II
For two days Kong-Hwa was good—no schoolmate complained, no neighbor complained. He studied his lessons and obeyed his teacher. Then he went again to his mother’s house. He saw that she was alive, and in a few days he was again as bad as ever.
“I can not teach him, he must learn things for himself,” said his mother; “I do not know what else I can do.”
And it was so until he was twelve years old. His mother tried to help him to do right, but it seemed of no use.
Shortly after he was twelve years old, he came home from school one day and said, “Mü-Ts’ing, I want to go to Siang-Sze. I will leave school. No one likes me; no one plays with me. I do not like school and I will not go anymore. I shall be a merchant and make money.”
His mother thought he was too young to know what he wanted, and so paid little attention to him. But he insisted, and finally she said, “Go to your father.”
His father was surprised and asked, “You wish to [[172]]make money? How can you make money without money? Siang-Sze is a long way off and it will cost you much to go there. Then you will need more to be a merchant.”
Kong-Hwa said, “Give me enough to reach Siang-Sze and I will go.” He insisted until his father beat him and said, “Now go back to school. I will hear no more of this.”
Kong-Hwa was keen and determined. He borrowed money, quietly, a little here and a little there, and then he ran away to Siang-Sze.
For many days his mother tried to find him. She did not think he would go far by himself. Finally she learned that he had gone to Siang-Sze and gave up searching for him.
Nine years had gone by when a man from Siang-Sze told of seeing Kong-Hwa there. His parents wrote to him, but no answer came. Thirteen years passed by and they thought, “We shall never see his face again.”
One day Kong-Hwa, who still lived in Siang-Sze, said to a friend, “I must go home now, if I can get money enough. I have learned some life lessons and now I am going.”
His friend said, “We have good times in Siang-Sze. Why do you leave?” [[173]]
“It is not the place where I ought to be,” answered Kong-Hwa. “I have tried many things here and in all the thirteen years have not had success. No one will have me for a bookkeeper. I tried to be a merchandise agent, and in two months I was discharged. I then worked in a bank for forty days, when they paid my salary and told me to go. To-morrow I need money to pay my rent, three months due; but I have no money. I order clothes, and they say, ‘No money, no clothes.’ I ask friends to lend me some, and they do not even answer me.
“I see now I have been very foolish. I have been here thirteen years and I try to have a good time. I drink, I smoke, I dance, I go to theaters and halls every night—every night. I spend all of my money when I have work. Now I have no work; all my friends have left me; they will not trust me for a piece of silver. I have been very bad. I was a bad boy at home. My mother was good and gave me many lessons which I would not learn.
“Because my mother was so good, I have no excuse for my miserable condition now. I must go home and show her I am sorry at last. I know now that in all the world there is no friend like a mother.
“I will write to her to-morrow and say in my letter, ‘Mü-Ts’ing, I am going to leave the opium, theater, [[174]]and dance—all bad things.’ I will ask her to send me money to come home, and I will then take my father’s place on the farm.
“I will take the oxen and plow the rice fields, plant the corn, and tell my father to rest. I will help my mother so she need not cook nor do any other work. There is no one like father and mother, and no place but my home for me now.”
Kong-Hwa wrote the letter and sent it by a friend, telling him to say “good words” for him; for he felt that he deserved nothing after causing his parents so much sorrow.
“Thirteen long years and at last a letter from our dear son,” cried Kong-Hwa’s mother.
His parents were filled with joy and asked the bearer of the good news all about him. How long would it take for the letter and money that they would send to reach him? Would he come at once?
His mother wrote: “My son, Kong-Hwa, come to our home. We feel that you will do what you say in your letter. The house, the land, and all we have is yours and we will rejoice to have you come and care for them. The time will seem long until you are here.”
Kong-Hwa went to his parents as soon as the letter and money came to him. And he was a good man [[175]]from that time and served his parents and made their old age glad. He did everything as he had said he would. He took the oxen and plowed the rice fields. He planted the corn, and he helped his mother in the house, and all were happy.
[[176]]
THE LION AND THE MOSQUITOES
獅受蚊敵
One day Ah-Fou’s father said to him, “Come here, my boy, and I will tell you a story. Do you remember the great lion we saw one day, which Ah-Kay caught? You know a strong rope held him, and he roared and tried to free himself until he died. Then when Ah-Kay took him from the net, he looked at the rope and the [[177]]bamboo carefully, and found five of the great ropes broken.
