CHAPTER III.

A GLIMPSE OF THE KING

Yung Pak’s earliest days were spent very much as are those of most babies, whether they live in Korea or America.  Eating and sleeping were his chief occupations.

When he grew old enough to run about, his father employed for him a servant, Kim Yong, whose business it was to see that no harm came to the child.  For several years the two were constantly together, even sleeping in the same room at night.

Once when Yung Pak and his attendant were out for their daily walk their attention was attracted by the sound of music in the distance.

“What is that music?” asked Yung Pak.

“That is the king’s band.  It must be that there is going to be a procession,” was Kim Yong’s reply.

“Oh, I know what it is,” said Yung Pak.  “The king is going to the new Temple of Ancestors.  My father said the tablets on which the king’s forefathers’ names are engraved are to be put in place to-day.”

“Let us hurry so as to get into a place where we can have a good view of the procession.”

“Yes, we will; for father told me that this is to be an extra fine one, and he is to be in it himself.  I want to see him when he goes by.”

By this time Yung Pak and Kim Yong were running as fast as their flowing garments and their dignity would allow them.  And everybody else, from the dirtiest street boy to the gravest old man, was hurrying toward the palace gate through which the procession was to come.  Yung Pak and Kim Yong were fortunate enough to get a position where they could see the palace gate, and the procession would have to pass by them on its way to the temple.

Meanwhile the band inside the palace walls kept up its music, and the people outside could also hear the shouts of officers giving their orders to guards and soldiers.

Soon there was an extra flourish of the music, and the gate, toward which all eyes had been strained, was suddenly flung wide open with a great clang.

Hundreds of soldiers already lined the streets to keep the crowd back out of the way of the procession.

First through the gate came a company of Korean foot-soldiers, in blue uniforms.  Directly after them came a lot of palace attendants in curious hats and long robes of all colours of the rainbow.  Some were dressed in blue, some in red, some in orange, some in yellow, some in a mixture of colours.  All carried staves bound with streamers of ribbons.

Following the attendants came a line of bannermen, with red flags, on which were various inscriptions in blue; then came drummers and pipe-players dressed in yellow costumes, their instruments decked with ribbons.

Yung Pak next saw more soldiers, dressed in the queerest of ancient costumes; afterward came men with cymbals and bells, cavalrymen on foot, and more palace attendants.  Through the whole line were seen many officials, gaudily adorned with plumes, gold lace, gilt fringe, swords, and coloured decorations of all sorts.  Many of the officials had on high-crowned hats decorated with bunches of feathers and crimson tassels.  These were fastened by a string of amber beads around the throat.  Blue and orange and red were the colours of their robes.  Then followed more bannermen, drummers, and servants carrying food, fire, and pipes.