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With a farewell wave to her father and mother, Lu-san stepped into the fairy car. As the birds began to rise, a voice from the clouds spoke in tones of softest music: "Thus Kwan-yin, Mother of Mercies, rewards Lu-san, daughter of the earth. Out of the dust spring the flowers; out of the soil comes goodness.
On the night with which this story opens, not knowing that Lu-san was listening, her father and mother were planning how to get rid of her. "The mandarin cares only about boys," said he roughly. "A man might kill a dozen girls and he wouldn't say a word." "Lu-san's no good anyway," added the mother. "Our boat is small, and she's always in the wrong place."
She knew nothing of friendship, for she had had no playmates. Beyond lay the open fields, the sleeping villages, the unknown world. Ah, how tired she was! How far she had run! Soon, holding the precious image tightly in her little hand and whispering a childish prayer to Kwan-yin, she fell asleep. When Lu-san awoke, a cold chill ran through her body, for bending over her stood a strange person.
When only love shall rule your lives, this ship is yours and all that is in it." Thus did Lu-san change her loved ones. The miserable family which had lived in poverty now found itself enjoying peace and happiness. At first they did not know how to live as Lu-san had directed.
Oh, how she had nursed this idol, and how closely she had listened to the stories an old priest had told about Kwan-yin the Goddess of Mercy, the best friend of women and children, to whom they might always pray in time of trouble. It was very dark when Lu-san raised the trapdoor leading to the outer air, and looked out into the night.
She told me to wait until he was sleeping, then to arise and leave the houseboat." "And where are you going, Lu-san, now that you have left your father? Are you not afraid to be alone here at night on the bank of this great river?" "No, oh no! for the blessed mother will shield me. She has heard my prayers, and I know she will show me where to go."
The snarling beast, however, was not dangerous, and when he saw this trembling little girl of ten he sniffed in disgust at having noticed any one so small, and returned to watch his gate. Lu-san had made no plans. She thought that if she could escape the death her parents had talked about, they would be delighted at her leaving them and would not look for her.
Her mother had suggested that they should wait until Lu-san was a little older, for she would then be worth more money. So her father had not sold her. Lately, perhaps, he had tried and failed. That was why she hated the river dwellers and was eager to get past their houses. On and on she sped as fast as her little legs could carry her.
How wicked we must be since we could not see her goodness." "Yes, and no doubt for every time we have struck her, a thousand blows will be given us by Yama, for our insults to the gods." Lu-san waited no longer, but rose to dress herself. Her heart was burning with love for everything around her.
She would flee far away from the dark water, for she loved the bright sunshine and the land. As Lu-san ran past the last houseboat she breathed a sigh of relief and a minute later fell in a little heap upon the sand. Not until now had she noticed how lonely it was. Over there was the great city with its thousands of sleepers. Not one of them was her friend.
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