as his name and address,accompanied him beyond the city walls and gave him a stanza of poetry at parting.I cannot recollect it all,but in it occurred this couplet: With wine and flowers we chase the hours, In one eternal spring: No moon,no light,to cheer the night, Thyself that ray must bring.[p.3] Mr.Sung here left him and rode on,and before very long reached his own home;here he awaked as if from a dream,and found that he had been dead three days,5 when his mother,hearing a groan in the coffin,ran to it and helped him out.It was some time before he could speak,and then he at once inquired about Ch'ang-shan,where,as it turned out,a graduate named Chang had died that very day. Nine years afterwards,Mr.Sung's mother,in accordance with fate,passed from this life;and when the funeral obsequies were over,her son,having first purified himself, entered into his chamber and died also.Now his wife's family lived within the city, near the western gate;and all of a sudden they beheld Mr.Sung,accompanied by numerous chariots and horses with carved trappings and red-tasselled bits,enter into the hall,make an obeisance,and depart.They were very much disconcerted at this, not knowing that he had become a spirit,and rushed out into the village to make inquiries,when they heard he was already dead.Mr.Sung had an account of his adventure written by himself;but unfortunately after the insurrection it was not to be found.This is only an outline of the story. 1 The tutelar deity of every Chinese city 2 That is,he had taken the first or bachelor's degree.I shall not hesitate to use strictly English equivalents for all kinds of Chinese terms.The three degrees are literally,(1) Cultivated Talent,(2)Raised Man,and (3)Promoted Scholar. 3 The official residence of a mandarin above a certain rank. 4 The Chinese Mars.A celebrated warrior,named Kuan Yu,who lived about the beginning of the third century of our era.He was raised after death to the rank of a God,and now plays a leading part in the Chinese Pantheon. 5 Catalepsy,which is the explanation of many a story in this collection,would appear to be of very common occurrence among the Chinese.Such,however,is not the case. II.THE TALKING PUPILS AT Ch'ang-ngan there lived a scholar,named Fang Tung,who though by no means destitute of ability was a very unprincipled rake,and in the habit of following and speaking to any woman he might chance to meet.The day before the spring festival of Clear Weather,I he was strolling about outside the city when he saw a small carriage with red curtains and an embroidered awning,followed by a crowd of waiting-maids
as his name and address, accompanied him beyond the city walls and gave him a stanza of poetry at parting. I cannot recollect it all, but in it occurred this couplet: With wine and flowers we chase the hours, In one eternal spring: No moon, no light, to cheer the night, Thyself that ray must bring. [p. 3] Mr. Sung here left him and rode on, and before very long reached his own home; here he awaked as if from a dream, and found that he had been dead three days,5 when his mother, hearing a groan in the coffin, ran to it and helped him out. It was some time before he could speak, and then he at once inquired about Ch‘ang-shan, where, as it turned out, a graduate named Chang had died that very day. Nine years afterwards, Mr. Sung’s mother, in accordance with fate, passed from this life; and when the funeral obsequies were over, her son, having first purified himself, entered into his chamber and died also. Now his wife’s family lived within the city, near the western gate; and all of a sudden they beheld Mr. Sung, accompanied by numerous chariots and horses with carved trappings and red-tasselled bits, enter into the hall, make an obeisance, and depart. They were very much disconcerted at this, not knowing that he had become a spirit, and rushed out into the village to make inquiries, when they heard he was already dead. Mr. Sung had an account of his adventure written by himself; but unfortunately after the insurrection it was not to be found. This is only an outline of the story. 1 The tutelar deity of every Chinese city. 2 That is, he had taken the first or bachelor’s degree. I shall not hesitate to use strictly English equivalents for all kinds of Chinese terms. The three degrees are literally, (1) Cultivated Talent, (2) Raised Man, and (3) Promoted Scholar. 3 The official residence of a mandarin above a certain rank. 4 The Chinese Mars. A celebrated warrior, named Kuan Yü, who lived about the beginning of the third century of our era. He was raised after death to the rank of a God, and now plays a leading part in the Chinese Pantheon. 5 Catalepsy, which is the explanation of many a story in this collection, would appear to be of very common occurrence among the Chinese. Such, however, is not the case. II. THE TALKING PUPILS AT Ch‘ang-ngan there lived a scholar, named Fang Tung, who though by no means destitute of ability was a very unprincipled rake, and in the habit of following and speaking to any woman he might chance to meet. The day before the spring festival of Clear Weather,l he was strolling about outside the city when he saw a small carriage with red curtains and an embroidered awning, followed by a crowd of waiting-maids