“How strong is the lion? Twenty children like you could not break one strand of that great rope. But the lion broke five complete ropes. He is the strongest of all animals. He catches many creatures for his food, but once he lost a battle with one of the least of the wilderness creatures. Do you know what it was?”
“A bird could fight and then fly away. Was it a bird?”
“No, my son.”
“A man is stronger than a lion.”
“No, do you not remember the woodcutter who could put down five strong men? One night a wilderness lion caught and killed him.”
“Then what was the smallest of all creatures of the wilderness that battled with a lion?”
The father said, “I will tell you the story: Once in the summer time the lion was very thirsty. But the sun had taken all the water near the lion’s home and he went to many places seeking for it. In time he found an old well, but the water was not fresh. As the lion was very thirsty he said, ‘I must drink, even though the water is stale.’
“But when he reached down into the old well, he [[178]]found that it was the home of all the mosquitoes of the wilderness.
“The mosquitoes said to the lion, ‘Go away, we do not want you. This is our home and we are happy. We do not wish the lion, the fox, or the bear to come here. You are not our friend. Why do you come?’
“The lion roared and said, ‘Weak and foolish things! I am the lion. It is you that should go away, for I have come to drink. This is my wilderness, and I am king. Do you know, weak things, that when I come out from my place and send forth my voice, all the creatures of the wilderness shake like leaves and bow their heads to me? What are you that you should have a place you call your home and tell me that I may or I may not?’
“Then the mosquitoes answered, ‘You are only one. You speak as if you were many. Our people had this old well for a home before your roar was heard in the wilderness. And many generations of us have been born here. This home is ours, and we are they that say who shall come or go. And yet you come and tell us to go out of our own door. If you do not leave us, we will call our people, and you shall know trouble.’
“But the lion held his head high with pride and anger and said, ‘What are you, oh small of the small? I will kill every one of your useless people. When I drink, I will open my mouth only a little wider, and you shall [[179]]be swallowed like the water. And to-morrow, I shall forget that I drank to-day.’
“ ‘Boastful one,’ said the mosquitoes, ‘we do not believe that you have the power to destroy all our people. If you wish battle, we shall see. We know your name is great and that all animals bow their heads before you; but our people can kill you.’
“The lion jumped high in his rage and said, ‘No other creature in the wilderness has dared to say these things to me—the king. Have I come to the vile well of the silly mosquitoes for wisdom?’ And he held his head high, and gave the mighty roar of battle, and made ready to kill all the mosquitoes.
“Then the mosquitoes, big and little, flew around him. Many went into his ears, and the smallest ones went into his nose, and the big old ones went into his mouth to sting. A thousand and a thousand hung in the air, just over his head and made a great noise, and the lion soon knew that he could not conquer.
“He roared and jumped, and two of his front feet went down into the well. The well was narrow and deep and he could not get out, for his two hind feet were in the air and his head hung downward. And as he died, he said to himself:
“ ‘My pride and anger have brought me this fate. Had I used gentle words, the mosquitoes might have [[180]]given me water for my thirst. I was wise and strong in the wilderness, and even the greatest of the animals feared my power. But I fought with the mosquitoes and I die—not because I have not strength to overcome, but because of the foolishness of anger.’ ”
Ee-Sze (Meaning): The wise can conquer the foolish. Power is nothing, strength is nothing. The wise, gentle, and careful can always win. [[181]]
THE THIEF AND THE ELEPHANT
以象問案
Six hundred years ago the people of Southern China trained elephants and taught them to do many useful things. They worked for farmers and woodcutters, and helped make the roads twice a year; for an elephant could do many times more work than any other animal. So wise were the elephants that the people grew superstitious [[182]]about them, believing they could see even into the heart of man.
A judge named Ko-Kia-Yong had an elephant that was trained to do this wonderful thing, so it was said. Three cases which were brought before him, were decided by a wise old elephant which he owned. And this is the way one of the decisions was made:
A man came before the judge and said that some robbers had been in his house during the night and had taken his gold and jewels—all that he had; and he asked the judge to find and punish the thieves.
In three months, five robbers had been found. When they were brought to the judge, they bowed before him and each one said, “I have never stolen anything.”
The man and woman who had been robbed were called. And the woman said, “That man with the long gray hair is the one who robbed us.”
The judge asked, “Are you sure it is he, and how do you know?”
She answered, “Yes, I remember. He took the bracelet from my arm and I looked into his face.”
“Did the other four rob you also?” asked the judge.
The woman answered, “I do not know.”
