The Magic of Silk

 This is a story from China. A long, long time ago, there lived an old woman in a hut in the forest. Her husband had been killed by a tiger some years ago. She was old and weak. Life was difficult for her and her daughter, Siew Mei.

Siew Mei did all the cooking and cleaning herself. She also looked after the silkworms in their garden. The worms gave them fine thread to make beautiful silk. Siew Mei sold the silk to travellers in the village market. In this way she got enough money to buy food and other things.

One day as Siew Mei was returning home, it started to rain heavily. It was getting dark, too. Siew Mei ran into the first hut she saw. The door was open and there was no one inside.

"Is anybody in?" she called loudly, again and again. But there was no reply. Siew Mei looked around the hut. The floor was very dirty. Bowls and pots were left unwashed, Siew Mei swept the floor and washed all the bowls and pots.

By the time she had finished , the hut was as clean as a new one. By then the rain had stopped too. I had better go home, she said to herself .Mother will be worried.

As she walked out of the hut, she saw a strange old man. His long beard reached down to his waist. He looked about a hundred years old. The old man looked at Siew Mei and smiled

"Uncle," she said, "I went into the hut because it was raining. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, young girl," replied the old man. His eyes fell on the clean Noor and on the bowls and pots. "Did you clean the hut for me?

"Yes,"answered Siew Mei. "Let me help you into the hut." The old man was very happy. "You're a very kind girl" he said. "I must give you a present,

He took out a pair of scissors and cut off a little of his long white beard. He put it in a piece of old cloth, tied it up, and gave the bundle to her

"Do not give it to anyone." said the old man. "Open it when you get home." Siew Mei thanked him and went home. Her mother was very glad to see Siew Mei safe.Siew Mei told her mother about the old man.

Siew Mei opened the bundle to show her mother the old man's white beard. To their surprise, they saw the finest silk thread in the whole of China. They began to weave with the silk thread. When they had finished weaving, they had made the finest silk they had ever seen. They noticed that the bundle of silk thread still remained exactly the same size as before.

News of their wonderful silk spread far and wide. The old woman and her daughter became famous and lived happily ever after.