Some Chinese Ghosts | Page 4

Something
concerning her you may also find in the book entitled
"Kin-Kou-Ki-Koan," which signifies in our tongue: "The Marvellous
Happenings of Ancient and of Recent Times." And perhaps of all
things therein written, the most marvellous is this memory of
Sië-Thao:--
Five hundred years ago, in the reign of the Emperor Houng-Wou,
whose dynasty was Ming, there lived in the City of Genii, the city of
Kwang-tchau-fu, a man celebrated for his learning and for his piety,
named Tien-Pelou. This Tien-Pelou had one son, a beautiful boy, who
for scholarship and for bodily grace and for polite accomplishments
had no superior among the youths of his age. And his name was
Ming-Y.
Now when the lad was in his eighteenth summer, it came to pass that
Pelou, his father, was appointed Inspector of Public Instruction at the
city of Tching-tou; and Ming-Y accompanied his parents thither. Near

the city of Tching-tou lived a rich man of rank, a high commissioner of
the government, whose name was Tchang, and who wanted to find a
worthy teacher for his children. On hearing of the arrival of the new
Inspector of Public Instruction, the noble Tchang visited him to obtain
advice in this matter; and happening to meet and converse with Pelou's
accomplished son, immediately engaged Ming-Y as a private tutor for
his family.
Now as the house of this Lord Tchang was situated several miles from
town, it was deemed best that Ming-Y should abide in the house of his
employer. Accordingly the youth made ready all things necessary for
his new sojourn; and his parents, bidding him farewell, counselled him
wisely, and cited to him the words of Lao-tseu and of the ancient sages:
"_By a beautiful face the world is filled with love; but Heaven may
never be deceived thereby. Shouldst thou behold a woman coming
from the East, look thou to the West; shouldst thou perceive a maiden
approaching from the West, turn thine eyes to the East._"
If Ming-Y did not heed this counsel in after days, it was only because
of his youth and the thoughtlessness of a naturally joyous heart.
And he departed to abide in the house of Lord Tchang, while the
autumn passed, and the winter also.
* * * * *
When the time of the second moon of spring was drawing near, and
that happy day which the Chinese call _Hoa-tchao_, or, "The Birthday
of a Hundred Flowers," a longing came upon Ming-Y to see his parents;
and he opened his heart to the good Tchang, who not only gave him the
permission he desired, but also pressed into his hand a silver gift of two
ounces, thinking that the lad might wish to bring some little memento
to his father and mother. For it is the Chinese custom, on the feast of
Hoa-tchao, to make presents to friends and relations.
That day all the air was drowsy with blossom perfume, and vibrant
with the droning of bees. It seemed to Ming-Y that the path he followed

had not been trodden by any other for many long years; the grass was
tall upon it; vast trees on either side interlocked their mighty and
moss-grown arms above him, beshadowing the way; but the leafy
obscurities quivered with bird-song, and the deep vistas of the wood
were glorified by vapors of gold, and odorous with flower-breathings as
a temple with incense. The dreamy joy of the day entered into the heart
of Ming-Y; and he sat him down among the young blossoms, under the
branches swaying against the violet sky, to drink in the perfume and the
light, and to enjoy the great sweet silence. Even while thus reposing, a
sound caused him to turn his eyes toward a shady place where wild
peach-trees were in bloom; and he beheld a young woman, beautiful as
the pinkening blossoms themselves, trying to hide among them.
Though he looked for a moment only, Ming-Y could not avoid
discerning the loveliness of her face, the golden purity of her
complexion, and the brightness of her long eyes, that sparkled under a
pair of brows as daintily curved as the wings of the silkworm butterfly
outspread. Ming-Y at once turned his gaze away, and, rising quickly,
proceeded on his journey. But so much embarrassed did he feel at the
idea of those charming eyes peeping at him through the leaves, that he
suffered the money he had been carrying in his sleeve to fall, without
being aware of it. A few moments later he heard the patter of light feet
running behind him, and a woman's voice calling him by name.
Turning his face in great surprise, he saw a comely servant-maid, who
said to him, "Sir, my mistress bade me pick up and return you this
silver which you