But the judge said, “The man who you say is a robber, seems not like one to me. His face is kind and [[183]]gentle. I can not decide according to your testimony. I know of but one way to find out, and we shall soon know the truth in this matter. My elephant shall be brought in to examine the men. He can read the mind and heart of man; and those who are not guilty need have no fear, for he will surely know the one who has done this deed.”
Four of the men looked glad.
They were stripped and stood naked—all but the cloth—before the judge and the law of the nation, and the elephant was brought in.
Then the judge said to the elephant, “Examine these men and tell us which is the robber.” The elephant touched with his trunk each of the five accused men, from his head to his feet.
And the white-haired man and the three others stood still and laughed at the elephant with happy faces; for they knew in their hearts they were not guilty and they thought the elephant knew. But the fifth man shivered with fear and his face changed to many colors. While the elephant was examining him, the judge said, “Do your duty,” and rapped loudly. The elephant took the guilty man and threw him down on the floor, dead.
Then the judge said to the four guiltless men, “You may go.” And to the woman he said, “Be careful whom you accuse.” Then he said to the elephant, [[184]]“Food and water are waiting for you. I hope you may live a long time, and help me to judge wisely.”
After this many wise men who were not superstitious went to the judge and said:
“We know that your elephant can not read the heart and mind of man. What kind of food do you give him and what do you teach him? Man himself lives only from sixty to one hundred years and he knows little. How could an elephant read the heart of man, a thing which man, himself, can not do? Did the spirit of a dead man grow wise and enter that elephant? We pray that you explain.”
And Ko-Kio-Yong, the wise judge, laughed and said, “My elephant eats and drinks as other elephants do. I think he surely does not know a robber from an honest man, but this is a belief among our people. The honest man believes it and has no fear, because he has done no wrong. The thief believes it, and is filled with terror. Trial before the elephant is only confession through fear.” [[185]]
THE GENERAL, THE BIRD, AND THE ANT[1]
將軍賴蟻
The people of the north nation were causing the king, Ting Ming Wong, much trouble, and one day he ordered his general, Gui Süt Yun, to declare war on them. [[186]]
The brave general prepared to march north at once. He led an army of twenty-five thousand cavalry, followed by one thousand infantry.
By the time they reached Mau Tin Lang the soldiers were very tired, for they had then marched ten days. Orders were given that they rest for three days before proceeding.
The weather was very warm, and on the second day there was no more water, not even to drink. The soldiers dug wells in many places, hoping to find water; but each time they were disappointed.
A report was then made to the general, Gui Süt Yun, which said, “The men and horses are near death for the lack of water.”
Then the general ordered many men to go in different directions within a radius of ten miles to search for water.
The following morning two hundred men were dead, and still no water could be found.
Then the general, Gui Süt Yun, said, “We must all die here if we do not find water. If it is within one hundred miles, I will find it.” He then mounted his favorite war horse, and rode until both he and the horse were ready to die with the terrible thirst. He tried to feed his horse with green leaves; but he was weak and suffering, and the general lay down for rest and sleep. [[187]]He cried in bitterness of spirit. Then he looked up to heaven and said:
“Has our king done a great wrong or have our soldiers done evil? Why should we perish here in a strange land? In the hour that I rest and sleep here, may a spirit show me the path that leads out of this great trouble.
“It may be that if the north kingdom is right, we shall die here and not even go to battle. But if we are right, this thing should not be. When we first came here, there was plenty of water. Why did the earth drink up this water and leave us to die? As I sleep, may a spirit show me the meaning of all this.”
Then he slept. And he saw one of the great wilderness ants; and a bird flew down to eat the ant. But the ant spoke and said, “I know that you birds try to eat our family all the time. But it is not right that one creature should eat another. You have power to overcome any ant and eat it if you wish, but man has charge of this world. When the hunter comes you can not escape his arrow or his net.
“It is not right that one creature should be against another creature. Go your way, and I will go my way, so that I may find food for my children.
“I have one hundred and fifty eggs in my nest now and I hope every one will soon hatch. Then my children [[188]]will depend on me to help them. They will all die if you eat me, their parent. The earth has much grain, wheat, and rice. These are enough for your food.”
Then the bird answered, “Tell me what makes you so wise. I am a bird. I am much handsomer than you and I have a beautiful song. The children of men all like me. It is true, as you say, the hunter does catch my people sometimes. But there are many men who raise birds in their own houses and teach them to sing. Then they take us to the music hall or theater where they get money for our songs.
