Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/42

Chinese Merry Tales Chapter LIV.— The Griefs of a Tiger, (j^ ^ ^.) vTTHERE was a monk who held a prayer book under his arm and a pair of cymbals in his hand when he went to a village to worship. On his way he suddenly met a tiger running toward him. He was so frightened that he did not know what to do. He threw the cymbals straight at the tiger. The tiger catight them with his mouth and chewed them to pieces. He swallowed them, and again ran toward him. The monk was still more frightened. Hastily he threw the book of prayers at the tiger. Unexpectedly the tiger, seeing that it was a prayer book, quietly ran back to his cave. When the young tigers saw their mother, they said : " You have gone hunting for food ; why have you returned so soon ? " The old tigress replied : " I was much disappointed to-day ; whom did I meet but a monk. I only ate two pieces of brittle cake, then he brought out his subscription book. Fortunately I ran quick. If I was one step behind, with what could I subscribe for him ? "