on horseback,one of whom was exceedingly pretty,and riding on a small palfrey. Going closer to get a better view,Mr.Fang noticed that the carriage curtain was partly open,and inside he beheld a [p.4]beautifully dressed girl of about sixteen,lovely beyond anything he had ever seen.Dazzled by the sight,he could not take his eyes off her;and,now before,now behind,he followed the carriage for many a mile. By-and-by he heard the young lady call out to her maid,and,when the latter came alongside,say to her,"Let down the screen for me.Who is this rude fellow that keeps on staring so?"The maid accordingly let down the screen,and looking angrily at Mr. Fang said to him,"This is the bride of the Seventh Prince in the City of Immortals going home to see her parents,and no village girl that you should stare at her thus." Then taking a handful of dust,she threw it at him and blinded him.He rubbed his eyes and looked round,but the carriage and horses were gone. This frightened him,and he went off home,feeling very uncomfortable about the eyes. He sent for a doctor to examine his eyes,and on the pupils was found a small film, which had increased by next morning,the eyes watering incessantly all the time.The film went on growing,and in a few days was as thick as a cash.2 On the right pupil there came a kind of spiral,and as no medicine was of any avail,the sufferer gave himself up to grief and wished for death. He then thought he might repent of his misdeeds,and hearing that the Kuang-ming sutra could relieve misery,he got a copy and hired a man to teach it to him.At first it was very tedious work,but by degrees he became more composed,and spent the whole day in a posture of devotion,telling his beads. At the end of a year he had arrived at a state of perfect calm,when one day he heard a small voice,about as loud as a fly's,calling out from his left eye:"It's horridly dark in here."To this he heard a reply from the right eye,saying,"Let us go out for a stroll, and cheer ourselves up a bit."Then he felt a wriggling in his nose which made it itch, just as if something was going out of each of the nostrils;and after a while he felt it again as if going the other way.Afterwards he heard a voice from one eye say,"I hadn't seen the garden for a long time:the epidendrums [p.5]are all withered and dead."Now Mr.Fang was very fond of these epidendrums,of which he had planted a great number,and had been accustomed to water them himself;but since the loss of his sight he had never even alluded to them.Hearing,however,these words,he at once asked his wife why she had let the epidendrums die.She inquired how he knew they were dead,and when he told her she went out to see,and found them actually withered away They were both very much astonished at this,and his wife proceeded to conceal herself in the room.She then observed two tiny people,no bigger than a bean,come down from her husband's nose and run out of the door,where she lost sight of them. In a little while they came back and flew up to his face,like bees or beetles seeking their nests. This went on for some days,until Mr.Fang heard from the left eye,"This roundabout road is not at all convenient.It would be as well for us to make a door."To this the right eye answered,"My wall is too thick:it wouldn't be at all an easy job.""I'll try and open mine,"said the left eye,"and then it will do for both of us."Whereupon Mr
on horseback, one of whom was exceedingly pretty, and riding on a small palfrey. Going closer to get a better view, Mr. Fang noticed that the carriage curtain was partly open, and inside he beheld a [p. 4] beautifully dressed girl of about sixteen, lovely beyond anything he had ever seen. Dazzled by the sight, he could not take his eyes off her; and, now before, now behind, he followed the carriage for many a mile. By-and-by he heard the young lady call out to her maid, and, when the latter came alongside, say to her, “Let down the screen for me. Who is this rude fellow that keeps on staring so?” The maid accordingly let down the screen, and looking angrily at Mr. Fang said to him, “This is the bride of the Seventh Prince in the City of Immortals going home to see her parents, and no village girl that you should stare at her thus.” Then taking a handful of dust, she threw it at him and blinded him. He rubbed his eyes and looked round, but the carriage and horses were gone. This frightened him, and he went off home, feeling very uncomfortable about the eyes. He sent for a doctor to examine his eyes, and on the pupils was found a small film, which had increased by next morning, the eyes watering incessantly all the time. The film went on growing, and in a few days was as thick as a cash.2 On the right pupil there came a kind of spiral, and as no medicine was of any avail, the sufferer gave himself up to grief and wished for death. He then thought he might repent of his misdeeds, and hearing that the Kuang-ming sutra could relieve misery, he got a copy and hired a man to teach it to him. At first it was very