She went on to say, "There is another matter, however, that I wish
to call to your attention. I understand that where your Excellency
is now staying is a very sacred place, and that according to ancient
law men were forbidden to have women here. Is that true?"
The Governor clapped her shoulder, and said, "Well, really now, how
is it that you know of this? You are right. What shall we do about it?"
She made answer, "If you'll depend on me, I'll arrange a plan. My home
is near by, and I am also alone, so if you come quietly at night to me,
we can meet and no one will know. I shall send a felt hat by the boy,
and you can wear that for disguise. With this commoner's felt hat on
no one will know you."
The Governor was greatly delighted, and said, "How is it that you
can plan so wonderfully? I shall do as you suggest. Now you be sure
to be on hand." He repeated this two or three times.
The woman went and entered the house indicated. When evening came
she sent the hat by the boy. The Governor arrived as agreed, and
she received him, lit the lamp, and brought him refreshments and
drink. They talked and drank together, and he called her to come to
him. The woman hesitated for a moment, when suddenly there was a call
heard from the outside, and a great disturbance took place. She bent
her head to listen and then gave a cry of alarm, saying, "That's the
voice of my husband, who has come. I was unfortunate, and so had this
miserable wretch apportioned to my lot. He is the most despicable
among mortals. For murder and arson he has no equal. Three years ago
he left me and I took another husband, and we've had nothing to do
with each other since. I can't imagine why he should come now. He is
evidently very drunk, too, from the sound of his voice. Your Excellency
has really fallen into a terrible plight. What shall I do?"
The woman went out then and answered, saying, "Who comes thus at
midnight to make such a disturbance?"
The voice replied, "Don't you know my voice? Why don't you open
the door?"
She answered, "Are you not Chol-lo (Brass Tiger), and have we not
separated for good, years ago? Why have you come?"
The voice from without answered back, "Your leaving me and taking
another man has always been a matter of deepest resentment on my part;
I have something special to say to you," and he pounded the door open
and came thundering in.
The woman rushed back into the room, saying, "Your Excellency must
escape in some way or other."
In such a little thatched hut there was no place possible for
concealment but an empty rice-box only. "Please get into this,"
said she, and she lifted the lid and hurried him in. The Governor,
in his haste and déshabille, was bundled into the box. He then heard,
from within, this fellow come into the room and quarrel with his
wife. She said, "We have been separated three years already; what
reason have you to come now and make such a disturbance?"
Said he, "You cast me off and took another man, therefore I have come
for the clothes that I left, and the other things that belong to me."
Then she threw out his belongings to him, but he said, pointing to
the box, "That's mine."
She replied, "That's not yours; I bought that myself with two rolls
of silk goods."
"But," said he, "one of those rolls I gave you, and I'm not going to
let you have it."
"Even though you did give it, do you mean to say that for one roll
of silk you will carry away this box? I'll not consent to it." Thus
they quarrelled, and contradicted each other.
"If you don't give me the box," said he, "I'll enter a suit against
you at the Mayor's."
A little later the day dawned, and so he had the box carried off to
the Mayor's office to have the case decided by law, while the woman
followed. When they entered the court, already the Mayor was seated
in the judgment-place, and here they presented their case concerning
the box.
The Mayor, after hearing, decided thus: "Since you each have a
half-share in its purchase, there is nothing for me to do but to
divide it between you. Bring a saw," said he.
The servants brought the saw and began on the box, when suddenly from
the inner regions came forth a cry, "Save me; oh, save me!"
The Mayor, in pretended astonishment, said, "Why, there's a man's
voice from the inside," and ordered that it should be opened. The
servants managed to find the key, and at last the lid came back,
and from the inner quarters there came forth a half-dressed man.
On seeing him the whole place was put into convulsions of laughter,
for it was none other than the Governor.
"How is it that your Excellency finds yourself in this box in this
unaccountable way?" asked the Mayor. "Please come out."
The Governor, huddling himself together as well as he could, climbed on
to the open verandah. He held his head down and nearly died for shame.
The Mayor, splitting his sides with laughter, ordered clothes
to be brought, and the first thing that came was a woman's green
dress-coat. The Governor hastily turned it inside out, slipped it on,
and made a dash for his quarters in the Confucian Temple. That day
he left the place never to return, and even to the present time in
Kyong-ju they laugh and tell the story of the Boxed-up Governor.
Im Bang.