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Updated: June 5, 2025
They were clad in rags, as usual, and in no way changed except that their savage faces seemed to have become a trifle softened. Lu-san drew near the wretched group and bowed low before them. Her mother tried to speak; her lips moved, but made no sound: she had been struck dumb with fear. "A goddess, a goddess!" murmured the father, bending forward three times and knocking his head on the deck.
The lady clasped Lu-san still more tightly, and something glistened in her radiant eye. A tear-drop rolled down her cheek and fell upon the child's head, but Lu-san did not see it, for she had fallen fast asleep in her protector's arms. When Lu-san awoke, she was lying all alone on her bed in the houseboat, but, strange to say, she was not frightened at finding herself once more near her parents.
His wife did not try to stop her husband when he sometimes beat the children until they fell half dead upon the deck. In fact, she herself was cruel to them, and often gave the last blow to Lu-san, her only daughter. Not on one day in the little girl's memory had she escaped this daily whipping, not once had her parents pitied her.
Suddenly he bent far over and touched his forehead to her feet. Mother and sons followed his example. Then all gazed at her as if waiting for her command. "Speak, father," said Lu-san. "Tell me that you love me, say that you will not kill your child." "Daughter of the gods, and not of mine," he mumbled, and then paused as if afraid to continue. "What is it, father? Have no fear."
From this day, however, you shall see that I can bend my back like a good fellow. Good-bye, and, many thanks for your kindness." So saying, with many low bows and polite words, Wang left the duck owner's house, a happier and a wiser man. Lu-san went to bed without any supper, but her little heart was hungry for something more than food.
Below were the dirty fishing smacks which Lu-san was used to, but here was a stately ship, larger and fairer than any she had ever dreamed of, a ship which had sprung into being as if at the touch of her feet. After searching several minutes for her parents she found them trembling in a corner, with a look of great fear on their faces.
They had just mounted to the vessel's deck when Lu-san's father, who had been looking off towards the west, suddenly called the family to his side. "See!" he exclaimed. "What kind of bird is that yonder in the sky?" As they looked, they saw that the strange object was coming nearer and nearer, and directly towards the ship. Every one was excited except Lu-san.
Lu-san! that tear which you drew from Kwan-yin's eye fell upon the dry ground and softened it; it touched the hearts of those who loved you not. Daughter of earth no longer, rise into the Western Heaven, there to take your place among the fairies, there to be a star within the azure realms above." As Lu-san's doves disappeared in the distant skies, a rosy light surrounded her flying car.
Down, down, over the magic vessel came the empty chair, and as it descended, a shower of pure white lilies fell about the feet of Lu-san, until she, the queen of all the flowers, was almost buried. The doves hovered above her head for an instant, and then gently lowered their burden until it was just in front of her.
"My precious child, this little stone which you have kept so lovingly, and which without a thought of self you have given to me do you know of whom it is the image?" "Yes," answered Lu-san, the colour coming to her cheeks again as she snuggled up contentedly in her new friend's warm embrace, "it is the dear goddess Kwan-yin, she who makes the children happy."
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