tedious work, but by degrees he became more composed, and spent the whole day in a posture of devotion, telling his beads. At the end of a year he had arrived at a state of perfect calm, when one day he heard a small voice, about as loud as a fly’s, calling out from his left eye: “It’s horridly dark in here.” To this he heard a reply from the right eye, saying, “Let us go out for a stroll, and cheer ourselves up a bit.” Then he felt a wriggling in his nose which made it itch, just as if something was going out of each of the nostrils; and after a while he felt it again as if going the other way. Afterwards he heard a voice from one eye say, “I hadn’t seen the garden for a long time: the epidendrums [p. 5] are all withered and dead.” Now Mr. Fang was very fond of these epidendrums, of which he had planted a great number, and had been accustomed to water them himself; but since the loss of his sight he had never even alluded to them. Hearing, however, these words, he at once asked his wife why she had let the epidendrums die. She inquired how he knew they were dead, and when he told her she went out to see, and found them actually withered away. They were both very much astonished at this, and his wife proceeded to conceal herself in the room. She then observed two tiny people, no bigger than a bean, come down from her husband’s nose and run out of the door, where she lost sight of them. In a little while they came back and flew up to his face, like bees or beetles seeking their nests. This went on for some days, until Mr. Fang heard from the left eye, “This roundabout road is not at all convenient. It would be as well for us to make a door.” To this the right eye answered, “My wall is too thick: it wouldn’t be at all an easy job.” “I’ll try and open mine,” said the left eye, “and then it will do for both of us.” Whereupon Mr
Fang felt a pain in his left eye as if something was being split,and in a moment he found he could see the tables and chairs in the room.He was delighted at this and told his wife,who examined his eye and discovered an opening in the film,through which she could see the black pupil shining out beneath,the eyeball itself looking like a cracked pepper-corn. By next morning the film had disappeared,and when his eye was closely examined it was observed to contain two pupils.The spiral on the right eye remained as before; and then they knew that the two pupils had taken up their abode in one eye.Further, although Mr.Fang was still blind of one eye,the sight of the other was better than that of the two together.From this time he was more careful of his behaviour,and acquired in his part of the country the reputation of a virtuous man.3 [p.6] 1 One of the twenty-four solar terms.It falls on or about the 5th of April,and is the special time for worshipping at the family tombs. 2 The common European name for the only Chinese coin,about twenty of which go to a penny.Each has a square hole in the middle,for the convenience of stringing them together,hence the expression"strings of cash." 3 The belief that the human eye contains a tiny being of the human shape is universal in China.It originated,of course,from the reflection of oneself that is seen on looking into the pupil of anybody's eye or even,with the aid of a mirror,into one's own. III.THE PAINTED WALL A KIANG-SI gentleman,named Meng Lung-T'an,was lodging at the capital with a Mr.Chu,M.A.,when one day chance led them to a certain monastery,within which they found no spacious halls or meditation chambers,but only an old priest in deshabille.On observing the visitors,he arranged his dress and went forward to meet them,leading them round and showing whatever there was to be seen.In the chapel they saw an image of Chih Kung,and the walls on either side were beautifully painted with life-like representations of men and animals. On the east side were pictured a number of fairies,among whom was a young girl whose maiden tresses were not yet confined by the matron's knot.She was picking flowers and gently smiling,while her cherry lips seemed about to move,and the moisture of her eyes to overflow.Mr.Chu gazed for a long time without taking his eyes off her,until at last he became unconscious of anything but the thoughts that were engrossing him.Then,suddenly he felt himself floating in the air,as if riding on a cloud,and found himself passing through the wall,l where halls and pavilions stretched away one after another,unlike the abodes of mortals.Here an old priest was preaching the Law of Buddha,surrounded by a large crowd of listeners.Mr.Chu mingled with the throng,and after a few moments perceived a gentle tug at his sleeve. Turning round,he saw the young girl above-mentioned,who walked laughing away. Mr.Chu at once followed her,and passing a winding balustrade arrived at a small apartment beyond which he dared not venture farther.But the young lady,looking
