ON YICK’S residence was quite charmingly situated in a narrow gorge down which a small torrent ran, winter and summer alike. This small stream was turned to every use that the ingenious and painstaking Chinaman so admirably accomplishes invariably where running water is present. This particular hill stream, although not more than two miles in extent, from its source where it bubbled as a spring from the rocks some fifteen hundred feet above sea-level to where it joined the sea across the sandy beach of the small village of Tai Kok, had been trained and coaxed to turn three mill-wheels, flood acres of paddy in irregular curved mud-walled fields, varying in size and shape from a table-cloth to a barrack square, from a crescent to a hexagon, after which it afforded nutriment and recreation for numerous ducks, water for the pine-apple fields on the hillsides and also for cooking purposes, and possibly for washing, to the peaceable inhabitants of Tai Kok. This little nameless stream through countless ages unostentatiously has continued to benefit hundreds of our oblique-eyed fellow-men in Southern China.

All the above was so familiar to On Yick that possibly he had never given it a thought. To-day, as he sat making bamboo baskets outside his mill, his mind was more occupied with thoughts of the daughter of Tak Wo than with the economical conservancy of streams. The stranger approaching the hills up the rock-strewn gorge was first aware of a continual stamping noise; on a closer approach the air became, in addition to the noise, filled with an all-pervading sweet odour of sandal-wood. Smells are ubiquitous in China, but pleasant smells are often painfully few and far between. This smell, however, emanates directly from On Yick’s abode. The mill-wheel turned by the stream has its axle prolonged on one side, and on this are projecting pieces of wood, which, as the wheel revolves, press down heavy wooden levers which pass through the house wall. At the further end of these levers are heavy balks of timber, which rise and fall into a stone trough in the mud floor. The trough is filled with chips and odd pieces of sandal-wood, the revolving wheel and consequent stamping of the levers breaking it to a fine powder, the smaller particles of which float about in the air, and soon make their presence felt in the nostrils of anyone ascending from the village.

The powder when stamped to a sufficient fineness is packed tight in palm leaves, placed in bamboo baskets, and shipped in junks from Tai Kok to the nearest city or fu, where it is employed in the manufacture of “joss-sticks,” so that the fragrant smell may gladden the noses of innumerable greasy idols and further blacken the roofs of countless temples and houses.

To-day the middleman of the village had been despatched by On Yick to the house of Tak Wo to make preliminary talk with a view to a marriage being arranged between On Yick, mill-owner, and the daughter of Tak Wo, grass merchant.

The meeting of On Yick and the daughter of Tak Wo had been unconventional but not unpremeditated as far as the lady was concerned. It happened in this way. One bright winter morning Hoo, the daughter of Tak, had gone to the hillside to cut grass, and it so happened that On Yick sat outside his door in the sun mending a grass sandal. He sat clad in a pair of blue cotton pantaloons only, his broad, sunburned back exposed to the cheerful warmth of the sun, when Hoo, passing behind him, could not resist the temptation of picking up a frog and throwing it at the handsome young miller. Her aim was true, and the soft, bloated creature struck On Yick just below the shoulder-blades. Quickly turning round he was greeted with a merry laugh and the sight of the bare-footed Hoo scampering away down the hillside.

From that moment the flame of love was kindled in the bosom of On Yick. The possession of Hoo, the daughter of Tak Wo, became the one object of his dreams. Cupid has many ways of assailing men’s hearts, sometimes by the pressure of a hand, the dropping of a handkerchief, the tearing of a ball dress. So why not by the hurling of a live frog on a susceptible young man’s back? Love must exist as long as human beings tread this earth. So what matters it by what incident it was first engendered in each particular case!

The first day’s talking passed off satisfactorily, and the go-between came to On Yick’s mill the same evening and reported that Tak Wo was inclined to look with some favour on the proposition of an alliance between On Yick and his daughter. On was delighted, and having liberally rewarded the go-between, retired to his kang and soon fell into the happiest of dreams, in all of which Hoo, a frog, and a sandal-wood mill played important parts.

