Chinese Fairy Tales

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book Chinese Fairy Tales by Herbert Allen Giles, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Herbert Allen Giles ISBN: 9781465593108
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Herbert Allen Giles
ISBN: 9781465593108
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
One day, an old priest stopped at a wayside inn to rest, spread out his mat, and sat down with his bag. Soon afterwards, a young fellow of the neighbourhood also arrived at the inn; he was a farm-labourer and wore short clothes, not a long robe like the priest and men who read books. He took a seat near to the priest and the two were soon laughing and talking together. By and by, the young man cast a glance at his own rough dress and said with a sigh, "See, what a miserable wretch I am." "You seem to me well fed and healthy enough," replied the priest; "why in the middle of our pleasant chat do you suddenly complain of being a miserable wretch?" "What pleasure can I find," retorted the young man, "in this life of mine, working every day as I do from early morn to late at night? I should like to be a great general and win battles, or to be a rich man and have fine food and wine, and listen to good music, or to be a great man at court and help our Emperor and bring prosperity to my family;—that is what I call pleasure. I want to rise in the world, but here I am a poor farm-labourer; if you don't call that miserable wretchedness, what is it?" He then began to get sleepy, and while the landlord was cooking a dish of millet-porridge, the priest took a pillow out of his bag and said to the young man, "Lay your head on this and all your wishes will be granted." The pillow was made of porcelain; it was round like a tube, and open at each end. When the young man put his head down towards the pillow, one of the openings seemed so large and bright inside that he got in, and soon found himself at his own home. Shortly afterwards he married a beautiful girl, and began to make money. He now wore fine clothes and spent his time in study. In the following year he passed his examination and was made a magistrate; and in two or three years he had risen to be Prime Minister. For a long time the Emperor trusted him in everything, but the day came when he got into trouble; he was accused of treason and sentenced to death. He was taken with several other criminals to the place of execution; he was made to kneel on both knees, and the executioner approached with his sword. Too terrified to feel the blow, he opened his eyes, to find himself in the inn. There was the priest with his head on his bag; and there was the landlord still stirring the porridge, which was not quite ready. After eating his meal in silence, he got up and bowing to the priest, said, "I thank you, sir, for the lesson you have taught me; I know now what it means to be a great man!" With that, he took his leave and went back to his work.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
One day, an old priest stopped at a wayside inn to rest, spread out his mat, and sat down with his bag. Soon afterwards, a young fellow of the neighbourhood also arrived at the inn; he was a farm-labourer and wore short clothes, not a long robe like the priest and men who read books. He took a seat near to the priest and the two were soon laughing and talking together. By and by, the young man cast a glance at his own rough dress and said with a sigh, "See, what a miserable wretch I am." "You seem to me well fed and healthy enough," replied the priest; "why in the middle of our pleasant chat do you suddenly complain of being a miserable wretch?" "What pleasure can I find," retorted the young man, "in this life of mine, working every day as I do from early morn to late at night? I should like to be a great general and win battles, or to be a rich man and have fine food and wine, and listen to good music, or to be a great man at court and help our Emperor and bring prosperity to my family;—that is what I call pleasure. I want to rise in the world, but here I am a poor farm-labourer; if you don't call that miserable wretchedness, what is it?" He then began to get sleepy, and while the landlord was cooking a dish of millet-porridge, the priest took a pillow out of his bag and said to the young man, "Lay your head on this and all your wishes will be granted." The pillow was made of porcelain; it was round like a tube, and open at each end. When the young man put his head down towards the pillow, one of the openings seemed so large and bright inside that he got in, and soon found himself at his own home. Shortly afterwards he married a beautiful girl, and began to make money. He now wore fine clothes and spent his time in study. In the following year he passed his examination and was made a magistrate; and in two or three years he had risen to be Prime Minister. For a long time the Emperor trusted him in everything, but the day came when he got into trouble; he was accused of treason and sentenced to death. He was taken with several other criminals to the place of execution; he was made to kneel on both knees, and the executioner approached with his sword. Too terrified to feel the blow, he opened his eyes, to find himself in the inn. There was the priest with his head on his bag; and there was the landlord still stirring the porridge, which was not quite ready. After eating his meal in silence, he got up and bowing to the priest, said, "I thank you, sir, for the lesson you have taught me; I know now what it means to be a great man!" With that, he took his leave and went back to his work.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Mayfair, Belgravia, and Bayswater by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book The Mountebank by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Fairies I Have Met by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Gardens of the Caribbees: Sketches of a Cruise to the West Indies and the Spanish Main (Complete) by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book The Fables of Phaedrus by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book The Merry-Thought; Or, the Glass-Window and Bog-House Miscellany by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Portrait Miniatures by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Die Stadt ohne Juden: Ein Roman von übermorgen by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book The Deluge in the Light of Modern Science by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Chinese Occultism by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Jessica Trent: Her Life on a Ranch by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book The Insect World: Being a Popular Account of the Orders of Insects by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book The Cruise of the Thetis: A Tale of the Cuban Insurrection by Herbert Allen Giles
Cover of the book Our Young Folks by Herbert Allen Giles
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy