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016 - As Hai Low kept House · Shen of the Sea- A Book for Children

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  Speaker 1: Section sixteen of Chen of the Sea, A Book for Children.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Read by Joanna Michael Hoyt. Sheen
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  Speaker 1: of the Sea, A Book for Children by Arthur Bowie Chrisman.
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  Speaker 1: As high Low kept house. After weary years of saving
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  Speaker 1: a few cash each calendar, high Lee removed from the
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  Speaker 1: mountains where nothing ever happens, and bought a tiny house
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  Speaker 1: that stood near yingling Toll Road, which is the King's
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  Speaker 1: Road and where strange sights are seen. In that region.
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  Speaker 1: The people have a saying, he who lives on the
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  Speaker 1: King's Road has seen the whole world with him. The
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  Speaker 1: newcomer brought his little brother high Low. High Low was
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  Speaker 1: to keep house while Highlee worked in field and forest.
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  Speaker 1: The new house was no larger than two by twice
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  Speaker 1: and poorly furnished. Nevertheless, high Lee and high Low imagined
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  Speaker 1: it to be grand, for they had always lived in
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  Speaker 1: a mountain cave. Many times. Highlee cautioned his brother to
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  Speaker 1: take good care that no harm came to their magnificent house,
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  Speaker 1: and high Low promised faithfully to guard his eyes would
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  Speaker 1: be unblinkingly open, have no fear. Upon the very first day,
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  Speaker 1: as high Low kept house, a fox dashed under the flooring.
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  Speaker 1: A band of hunters soon appeared. The hunters said, we
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  Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed a tasty dinner that by way of greeting,
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  Speaker 1: our fox is hidden beneath your house. He is of
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  Speaker 1: very damage doing fox, and we desire his ears for
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  Speaker 1: permission to dig. We will thank you a thousand times
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  Speaker 1: and more of the furby of good quality. High Low
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  Speaker 1: thought of his brother's warning, whereupon he replied to the hunters,
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  Speaker 1: your digging might into the house, and my honorable brother
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  Speaker 1: has told me to keep all harm away. Therefore, excellent huntsman,
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  Speaker 1: I must in sorrow give you no dig You cannot,
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  Speaker 1: for the house might fall. With soft voices, the hunters wheedled,
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  Speaker 1: high Low said no. With harsh voices, the hunters blustered
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  Speaker 1: and threatened. High Low said no money the hunter's offered.
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  Speaker 1: High Low said no, His mind was fixed and nothing
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  Speaker 1: could move it. No once, no, twice, no, thrice, and
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  Speaker 1: again no. The hunters departed. The fox remained, and high
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  Speaker 1: Low believed he had done well for his first day
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  Speaker 1: of housekeeping. He imagined that his brother would praise him.
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  Speaker 1: The opposite came to pass, highly frowned, as that was
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  Speaker 1: wrong and stupidly done, small brother. A little digging could
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  Speaker 1: have given no hurt. The fox is an evil enemy.
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  Speaker 1: He will catch all of our fowls, even to the
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  Speaker 1: last speckled hen. We must get rid of that scamp.
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  Speaker 1: If any more hunters come, tell them to dig. Upon
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  Speaker 1: the next day, as high Low kept house, he beheld
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  Speaker 1: two men with crossbows in joy. He rushed to greet
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  Speaker 1: them with much bowing and scraping. He said, I hope
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  Speaker 1: that your rice was well cooked. If you had plenty
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  Speaker 1: of it, will you not come to the house it dig?
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  Speaker 1: One of the men said, this fellow reminds me of
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  Speaker 1: the way Wu Tardain got out of the cherry tree.
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  Speaker 1: It was quite simple. But the other, who was more crafty,
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  Speaker 1: squinted and I to say be quiet. Then, using his tongue,
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  Speaker 1: he spoke to High Loo for nothing else. We came
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  Speaker 1: with all our hearts. Will we dig only open the door?
