--- title: A Daughter of the Orient — Gleanings from Chinese folklore · full text with trees description: A Daughter of the Orient, «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Two thousand years ago, in the time of the Han dynasty, there lived in China a man by the name of Chun Yü I. He was a small offic --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/7/) [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 Daughter of the Orient # A Daughter of the Orient A Daughter of the Orient of «Gleanings from Chinese folklore» by Nellie Naomi Russell: the whole text, 41 sentences and 777 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Two thousand years ago, in the time of the Han dynasty, there lived in China a man by the name of Chun Yü I. He was a small official and, because of some offence by which he had angered his superior, he was sentenced to have his feet cut off.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Great was the sorrow in the home when the decision was made known.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") No fires were lighted in the kitchen, for no one could think of eating.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") With deep sighs and bitter tears Mr. Chun bewailed his fate.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") “Alas! alas!” said he; “how bitter is my lot\![5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Had I a son he would suffer for me.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") To me have come five daughters.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah! had the gods only been good and given me one son\![8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") What can girls do?[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Indeed I am accursed.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Hour by hour he thus lamented.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") His wife and children mourned and fasted, but “Alas! what can we do?” was their hopeless cry.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The fateful day came when the father must go to the capital, there to receive his punishment.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") In the early morning his little daughter “Glory,” only ten years old, came and knelt down before him, and with many tears besought him to allow her to accompany him.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") He refused, but she persisted with prostrations and knockings of her head on the brick floor.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you do not let me go I can but die.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") How can I live through these days and not know how you are?[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") I must go.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Indeed I either go or die.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") All of these words were accompanied with so many knocks of the little head on the bricks at his feet that the father gave way and told her mother and the servants to get her and her nurse ready for the journey.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") On the road she told the servants that, as early as possible, after reaching the city they must find a way for her to see the Emperor, for she was going to plead for her father.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, in those days the Emperor of China was not shut away from his people as he was later, and little Glory was taken by her father’s steward to the palace gate.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Here she knocked her head to the soldiers on guard and asked to be allowed to see the Emperor.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The hearts of the rough men were touched by her distress and sweet, pleading little face and the request was sent in to the palace.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Word came back that little Glory was to enter.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") With trembling hands and quivering lips, but shining eyes, she knelt before her Emperor.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Many times did she make her prostrations, and at his command she told her story with much weeping.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") She told him how good and kind her father was; that every one loved him; he had never made a mistake before, and indeed the thing for which he was to be punished had been much exaggerated.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") She finished with, “O Great Emperor, I entreat you to allow me to become one of your slaves and thus redeem my father’s mistake, and secure his pardon.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") I shall have long years to serve you, and my father is old.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas! alas! the gods have given him no son to plead for him, and I am but a little girl\![31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") I entreat, I beg, oh, hear me, Great and Glorious Emperor, spare my father and let me be your slave forever.”[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The Emperor’s heart was melted within him as he looked upon her distress and heard her voice so full of anguish; and, telling her to rise and stand near him, he said, “You are indeed a filial daughter.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") A country with such an one is blest like the possessor of a precious jewel.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") I pardon your father and restore his official position; and you may go home with him.”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The Emperor then called his ministers and commanded them to have it published abroad that from that day the punishment of cutting off the hands and feet of criminals was to be done away with forever.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “This,” said he, “is an expression of my pleasure that such a daughter of the gods lives within the ‘four seas.’”[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") When little Glory was taken to the prison where her father was confined, she knelt before him and told him of her visit to the palace and the Emperor’s promise.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Great was his surprise that his little daughter had saved him, and it was with difficulty they convinced him of the truth of her story.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") When he could no longer doubt he said, “My life is sweet because the gods have given me such a daughter.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") What need have I of sons?”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [A Tartar Joan of Arc](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/6/) - next →: [The Wild Goose and the Sparrow](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/8/) - ↑ back to [Gleanings from Chinese folklore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75089/)