Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/27

13] announce the time, but if a stranger comes, it will also announce his arrival." The relative again said: "The reading dog; fetch him that I may see him." The wife replied: "I do not wish to fool you. As we are poor, I have ordered him to teach in a school."

HERE was a jail official who escorted a monk to the capital for trial, charged with a weighty criminal offence. On the way the prison official became deadly drunk and senseless. The monk stealthily broke his shackles and put them around his keeper's neck and shaved his head till not a hair was left. Then he ran away. The next morning, when the officer awoke from his revelry, the monk was missing. He touched his smooth shaven head and felt the chain around his own neck. He felt very depressed and said: "Ah, although here is a monk, as to myself, where have I gone to?"

HERE was a military officer on duty at night who arrested a prisoner prowling about in the dark. The thief called himself a student, and said: "I was in a friend's house doing some literary work. It was far in the night when we parted; hence we were late in coming home." The officer said: " Since you are scholar, allow me to examine you." The scholar replied: " All right, will you kindly issue a subject that I may show my ignorance." The military officer cogitated for a long time, and could not think of anything, so he said: "Begone; it is your good luck to-day that I have no subject to give."