As a child everyday I was forced to walk to school. Between 4 and 11 I went to Dauntsey's Aided Primary School (before it moved to its Sandfield site). When eight or nine I was in Mr. Challenor's class. He told the class the tale of the wise old Chinaman.

The Wise Old Chinaman

Once upon a time there was a rich old Chinaman who lived on a hill overlooking the sea. At the bottom of the hill there was a fishing village.

One day something strange happened. The sea went out. The villagers gathered on the beach to look at this.

The rich Chinaman saw this. Next to his house were his barns where he stored his treasure. He set fire to them.

Some villagers saw the fire and ran up the hill. They tried to put the fire out but the mad old man shouted at them to let it continue to burn. As the fire spread more people came from the village to try and extinguish it.

After everyone from the village was gathered near the fire, a tidal wave came across the sea and swept the village and everything in it away.

The destitute people looked at the poor old man and understood and were greatful.

W. B. Langdon
13 January 2005