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Article: `The Lotus Girl'.(Short Story)
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- February 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Two Daoist priests lived in caves on either side of a densely wooded mountain. One day, the priest on the south side felt hot and thirsty and went down to the river to cool off. A doe approached and drank from the same water. She became pregnant and, on returning to the river, gave birth to a girl. Hearing her cries, the priest approached, and the alarmed doe fled. The kindly priest picked up the baby and cared for her. In due course, "Deer Girl" grew up into a lovely young woman.
One day, Deer Girl mistakenly let the fire in the cave go out. She visited the priest on the north side to ask for some embers. As she approached his cave, lotus flowers sprang up under ...