which I heard recently. He was in office somewhere in Hunan, and having a heart such as "the father of his people" should have, he used to go out at night dressed as a fortune-teller and see things for himself. One night he went into a house and offered to tell the fortunes of the old couple that ho found there, but they replied that they could not pay him. He led them into conversation and heard a tale of long straggling with sickness and poverty which touched his heart. He offered to tell their fortunes for nothing and foretold a speedy relief of their want. The next morning he sent for his secretary, and told him to take three pieces of cloth and ten taels to this old couple. When evening came ho went out as fortune-teller down the same street, and, as he expected, was welcomed by the old folks. They told him that the mandarin had to their surprise sent them one piece of cloth and three taels. The mandarin congratulated them on their luck and then returned to his yamen. The next day he sent for his secretary and asked why his gift had not been conveyed to the old folks. 'The secretary replied that it had, "That cannot be. 'They received a gift of one piece of cloth and three taels from you, but that could not be my gift. It is very' good of you to hel the poor in this way. And now if you will bring me my three pieces of cloth and ten taels, I will send them by some other messenger to supplement your kind gift." Thus was the biter bit.
15th February.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.