Reading
The Ch'i-lin Purse
retold by Linda Fang
Overview
| Genre | Folk Tale |
| Vocabulary Strategy | Word Structure |
| Comprehension Skill | Compare and Contrast |
| Comprehension Strategy | Predict |
Vocabulary
| astonished | surprised greatly; amazed |
| behavior | manner of behaving; way of acting |
| benefactor | person who has given money or kindly help |
| distribution | the act of giving some to each, of dividing and giving out in shares |
| gratitude | kindly feeling because of a favor received; desire to do a favor in return; thankfulness |
| procession | something that moves forward; persons marching or riding |
| recommend | to speak in favor of; suggest favorably |
| sacred | worthy of reverence; not to be violated or disregarded |
| traditions | customs or beliefs handed down from generation to generation |
More Words to Know
| footmen | uniformed male servants who answer the bell, wait on tables, go with a car or carriage to open the door, etc. |
| matchmaker | person who arranges, or tries to arrange, marriages for others |
| pavilion | a light building, usually somewhat open, used for shelter, pleasure, etc. |
Summary
Hsiang-ling was a spoiled child. She always got what she wanted. When she was sixteen, she married. Her mother gave her a Ch'i-lin purse and told her to open it later. But on her wedding day, Hsiang-ling gave her purse to another bride who was poor. She gave it away before she knew what was inside.
Hsiang-ling was happily married. She and her husband had a son. Six years later, the family was separated by a flood.
Hsiang-ling went to work for a man and his wife. She took care of their little son.
Hsiang-ling saw her old Ch'i-lin purse at her new house. The man's wife had been the poor bride! The purse had had valuable things in it. The poor bride and her husband had become wealthy. The wife was very happy to have found Hsiang-ling. She gave Hsiang-ling half of everything she owned. Hsiang-ling's family was found. The two families became friends.