Our Little Korean Cousin

Our Little Korean Cousin

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Little Korean Cousin, by H. Lee
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Title: Our Little Korean Cousin
Author: H. Lee M. Pike
Release Date: April 15, 2004 [EBook #12048]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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LITTLE KOREAN COUSIN ***

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Our Little Korean Cousin
By
H. Lee M. Pike

Illustrated by
L.J. Bridgman

Preface
Until very recently little has been known of the strange land in which
the subject of this tale lives. Recent events have done much to
introduce Korea and its people to the world at large. For this reason the
story of Yung Pak's youthful days may be the more interesting to his
Western cousins.
These are stirring times in Korea, and it may safely be prophesied that
the little Koreans of the present day will occupy a larger place in the
world's history than have their fathers and grandfathers. Their bright
eyes are now turned toward the light, and, under the uplifting
influences of education and civilization, the old superstitions and
antique customs are bound to give way.
Some famous Americans and Englishmen have had no small part in
letting in the light upon this dark nation, and in years to come, when
Korea shall have attained to the full stature of national strength, the
names of Rodgers, Blake, Kimberly, and many others will be held in
high esteem by the people of that country.
This little volume gives just a glimpse into the mode of life, the habits
and customs, the traditions and superstitions, of the Koreans. If it
awakens an interest in the minds of its young readers, and inspires them
with a desire for further knowledge of their cousins in this far Eastern
land, its purpose will be well served.

Contents
CHAPTER

I.
SOME QUEER THINGS II. YUNG PAK'S HOME III. A GLIMPSE
OF THE KING IV. YUNG PAK AT SCHOOL V. A LESSON IN
HISTORY VI. THE MONK'S STORY VII. A JOURNEY VIII. THE
MONASTERY AT CHANG-AN-SA IX. A FULL-FLEDGED
TOP-KNOT

List of Illustrations
YUNG PAK A STREET IN SEOUL "ALL THE BOYS SIT UPON
THE FLOOR" "HE MUST DROP TO HIS KNEES AND MAKE A
PROFOUND SALUTE" "ON THE UPPER PART OF EACH OF
THESE POSTS WAS A RUDE CARVING" "THE DAY WAS
PASSED IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS THE PRECEDING
ONE"

OUR LITTLE KOREAN COUSIN
CHAPTER I.
SOME QUEER THINGS
Yung Pak was the very queer name of a queer little boy who lived in a
queer house in a queer city. This boy was peculiar in his looks, his talk
was in a strange tongue, his clothes were odd in colour and fit, his
shoes were unlike ours, and everything about him would seem to you
very unusual in appearance. But the most wonderful thing of all was
that he did not think he was a bit queer, and if he should see one of you
in your home, or at school, or at play, he would open wide his slant
eyes with wonder at your peculiar ways and dress. The name of the
country in which this little boy lived is Korea.
One thing about Yung Pak, though, was just like little boys everywhere.
When he first came to his home in the Korean city, a little bit of a baby,

his father and mother were very, very glad to see him. Your father and
mother gave you no warmer welcome than the parents of this little
Korean baby gave to him.
Perhaps Yung Pak's father did not say much, but any one could have
seen by his face that he was tremendously pleased. He was a very
dignified man, and his manner was nearly always calm, no matter how
stirred up he might have felt in his mind. This was one of the rare
occasions when his face expanded into a smile, and he immediately
made a generous offering of rice to the household tablets.
All Koreans pay great honour to their dead parents, and tablets to their
memory are placed in some room set apart for the purpose. Before
these tablets sacrifices are offered. Yung Pak's father would have been
almost overwhelmed with terror at thought of having no one to worship
his memory and present offerings before his tablet.
It is to be feared that if, instead of Yung Pak, a little daughter had come
to this Korean house, the