The idea of getting Hoo comfortably married was very pleasing to Tak Wo. He was a widower, and his daughter, although only sixteen, had repeatedly given him much anxiety. We can judge from the frog incident that Hoo sadly lacked that becoming reserve expected of a Chinese girl. Another instance of her want of conventionality is shown by the fact that she managed to conceal herself and overhear the conversation between her father and the go-between with regard to her proposed marriage.

Unlike On, Hoo had given no further thought to the frog and bare-back incident, but on overhearing the long conversation between her father and the go-between, she conceived a most violently passionate affection for On Yick.

Hoo was a girl of slightly unstable mental equilibrium, and of this her father was well aware from various unpleasant and hard-to-be-tolerated jokes that had been perpetrated at his expense by his daughter. Hence the anxiety of Tak Wo to rid himself of this daughter by a suitable marriage.

The idea of love and marriage supplied the just sufficient tilt to Hoo’s mental balance to upset the proverbial apple-cart; the result was that between romantic fancies, love for On Yick, and a nearly complete idleness, she became more or less a monomaniac. Her every idea centred on On Yick, but the small kink in her brain prevented her from doing the right thing at the right time.

The go-between and On Yick were now much occupied in deciding a suitable present to be sent to Tak Wo. Of course it was understood that Tak Wo would only retain a small portion of the gifts sent; still it was necessary to make as imposing a show as possible.

Eventually the coolies were hired and entrusted with the presents for the prospective father-in-law. These consisted of half a young pig, split from his nose to his tail, and varnished, two live geese, two white fowls, many cakes, a jar of preserved fruits, a thick bundle of incense sticks, and two bottles of samshu.

Tak Wo was delighted. He selected as many of the presents as were seemly and returned the balance to the miller, after rewarding the carriers with a few cash. The versatile Hoo was away from home when the presents arrived. Her brain was so engrossed with thoughts of her lover, and her desire to speak with him had so carried her away, that she had resolved on the unheard-of boldness of despatching him a letter. Being unable to write herself she had recourse to the village scribe, and in order to pay him for inditing the letter, she stole her father’s long tobacco-pipe with the brass bowl and jade mouthpiece. The letter was sent, and Hoo returned home, where she found her father good-tempered and smiling but uncommunicative. Two empty bottles near him may possibly have accounted for his beaming but reticent condition. So Hoo retired to sleep with her silly head filled with the pleasantest and most romantic dreams.

On Yick, on receipt of the letter, was at once seized with a great impatience for the advent of the go-between, as, being unable to read, he desired that highly educated person to convey the meaning of the epistle to his illiterate self. The go-between arrived, and already, from his friend the scribe, was acquainted with the contents of the letter which On Yick thrust into his hands. Having adjusted his brass-rimmed spectacles and cleared his throat, the go-between read as follows:—

“O most honourable and dearly loved one! This insignificant person fades away for a sight of her lover’s form, for the sound of his voice, for the clasp of his arms. Come, come, my lord, your slave awaits you at sundown between the third house and the paved way. Come! Come! Your handmaid faints and desires you as the sailor desires the land, as the beggar desires clothing, as the famished desires rice.”

Although not particularly elegant in its phrases, still this letter filled On Yick’s breast with the liveliest sensations of love and joy, and he watched the westering of the sun with the greatest impatience.

Meanwhile affairs had proceeded in the house of Tak Wo somewhat unsmoothly. Tak Wo, in consequence of his previous night’s libations, awoke somewhat late and withal surly. For a considerable time he searched about the house, and at last addressed his daughter, demanding of her the whereabouts of his pipe. Hoo was thereupon obliged, at some length, to explain that during the previous night she had been awakened by a small but benevolent dragon who, it appeared, lived in the kang, or oven, on which Tak Wo slept; that the dragon had requested her to give him Tak Wo’s pipe; that she had done so, thrusting the pipe into the glowing embers of millet stalks in the flue; and that the dragon appeared highly pleased.

