CXLI.

SNOW IN SUMMER.

On the 6th day of the 7th moon[280] of the year Ting-Hai (1647) there was a heavy fall of snow at Soochow. The people were in a great state of consternation at this, and went off to the temple of the Great Prince[281] to pray. Then the spirit moved one of them to say, “You now address me as _Your Honour_. Make it _Your Excellency_, and, though I am but a lesser deity, it may be well worth your while to do so.” Thereupon the people began to use the latter term, and the snow stopped at once; from which I infer that flattery is just as pleasant to divine as to mortal ears.[282]

FOOTNOTES:

[280] This would be exactly at the hottest season.

[281] The _Jupiter Pluvius_ of the neighbourhood.

[282] A sneer at the superstitious custom of praying for good or bad weather, which obtains in China from the Son of Heaven himself down to the lowest agriculturist whose interests are involved. Droughts, floods, famines, and pestilences, are alike set down to the anger of Heaven, to be appeased only by prayer and repentance.