Fang felt a pain in his left eye as if something was being split, and in a moment he found he could see the tables and chairs in the room. He was delighted at this and told his wife, who examined his eye and discovered an opening in the film, through which she could see the black pupil shining out beneath, the eyeball itself looking like a cracked pepper-corn. By next morning the film had disappeared, and when his eye was closely examined it was observed to contain two pupils. The spiral on the right eye remained as before; and then they knew that the two pupils had taken up their abode in one eye. Further, although Mr. Fang was still blind of one eye, the sight of the other was better than that of the two together. From this time he was more careful of his behaviour, and acquired in his part of the country the reputation of a virtuous man.3 [p. 6] 1 One of the twenty-four solar terms. It falls on or about the 5th of April, and is the special time for worshipping at the family tombs. 2 The common European name for the only Chinese coin, about twenty of which go to a penny. Each has a square hole in the middle, for the convenience of stringing them together; hence the expression “strings of cash.” 3 The belief that the human eye contains a tiny being of the human shape is universal in China. It originated, of course, from the reflection of oneself that is seen on looking into the pupil of anybody’s eye or even, with the aid of a mirror, into one’s own. III. THE PAINTED WALL A KIANG-SI gentleman, named Mêng Lung-T‘an, was lodging at the capital with a Mr. Chu, M.A., when one day chance led them to a certain monastery, within which they found no spacious halls or meditation chambers, but only an old priest in déshabillé. On observing the visitors, he arranged his dress and went forward to meet them, leading them round and showing whatever there was to be seen. In the chapel they saw an image of Chih Kung, and the walls on either side were beautifully painted with life-like representations of men and animals. On the east side were pictured a number of fairies, among whom was a young girl whose maiden tresses were not yet confined by the matron’s knot. She was picking flowers and gently smiling, while her cherry lips seemed about to move, and the moisture of her eyes to overflow. Mr. Chu gazed for a long time without taking his eyes off her, until at last he became unconscious of anything but the thoughts that were engrossing him. Then, suddenly he felt himself floating in the air, as if riding on a cloud, and found himself passing through the wall,l where halls and pavilions stretched away one after another, unlike the abodes of mortals. Here an old priest was preaching the Law of Buddha, surrounded by a large crowd of listeners. Mr. Chu mingled with the throng, and after a few moments perceived a gentle tug at his sleeve. Turning round, he saw the young girl above-mentioned, who walked laughing away. Mr. Chu at once followed her, and passing a winding balustrade arrived at a small apartment beyond which he dared not venture farther. But the young lady, looking
back,waved the flowers she had in her hand as though beckoning him to come on.He accordingly entered and found nobody else within.Then they fell on their knees and worshipped heaven and earth together,2 and rose up as man and wife,[A]after which the bride went away,bidding Mr.Chu keep quiet until she came back. This went on for a couple of days,when the [p.7]young lady's companions began to smell a rat and discovered Mr.Chu's hiding-place.Thereupon they all laughed and said,"My dear,you are now a married woman,and should leave off that maidenly coiffure."[B]So they gave her the proper hair-pins and head ornaments,and bade her go bind her hair,at which she blushed very much but said nothing.Then one of them cried out,"My sisters,let us be off.Two's company,more's none."At this they all giggled again and went away. Mr.Chu found his wife very much improved by the alteration in the style of her hair. The high top-knot and the coronet of pendants were very becoming to her.[C]But suddenly they heard a sound like the tramping of heavy-soled boots,accompanied by the clanking of chains and the noise of angry discussion.The bride jumped up in a fright,and she and Mr.Chu peeped out.They saw a man clad in golden armour,with a face as black as jet,carrying in his hands chains and whips,and surrounded by all the girls.He asked,“Are you all here?“All,”they replied.If,”said he,“any mortal is here concealed amongst you,denounce him at once,and lay not up sorrow for yourselves."Here they all answered as before that there was no one.The man then made a movement as if he would search the place,upon which the bride was dreadfully alarmed,and her face turned the colour of ashes.In her terror she said to Mr.Chu,"Hide yourself under the bed,"and opening a small lattice in the wall, disappeared herself.Mr.Chu in his concealment hardly dared to draw his breath;and in a little while he heard the boots tramp into the room and out again,the sound of the voices getting gradually fainter and fainter in the distance.This reassured him,but he still heard the voices of people going backwards and forwards outside;and having been a long time in a cramped position,his ears began to sing as if there was a locust in them,and his eyes to burn like fire.It was almost unbearable;however,he remained quietly awaiting