Chapter 3

The Magic Paintbrush.

A long time ago in China, there lived a poor boy who loved to paint.

His name was Ma Liang.

Ma Liang was very poor, so he could not buy a paintbrush.

One night, in a dream, he saw an old man.

The old man said to Ma Liang, "Take this. It's a paintbrush which has magic power.

When Ma Liang got up, he found a paintbrush in his hand.

Ma Liang painted a bird with the paintbrush, and the bird came alive and flew away.

"Wow, this really is a magic paintbrush.

I'm going to use this for poor people," he said to himself.

He painted toys for poor children, and he painted food for hungry people.

Soon, the greedy emperor heard about Ma Liang and his magic paintbrush.

"Bring Ma Liang to me," said the emperor to his soldiers.

The emperor's soldiers brought Ma Liang to the palace.

"Paint me a gold tree," said the emperor to Ma Liang.

Ma Liang began to paint.

He painted many waves, and soon the emperor saw a sea before him.

"This is not a gold tree," the emperor said angrily.

But Ma Liang kept painting.

In the sea he painted an island, and on that island he painted a gold tree.

"Yes, yes, that's it. Now, paint a boat for me," said the emperor.

Ma Liang painted a boat, and the emperor got on it.