“One member of the bird family carries letters for man; and our feathers are used to make feather balls for the children to play with. So you see, birds are very useful. But as for the ant I can not see how he is useful to man or beast.”
“Oh, you are mistaken,” said the ant earnestly. “Do you see this general here? He needs me to help him now. Do you know why he is lying here? He and his war horse are near death for the lack of water. Soon more than a thousand soldiers will be dead. Then the north nation will take this general’s nation, and his people will no longer have a country. But I will save them.
“Long ago our people saved a nation. Once there was a war between the east and the west nations, and [[189]]the general, Hai Hau, nearly perished for water, even as this general here is doing. But my people always build their homes near water, and he followed their road and they showed him the way to water and saved many lives.”
Then the bird opened his mouth and laughed scornfully, “Chic, Chic, I do not believe that story. You are speaking falsely. I know of one very evil thing your people have done, which I will tell you about.
“Men built a great tower on the North Mountain once, and soon it fell to earth again. After a time they discovered the cause of this trouble. It was not the wind, nor the storm, nor the rain, nor even the earthquake that shook the tower down. It was found that ants had eaten the wood and this caused it to break and fall.
“Birds do not make trouble in the world. Ants do. But I will give you fair warning, that if you do not do this good thing you boast of, I will eat you at once.”
The ant answered, “You shall yet see that I am able to save this general, his soldiers, and his horses.”
The ant then went straight to the general’s ear and said to him, “Do you remember General Hai Hau who was lost in this wilderness? If you will go to the forest, you will see a black street full of my people. They will lead you to their nests near the great cave spring [[190]]in the wilderness, which was named Hai Hau for the general who discovered it. It is only a half mile from here.”
Then the general, Gui Süt Yun, awoke and said, “Strange, but I surely heard an ant and a bird talking together while I slept. Where is my map? I did not know of the cave of Hai Hau.”
He found the great cave spring, and he and his horse drank. Then he hurried back to the soldiers, and their lives were saved. [[191]]
[1] The Chinese say that this is a true story which shows that the General Gui Süt Yun was a very good man and true. Otherwise the dream would not have been given him. [↑]
THREE GIRLS WHO WENT TO A BOYS’ SCHOOL
名符其行
There were thirty-five scholars in the school at Qui-Chu, and three were girls. The boys played by themselves and the three girls played together.
One day the teacher said to his mother, “I think I [[192]]shall have the girls dress in boys’ clothes next year, if they come to school.”
“Why will you do this?” asked his mother.
“Because the boys do not like girls in the school. They will not play, read, or write with them. They tease them and laugh at them. I fear the girls must leave the school next year, and they are only nine years old. But we shall see.”[1]
When the next year came, the mother was willing to do as her son said. She took some cloth and made boys’ clothes for the three girls, which she put on them to see how they would look dressed as boys.
When the girls were dressed, they looked at each other and laughed. “What will you do with the ear-holes, grandmother?” they asked. “Surely the boys will know we are girls.”
The mother called her son and asked him, “What shall we do with the ear-holes? They look like boys [[193]]now, save for that one thing. I fear the girls can not go to school.”
“I will see,” replied her son. He thought much for two days. Then he went to find an old doctor in the next village, far enough away so that no one would know. He asked the doctor, “Can you close the ear-holes so that girls’ ears will be as boys’?”
“Oh, yes,” answered the doctor, “I can if you will pay me.” Then the doctor came and put something in the ear-holes and colored it so that it looked like skin, and the grandmother was satisfied to send the girls to school.
But the teacher forgot and called them girls’ names. The others laughed at the three boys with funny names, but they did not seem to remember them.
Five or six months went by, and the boys had not yet learned that the three scholars with the pretty names were the girls of last year. Then one boy came to the teacher and asked, “Why do those boys have girls’ names? I wish to know.”
The teacher thought a moment and said, “Lily—Beauty—Moon. That boy was called Lily, I think, because he was so red[2] when he was a little baby. The mother thought he ought to be called ‘Red,’ but [[194]]that is not a pretty name for a baby, and so they called him Lily.
“And do you not think that Beauty’s name suits him? He is the handsomest boy in the school. I think his mother called him Beauty because he was such a pretty baby. He is as pretty as a girl. I think it is right that he should be called Beauty. Moon’s name is suitable for him, too. You know he is gentle and fair. Did you ever see a more gentle boy in school? I think he was always very gentle and fair, and so his mother gave him that name. All his friends like him as they do the moon.”
