offer a certain sum of money for her, and often, whether she is willing or not, the daughter is married to the one who will pay the highest price.
Leang's parents received an offer from a wealthy Chinaman who had already two or more wives, but, attracted by her pretty face, wanted this young girl—not because he loved her, but to add a new ornament to his harem. He was a heathen, much older than herself, and the girl's heart had long been in the keeping of a young Siamese Christian who had met her in the mission-house, where he also visited. Her parents scolded, took away her ornaments, beat her and threatened banishment from home, but Leang refused to marry the Chinaman. At length, after a long period of trial and waiting, which perhaps only strengthened their love, the young Siamese won the reluctant consent of her parents to marry their daughter.
And now perhaps you think it is time to prepare for the wedding. No, not yet. The Siamese have a superstition that persons born in certain years are incompatible with each other. For instance, if one were born in the "year of the Dog" and another in the "year of the Rat," or one in the "year of the Cow" and the other in the "year of the Tiger," they would not live happily together. The matter is accordingly referred to some fortune-teller, who for a small fee
