelve years; ah! they have made him a stronger man, though a boy yet, than his father.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Think of the long, weary way he has come seeking you; ah! the heart of an iron or a stone man must have cried out at such sorrow as has been theirs.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") How can you call yourself a man?[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") How can you see my parents?[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Above all, how will you ever be able to look in the face of my sister, the mother of Ting Lang?”[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") Then turning to the latter she said:[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/page/2/) - ← previous: [A Story of Old China, part 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/18/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)