Page:Mrs. Spring Fragrance - Far - 1912.djvu/259

 "Honorable little one," said he, "would not one of the other lanterns please thee as well as this one? For indeed, I would, if I could, retain the peacock lantern. It is the one lantern of all which delights my own little lad and he is sick and cannot move from his bed."

Ah Wing's face became red.

"Why then dost thou display the lantern?" asked the father of Ah Wing.

"To draw attention to the others," answered the man. "I am very poor and it is hard for me to provide my child with rice."

The father of Ah Wing looked at his little son.

"Well?" said he.

Ah Wing's face was still red.

"I want the peacock lantern," he declared.

The father of Ah Wing brought forth his string of cash and drew therefrom more than double the price of the lantern.

"Take this," said he to the lantern man. "'Twill fill thy little sick boy's bowl with rice for many a day to come."

The lantern man returned humble thanks, but while unfastening the peacock lantern from the others, his face looked very sad.

Ah Wing shifted from one foot to another.

The lantern man placed the lantern in his hand. Ah Wing stood still holding it.