Little Almond Blossoms 1

Little Almond Blossoms 1

Little Almond Blossoms

A Book of Chinese Stories for Children

 

Author: Jessie Juliet Knox

 

_CONTENTS_

 

 

PAGE

 

In the Land of the Dragon 3

 

Two Little Chinese Sisters 15

 

The Little Highbinder 27

 

How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 39

 

The Moon Rabbit 65

 

How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 93

 

The Easter Dream of Mun Chee 109

 

Ping Pong and Ping Yet 131

 

The Little Almond Blossom 153

 

The Christmas of Gum Ching 163

 

Ho Chin’s Fourth of July 173

 

The Little Fisher-Maiden 189

 

The Finding of Sing Ho 207

 

The Slave-Girl’s Thanksgiving 233

 

 

 

 

_LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS_

 

 

PAGE

 

A Little Almond Blossom _Frontispiece_

 

“Oh, what a dreadful monster” 5

 

“The Chinese children all marched to the

music in a row” 7

 

“Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny

little Chinese way” 9

 

“She brought forth from the flute the most

wonderful sounds” 17

 

“It was the old nurse, Suey” 22

 

“‘Where are you going, little one?’” 50

 

“Little Priest” 65

 

“She and one of her sisters were on the step

in front of their home” 67

 

“Suey Hip was very much dressed up” 99

 

“She sometimes longed to get out, she and her

two little brothers” 109

 

“There was a big bouquet for Ping Pong” 147

 

“Through the narrow streets” 177

 

“Two of his little friends, with their queer little

Chinese caps on” 208

 

“His own beautiful _mo chun_” 227

 

 

 

 

_IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON_

 

 

 

 

_Little Almond Blossoms_

 

 

 

 

_IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON_

 

 

Chung Goy ran as fast as his little sandals would permit, up the narrow

flight of steps which led to the Chinese restaurant, and out on the

balcony, where a crowd of Chinamen were watching for the great

Procession of the Dragon. His little legs were encased in pale green

silk trousers tied at the ankles, and his lavender _shom_ (blouse)

gleamed in the light of the many dragon lanterns which were swaying in

the night breeze. His hair was in a long queue, and on his head he wore

the little round black cap of the Chinese, with a button on top.

 

Chung Goy was so afraid he would miss seeing the dragon. He had never

seen it as yet, for he was not so very old, and now that the

long-expected moment had come he fairly trembled with excitement.

 

His _ho chun_ (father) was on this balcony, which was near their home,

and he hurried to nestle up to him, as it was cold, and the wind was

always blowing in San Francisco.

 

It seemed as if the procession would never come; he grew tired watching

so many people pass, and perhaps the fumes of the opium his father was

smoking got into his brain; but, at any rate, the first thing he

 

[Illustration: _Oh, what a dreadful monster!_]

 

knew he saw a great squirming thing approaching him.

 

It was spitting fire from its eyes and mouth, and at first he felt

afraid. Oh, what a dreadful monster! it would surely devour him. He

heard himself saying: “Velly bad snake--I no likee; go ’way! I ’flaid.”

And then he heard a voice like the muttering of thunder, and the voice

came out of the dragon’s mouth, and it was saying in the Chinese

language: “_Samen jai_ (little boy), I have come to take you to Dragon

Land. Slip away from _ho chun_, and fly with me.”

 

“Oh, no!” gasped the trembling boy, “I velly much ’flaid the big dlagon

eat me up.” And then the dragon spoke again, but this time his voice was

as soft and sweet as music, and the fire no longer came from his eyes

and mouth. He had such a kind look on his face too, and spoke in such a

persuasive tone, that little Chung Goy ceased to be afraid, and slipping

from his father’s arms he ran down the narrow steps again, and out into

the street, climbing up on the big dragon’s back. He saw lots of other

Chinese boys he knew, doing the same thing. He held on tightly, for the

dragon went in such a squirming way that he was afraid he would fall

off, and he held on to his little silk cap, too, as the dragon’s speed

increased, for it was his best one, and he did not want to lose it.

 

Oh, this was jolly! He had never thought he would ever ride on a

dragon’s back. What a lot he would have to tell his _mo chun_ (mother)

 

[Illustration: _The Chinese children all marched to the music in a

row_]

 

when he reached home. It was a good thing _mo chun_ did not know it now,

he thought, or she would be “velly much ’flaid.”

 

After squirming through all sorts of queer countries, the big dragon

stopped so suddenly that they all fell off his back, and down his

slippery sides. Chung Goy rubbed his eyes and looked around him. Oh, how

funny! There were just thousands of dragons of all sizes, and this

beautiful place was their home. They all had such kind faces, and spoke

in such a gentle way, that no one could feel afraid. There were great

groves of trees, all full of the tiny Chinese mandarin orange. Chung Goy

just loved those “ollanges,” but he had never before picked them from a

tree, as his _ho chun_ had bought them from the street-stands in

Chinatown. There were trees of _lichee_ (nuts), and long tables just

filled with Chinese candy, delicious preserved ginger, watermelon seed,

and all those good things so dear to a boy’s heart.

 

It was night, but the trees were so full of the great dragon lanterns

that it made it almost as light as day, and there were no dark corners

anywhere. There was a dragon orchestra under one of the trees, playing

the loveliest Chinese music. The shrill piping of the flageolets and the

beating of the “tom-toms” were indeed beautiful to the ears of Chung Goy

and his friends. It looked too funny for anything to see dragons holding

the different instruments with their claws. The Chinese children all

marched to

 

[Illustration: _Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little

Chinese way_]

 

the music in a row, holding each other by the queue.

 

Chung Goy had never had so much fun in all his little life as he was

having now. Just as he was beginning to feel hungry there appeared

before his gaze a very long table, just filled with everything a child

could possibly want, and all served by cunning little dragons. There

were such dainty little China cups without handles, and in them the most

delicious _chah_ (tea).

 

Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little Chinese way, and no one told them to stop.