Page:Weird Tales Volume 36 Number 04 (1942-03).djvu/49



Trees give fantastic help to a gardener who is their friend an Oriental romance of love and life in a Chinese garden



URING the Sung Dunasty, there dwelt beside the Yellow River in China, a poor man named Loo Siang who had dreams of grandeur. He was a famed gardener but all his possessions had been swept away by river floods. Twice his world had been washed away in this manner and patiently he had set about building it anew. Then came the third flood. This time it broke his spirit. It swept him away with it. In despair he journeyed to Soochow despite the fact that Soochow also had been attacked by the gluttonous river. Nevertheless he was drawn to Soochow because Soochow was noted for the beauty of its women.

Now with the few bits of gold which he still possessed, he built a small house. But when the house was finished, there came a mighty storm and a bolt of lightning struck it. In a moment it was in flames.

Loo Siang stood before it and beat his chest. He pleaded with the Fire Gods to spare his house. He sang gay songs to divert their interest. But they were absorbed in the fire and so heeded him not.

When at last the house was consumed and only charred ashes remained, Loo Siang sat down by the ruins and wept.

At that moment, it so happened that the Mandarin Zok Tsung was passing en route to the baths and he paused to enjoy the 48