Our Little Korean Cousin | Page 5

stomach with a ladle to make sure that he was well filled!
CHAPTER III.
A GLIMPSE OF THE KING
Yung Pak's earliest days were spent very much as are those of most
babies, whether they live in Korea or America. Eating and sleeping
were his chief occupations.

When he grew old enough to run about, his father employed for him a
servant, Kim Yong, whose business it was to see that no harm came to
the child. For several years the two were constantly together, even
sleeping in the same room at night.
Once when Yung Pak and his attendant were out for their daily walk
their attention was attracted by the sound of music in the distance.
"What is that music?" asked Yung Pak.
"That is the king's band. It must be that there is going to be a
procession," was Kim Yong's reply.
"Oh, I know what it is," said Yung Pak. "The king is going to the new
Temple of Ancestors. My father said the tablets on which the king's
forefathers' names are engraved are to be put in place to-day."
"Let us hurry so as to get into a place where we can have a good view
of the procession."
"Yes, we will; for father told me that this is to be an extra fine one, and
he is to be in it himself. I want to see him when he goes by."
By this time Yung Pak and Kim Yong were running as fast as their
flowing garments and their dignity would allow them. And everybody
else, from the dirtiest street boy to the gravest old man, was hurrying
toward the palace gate through which the procession was to come.
Yung Pak and Kim Yong were fortunate enough to get a position where
they could see the palace gate, and the procession would have to pass
by them on its way to the temple.
Meanwhile the band inside the palace walls kept up its music, and the
people outside could also hear the shouts of officers giving their orders
to guards and soldiers.
Soon there was an extra flourish of the music, and the gate, toward
which all eyes had been strained, was suddenly flung wide open with a
great clang.

Hundreds of soldiers already lined the streets to keep the crowd back
out of the way of the procession.
First through the gate came a company of Korean foot-soldiers, in blue
uniforms. Directly after them came a lot of palace attendants in curious
hats and long robes of all colours of the rainbow. Some were dressed in
blue, some in red, some in orange, some in yellow, some in a mixture
of colours. All carried staves bound with streamers of ribbons.
Following the attendants came a line of bannermen, with red flags, on
which were various inscriptions in blue; then came drummers and
pipe-players dressed in yellow costumes, their instruments decked with
ribbons.
Yung Pak next saw more soldiers, dressed in the queerest of ancient
costumes; afterward came men with cymbals and bells, cavalrymen on
foot, and more palace attendants. Through the whole line were seen
many officials, gaudily adorned with plumes, gold lace, gilt fringe,
swords, and coloured decorations of all sorts. Many of the officials had
on high-crowned hats decorated with bunches of feathers and crimson
tassels. These were fastened by a string of amber beads around the
throat. Blue and orange and red were the colours of their robes. Then
followed more bannermen, drummers, and servants carrying food, fire,
and pipes.
All the time there was a tremendous beating of drums and blowing of
horns and ringing of bells. The noise was so great that Kim Yong
hardly heard Yung Pak when he shouted:
"Oh, I see papa!"
"Where is he?"
"Don't you see him right behind that little man in yellow who is
carrying a big blue flag?"
"Oh, yes," said Kim Yong. "He has on a long green robe, and on his
turban are long orange plumes."

"Yes; and on both sides of him, in green gauze coats, are his servants. I
wonder if he will notice us as he goes by."
"Indeed he will not. At least, if he does see us, he will give no sign, for
this is too solemn and important an occasion for him to relax his
dignity."
On state occasions Ki Pak could look as sedate and dignified as the
most serious official in all Korea; and that is saying a good deal, for in
no country do the officials appear more solemn than in this "Land of
the Morning Radiance."
Now along came more soldiers, followed by the great nobles of the
kingdom, and finally, amid a most terrific beating of drums, a fearful
jangling of bells, and a horrid screaming of pipes, the guard