the return of the young lady without giving a thought to the why and wherefore of his present position. Meanwhile,Meng Lung-t'an had noticed the sudden disappearance of his friend,and thinking something was wrong,asked the priest where he was."He has gone to [p.8] hear the preaching of the Law,"replied the priest."Where?"said Mr.Meng."Oh,not very far,"was the answer.Then with his finger the old priest tapped the wall and called out,"Friend Chu!what makes you stay away so long?"At this,the likeness of Mr.Chu was figured upon the wall,with his ear inclined in the attitude of one listening.The priest added,"Your friend here has been waiting for you some time;" and immediately Mr.Chu descended from the wall,standing transfixed like a block of wood,with starting eyeballs and trembling legs.Mr.Meng was much terrified,and asked him quietly what was the matter.Now the matter was that while concealed under the bed he had heard a noise resembling thunder and had rushed out to see what it was. Here they all noticed that the young lady on the wall with the maiden's tresses had changed the style of her coiffure to that of a married woman.Mr.Chu was greatly
back, waved the flowers she had in her hand as though beckoning him to come on. He accordingly entered and found nobody else within. Then they fell on their knees and worshipped heaven and earth together,2 and rose up as man and wife,[A] after which the bride went away, bidding Mr. Chu keep quiet until she came back. This went on for a couple of days, when the [p. 7] young lady’s companions began to smell a rat and discovered Mr. Chu’s hiding-place. Thereupon they all laughed and said, “My dear, you are now a married woman, and should leave off that maidenly coiffure.”[B] So they gave her the proper hair-pins and head ornaments, and bade her go bind her hair, at which she blushed very much but said nothing. Then one of them cried out, “My sisters, let us be off. Two’s company, more’s none.” At this they all giggled again and went away. Mr. Chu found his wife very much improved by the alteration in the style of her hair. The high top-knot and the coronet of pendants were very becoming to her.[C] But suddenly they heard a sound like the tramping of heavy-soled boots, accompanied by the clanking of chains and the noise of angry discussion. The bride jumped up in a fright, and she and Mr. Chu peeped out. They saw a man clad in golden armour, with a face as black as jet, carrying in his hands chains and whips, and surrounded by all the girls. He asked, “Are you all here?” “All,” they replied. “If,” said he, “any mortal is here concealed amongst you, denounce him at once, and lay not up sorrow for yourselves.” Here they all answered as before that there was no one. The man then made a movement as if he would search the place, upon which the bride was dreadfully alarmed, and her face turned the colour of ashes. In her terror she said to Mr. Chu, “Hide yourself under the bed,” and opening a small lattice in the wall, disappeared herself. Mr. Chu in his concealment hardly dared to draw his breath; and in a little while he heard the boots tramp into the room and out again, the sound of the voices getting gradually fainter and fainter in the distance. This reassured him, but he still heard the voices of people going backwards and forwards outside; and having been a long time in a cramped position, his ears began to sing as if there was a locust in them, and his eyes to burn like fire. It was almost unbearable; however, he remained quietly awaiting the return of the young lady without giving a thought to the why and wherefore of his present position. Meanwhile, Meng Lung-t‘an had noticed the sudden disappearance of his friend, and thinking something was wrong, asked the priest where he was. “He has gone to [p. 8] hear the preaching of the Law,” replied the priest. “Where?” said Mr. Meng. “Oh, not very far,” was the answer. Then with his finger the old priest tapped the wall and called out, “Friend Chu! what makes you stay away so long?” At this, the likeness of Mr. Chu was figured upon the wall, with his ear inclined in the attitude of one listening. The priest added, “Your friend here has been waiting for you some time;” and immediately Mr. Chu descended from the wall, standing transfixed like a block of wood, with starting eyeballs and trembling legs. Mr. Meng was much terrified, and asked him quietly what was the matter. Now the matter was that while concealed under the bed he had heard a noise resembling thunder and had rushed out to see what it was. Here they all noticed that the young lady on the wall with the maiden’s tresses had changed the style of her coiffure to that of a married woman. Mr. Chu was greatly
