Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/48

 .— Riches of a Beggar. (少米少床) BEGGAR once boasted before other people: "Although I am not regarded as a man of great wealth, there is nothing lacking in my house as to furniture and utensils." He counted with his fingers: "What is short are dragon cars and phœnix chariots. As to drinkables and eatables, I have every kind." He again bent one finger: "What is short is only dragon's heart and phœnix's liver." His little son, standing by his side, interrupted, saying: "Where is our bed for the night; we slept on the straw spread on the ground. To-night we have not even a grain of rice left; you still tell big lies before the people." The poor man, hearing these words, lifted his head and thought for a while and said: "That is so, that is so. I forgot. Surely, there is everything in my house; what is short is only dragon's heart, phœnix's liver, this evening's rice, dragon's car, phœnix's chariot, and bed for the night."

. — Prayers and Domestic Economy. (燒螞蟻用鄰箕) BENEVOLENT old lady, who held a string of praying beads, stayed all day at home and repeated aloud: "Omei-to-fuh, Omei-to-fuh." One day, after she had finished prayers, she at once called the two sons in the house and said: "You look at the hot cooking pan and see how many ants there are. It is really annoying; bring me a light and let me burn them to death." After saying this, she again repeated her prayers aloud. After twice repeating the prayers, she again called out: "Boys, boys, use a dust pan and take out all the ash under the cooking pan, but be sure not to use our own, lest it will be burnt; it will be all right if you use our neighbor Chang San's dust pan."