Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/239

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The Village Religion.
201

pened in this kingdom — that a foreigner should come and interfere with the marriage of one's girl. Seeing that I would not change my mind, she became more furious. Running into the yard, she leaped into the air and, throwing herself upon the ground, tried to make out that she would die. As her daughter-in-law and some other women were carrying her into the house I left the yard and started for the home of the groom to-be, which was about fifteen miles away. My missionary friend went with me, and on our bicycles, after a hard ride against the wind, we arrived at the town where our man lived. We had never seen him, and did not know a person in the town. But we soon learned where he lived, and, presenting ourselves at his gate, called for admission, which was not granted us. We continued to wait and call till some one came and said the man was not at home, to which we replied by saying that we would wait till he came. After waiting some time a son of the man, dressed in full mourning, came and passed us by without stopping to speak. Soon he came out and assured us that his father was not at home and insisted on knowing our business, to which we replied by saying that we wished to see his father and would stay till he returned. He again insisted on our telling him what we wanted, and assured us that he would tell his father and it would be all right. We told him that we did business direct, and would not leave till we saw his father, if we had to wait all night. When we had waited in the cold till almost dark, the son came out and said that his father had returned and invited us to come in. We went in