Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/17

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HERE was a scholar who studied in a monastery. On the first day after rising, he went out for a little recreation. After midday he returned to his quarters and immediately called his servant to bring his books to him. The servant brought him a volume of literature of the Liang Dynasty. The scholar said: "It is too simple for me." The servant again brought a book of the Han Dynasty. The scholar again said: "Too simple." Again a book of history was brought. He again said: "Too simple."

As his room was next to that of a monk, the latter hearing what he said, was surprised, and came over to question the scholar saying: "These three books, if a person could commit one of them to memory, he may consider himself learned. Why do you say that it is simple. What is your reason for saying that?" He replied: "I wish to take a nap and intended to pile up the books to form a pillow."

HERE was a man, naturally sluggish of understanding and illiterate, met a well-bred friend on the way, who said: "Where do you go?" (.) This idiot, when he heard this question, could not understand it at all, nor answer the question. He then kept the two words "Ho Wan" in his mind. He asked other people what these words meant. As every one knew that he was an idiot, they wished to make a fool of him, and told him these two words form an insolent term. When he heard of this, he became very angry. The man who told him the above ran away as soon as they parted company. The next day he again met the friend, who again