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  Speaker 1: Our rice was well cooked. He entered the house and
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  Speaker 1: began to tear up stones from the hearth. Hailo said,
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  Speaker 1: do you not think the fox will be alarmed and
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  Speaker 1: try to escape through the hole by which he entered.
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  Speaker 1: The hunter replied, our wise question, truly, what shall we do?
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  Speaker 1: Can you not sit with your back to the entrance,
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  Speaker 1: then the fox will be unable to depart. Hilo readily
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  Speaker 1: agreed to aid. He went outside and sat with his
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  Speaker 1: back to the wall. The hunters struck many blows upon
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  Speaker 1: the hearth, laughing all the while. Presently they each said oh,
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  Speaker 1: and stopped digging. Have you got it? Asked high Lo
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  Speaker 1: we have The other huntsman answered, we have it in
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  Speaker 1: a sack. How fortunate that you invited us in. Our
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  Speaker 1: digging was most successful. He was greatly pleased. The other
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  Speaker 1: hunter seemed equally as well pleased. High Low too was delighted.
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  Speaker 1: A very fine thing, he thought it that the fox
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  Speaker 1: had been captured. He felt sure that his brother would
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  Speaker 1: speak words of praise, but such was far from being.
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  Speaker 1: High Lee tossed the sack upon the table and said, oh,
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  Speaker 1: my little brother, a sad mistake you made this day,
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  Speaker 1: not hunters but thieves. For those men, not a fox,
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  Speaker 1: but all of our money they carried off in the sack.
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  Speaker 1: By chance alone I regained it. But such good luck
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  Speaker 1: rarely happens a second time. Now heed my words, never
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  Speaker 1: again permit strangers to enter the house. Never. Next day,
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  Speaker 1: as high Low kept house, the door shook with a
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  Speaker 1: great knocking. The boy peeped from a window. He beheld
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  Speaker 1: an old man beating the door. Said High Low, I
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  Speaker 1: hope you relished your dinner, but you must go away.
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  Speaker 1: My brother says that I am to admit no strangers.
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  Speaker 1: Go a Why you cannot enter? The old man remarked
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  Speaker 1: in a loud tone that high Low spoke nonsense. Open
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  Speaker 1: the or that I may enter. You who deserve a
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  Speaker 1: bamboo upon your back? Is this any way to treat
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  Speaker 1: your own flesh and blood? High Loo repeated his command,
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  Speaker 1: you cannot enter, go away hurriedly, Oh sashall pour hot water.
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  Speaker 1: He tilted a kettle and began to pour, whereupon the
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  Speaker 1: old man took to his heels, for the water steamed
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  Speaker 1: hot from a fire. High Low was well pleased with himself,
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  Speaker 1: beyond doubt he would receive great praise from his brother.
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  Speaker 1: But high Lee came home in a huff, angry dismayed
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  Speaker 1: was the big brother. Oh you wrong doing, little brother,
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  Speaker 1: You have ruined our future. The man whom you chased
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  Speaker 1: away with grandfather High Ho wealthy and about to make
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  Speaker 1: us his heirs. Now he says he will not leave us,
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  Speaker 1: not so much as one cash, not one for pity's sake,
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  Speaker 1: Small brother, be more tactful. We have another rich grandfather.
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  Speaker 1: When the next stranger comes, ask him if he is
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  Speaker 1: your grandfather? Before you poor heated water. Next day, as
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  Speaker 1: Highlo kept house, the door rattled and banged. Some one
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  Speaker 1: wished to come in. At least it seemed probable. Hilo
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  Speaker 1: peered from a window. He beheld a man, well dressed
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  Speaker 1: and round at the door. Behind the impatient one were
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  Speaker 1: many slaves. At once Hilo thought of his other rich grandfather,
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  Speaker 1: said he, I hope your rice was served on a
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  Speaker 1: golden dish. Are you my grandfather? What? Roared the stranger?
