112 THE LAND OF PEACH BLOOM 



turned his steps. He soon came upon a group of people 

 busily engaged in agricultural pursuits. To all appearances 

 they were Chinese like himself; but they were clad in the 

 quaint costume of a bygone age. Their language, though 

 strange to his ear, was quite intelligible. 



"A stranger, a stranger!" suddenly exclaimed a boy 

 who first perceived him; "look, he is coming towards us !" 



Instantly, all turned in the direction the lad indicated. 

 "Kun for the Elder," said an old man to the boy, "and tell 

 him to come at once." 



The boy took to his heels and disappeared among the 

 houses. By this time the fisherman had come up to the 

 group, and the old man courteously asked him to be seated 

 on a bamboo stool. 



"We have sent for the Elder," said the old man, "he 

 will be here presently, and doubtless will be pleased to render 

 you any service you may require. In the meantime we 

 regret we cannot do more than receive you kindly, for we 

 acknowledge that within the Four Seas all are brethren." 



"Yes, indeed," added the rest of the group with nods of 

 approval, "all are brethren." 



"I thank you from my heart," replied the fisherman, 

 "for your greeting. I am tired, and will gladly rest awhile. 

 Your kindness to a stranger is only in keeping with the 

 incomparable beauty of this wonderland; I am deeply 

 touched by your cordial welcome and your benevolence." 



"That is not worth mentioning," said the old man. 

 "Benevolence is a duty that we owe to all our fellow-men. 

 It is written that we must not do- to others what we would 

 not have others do to us. " 



"A sublime precept indeed," observed the fisherman, 

 who, though his literary attainments were by no means of a 

 high order, was nevertheless acquainted with some of the 

 fundamental teachings of the Chinese Classics. "But," 

 added he, "it is also written, I am told, that we should 

 have no friends not equal to ourselves. How do you know 

 thatl am worthy of your goodwill?" 



"True," answered the old man. "But here all are 

 worthy; and the fact that you have come is sufficient- 

 assurance to us of your worthiness." 



At this juncture the boy returned with the Elder of the 

 village, a hardy patriarch of noble mien, with the kindliest 

 of eyes and a flowing white beard. "Friend," said he. 

 bowing low to the fisherman, "you are indeed welcome. 

 It is laid down in our books that when a stranger comes to 

 us from afar, we shall receive him kindly, and treat him in 

 a befitting manner. We cannot, therefore, do less than offer 



