sat for examination before the
Literary Chancellor, his papers had been of a very high order of merit.

The rumours of Chung's generosity had travelled further than he had
ever dreamed of. Several reports of the noble deeds that he was
constantly performing had reached the Immortals in the Western Heaven,
and as these are profoundly concerned in the doings of mankind, steps
were taken that Chung should not go unrewarded.

One day a fairy in the disguise of a bonze called upon him. He had
always had a sincere liking for men of this class. He admired their
devotion, and he was moved by their self-sacrifice in giving up home
and kindred to spend their lives in the service of the gods and for the
good of humanity.

No sooner, therefore, had the priest entered within his doors, than he
received him with the greatest politeness and cordiality. The same
evening he prepared a great dinner, to which a number of distinguished
guests were invited, and a time of high festivity and rejoicing was
prolonged into the early hours of the morning.

Next day Chung said to his guest, "I presume you have come round
collecting for your temple. I need not assure you that I shall be most
delighted to subscribe to anything that has to do with the uplifting of
my fellow-men. My donation is ready whenever you wish to accept it."

The bonze, with a smile which lit up the whole of his countenance,
replied that he had not come for the purpose of collecting
subscriptions.

"I have come," he said, "to warn you about a far more important matter
which affects you and your family. Before very long a great flood will
take place in this district, and will sweep everything before it. It
will be so sudden that men will not be able to take measures to
preserve either their lives or their property--so instantaneous will be
the rush of the mighty streams, like ocean floods, from the mountains
you can see in the West. My advice to you is to commence at once the
construction of boats to carry you and your most precious effects away.
When the news first comes that the waters are rising, have them
anchored in the creek that flows close by your doors; and when the
crisis arrives, delay not a moment, but hurry on board and fly for your
lives."

"But when will that be?" asked Chung anxiously.

"I may not tell you the precise day or hour," replied the bonze; "but
when the eyes of the stone lions in the East Street of the city shed
tears of blood, beta