Some time ago, your correspondent heard a curious story, which goes to pile up the evidence showing how Confucius is honoured and worshipped by his countrymen. It is said that at a plice about sixty li from Hsiichien a number of workmen one day some tens of years ago came across a stove image in the bottom of a creek. Tt was buried in the sand, but they dug about it and pulled at it till they got it out to view. Then the crowd of men went for copes and poles to carry it up to higher ground, They tugged and tugged but could not move the heavy stone image. A young boy suddenly appeared on the scene and, while the workmen were resting from their efforts, he went up to the image and, looking into its face, said: "Chung Ni, Chung Ni, of course Chung Ni, why you are Chung Ni! {Chung (ff) means heavy," and Ni (2) has the force of "indeed." These two sounds also represent the common name or style of Confucius~ Chung Ni (ff He then commanded the mes to Ay B)] and carry it to the bank. They lifted it up with ease! Looking around lo see who this wonderful child was, behold he had gone! They then thought of what the boy had said, and, looking at the image, they concluded it was certainly Confucius, They placed it on " favourable spot and built over it a temple, and there it is worshipped to this day.
20th June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.