--- title: A Story of Old China, part 3 — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees · page 2 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/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 3 # A Story of Old China, part 3 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/) **2** “Son, your father is not worthy, but kneel to him and make your greeting and give him your mother’s message.”[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Ting Lang knelt at his father’s feet, and when the father saw him there he felt as though a knife had entered his heart.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") He put out his hand and said:[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") “My virtuous and filial son, son of my suffering wife,” and then fell back in a swoon.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The boys and the mother sprang forward and caught him and placed him in a chair, a son standing at either side of the chair, the sweet mother at the back.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") As he came to and opened his eyes and saw them thus, he took his wife’s hand and said:[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have sinned against you and your house.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") I was afraid to tell you all the truth.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah, you are a better woman than I am a man.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") You are a great daughter of a great house.”[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hu Yüch Ying said, “If indeed you will listen to me, I will forgive you.”[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") He replied, “Whatever you say I will do.”[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Meantime the old father and mother, having heard the crying and loud voices, came to the door.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") It was opened and they came in, saying, “For the first time we have heard what sounded like a quarrel, and have come to see what it is about.”[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Their son-in-law came and, kneeling at his father’s feet, said, “Honoured and great father, I have sinned!”[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Then came the daughter and, kneeling before her mother, she said, “His sins are my sins,” and after that the two boys, who said as they knelt, “Our parents’ sins are ours,” and the four wept with loud and bitter tears.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man said:[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") “Arise, my children, all of you,” and lifted up his son-in-law; the mother took her daughter in her arms, and two servants came forward and lifted up the boys.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now,” said old Mr. Hu, “tell me all the trouble.”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said Tu Ching Ling:[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have lied to you.”[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") “What about, my son?” asked Mr. Hu.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") “What could you possibly do that I could not forgive?”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Tu Ching Ling told of his wife, how he had lied about her, of her virtue, and all the sad, miserable story, including his fear to own his son, and sending him off.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") He concluded with:[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am not worthy to be your son.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Your goodness is as high as Heaven and as deep as the earth.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") As he closed the old gentleman looked at Ting Lang and said:[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") “Thank the gods, thank the gods, that from your house has come forth such a son.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") My house is honoured in him.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") You are forgiven.”[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the father called Ting Lang to prostrate himself before his grandparents, which he did, knocking his head to each three times.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") As old Mr. Hu looked at him his eyes filled and he said, “He has the virtues of Heaven and the strength of the gods; this is a son for the gods, and the glory of his father, grandfather, and most worthy mother; be comforted, son-in-law, we cannot divide the house; the child to seek his father was ready to die, and to our house has come glory, and because of the virtues of this boy the broken household shall be reunited.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") To-day is a great day in our family.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") To honour this event, for three days the workmen shall feast on meat and flour, and we will have a great house-feast for three days, that all the friends and relatives may know of our joy.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") We will call the best teacher in the land and the boys shall study together;” then again he put his hand on Ting Lang’s shoulder and said:[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") “You need not mourn for your mother.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") I will send for her.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") She shall come in state and live in luxury all the rest of her life.”[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus were husband, wife, and children all comforted, and made ready for the great feast and theatre in honour of the oldest son.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") After which the oldest family servants were sent north to Peking with letters for the mother of Ting Lang.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Hu Yüch Ying wrote a beautiful letter of invitation to her, telling of the home that awaited her, of herself, the little sister who would care for her, of two sons instead of one, who longed for her instruction and help.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") She wrote of the comforts she could have and the welcome that awaited her.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") When the servants reached Peking they had a hard time to find the small court where she had her little room.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") They asked for “Lady Yü,” which much surprised her neighbours.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") They said:[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") “The only one in that court by that name is an old woman who is almost a beggar; she has a small son, but he is off seeking his father.”[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") “Please call her,” said the head steward, and the neighbours went and said, “Mrs. Yü, some men at the gate are seeking you.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") They seem to belong to some big man, but their dialect is not of this province.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") Yü Yüch Ying said, “Tell them my room is small, I have no man at home, and it is not, therefore, proper for them to enter my place.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Whatever business they have they are to tell you.”[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") As they returned to the gate the neighbours said, “Although she is so poor, she is most particular as to observing good customs.”[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the servants sent in the two letters.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") She read the one from her husband, asking her pardon for his neglect, saying he had no means of expressing his deep regret, telling of his present circumstances and comforts, and thanking her for sending the son.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") He said he had no words to praise her virtue, it was as high as Heaven; told of the son’s finding him and how he was studying under a great teacher who pronounced him a remarkable scholar.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he urged her “ten thousand times to come and live with them.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") The servants had come to bring her, and he and her sister would only be happy when she came.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") They hoped for her day and night, and their hearts were hungry for her friendship, even as her two sons needed her instruction.”[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/19/) - next →: [A Story of Old China, part 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/20/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)