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  Speaker 1: What what impudence were you saying? Hilo used a full
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  Speaker 1: breath to shout, I asked, are you my grandfather? My grandfather?
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  Speaker 1: At that the large stranger tottered His slaves made a
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  Speaker 1: tremendous breeze, With fans seeking to revive him, still fanning,
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  Speaker 1: they carried him away. Hilo was somewhat puzzled, and puzzled
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  Speaker 1: he remained until his brother came home. The brother was
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  Speaker 1: frightened likewise angry, dear me, small brother, why were you
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  Speaker 1: so rude to the governor. You have in saw the
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  Speaker 1: governor and will be lucky if you escape with your life.
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  Speaker 1: Even if you are not beheaded, you will have to
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  Speaker 1: pay a fine of a thousand large coins, all because
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  Speaker 1: of your foolish questions. I beseech you. Don't ask visitors
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  Speaker 1: any more questions. Don't open your mouth to a stranger.
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  Speaker 1: Next day, as high Low kept house, he chanced to
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  Speaker 1: glance at the stable. The stable door was open. Before
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  Speaker 1: the boy could close it, a stranger came out, leading
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  Speaker 1: high Lee's fine donkey. High Low began to imagine that
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  Speaker 1: mischief was being done. Thrice he opened his mouth, but
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  Speaker 1: each time he remembered his brother's instruction to ask no questions,
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  Speaker 1: so he remained silent. The donkey was soon settled away
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  Speaker 1: it went with the stranger astride. When big brother returned
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  Speaker 1: home for evening rice, he spoke harshly to high Low. Goodness,
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  Speaker 1: gracious me, very small brother, you will ruin us yet
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  Speaker 1: now you've let a road take my trotting donkey, and
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  Speaker 1: only by a lucky accident was I able to recover
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  Speaker 1: the beast crily. Your housekeeping is a bad thing altogether.
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  Speaker 1: Never let another stranger approach the stable. He might take
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  Speaker 1: our milking cow. If another stranger goes near the stable,
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  Speaker 1: shoot him. Next day, as Highlow kept house, he sat
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  Speaker 1: upon the doorstep. In his hand, he clenched a bow.
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  Speaker 1: Again and again he glanced toward the stable. No person
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  Speaker 1: should take the milking cow, not without regret. Beware, or rogues,
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  Speaker 1: or suffer. A traveler came down the road. He was
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  Speaker 1: a rich man and wore a hat that was high
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  Speaker 1: and covered with feathers. It was such a hat as
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  Speaker 1: the wind demon's love for a toy. A sudden breeze
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  Speaker 1: lifted the traveler's hat and whirled it fast and far.
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  Speaker 1: It came to earth in front of the stable. Of course,
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  Speaker 1: the stranger followed it, running to the stable door. High
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  Speaker 1: Loo remembered his brother's command. He made a v of
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  Speaker 1: the bowstring. His hurried arrow went seeking a mark. The
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  Speaker 1: traveler gave up all thought of recovering his hat. Down
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  Speaker 1: the road. He dashed madly, shouting that he had been killed. However,
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  Speaker 1: he was a traveler, and travelers are noted for stories
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  Speaker 1: hard to believe Hilo sat on the steps and had
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  Speaker 1: practice with his bow. No man should take the milking
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  Speaker 1: cow without taking an arrow. Also a thief, and best
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  Speaker 1: wear clothes of iron. When big brother high Lee came home,
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  Speaker 1: his voice was doleful, Oh brother, my brother, you have
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  Speaker 1: put us into vast trouble. Why on earth did you
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  Speaker 1: shoot an arrow into the traveler's quilted coat. He is
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  Speaker 1: a foreign ambassador and says that his country will instantly
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  Speaker 1: declare war upon us. Think of the sadness your actual cause.
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  Speaker 1: I beg of you be not so rash in future.
