The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-01
YES; what of it,"

OF cloth from me IN the last year. l
need this piece for myself"
''But I'll pay you for it all when
my son comes back" persisted the
old man; land we really haven't the
cash to buy food with; if you don't
give me the cloth, we'll starve."
The girl noisily opened a wooden
box near her, and took out piece of
coarse white cotton cloth, which she
threw on the floor in front of Mr.. Lin.
eff you must have it, there it is, you
=" The rest of the sentence was
too indistinct to be heard, but Mr..
Lin guessed at the meaning; he had
the coveted cloth, and could now af-
ford to get angry in his turn. Selling
piece of charred wood, with which
he had been raking out Goals for his
pipe, he hit the cloth three savage
blows.
He would have preferred to beat
his daughter in-law, but he had not
the courage for that. However, the
childish act soothed him, and he
started for the market, two miles dis
tant, in good spirits. A high wind
was blowing, and as Mr.. Lin paused
for moment on threshing floor to
rest, his small black cap was blown
away. Putting the cloth upon a
stone roller, from which he carefully
brushed the snow, he scrambled down
into the ravine to hunt for his cap.
When he returned to the threshing
floor a few minutes later, Mr.. Lin
could see no signs of the cloth. Some
one had stolen it during his short
absence, and the thief was nowhere
to be seen. This was indeed calam-
ity. After all the trouble he had
taken to get the cloth, to have it
stolen before he had even reached
the market!
The old man did not care to go
home, SO he plodded sullenly along
the great road until an acquaintance
overlook him, to whom he told his
trouble.
Magistrate Lee is a wise man. u
said his friend, thoughtfully; "sup-
pose you take the case to him."
ooh, | wouldn't dare to do that,
said Mr.. Lin
"Why not?" returned his friend
"I'm used to lawsuits, and I'll go
with you and help you"
''But we. would have to get law
yer to write out the case, and hav-
emit any money. to pay one," objected
Mr.. Lin.
ave won't need a lawyer. Well
go in and beat the drum" said his
friend; then seeing Mr.. Lin's hesita-
ton, ''I'll do it if you are afraid" he
continued. II tell you, Magistrate
Lee is not like the common run of
officials. He is just and patient, and
is the wisest man l ever heard Of"
swell, I'll appeal to the magistrate
if you'll help me-" said Mr.. Lin, re-
luctantly; "but l wouldn't do it if
there was any other way to get my
New Years dinner"
The two friends reached the ofic-
ial's gates about ten o'clock. Forum
ately for them, the soldiers were eat
ing their breakfast, and did not notice
them as they entered quietly. Hast
ening up the steps before the judg-
ment hall, Mr.. Lin's friend seized the
sticks and beat a vigorous tattoo on
the drum standing at the entrance.
Immediately there was an uproar.
Soldiers and underlings came run
ming to the court from all directions.
One of them demanded of Mr.. Lin
his Grand.
81 have an important case" STAN
mered the old man, trembling. Il
can tell no one about it except the
magistrate"
"It must be some fearful murder"
ran through the soldiers, now drawn
up in two long lines waiting for the
arrival of the mandarin. He soon
came-a large, fne-looking man clad
in his official robes.
The soldiers gave three loud shouts
as the magistrate took his seat in the
hall and called the two men before
him. They knelt on the brick paved
floor, abjectly knocking their heads
upon it "as fast as old hens picking
up grain"
Their names and places of resi-
dence were taken down by the Secre-
tary, and all was ready for the state
ment of the case. But Mr.. Lin's bold
friend was speechless. Too late he
realized for what small and petty
thing he had called this august court
together. Too late he remembered
the severe punishment awarded any
one who lightly tempered with the
drum, He nudRed Mr.. Lin with his