Bud and Bamboo Wason PZ7 T48B8 .cSflB^.^9 John Sluart Thomson QJarttell IntOErBity ICibrara CHARLES WILLIAM WASON COLLECTION CHINA AND THE CHINESE THE GIFT OF CHARLES WILLIAM WASON CLASS OF 1876 1918 Cornell University Library PZ 7.T48B8 Bud and Bamboo 3 1924 024 012 266 Cornell University Library The original of this bool< is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024012266 BUD AND BAMBOO STORIES OF PRIMITIVE LIFE For Primary Grades LODRIX, THE LITTLE LAKE DWELLER Ey Belle Wiley and Grace Willard Edick. Illustrated, x, 86 pages. Cloth, 30 cents. CfflLDREN OF THE CLIFF By Belle Wiley and Grace Willard Edick. Illustrated, a, 81 pages. Cloth, 30 cents. THE CAVE BOY OF THE AGE OF STONE By Margaret A. McI.n'tyre. Illustrated. X, 131 pages. Cloth, 40 cents. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY New York Boston Chicago BUD AND BAMBOO BY JOHN STUART THOMSON AUTHOR OF "THE CHINESE," ETC. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO Copyright, 1912, bt D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Puhlished Sritiemher, 1912 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. At Worship 1 II. Playing with the Gold Fish 5 III. Shuttlecock and Kites 8 IV. Feeding the Pets 13 V. Bud and Banner at School IS VI. A AA'alk with the SciiooLMASTEr. 23 VII. The Silk Farm 27 VIII. Another A\'alk 31 IX. The Fisherman 35 X. A Funeral Procession 39 XI. A Tea and Rice Farm 43 XII. Lunch by the Wayside 47 XIII. A Pagoda Church 51 XIV. Bamboo is III 54 XV. The Entertainment 57 XVI. A Visit to the City 61 XVII. Woodcarving, Pottery and Lacquer-Making 66 XVIII. The Wedding Procession 70 XIX. A Short Walk with Bamboo 75 XX. The City Again 78 XXI. The New Year's Festival 86 XXII. Bamboo at Work and Play 89 XXIII. Bud at the Examination 95 BUD AND BAMBOO AT WORSHIP Bud was a Chinese boy. His father had named him Bud because it meant something that grows; a bud grows to be a flower. The boy's father hoped that his son would grow to be a wise man, and hold high office in China, his beloved country, to the honor of the family name. One day, when Bud was nine years old, his father called him. "Come, Bud," he said, "you are old enough now to have your hair shaved off, all except one long braid at the back, which you may tie with a blue ribbon." Bud was a very proud boy when his hair had been cut like a man's. He felt that he was getting to be almost grown up, and he was sure 1 BUD AND BAMBOO that no boy in town had quite so fine a braid as his. "Now you are almost a man/' said his father. "You may go to the altar in the guest room and bow before your great-grandfather's name." Bud bent his back very low nine times before the wooden tablet on which his great-grand- father's name was painted. Then he stood up and sighed, for it hurt him a little to bow so many times. His father walked over to a carved teakwood table, and took from a dish which stood on it a piece of candied melon, a sunflower seed, and a candied lily root. These he handed to Bud. "Are these for me?" asked Bud. "Not yet. Put them in the little dish in front of the tablet, so that your ancestor's spirit may see that you are a good child. First offer him food, then you may think of yourself." Bud went over to the tablet again, and placed the candied melon, the lily root, and the sunflower seed in the dish. He touched the tablet lightly with his finger, and again bowed nine times. 2 AT WORSHIP A small nut-oil lamp, with a glass shade over it, was burning on the table. The father took an incense stick and handed it to Bud. The boy did as he had often seen his father do. He lighted the sweet incense at the lamp and stuck the other end in a cup of ashes which stood before the tablet. "Well done, Bud," said his father. "While you are studying, or playing, or sleeping, the incense stick will be smoking, to remind your great-grandfather's spirit to be near you and to help you. You are a good boy. Here is a piece of candied melon for you to eat." Bud at once let his teeth sink into the sweet- meat. Then he took from the wide silk sleeve of his blue gown a square piece of tissue paper, and wiped his fingers. Throwing away the soiled paper handkerchief, he took his father's hand and went with him from the best room into the garden. This garden was in the midst of the many one-story rooms that formed the house, or compound; and here Bud and his father walked slowly about among the tall palms and banana 3 BUD AND BAMBOO plants. But after all, Bud, though proud to be treated like a grown-up, was only a little boy. So he was very glad when his father jDut an end to the stately walk, by telling him to run off and play. II PLAYING WITH THE GOLD-FISH "0 Bamboo and Banner! Come out to the garden!" called Bud. Bamboo was Bud's little sister, and Banner his boy-cousin and playmate. Both ran out of the house at Bud's call, and were delighted that he could now play with them. "Let's feed the