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  Speaker 1: The next time you see a stranger lose his hat,
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  Speaker 1: don't shoot. Instead, be polite and chase the hat. Next day,
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  Speaker 1: as high Low kept house, he noticed a great company
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  Speaker 1: of men approaching, gong beaters. Led behind them came carriers
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  Speaker 1: of banners, tablet men, keepers of the large umbrellas, warriors,
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  Speaker 1: more gong musicians, fan carriers, incense swingers. A long procession.
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  Speaker 1: It was. High Low knew that it must be the
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  Speaker 1: marching train of a truly great man. He hoped that
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  Speaker 1: he might behold the high and mighty one, And so
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  Speaker 1: he did, As the gilded sedan chair was borne past
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  Speaker 1: the breeze threshed its curtains. A hat swored out of
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  Speaker 1: the sedan, carried by the wind demons, it rolled across
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  Speaker 1: turnip patch and radish. Hilo dashed away in chase. He
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  Speaker 1: thought himself being polite and useful to rescue the great
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  Speaker 1: One's hat. Alas a hundred bludgeon men had spear wavers
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  Speaker 1: rushed after him. They shouted that he must stop and
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  Speaker 1: be killed for his sin. Hailo had no idea why
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  Speaker 1: they wished to slay him, neither had he the faintest
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  Speaker 1: idea of stopping. He lifted his heels with such rapidity
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  Speaker 1: that he gained a thicket three leaps ahead of the
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  Speaker 1: foremost warrior men in the heavy growth of briars and bushes.
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  Speaker 1: He was safe, for he knew the tangle and all
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  Speaker 1: its winding ways to follow was folly. When late the
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  Speaker 1: Boy reached home, he found his brother waiting. High Lee's
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  Speaker 1: despair was shown in tears and quavering words. Oh, brother
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  Speaker 1: of mine, I fear that your life is worth less
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  Speaker 1: than a withered carrot. Why did you lay hands upon
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  Speaker 1: His Majesty's right word, royal hat? Do you not know
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  Speaker 1: that death is the penalty for so doing. Soldiers have
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  Speaker 1: sought you high and low. If they find you, I
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  Speaker 1: cannot bear to say what will happen? Now? Please have
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  Speaker 1: regard for my words, little brother, Go into the house
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  Speaker 1: and crawl under a bed, and stay there. Stay there
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  Speaker 1: next day. As high Low kept house, he kept it
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  Speaker 1: beneath the bed so still he lay that a mouse
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  Speaker 1: took a nap at his side. Soldiers came and emptied
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  Speaker 1: the pantry, eating and drinking as only king's men can.
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  Speaker 1: None of them thought to glance under the bed, And
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  Speaker 1: that was just as well, just as well for high Low.
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  Speaker 1: It was for him that they had come to search.
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  Speaker 1: Soon after the soldiers had departed, an odor of burning
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  Speaker 1: filled the air. The house was a fire. High Low coughed,
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  Speaker 1: but he dared not crawl from his shielding bed. He
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  Speaker 1: had no doubt the fire had been set in an
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  Speaker 1: effort to rout him from hiding. The door flew open,
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  Speaker 1: an in rushed big brother highly highly flung water upon
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  Speaker 1: the flames, then pulled little brother from beneath the bed.
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  Speaker 1: He was greatly exasperated, my word, and all not very
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  Speaker 1: large brother, Would you let the house burn and not
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  Speaker 1: fling a bucket? The soldiers were gone. Why didn't you
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  Speaker 1: arise and doves the flames? Now hear what I speak,
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  Speaker 1: little brother, The next time you see flames, pour on water,
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  Speaker 1: Pour on water. Next day, as high Low kept house,
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  Speaker 1: he chanced to gaze down the road, a brisk fire
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  Speaker 1: burned in the open with two filled buckets. The boy
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  Speaker 1: hastened to obey his brother's order. In no time he
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  Speaker 1: wetted the fire out of burning scarce had he entered
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  Speaker 1: the house. When big brother Highly entered, high Lee had
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  Speaker 1: his tongue on edge for scolding my very own brother.
