Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/57

43] Chapter LXXIX.— The Theft of Wine, (fgj fi.) Cy-JI HERE was a school master who was very fond of wine. His servant having the habit of stealing wine, so that he dare not employ another. One day the teacher soliloquized to himself: " I must get one who does not drink wine, then he would not steal my wine. I must engage one who does not know what wine is. Then I would know that he does not really like wine, and then surely he would not steal mine." One day a friend recommended him a man. The teacher held up some yellow wine and aked him " wfiat kind of wine is this ? " The man replied: "That is Chun Shao (^ fg, old Shao Shing)." The teacher said : " He knows even the name of the wine ; why should not he be fond of the cup ? " He was immediately sent away. Afterwards another was recommended to him. The teacher again held up the yellow wine and asked him. That man answered: "That is real Hwa Diao {'^ JH, name of a wine)." The teacher said ; " He even knows the quality of the wine and is able to give its special name ; he cannot be one who does not drink." He at once dismissed him. After a while another man was recommended to him. As soon as the man entered the door, he took the yellow wine and asked him. He replied that he does not know wine. He took up the spirits and questioned him. He again answered: "I do not know what it is called." When the teacher heard this, he was very glad. He thought that this man is sure not to drink wine. He at once engaged him. One day the teacher wanted to go out to visit a friend, and left his servant to look after the house. He gave orders to him by saying that there was a ham on the wall and a fat chicken in the yard ; you must look after these carefully. In the house there are two bottles : one containing white arsenic and the other red arsenic ; be sure not to touch these. If you should drink these, your intestines and