My eldest sister’s husband’s grandfather, named Sung Tao, was a graduate. One day, while lying down for sickness, an official messenger arrived, bringing an official document in his hand and leading a horse with a white forehead to summon him to the examination for his master’s degree. Mr. Sung here remarked that the Grand Examiner had not yet come, and asked why there should be so hurry. The messenger did not reply to this, but urged him. Mr. Sung roused himself, and getting upon the horse rode with him. 

    The way seemed strange, they reached a city which like the capital. They then entered a magnificent government offices; and there they found some ten officials sitting at the upper end, all strangers to Mr. Sung, with the exception of one whom he recognised to be the God of War. In the verandah were two tables and two stools, and at the end of one of the former a candidate was already seated, so Mr. Sung sat down alongside of him. On the table were writing materials for each, and suddenly down flew a piece of paper with a theme on it, consisting of the following eight words:—“One man, two men; by intention, without intention.” When Mr. Sung had finished his essay, he took it into the hall. It contained the following passage: “Those who are virtuous by intention, though virtuous, shall not be rewarded. Those who are wicked without intention, though wicked, shall receive no punishment.” 

    The presiding deities praised this sentiment very much, and calling Mr. Sung to come forward, said to him, “A district's god is needed in Honan. You are suitable for this position.” Mr. Sung no sooner realize he was dead then he bowed his head and wept, saying, “Unworthy though I am of the honour you have conferred upon me, I should not venture to decline it but that my aged mother has reached her seventh decade, and there is no one now to take care of her. I pray you let me wait until she has fulfilled her destiny, when I will hold myself at your disposal.” Above elephant king's god, gave instructions to search out his mother’s term of life, and a long-bearded attendant forthwith brought in the Book of Fate. On turning it over, he declared that she still had nine years to live; and then a consultation was held among the gods, the God of War said, “Very well. Let another candidate Mr. Chang take the position and be relieved in nine years’ time.” Then, turning to Mr. Sung, he continued, “You ought to proceed without delay to your position; but as a reward for your filial piety, you are granted a furlough of nine years. At the expiration of that time you will receive another summons.” He next addressed a few kind words to Mr. Chang; and the two candidates, having made their kotow, went away together. 

    Grasping Mr. Sung’s hand, his companion, who introduces himself is Changshan's Chang, accompanied him outside the city and gave him farewell present by the poem, all forgets its word but the sentence:

With wine and flowers we chase the hours, 
In one eternal spring:
No moon, no light, to cheer the night, 
Thyself that ray must bring.

    Mr. Sung says goodbye goes. When he reached his home; he awaked as if from a dream, and found that he had been dead three days, when his mother, hearing a groan in the coffin, holds him to come out, passes through can speak quite a while, and then he at once inquired about Changshan, where, a person Chang had died that very day.

    After nine years,Mr. Sung’s mother, passed away; and when the funeral obsequies were over, her son, having first purified himself, entered into his chamber and died also. Now his wife’s family lived within the city, near the western gate; and all of a sudden they beheld Mr. Sung, accompanied by numerous chariots and horses with carved trappings and red-tasselled bits, enter into the hall, make an obeisance, and depart. They were very much disconcerted at this, not knowing that he had become a god, and rushed out into the village to make inquiries, when they heard he was already dead. Mr. Sung had an account of his adventure written by himself; but unfortunately after the insurrection it was not to be found. This is only an outline of the story.

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