astonished at this and asked the old priest the reason.He replied,"Visions have their origin in those who see them:[D]what explanation can I give?" This answer was very unsatisfactory to Mr.Chu;neither did his friend,who was rather frightened,know what to make of it all;so they descended the temple steps and went away. 1 Which will doubtless remind the reader of"Alice through the Looking-glass,and what she saw there.” 2 The all-important item of a Chinese marriage ceremony;amounting,in fact,to calling God to witness the contract. [A]Minford:"and where with no delay he embraced her and,finding her to be far from unreceptive,proceeded to make love to her."There is nothing here about marriage.Which makes Giles's note 2 almost comical. [B]Minford:""Look at you!'they teased the girl.'You've most probably got a baby on the way by now,and still you wear your hair like a little girl. [C]Giles simply removes this passage:"They were alone again and soon fell to further sports of love,his senses suffused with the heady perfume that emanated from her body,a scent of orchid mingled with musk."As translated by Minford. [D]Minford renders this:"The source of illusion lies within man himself." IV.PLANTING A PEAR-TREE A COUNTRYMAN was one day selling his pears in the market.They were unusually sweet and fine flavoured,and the price he asked was high.A Taoist[1]priest in rags and [p 9]tatters stopped at the barrow and begged one of them.The countryman told him to go away,but as he did not do so he began to curse and swear at him.The priest said,"You have several hundred pears on your barrow;I ask for a single one,the loss of which,Sir,you would not feel.Why then get angry?"The lookers-on told the country-man to give him an inferior one and let him go,but this he obstinately refused to do.Thereupon the beadle of the place,finding the commotion too great,purchased a pear and handed it to the priest.The latter received it with a bow and turning to the crowd said,"We who have left our homes and given up all that is dear to us[2]are at a loss to understand selfish niggardly conduct in others.Now I have some exquisite pears which I shall do myself the honour to put before you."Here.somebody asked, "Since you have pears yourself,why don't you eat those?""Because,"replied the priest,"I wanted one of these pips to grow them from." So saying he munched up the pear;and when he had finished took a pip in his hand, unstrapped a pick from his back,and proceeded to make a hole in the ground,several inches deep,wherein he deposited the pip,filling in the earth as before.He then asked the bystanders for a little hot water to water it with,and one among them who loved a joke fetched him some boiling water from a neighbouring shop.The priest poured this
astonished at this and asked the old priest the reason. He replied, “Visions have their origin in those who see them:[D] what explanation can I give?” This answer was very unsatisfactory to Mr. Chu; neither did his friend, who was rather frightened, know what to make of it all; so they descended the temple steps and went away. 1 Which will doubtless remind the reader of “Alice through the Looking-glass, and what she saw there.” 2 The all-important item of a Chinese marriage ceremony; amounting, in fact, to calling God to witness the contract. [A] Minford: “and where with no delay he embraced her and, finding her to be far from unreceptive, proceeded to make love to her.” There is nothing here about marriage. Which makes Giles’s note 2 almost comical. [B] Minford: “‘Look at you!’ they teased the girl. ‘You’ve most probably got a baby on the way by now, and still you wear your hair like a little girl.’ [C] Giles simply removes this passage: “They were alone again and soon fell to further sports of love, his senses suffused with the heady perfume that emanated from her body, a scent of orchid mingled with musk.” As translated by Minford. [D] Minford renders this: “The source of illusion lies within man himself.” IV. PLANTING A PEAR-TREE A COUNTRYMAN was one day selling his pears in the market. They were unusually sweet and fine flavoured, and the price he asked was high. A Taoist[1] priest in rags and [p 9] tatters stopped at the barrow and begged one of them. The countryman told him to go away, but as he did not do so he began to curse and swear at him. The priest said, “You have several hundred pears on your barrow; I ask for a single one, the loss of which, Sir, you would not feel. Why then get angry?” The lookers-on told the country-man to give him an inferior one and let him go, but this he obstinately refused to do. Thereupon the beadle of the place, finding the commotion too great, purchased a pear and handed it to the priest. The latter received it with a bow and turning to the crowd said, “We who have left our homes and given up all that is dear to us[2] are at a loss to understand selfish niggardly conduct in others. Now I have some exquisite pears which I shall do myself the honour to put before you.” Here. somebody asked, “Since you have pears yourself, why don’t you eat those?” “Because,” replied the priest, “I wanted one of these pips to grow them from.” So saying he munched up the pear; and when he had finished took a pip in his hand, unstrapped a pick from his back, and proceeded to make a hole in the ground, several inches deep, wherein he deposited the pip, filling in the earth as before. He then asked the bystanders for a little hot water to water it with, and one among them who loved a joke fetched him some boiling water from a neighbouring shop. The priest poured this