Chinese Merry Tales (1909)/13

Chapter XIII.—"I Burnt Him Yesterday."
(Enquiring after his Father (問令尊.)

THERE was a man who was about to leave home. He directed his son thus: " When I am away, if anyone enquire after your respected elder (father) you may reply thus: "My father has gone out; please come in and have some tea." As the son was rather stupid, the father, fearing he might forget, wrote down these few sentences on a piece of paper and handed it to his son. His son put the paper in his sleeve. When he has occasion to use it, he would secretly take out the paper and have a peep at it. For three days no one came to enquire after his father. The son said: "The writing is no earthly use." That night he burnt the paper before the lamp. When the fourth day came, a visitor Happened to call and asked: "Where is your respected elder?" The son searched his sleeve for half a day and could not find the paper. He told the visitor; "It is lost." (Mu liao also means dead). When the visitor heard these words, he was much surprised and replied: "When did he die?" "I burned him (it) last night," the son replied.