(As told in the streets of Peking.)
Many, many years ago, long before the bush of Western civilisation with its thorns of merchants, treaties and consul had been planted in the gardens of the Far Enst, a certain Emperor reigned at Peking. This Emperor loved nothing better than war and the chase, so the Bands of northern barbarians, however, id him scant. They shot his deer.
ey plundered his townsend villages. The Emperorordered his mighty generals to capture these insolent robbers and bring them before him for punishment. The generals departed in great state and pomp. They returned hurriedly with the news that the disobedient und ferocious enemy had trea-choreusly killed the Imperial soldiers and that they themselves had returned with despatch to protect the sacred Person.
The sacred Person roundly abused them and emphasised his abuse by decapitation.
History repeats itself. The Emperor, according to the legend, loved war. fe levied an immense army and prepared to for march out and annihilate his foes, who were approaching dangerously near his capital.
One bright sunny day the drums began to beat, the war shells brayed and the cymbals clashed. The Emperor was marching forth at the hexd of his soldiers. Near the Main Gate a small but venerable temple stands to-day. As the Emperor was passing this spot a fair young girl, so the legend runs, came forth and fell down in front of him. Now the Emperor had that morning fared well and sumptuously and his brave heart was full of joy and confidence. He reined in his steed and smiling graviously on the beautiful damsel desired her to stand up out of the dust.
"Come hither, my child. What wish you? Speak, and fear not."
The maid arose, trembling, but taking courage she said "Son of Heaven, thy handmaiden had a dream three nights ago, and behold she dreamed the same dream again, and yet again."
"Make known this dream," replied the Emperor.
"My Almighty Lord," said the gid, dreamed that the waters had-poured in flood over the rice fields beyond the Northern Gates and had covered them so that not one golden ear was visible. The waters rose higher and higher until they surrounded the lonely watchman keeping vigil in his hut high over the fields. Three i dreamed this dream, and the omen is evil. Gonot, therefore, in person" she cried "against thine enemies, lest evil befall thee." The Emperor frowned.
"Go back, silly wench, and dream no more. For, dream or no dream, I myself will drive back these plundering brigands." abashed, withdrew and the Emperor proceeded on his way.
Strange to relate, the girl's prophecy came true.
The Emperor and his army were surrounded and the latter was cut to pieces. The former's life was spared but he remained 'a captive for many weary years. At length he was released and returned as Emperor once again to Peking. On his return he bethought himself of the girl dreamer and ordered her to be brought before him.
A royal husband, high honours and wealth were offered to her, bet humbly refused, When hidden to name her desires, she begged the Emperor to build a nunnery and permit her to devote herself to a life of prayer. A magnificent nunnery was munificently endowed and the sweet-faced dreamer installed therein.
Someone asked the story-teller why the nuns had not been able to maintain the good work of the gentle founder. He looked up with just a twinkle in his eye and re-pled, "They made a virtue of Neglect anda neglect of Virtue."
Top.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.