Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/30

Chinese Merry Tales this, she could not help laughing heartily and said: "Your old lady has lived 68 years and has never heard that rats would steal salt to eat."

HERE was a farmer who worked in the field. His wife called him to return home to take his meal. He cried out: "Let me hide the spade before going." When he reached home, she said to him: "Hiding a spade should be kept secret; why do you shout thus? Would not others hear it and steal the spade? You had better go back quick and see." He returned to the spot, had a look, and lo the spade was gone. He hastened home, and at once went to his wife's side and whispered to her: "The spade has been stolen by some one."

NE day there was a barber shaving a young man's head. At the first stroke of the razor, it caused a wound. Before he finished shaving, he had made several cuts. The barber stopped shaving, resigned his work and said: "I will not shave you any more." The customer replied: "What is your reason?" The barber answered: "The skin of your head is too soft, and it is too difficult to shave; you wait till you are a little older. When you are more advanced in age, the skin of your head will become tough, then I will shave you again."

HERE was a painter who, being at leisure at his home, waited patiently for customers. On account of no one coming to his house on business, his friends suggested an idea