Chinese Merry Tales (1909)/2

Chapter II.— A Self-Sacrificing Neighbor.

(Borrowing An Ox  借牛)

A VILLAGER wrote a note to a wealthy man of the same village, asking for the loan of an ox. When the note arrived, the man of wealth had a friend dining with him. The rich man, although he possessed a great deal of worldly goods, had no education and, unwilling to show his ignorance by requesting his friend to read for him, he took up the note and made a pretence of reading it. He said to the messenger: "This affair is very easy to manage; you may go home first, in a little while I will follow."

Note.—As the rich man's friend asked for the loan of an ox, the illiterate wealthy goes himself; he is therefore taken for an ox.

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