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  Speaker 1: Why must you be always at mischief? What in all
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  Speaker 1: the green earth and the blue sky made you throw
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  Speaker 1: water upon that fire? A traveler was boiling his rice,
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  Speaker 1: and you, with water put out his fire. It was outrageous. Now, then,
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  Speaker 1: to atone for your ambitionness, Take this stick of dry
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  Speaker 1: wood to the traveler so that he can boil his rice.
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  Speaker 1: And as you give him the stick, be sure to apologize.
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  Speaker 1: Ask for pardon. Away went high Low at his fastest,
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  Speaker 1: bearing a huge bamboo. The traveler beheld him and promptly
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  Speaker 1: mounted a horse. Many robbers made misery in that region.
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  Speaker 1: The traveler had gained saddening experience of them. He imagined
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  Speaker 1: that Hiloh must be a robber. Else why did the
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  Speaker 1: fellow wave along bamboo. So the traveler put heels to
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  Speaker 1: his horse and galloped. But high Loo was not to
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  Speaker 1: be left far behind. He followed swiftly, shouting words that
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  Speaker 1: meant stop, wait, hold on, terry. And the more he shouted,
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  Speaker 1: the more determined grew the traveler, never to stop until
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  Speaker 1: he had found protection in a camp of soldiers. Several
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  Speaker 1: young men let curiosity lead them to follow hig Low.
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  Speaker 1: They wished to discover why he pursued the traveler. As
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  Speaker 1: they raced through a village, other men joined another village,
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  Speaker 1: gave a dozen more, a town furnished twice as many.
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  Speaker 1: Soon Higloh had an enormous crowd at his heels. Dust
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  Speaker 1: hung above in a blinding curtain. The trample of feet
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  Speaker 1: and the excited shouts could be heard for distant mon isles.
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  Speaker 1: More dust, and more, more men and more. At first
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  Speaker 1: they asked, what's it all about? Later, catch him and
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  Speaker 1: kill him, they cried. High Lo had long since lost
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  Speaker 1: sight of the fast fleeing horseman. But he reasoned that
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  Speaker 1: the traveler would enter ying Ling, the capital city. Hence
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  Speaker 1: he too leading his curious host entered ying ling. He
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  Speaker 1: was determined to do as his brother had bidden. Now
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  Speaker 1: it chanced that King how Wang was a most unpopular ruler.
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  Speaker 1: Threats had been made against him. A prince from the
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  Speaker 1: north was said to be raising an army of rebels. Hence,
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  Speaker 1: when King how Wang beheld Highloah's approach at the head
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  Speaker 1: of a vast army, he imagined Hiloh to be the
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  Speaker 1: northern prince. Highlo's curious rabble he thought a rebel army,
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  Speaker 1: So thinking he called for his horse, And what became
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  Speaker 1: of him, no one can say. He vanished for good,
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  Speaker 1: and all the royal generals, instead of ordering a fight,
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  Speaker 1: promptly knelt before High Loh and bumped their heads in
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  Speaker 1: the dust. Said they bah unto our new king. The
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  Speaker 1: palace soldier said, hail to our new king, and the
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  Speaker 1: breathless mob shouted, long live our new King. The crown
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  Speaker 1: was placed upon a spanished Hiloh's head, the mace of
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  Speaker 1: authority was placed in his hand, and hail and hail
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  Speaker 1: and hail LUs did Hailoh in chase of an unknown traveler,
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  Speaker 1: become king upon a throne. His days of housekeeping were ended.
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  Speaker 1: And so is the book ended end of chapter sixteen,
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  Speaker 1: end of Shen of the Sea, a Book for Children
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  Speaker 1: by Arthur Bowie Chrisman