“No news,” came the answer from each side. The old men pondered sternly. Finally Liu Jusong said to his servants: “I will search in the forest.” “So also will I,” announced Li Wang. Liu Jusong lowered his fan. For the first time in many years he allowed his eyes to rest on the countenance of his quondam friend, and that quondam friend returned his glance. But the servant men shuddered. “It is the haunted forest,” they cried. “Oh, honorable masters, venture not amongst evil spirits!” But Li Wang laughed them to scorn, as also did Liu Jusong. “Give me a lantern,” bade Li Wang. “I will search alone since you are afraid.” He spake to his servants; but it was not his servants who answered: “Nay, not alone. Thy grandson is my grandson and mine is thine!” * * * * * “Oh, grandfather,” cried Little Waking Eyes, clasping his arms around Liu Jusong’s neck, “where are father and mother?” And Little Sleeping Eyes murmured in Li Wang’s ear, “I want my father and mother!” Liu Jusong and Li Wang looked at each other. “Let us send for our children,” said they. V “How many moons, Liu Venti, since our little ones went from us?” asked Pau Tsu. She was very pale, and there was a yearning expression in her eyes. “Nearly five,” returned Liu Venti, himself stifling a sigh. “Sometimes,” said Pau Tsu, “I feel I cannot any longer bear their absence.” She drew from her bosom two little shoes, one red, one blue. “Their first,” said she. “Oh, my sons, my little sons!” A messenger boy approached, handed Liu Venti a message, and slipped away. Liu Venti read: May the bamboo ever wave. Son and daughter, return to your parents and your children. LIU JUSONG, LI WANG. “The answer to our prayer,” breathed Pau Tsu. “Oh Liu Venti, love is indeed stronger than hate!” THE BANISHMENT OF MING AND MAI I Many years ago in the beautiful land of China, there lived a rich and benevolent man named Chan Ah Sin. So kind of heart was he that he could not pass through a market street without buying up all the live fish, turtles, birds, and animals that he saw, for the purpose of giving them liberty and life. The animals and birds he would set free in a cool green forest called the Forest of the Freed, and the fish and turtles he would release in a moon-loved pool called the Pool of Happy Life. He also bought up and set free all animals that were caged for show, and even remembered the reptiles.