pile a block of jade of great value. In order to get
possession of this stone at a small cost, he undertook to buy the
whole heap, pretending that he wished to use it in building. The
little head of the family asked an exorbitant price for them, and, as
he could not induce her to take less, he promised to pay her the sum
she asked, and to come two days later to bring the money and to remove
the stones. That night the girl thought about the reason for the
buyer's being willing to pay so large a sum for the stones, and
concluded that the heap must contain a gem. The next morning she sent
her father-in-law to invite the buyer to supper, and she instructed
the men of her family in regard to his entertainment. The best of wine
was to be provided, and the father-in-law was to induce him to talk of
precious stones, and to cajole him into telling in what way they were
to be distinguished from other stones.

The head of the family, listening behind a curtain, heard how the
valuable stone in her heap could be discovered. She hastened to find
and remove it from the pile; and, when her guest had recovered from
the effect of the banquet, he saw that the value had departed from
his purchase. He went to negotiate again with the seller, and she
conducted the conference with such skill that she obtained the price
originally agreed upon for the heap of stones, and a large sum besides
for the one in her possession.

The family, having become wealthy, built an ancestral hall of fine
design and elaborate workmanship, and put the words "No Sorrow" as an
inscription over the entrance. Soon after, a mandarin passed that way,
and, noticing this remarkable inscription, had his sedan-chair set
down, that he might inquire who were the people that professed to have
no sorrow. He sent for the head of the family, was much surprised
on seeing so young a woman thus appear, and remarked: "Yours is a
singular family. I have never before seen one without sorrow, nor one
with so young a head. I will fine you for your impudence. Go and weave
me a piece of cloth as long as this road."

"Very well," responded the little woman; "so soon as your Excellency
shall have found the two ends of the road, and informed me as to the
number of feet in its length, I will at once begin the weaving."

Finding himself at fault, the mandarin added, "And I also fine you as
much oil as there is water in the sea."

"Certainly," responded the woman; "as soon as you shall hav