In the Land of the Free

“See Little One—the hills in the morning sun. There is thy home for years to come. It is very beautiful and thou wilt be happy there.”

The opening lines of the story signal the hope that Lae Choo feels upon returning to the United States with her son. She is eager to show him the place that he will call home, the home that she and his father prepared for him. The emphasis on “home” in this selection also foreshadows the story’s eventual outcome; it will not be so easy for Lae Choo and her family to make their home in America, and her son will find a home apart from her.

“‘He is my son.’ reiterated Hom Hing slowly and solemnly. ‘I am a Chinese merchant and have been in business in San Francisco for many years. When my wife told to me one morning that she dreamed of a green tree with spreading branches and one beautiful red flower growing thereon, I answer her that I wished my son to be born in our country, and for her to prepare to go to China.’”

This quote from Hom Hing is significant for several reasons. First, by matter-of-factly stating his position and his relationship with Little One, he is attempting to assert his place in American society. In his mind, having lived in San Francisco for many years should serve as enough evidence to validate their existence in American society. Likewise, he believes his parentage should be self-evident, and his word as a member of American society should be taken seriously. This quote also introduces the symbol of the tree with the red flower, which signifies Lae Choo and Hom Hing’s growing family, with Little One represented by the new red flower.