The boy ran away and told the other pupils what his teacher had said about the three boys with the pretty names.
New Year came, and each boy had to write his name on a piece of paper and hand it to the teacher, so that he could give them their school names.[3] Eight gave [[195]]their names as Beauty, and seventeen as Moon, while all the others wanted to be called Lily. They expected the teacher would allow them to have those as their school names.
In the summer time the scholars had a vacation and the teacher went away for a time.
One day they were all on the playground playing “Theater.” They took nine of the prettiest boys and put red and white on their faces and dressed them like ladies and bound their feet to make them small. Six boys put on false beards. Then they piled up chairs and tables high to make a mountain, and the boys with bound feet were to cross over to the other side. The boys who had to climb over the mountain from the opposite side were careless, and when all met at the top, they tumbled and fell down in a heap. One boy broke his arm, one broke his finger, and one hurt his eye. The other boys did not stay to help or see what they could do for those who were hurt. All but the three girls, who were dressed like boys, ran away in fear, and left the wounded children lying on the ground.
One girl ran for the doctor. The other two stayed and gave the hurt ones water to drink, fanned their faces, kept the flies away, and cared for them like little mothers. [[196]]
In a few minutes the doctor came. He asked, “What were you doing, boys?” The boys were so hurt and scared that they could not talk, but the girls told how it had all happened.
The doctor bound up the broken arm and finger, and dressed the bruised eye. He was a good doctor and said, “These boys must lie still several days. They can not get up without my orders; now who is willing to take care of them?”
“We will help,” said the three girls.
* * *
The teacher came back and school began again. When he called for the names of the pupils, they gave those which they liked best—Lily, Beauty, and Moon—as before, but the teacher said, “No, these names are all wrong.
“There is only one Lily, one Beauty, and one Moon in this school now. You boys can not use the names I gave you. You had beautiful names, but your acts were not beautiful.
“You ran away when your schoolmates were hurt. You had no pity for them. Had it not been for Lily, Beauty, and Moon, they would have died. These names mean something. Beauty makes the world a pleasant place for us to live in. The Moon shines and gives us [[197]]soft light. The Lily gives us beauty and sweet-smelling odors.
“Your acts were not like the names. After this, when boys want such names they must do something to be worthy of them.”
[[198]]
[1] In China the girls do not attend the private schools with the boys, after they are about twelve years old. A little education at home is considered enough for the girls, for the Chinese say, “We want our women to be gentle, kind and obedient, and too much wisdom might not be good for them.”
The attitude of the Chinese toward their women is paternal, but when the women become mothers and raise a family (especially if there are sons) their power and influence increase with the years, and the mother who lives in her son’s home is a person of great importance to her son and his wife, who must serve her. Her wishes are deferred to and she is granted willing service and obedience by all the household. [↑]
[2] In China the favorite lily is red. [↑]
[3] In China four names are given to a boy.
1st. The “mother name,” which is given the child by the mother when it is born.
2d. The “school name,” given when he begins school and which he keeps throughout his school days, his degree being given to him in this name.
3d. At sixteen, when he becomes legally of age, he takes a “given name,” which is a variation of his school name and is the name by which he is generally known throughout life.
4th. About the time his education is completed the young man selects a name by which he is known only to his most intimate friends. [↑]
THE RATTAN VINE AND THE ROSE TREE
蔓莖與梅樹
In the San-Wui district, in the garden of a rich merchant, lived the Lon-da-Tang[1] (rattan vine) and the Mui-Kwi (rose tree).
One day the rose tree said to the rattan vine, “Lon-da-Tang, please tell me how you grow so fast. [[199]]What do you eat that you are able to go any where you wish? Nothing seems to hurt you. Nothing seems to stop you, not even the stone fences or the clay roofs. You have no fear, and there seems to be no danger for you. You care not for the heat of the sun when he is close in the summer time. The rain comes down with a rushing noise from dark places in the heavens, and you are not afraid. The wind blows hard and bends our heads to the earth, but you seem not even to heed it.”
Then the Lon-da-Tang with a proud and happy summer face answered the rose tree, “Mui-Kwi-Si[2] (Mrs. Rose Tree), you should be made to leave this garden. I would not allow you to grow here if I were master.
