Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/22

Chinese Merry Tales

HERE was a near-sighted man who lost his way. He saw a stone post on the side of the road with a black crow perched on the top of it. When he saw these he thought it was a man standing there. Thrice he asked his way of this (supposed) man. Suddenly the crow flew away. The nearsighted man became angry. He then said to the stone post: "I questioned you for half a day and you have not answered me. Your hat has just been blown away by the wind, and I will not inform you of that."

HERE were two blind men walking together and conversing. "Among the people of the whole world we blind people are the best. Those who have eyes are always busy, especially the farmers. Who has so much leisure and such an easy time as we have." When the farmers heard of their boast, they were exceedingly enraged. They secretly called together a few men, and impersonating the magistrate en route, shouted out to the two blind men: "Do you not know manners? Why do you not keep out of the road?" They immediately used their pick handles and gave them a beating. After the beating they ordered them to be gone. Then the blind men got up and went their way. One of the farmers followed the blind men and quietly listened to what the two had to say. One of the blind men said to the other: "After all we blind men are the best people. If it was a man not blind who obstructed the underlings of the magistrate, he would not only receive a beating but might be further punished."