Nearly everybody smiled aloud; but Ah Leen’s mother gently lifted the leaves and murmured in Ah Leen’s ear, “They are the sweetest gift of all.” How happy felt Ah Leen! As to the old woman who sold ducks’ eggs, she beamed all over her little round face, and when she went away, she left behind her a pink parasol and a folding fan. THE PEACOCK LANTERN It was such a pretty lantern—the prettiest of all the pretty lanterns that the lantern men carried. Ah Wing longed to possess it. Upon the transparent paper which covered the fine network of bamboo which enclosed the candle, was painted a picture of a benevolent prince, riding on a peacock with spreading tail. Never had Ah Wing seen such a gorgeous lantern, or one so altogether admirable. “Honorable father,” said he, “is not that a lantern of illuminating beauty, and is not thy string of cash too heavy for thine honorable shoulders?” His father laughed. “Come hither,” he bade the lantern man. “Now,” said he to Ah Wing, “choose which lantern pleaseth thee best. To me all are the same.” Ah Wing pointed to the peacock lantern, and hopped about impatiently, whilst the lantern man fumbled with the wires which kept his lanterns together. “Oh, hasten! hasten!” cried Ah Wing. The lantern man looked into his bright little face. “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. “Thou hast thy heart’s desire now,” said his father. “Laugh and be merry.” But with the lantern man’s sad face before him, Ah Wing could not laugh and be merry. “If you please, honorable father,” said he, “may I go with the honorable lantern man to see his little sick boy?” “Yes,” replied his father. “And I will go too.” When Ah Wing stood beside the bed of the little sick son of the lantern man, he said: