Where did Hugh wander when he was twelve years of age? Who was with him? What did they find amongst the rocks? What did Hugh tell his companion tales about? When night came on what did they do? Why were they unable to get out of the cave? Where were they compelled to retire to? At what time in the morning did their friends find them? On what place did Hugh now make mimic voyages? What served him for a canoe? Why did he stop painting? What was one of his favourite games at this time of his life? When he left school where did he go to work? BOY AND CONSCIENCE. 1. Boy. Over the fence is a garden fair- 2. Boy. Over the fence I can toss my ball, Would not be really a theft, you see. Consc. This is a falsehood, a weak pretence; Sin and sorrow are over the fence. 3. Boy. Whose is the voice that speaks so plain? Twice have I heard it, and not in vain. Ne'er will I venture to look that way, Consc. This is the way that all crimes commence; CHINESE CHOPSTICKS. 1. What are chopsticks?" Well, they are small sticks a little longer than a pen-holder and about as large. Those used by poor people in China are made of bamboo, while the wealthy people use those manufactured from ebony or ivory, or of silver and gold. 2. They hold them very cleverly between the first and third fingers of the right hand,-separated by the second finger and steadied by the thumb. The Chinese handle them just as easily as we do our knives and forks. 3. What! don't they use knives? Not to eat with. In preparing their food they take a knife from their pocket and use it for cutting up a chicken or a puppy. "A puppy!" I don't wonder you stare at hearing it. 4. It is well for your pet, who looks up into your face, licks your hand and wags his tail when you speak to him, that his master does not live in China, for he would not be permitted to enjoy long life in barking at the hens, in showing his teeth and putting on airs, but he would come to an inglorious end in a stew-pan! A Chinaman, though, might think it glorious. 5. You would see some strange things were you to visit that land of wonders, especially in the eating line. Eating-houses and hotels are as numerous as they are here. They have travelling eating establishments. 6. The peddler of puppy-stew walks through the street with a broad, shallow basin filled with the food already cooked, on the top of his head. He carries a small sheet-iron furnace on his back, and his big umbrella on his shoulder. 7. He finds a place to suit him where customers are numerous, sets up his umbrella, lights a charcoal fire in his furnace, and in a few minutes the piece of fish, chicken, or dog, mixed with rice, is warming and steaming in the pan. He takes his bowls and chopsticks from a basket, and in a few minutes is ready to serve the hungry crowd. For a small coin you can get a bowl full of nice, hot dog-stew! 8. We are not to think that all Chinamen live on puppies, cats, and kittens; it is only the poorest people who are obliged to live on such food. You would not be able to obtain much beef in China; but in the provision shops there are excellent hams, ducks, geese, chickens, and fish. In the vegetable markets you can always find a supply of potatoes, beans, peas, and you may possibly find all of those in the bowl of stew which the peddlers sell. 9. To eat after the common manner, you must hold the bowl to your lips and poke the food into your mouth. If you would be genteel, you must pick up the bits of meat, the beans, and the kernels of rice with the chopsticks, and carry them steadily to your mouth, and then drink the broth. 10. If we were to go into the house of a wealthy Chinaman, and were invited to dinner, we should be three or four hours at the table, and have at least three hundred different dishes containing food placed before us! I dined one day with a mandarin—or rather we had only a lunch—and there were so many dishes, and such a variety of food, that I lost all reckoning of the number. 11. First we had roasted pumpkin seeds, then we ate some sweet cakes, and drank several cups of delicious tea, the very best that China affords. The waiters then brought in a great variety of dishes. Some of the food was sweet to the taste and good, but of other dishes a smell satisfied us. 12. We should have had an uncomfortable time, if we had undertaken to eat heartily of every dish. To be genteel in China, you must only taste and eat a little of everything brought on by the waiters. That is no light affair at a great dinner where three hundred kinds are served for the guests. The Chinese drink a great deal of tea at their dinner parties, but do not have wines or liquors. pen-hold-er bam-boo i-vo-ry mandarin, Chinese magis trate. delicious, delightful. chick-en um-brel-la es-pe-ci-al-ly per-mit-ted ex-cel-lent pre-par-ing tra-vel-ling man-dar-in Who use chopsticks? What sort do the common people use? What are the best sorts made of? Which hand |