A Hanlin scholar experiences a strange encounter in his study when a tiny official and his entourage visit, offering a curious gift.
A certain Hanlin scholar, whose name I have forgotten, was lying in his study during the day when he suddenly noticed a procession coming out from the corner of the hall. He saw horses the size of frogs and people as thin as fingers. There were dozens of small attendants, and one of them, wearing a black gauze hat and an embroidered robe, was sitting in a sedan chair. They all went out one after another.
The Hanlin scholar felt very strange and secretly wondered if he had hallucinated. Suddenly, he saw a small person returning to the room, holding a felt bag about the size of a fist. The small person reported, “My master has a small gift to present to Mr. Hanlin.” After saying this, he stood there without taking out anything. After a moment, he smiled and said, “This tiny gift is probably of no use to Mr. Hanlin at all. It’s better to give it to me.” The Hanlin scholar nodded, and the small person happily took the gift and left. Such incidents were never seen again. Unfortunately, the Hanlin scholar lacked the courage to inquire about the true origin of the small visitor.
《小官人》
太史某公，忘其姓氏。昼卧斋中，忽有小卤簿，出自堂陬。马大如蛙，人细于指。小仪仗以数十队，一官冠皂纱，着绣襆，乘肩舆，纷纷出门而去。公心异之，窃疑睡眼之讹。顿见一小人，返入舍，携一毡包，大如拳，竟造床下。白言：“家主人有不腆之仪，敬献太史。”言已，对立，即又不陈其物。少间，又自笑曰：“戋戋微物，想太史亦当无所用，不如即赐小人。”太史颔之，欣然携之而去。后不复见。惜太史中馁，不曾诘所自来。