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They all came in splendour, and each bowed low to her hostess. The Rose, their hostess, asked them to go in the garden for tea, because, she said, it is much fresher than in the room.
"
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When she saw the Lily, she exclaimed, How pure and fresh you are, and oh! how gracefully you carry yourself!" The Lily smiled and said, “40 Queen, I am not comparable to your exquisite complexion, and what kind of scent is it that you use? It is so sweet. The Rose blushed, and showed two bright red spots, and she looked lovelier still, and said, "I use a kind of perfume made especially for me by my perfume-maker. He named it 'Rose,' because I always
sprinkle it all over myself."
"The sweet-maker, the other day," said the Violet, asked me to name some of his sweets. I thought for a long time, and I suddenly remembered that the sweets were light purple, and so I asked him to have then named 'Violet.'
The Pansy who had been silent from the beginning to end, gave a faint sigh, and said, How I envy all of you! It seems that when I walk beside you all, I look so short and undignified, and all your beauty outshines me, so that I feel humble beside you all.' The Queen soon comforted her, and said "My dear Pansy, why do you say such words? Why, all the people round us wear you in their buttonholes. The Pansy brightened up instantly, and soon they all bade the Queen “Au Revoir" with very low lows.
LAM YAN YUK,
Class 2.
NGOK FI, A FAMOUS CHINESE Hero,
Ngok Fi, was born in Shau Chow in the province of Honan during the reign of Hwei Tsung in the Sung dynasty, Three days after his birth, his father and his house and property were flooded and destroyed by a was drowned, sudden deluge that happened to his village; Ngok Fi and his mother escaped by sitting inside a great cistern. When the cistern floated to a village, called "Unicorn Village," they were rescued by a rich man whose name was Wong Ming. Then Ngok Fi was brought up by his mother in Wong Ming's house. He was filial and very fond of learning. He treated
those who were brave and truthful as if they were his own brothers. His teacher Chau Tung, man, and was full of military ability.
was a great, learned He taught Ngok Fi
of all that he knew, both civil and military matters.
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When Ngok Fi became a soldier, he vanquished all the robbers of the empire, and gained many wonderful victories by defeating the Kin or eastern Tartars who lived in the North of China. In honour of his success the Emperor Kao Tsung wrote Loyalty, Fidelity, Ngok Fi" on a banner and gave it to him. He led an army of God-fearing men to fight against the eastern Tartars, and drove them back to the North of Honan. The bravery of his armies made the Kin so frightened that they said to each other, It is easier to pull down a mountain than to overcome the armies of Ngok."
As Ngok Fi wanted to defeat them utterly, he led his soldiers to Chu-sin-chan. One day, he received twelve golden tablets from the Emperor, who summoned him to return with his army.
If he did not obey the Emperor's command, he would be punished, since it was a great crime for a person not to listen to the orders of an Emperor. If he returned with his army, the Kin would come into the country to plunder towns and seize land. This thought caused him great anxiety, but at last he decided to leave his armies in Chu- sin-chan to prevent the Kin from coming into the country and went to see the Emperor by himself.
Tsun Kwui, a cruel and cunning minister, wanted to make peace with the Kin, and because the Kin had bestowed on him a large annuity, he had promised to return them lands north of the River Wan; he was also jealous of Ngok Fi. It was he who spoke evil of Ngok Fi before the Emperor and caused him to call the great general back.
The twelve golden tablets that Ngok Fi received were thus not sent by the Emperor's purpose, but through the ingenious, crafty scheming of Tsun Kwui. When Ngok Fi had gone half-way from Chu-sin-chan, he met several officers sent to capture him by Tsun Kwui's order, but they were ordered to tell Ngok Fi that they came to capture him by the Emperor's command, thus the great general made no refusal. He was brought back to the Capital of Bin and was accused of treason. He and his sons were put into prison for two months, and they were killed there by Tsun Kwui's order. Ngok Fi died at the age of thirty-nine, his faithfulness, filial devotion, bravery, and benevolence were respected by people for thousands of years. Still to this day many people go to visit his grave which is situated near the West Lake in Heang-chow, a great city in the province of Che-kiang.
TANG YUK HING,
Class 1.
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