Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/44

Chinese Merry Tales HERE was a nurse-maid in care of a child who was inclined to cry and would not go to sleep. The nurse instantly thought of a plan. She called out: "Master, master, bring me a book." "What do you want a book for?" asked the master. The nurse replied: "I often see the master; when not holding a book all is well, but whenever he holds a book to read instantly he goes to sleep."

GUEST was invited by a friend to dine at his house. It happened that the host was very stingy. Every time he poured wine into a cup, he filled it only half full. The guest then said to the host: "Have you a saw in the house? Lend me one to use for a little while." The host replied: "In the midst of a dinner, of what use have you for a saw?" The guest pointed to the wine cup and said: "Since the upper half of the cup does not hold wine, let me saw it off for you; what is the use of leaving that half empty?"

HERE was a man from another province who had lived in Peking several years. Afterwards he went home. No matter what subject he spoke about, he always boasted that whatever came from Peking was the best. One night he was walking together with his father. A bystander said: "There is good moonlight to-night." When the one who loved boasting heard of this, he at once replied: "What is there good about to-night's moonlight; you do not know the kind of moonlight we get in Peking yet. There is where you get