Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/21

7] accused heard of this, he doubled the amount and presented 100 taels of silver. "When the date of trial arrived, the magistrate did not ask which was right or wrong, but ordered the plaintiff to be beaten. The plaintiff made a sign with his fingers, the sign of five, and said: "I have more right." The magistrate said: "You slave, why do you say you have more right?"

He made signs with his fingers, turning the palm of his hand up and down, representing the amount 100. Permitting the plaintiff to see this, the magistrate said: "The defendant has more right."

HERE was a man who was about to leave home. He directed his son thus: " When I am away, if anyone enquire after your respected elder (father) you may reply thus: "My father has gone out; please come in and have some tea." As the son was rather stupid, the father, fearing he might forget, wrote down these few sentences on a piece of paper and handed it to his son. His son put the paper in his sleeve. When he has occasion to use it, he would secretly take out the paper and have a peep at it. For three days no one came to enquire after his father. The son said: "The writing is no earthly use." That night he burnt the paper before the lamp. When the fourth day came, a visitor Happened to call and asked: "Where is your respected elder?" The son searched his sleeve for half a day and could not find the paper. He told the visitor; "It is lost." (Mu liao also means dead). When the visitor heard these words, he was much surprised and replied: "When did he die?" "I burned him (it) last night," the son replied.