Page:Chinese Merry Tales (1909).djvu/61

47] Chapter LXXXIV.— Tall Monkeys, {f^ B-) CTTHERE was a magistrate who called on his superior. After their conversation on business was completed, they chatted about odinary matters. The superior enquired: "It is reported that monkeys are found in your district. How large are they?" He replied: "The largest ia the size of a grown up person." {^ A Tai-jen has two meanings — a grown up person and a great man or a superior.) After he said this, he knew he had used the wrong words and felt frightened. He hastily stood up and said: "The smallest is about my (your inferior's) size."

Chapter LXXXV.— Rich and Poor, (-f- ^ g.) (TjTHERE was a man who had property worth ] 00,000 taels. One day he boasted to a poor man that he had 100,000 taels of property. Had he heard of that ? The poor man replied: "I have also 100,000; there is nothing wonderful about that." The rich man said : " Where is your 100,000 ? " The poor man answered: "You always had that amount, but you would not use it. I wish to use it, but I have none to use. Is not that the same 1"

Chapter LXXXVI— The Boaster. {^ V§ >]> pf .) TTN the capital, Peking, those who are fond of telling exaggerated stories are called " Pon (P^.) In the eastern part of the city there was a " Great Pon " (^ P^ a boaster) and in the western part a Small Pon(>J-« p$). One day the Small Pon went to see the " Great Pon " and wanted