太史某公，忘其姓氏。晝臥齋中，忽有小鹵簿，出自堂陬。馬大如蛙，人細于指。小儀仗以數十隊；一官冠皂紗，著繡幞，乘肩輿，紛紛出門而去。公心異之，竊疑睡眼之訛。頓見一小人，返入舍，攜一氈包，大如拳，竟造床下。白言：「家主人有不腆之儀，敬獻太史。」言已，對立，即又不陳其物。少間，又自笑曰：「戔戔微物，想太史亦無所用，不如即賜小人。」太史頷之。欣然攜之而去。後不復見。惜太史中餒，不曾詰所自來。
有一位太史，已經記不得他的姓名了。一天白天，他躺在書房裡，忽然看見一支小小的儀仗隊從廳堂角落裡走出來。馬只有青蛙那麼大，人比手指還細。小儀仗排了幾十隊，其中一名官員戴著黑紗帽，穿著繡幞，坐在轎子裡。一群人紛紛走出門去。太史覺得奇怪，暗自懷疑自己睡眼矇矓，看錯了。緊接著，他看見一個小人返回屋裡，提著一個拳頭大小的氈包，徑直來到床前，稟告說：「我家主人備了一點薄禮，恭敬地獻給太史。」說完，就站在那裡面對著他，卻又不把禮物擺出來。過了一會兒，小人又自己笑著說：「這麼一點小東西，想來太史也用不上，不如就賞給小人吧。」太史點了點頭。小人便高高興興地提著氈包走了，以後再也沒有出現過。可惜太史心裡膽怯，沒有問問他們究竟從哪裡來。
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，着绣幞，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。
有一位太史，已经记不得他的姓名了。一天白天，他躺在书房里，忽然看见一支小小的仪仗队从厅堂角落里走出来。马只有青蛙那么大，人比手指还细。小仪仗排了几十队，其中一名官员戴着黑纱帽，穿着绣幞，坐在轿子里。一群人纷纷走出门去。太史觉得奇怪，暗自怀疑自己睡眼蒙眬，看错了。紧接着，他看见一个小人返回屋里，提着一个拳头大小的毡包，径直来到床前，禀告说：“我家主人备了一点薄礼，恭敬地献给太史。”说完，就站在那里面对着他，却又不把礼物摆出来。过了一会儿，小人又自己笑着说：“这么一点小东西，想来太史也用不上，不如就赏给小人吧。”太史点了点头。小人便高高兴兴地提着毡包走了，以后再也没有出现过。可惜太史心里胆怯，没有问问他们究竟从哪里来。
There was once an Academician, whose name I have forgotten. He was lying down in his study in the daytime when a tiny official procession suddenly came out of a corner of the hall. The horses were the size of frogs, and the men were slighter than a finger. There were dozens of files of little banners and regalia, and an official in a black gauze cap and an embroidered robe, riding in a sedan chair. In a bustling throng they went out of the door and were gone. The Academician thought it strange, and privately wondered whether his sleepy eyes had tricked him. Then he saw one of the little men come back into the room carrying a felt bundle as big as a fist, and walk straight up to the foot of the bed. “My master has a humble gift,” he announced, “which he respectfully presents to the Academician.” Having said this, he stood there facing him, but did not set out the gift. After a moment he laughed to himself and said, “Such a paltry trifle — I don’t suppose the Academician has any use for it. Better to give it to me.” The Academician nodded. The little man happily carried it off, and was never seen again. It is a pity the Academician lost his nerve and never asked where they had come from.