“I have known you five or six years. The master put you in the earth and gave you much dirt to feed upon. He gives you water every morning. In the winter time he gives you a cover and a bed of straw. He trims your branches and serves you in many ways. And yet you do not grow. [[200]]
“You are nine years old now, and only five or six feet tall, while I am only four years old and my branches measure many thousands of feet. You bear a few flowers in the summer, and that is all you can do. You have no fruit and not many leaves. You stand still in the garden and do nothing useful. You ought to be ashamed. Do you see my branches? Although I have been here but four years, I now reach over this house and am climbing the fence on the other side. Next year, I shall go and cover up another house.
“The master likes me in summer, because I keep the hot sun from the roof and make his house cool. The children like me, too. Sometimes they climb in my arms and swing. And the fence likes me, because I cover it so thickly that I protect it from the children and the pigs. The birds build their nests high in my arms and they like me also. The bugs like me, because I give them a home and they feed upon my leaves. So the master knows that I am good for many things.
“The birds would not go to you, because you are so small; they can not build a nest upon you. The master’s wife does not care much for you, because you have so many thorns that she finds it hard to gather your flowers. You are pretty, but who cares about that? The fence is high and no one sees you. And so you stand there and do nothing.” [[201]]
Then the rose tree replied, “Lon-da-Tang, with all your boasting, you can not even stand alone. I can at least do that. I know I am not large, and the birds do not build their nests with me. I can not grow so fast as you, but my children are known to the whole great world of mankind, and are called the sweetest of all flowers.
“And besides, I am independent. I do not lean upon other things. If your house or your fence falls down, where then will be your vain boastful head?
“I care not what you say of me, whether you think a rose is good or bad, strong or weak. I do not wish to lean on the fence or roof as you do. Some day, when the house and fence grow old, they will fall down, and what will you do then?”
Soon after this, there came a great storm. In San-Wiu many houses were partly destroyed and the fences fell to the ground. The roof of the merchant’s house was blown off. The proud rattan vine, Lon-da-Tang, was broken in many places, and his head lay low on the earth.
But the rose tree stood firm. And she laughed and said to the rattan, “I told you that it was dangerous to lean upon other things and never to learn to stand by yourself. I would not trust any house or fence to do my standing for me. I would rather be independent. [[202]]I grow all the leaves, stems, and flowers I want, and so I stand here forever. The north wind comes and I bow my head to the south. Then the south wind comes and opens my beautiful flowers. I am the rose tree, and in my own strength I stand.”
The following new Ee-Sze has been added to this old story:
Ee-Sze (Meaning): China and her people should be as the rose tree. We must rely upon ourselves. We are better students than warriors; once, when we found ourselves in trouble, we leaned on Japan. Then, when we had trouble with her, Russia told us she would help. But she was much worse and wished to take our land and to make us a people without a country. [[203]]
[1] The literal meaning of “Lon-da-Tang” is, “Never stop growing.” This is a vine-like rattan brought from the Pang-Wu Island to China [[199]]over a thousand years ago by some Chinese fishermen. It grows with wonderful rapidity, completely covering a house in about three years. It affords valuable protection from the hot sun to the thin-roofed Chinese houses. [↑]
[2] Mrs. Rose Tree:—The Chinese fables call all fruit or flower-bearing plants or trees, Mrs. or Miss. Trees, or plants that do not bear flowers or fruits, are called Mr. [↑]
THE MELON AND THE PROFESSOR
學由瓜得
Wu-Kiao was a professor in a large Chinese university, and a very proud and learned man. Hundreds of students were under his teaching, and many thousands honored him. When he went out of his house, five people followed, singing and playing the drum all the [[204]]way down the street, and eight men carried his chair. At home he had six servants about him. During each meal, thirty dishes were served at his table.
The professor was a great man. Through his wisdom and out of his deep knowledge, he explained all questions to the people.
One day Wu-Kiao sat in the shade of a tree in his garden. He turned his head and saw a watermelon lying on the ground, nearly covered with its green leaves. Then, seeing the fig tree with many figs on it, he said, “I think the Creator should have made the melon grow on this tree.”
He touched the tree and said, “How strong you are; you could bear larger fruit like the watermelon.” And he said to the vine, “You, so thin and small, should bear small fruit like the fig. Things are not well ordered. Mistakes are made in creation.” Just then a fig dropped from the tree on his nose, and he was a little bruised.
Then he said, “I was wrong. If the fig tree bore fruit as large as the watermelon and dropped it on my nose, I think I should be killed. It would be a dangerous tree to all people. I must study more carefully. I know many things and many people; and if I study and think more deeply, it may be I shall come to know that the Creator’s works are perfect.” [[205]]