The singing frogs

WANG Tzu-sun told me that when he was at the capital he saw a man in the street who gave the following performance: He had a wooden box, divided by partitions into twelve holes, in each of which was a frog; and whenever he tapped any one of these frogs on the head with a tiny wand, the frog so touched would immediately begin to sing. Some one gave him a piece of silver, and then he tapped the frogs all round, just as if he was striking a gong; whereupon they all sang together, with their Do, Re, Mi, Fa, in perfect time and harmony.

蛙曲
　　王子巽言：在都時，曾見一人作劇于市，攜木盒作格，凡十有二孔，每孔伏蛙。以細杖敲其首，輒哇然作鳴。或與金錢，則亂擊蛙頂，如拊云鑼之樂，宮商詞曲，了了可辨。

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The wonderful pear-tree

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