Tak was highly annoyed at this recital, and left the house to seek some of his cronies to obtain a much-desired smoke. Finding congenial companions, and having told them the news of his daughter’s approaching marriage, he was suitably entertained with tobacco and fiery spirits, and so remained absent the whole day.

The love-sick Hoo’s directions to On Yick had been somewhat indefinite, and the latter, through an insufficient knowledge of the topographical specialities of the village of Tai Kok and the rapidly falling darkness, took a wrong direction, which resulted in a breaking of the lover’s tryst. There were only three houses in Tai Kok which stood on the sea-shore. Having passed these the wayfarer either passed inland to other houses of the village, or continued his way along a stone-flagged causeway which ran along the coast. Inshore this causeway was lined by a hedge of screw-pines, and inside this again was a narrow pathway, and then swamp between it and the remainder of the village. Hoo’s intention was to meet On Yick on the pathway between the swamp and the hedge of screw-pines, but On Yick continued along the causeway to seaward, which misunderstanding led to disaster. The screw-pine from a distance is a picturesque addition to any landscape, but a too close acquaintance with this form of vegetation is trying. If the Infernal Regions possess any forms of vegetation, the screw-pine probably figures amongst the flora of that region. For instance, it will grow in a swamp or on waterless sand; it seems indifferent whether the water that laves its roots is born of fever-laden mud swamps or of the pure salt sea. Its stem is of a gnarled and twisted hardness, but useless as timber; its pretty green leaves are furnished with spikes that hold like fish-hooks, and hurt the flesh of human beings like hot needles. No animal will eat its leaves, and if burnt by fire it grows again as if nothing had injured it; and to crown all, it possesses a fruit which, to the ordinary observer, differs little from the luscious and juicy pine-apple, but which possesses no usefulness whatever, it being about as nourishing and juicy as a lump of mahogany. To prevent the inroads of cattle or the advance of an enemy the screw-pine ranks high amongst nature’s impassable obstacles. But enough of this digression into matters which are more suitable for a work on Botany or Forestry.

At sundown, true to her appointment, the love-sick Hoo proceeded slowly along the mud path by the swamp, and the no less impetuous On Yick arrived at the third house of the village, and with a masterful stride proceeded along the stone causeway to meet the object of his adoration in the rapidly forming dusk.

Hoo nervously ran along the mud path, and at last heard footsteps approaching. The felt-soled boots of On Yick made but little noise on the stone causeway, and consequently in the dark Hoo imagined that he approached her along the mud path.

“Is it my lord who approaches his slave?” softly cried Hoo.

“I come, pearl worth a thousand taels, dove with golden wings, little fawn with horns of jade!” replied On Yick in his most loving tones.

“But your humble handmaid sees not the light of her life, the stream that satisfies her soul’s thirst. Where art thou? Come to me, or I faint from desire.”

On Yick heard these most soul-moving expressions of maidenly love, and made a wild rush from the causeway in the direction of his adored one’s voice. The result was most regrettable. On Yick fell headlong into the impenetrable barrier of screw-pines, his silk jacket and overalls were torn beyond hope of repair, he lost his new velvet-topped white-soled shoes, and, moreover, sustained many nasty wounds on his legs, arms, and face from the sharp spines in the hedge. Hoo, of course, did the wrong thing. Instead of rushing to her lover’s assistance and aiding him in his dilemma, she burst into uncontrollable merriment and ran home, the miserable On Yick being allowed to extricate himself from the prickly hedge alone, whence he proceeded in the dark—muddy and bleeding—to his house, his raiment torn and his new velvet shoes lost forever in the sticky mud into which he had fallen.

