Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/46

Chinese Merry Tales When his wife saw this she said: "Door josses generally carry swords or axes, and they are drawn very fierce. When the devils see it, they are afraid. You use that benevolent looking likeness; of what use is pasting that up there?" Her husband replied: "You need not mention it. Nowadays people whose features appear benevolent and kind, their actions are generally wicked and contemptuous."

HERE was a man holding a child in his arms and standing at the door fronting the street. A bystander, who was fond of mischief, pointed at the child and said: "There is no doubt about the old saying that blood and bones of a father and son are from the same stock (a chip from the same block); just look at your son's features; they look exactly like me. There is no mistake about it." The man with the child in his arms replied at once: "You are right; you and this child are from the same mother, so you and he are brothers; why should your features not be the same?"

HERE was a man who was always arguing with others, no matter on what subject. He always employed the word tsu (粗, meaning humble or rough) for humbling himself. One day he invited some friends to dinner at his house. The feast lasted till evening. Suddenly the moon rose, and the guests were very happy to see the bright moonlight and said: "We are to-day at your home; we did not expect to see such beautiful moonlight." When the host heard this he hastily folded his hands, bowed and said: "How dare I receive such high compliments; that is only the humble moon in our house."