Tak Wo returned to his house at dusk expecting a warm meal and afterwards a comfortable sleep on the pleasantly warmed kang. He was greatly incensed, however, at finding his daughter absent and no rice and pork prepared, and on the appearance of Hoo shortly after his return, he flew into such an ungovernable rage, that he gave her a severe beating and retired to bed in a very ill temper. Hoo also retired to bed supperless, but in sullen ill humour. She passed a sleepless night, bent upon revenging herself upon her father, who had so suddenly brought her down from her heights of romantic love-dreams.

The unfortunate incidents of the previous night were obliterated from the memory of the healthy-minded On Yick after a night’s sleep, so with a good heart he arrayed himself next morning in order to present himself to Tak Wo to make the final arrangements for his marriage with Hoo.

Tak was feeling very evil-minded, but he received the suitor for his daughter’s hand with becoming formality. Anything would be better than having this awful daughter in his house, and On Yick found all his proposals most willingly acquiesced in by his prospective father-in-law. Hoo had disappeared without partaking of or preparing any morning meal, and the two men talked and talked, and smoked innumerable pipes of tobacco. The conversation between these two continued in the politest manner possible, and every detail of etiquette was observed by each party. Tak Wo was occupied in delivering a most erudite and polite discourse on the duties of a son-in-law to his wife’s father when On Yick became conscious of a strong smell of burning in the house. Soon he saw a thin snake of flame creep along one of the beams overhead, but still politeness held him silent. It was not for such an insignificant person as himself to interrupt the discourse of Tak Wo and inform him that his honourable house was on fire.

The admirable precepts of Tak Wo, however, were suddenly cut short by a burning spark falling on his shaven pate. Forgetful of his dignity he jumped up and rushed from the house, followed by On Yick. The disgraceful sight that met their gaze once outside the door will ever be a reproach to the descendants of Tak Wo. Two large stacks of dry grass were ablaze, as well as the roof of the house, and the crowning horror was Hoo, now evidently possessed of hundreds of devils, dancing with a burning brand in her hand, and shouting most unseemly remarks disparaging her father and all his ancestors. On her father’s appearance Hoo betook herself to the hills, and the efforts of the people of Tai Kok being at once turned on extinguishing the conflagration, her escape was easy.

The fire resulted in the loss of two stacks of grass and the house, but most of Tak Wo’s property was in silver, buried some three feet beneath the mud floor of his house, consequently his pecuniary loss was not great; but the disgraceful behaviour of his daughter had caused him such a serious “loss of face” that he decided on having recourse to severe measures.

The junk of Man Yuen was lying in the harbour of Tai Kok. Man Yuen carried much of the village’s produce to the larger towns, and in addition was probably, if occasion offered, a pirate. Tak Wo went to the honourable Man Yuen and explained (with the aid of fifteen taels) that he (Man Yuen) was welcome to carry off Hoo and sell her as a slave to whoever would buy her, that Man Yuen could take the purchase money, provided he captured and removed Hoo, who undoubtedly was possessed of devils.

Man Yuen’s crew were successful in their search, and Hoo departed from Tai Kok for ever. On Yick possesses now a wife who has never dreamt of frogs or of throwing them at young men, and his mill prospers as his family increases.

Also there is a Mrs. Jones, living in Heatherbell Villas, Deepdeen Road, Peckham Rye. This good lady regales her visitors with extracts from her daughter’s letters, the daughter being in China. The latest extract from Mrs. Jones’ daughter reads as follows:—

“It is so difficult to understand the Chinese, but dear George is so hopeful. So far we have made no converts, but the captain of a junk, who seems to wish to learn ‘The Truth,’ has supplied me with such a nice young Chinese girl as a servant, and we already have great hopes of leading her from darkness. Her Chinese ideas are very funny. She has mended my stockings with patches of orange-peel and has sewn black boot buttons all round the bottoms of George’s white duck trousers. Her wages are small, and we pay them monthly to Man Yuen, her uncle. Her name is ‘Hoo,’ and although her carelessness has nearly caused the mission-house to be burnt down on three separate occasions, we can’t help loving her, and George will receive her into the ‘Church’ as soon as she shows a desire for true knowledge.”