gold-fish in the heavenly well," said Banner. The three children ran to the marble-lined pool in the center of the garden. It was called by its beautiful name, "the heavenly well," because it reflected in its still water the stars of heaven. Bamboo began searching for a silk purse hidden in the wide sleeve of her purple gown. "See," she said, pulling it out. "I have some sunflower seeds." She took out all she could hold in her fat little hand, and threw them into the well. Some of 5 BUD AND BAMBOO them floated on the water, and others caught on the flat leaves of the white and purple water-lilies. The children watched very quietly. Soon the surface of the water dimpled, and the gold and silver fish swam about after the seeds, waving their cloudy tails slowly from side to side. Some of the fish were so tame, that they nibbled at Bamboo's little fingers when she poked them into the water. The children laughed at this. At their laughter a monkey, climbing about overhead in the palms, began to chatter and show its white teeth. Banner clapped his hands, and the monkey jumped into a tall banana- palm and disappeared. "Come on," said Banner, "the gold-fish are all scared away. Let's do something else." 6 ' The Gold and Silver Fisli Swam About After the Seeds." PLAYING WITH THE GOLD-FISH Bamboo took one last look into the deep water before she joined the boys. "O they are beautiful," she sighed. "I hope our father will never, never let them be killed." "Ho, gold-fish are too pretty to kiU and eat," said Bud. " They're only good to look at. But some day we'll go to the shop in the village where the big fish are sold. The ones for the table are kept alive in tanks of water, so they will be fresh for eating." The children were delighted at this prospect, and looked up at Bud as if they thought he knew a great deal. Bud drew himself up proudly and pulled his black braid, with its beautiful blue ribbon, over his shoulder where he could see it. He felt very much bigger than his httle playmates when he remembered how soon he would be a grown-up man. Ill SHUTTLECOCK AND KITES When Bud, Banner, and Bamboo stopped playing with the gold-fish, they looked about to find some- thing else to do. "I have a new feath- ered cork," said Bud. "Let's kick it to each other," said Banner. The boys began the game at "Bud was the Better Player." Once, kick- 8 SHUTTLECOCK AND KITES ing the cork back and forth with the sides of their shoes. Although Banner leaped about like a dog, Bud was the better player. He could keep the cork from falling to the ground on his side for a long time. Bamboo was so proud of her brother's skill, that she kept crying, "Hi yah," and clapped her fat little hands. After several games, the boys sat down on a cool stone seat to rest. Bamboo drew up a teakwood chair and sat down close by. She was very fond of the teakwood chair, for its legs were carved in the shape of dragons — just like the story-book ones — and the back was a beautiful peacock with its tail spread open. She loved to kneel on the edge of the chair and trace with her fingers the feathers of the pea- cock's tail. The children were shaded from the warm sun by a banyan tree. It was a wonderful old ban- yan, with many trunks attached to the branches. Long years before, when it first came to live in the garden, it had but one small trunk. As it grew, the young branches hung down lower and 9 BUD AND BAMBOO lower. When they touched the ground they took root, forming other trunks, until now the banyan was a small forest in itself. After the children had rested for a few min- utes. Bamboo said to Banner, "My brother can sail a kite better than you can. He can cut your kite right off." Banner jumped from his seat and hopped up and down on his felt shoes. "Bring the kites!" he cried. "We'll see who knows how to fly them best." Bamboo and Bud ran to the kitchen door, and asked the cook to hand them the two kites from the shelf; then they hurried back to Ban- ner. The boys examined the strings carefully, to see that they were in good condition. A certain part of the string was dyed black, so that it could easily be seen when the kites were flying. To this part, powdered glass was firmly glued, and with it the boys tried to cut each other's kite strings as soon as the kites were up. Soon they were flying high over the bright green tiles of the low buildings and the wall of 10 SHUTTLECOCK AND KITES the compound. The kite that Banner flew was painted and cut Hke the face of a moon. Bud's kite was shaped and colored Hke a fish, and its bright colors and shining surface made a pretty sight in the sunlight. Bamboo stood near watching the boys as they tried to work one string over the other. She was so excited, and so anxious for her broth- er's string to cut Banner's that she scarcely breathed. For a long time the fight went on. Both kites floated gently in the breeze, and it looked as if neither was likely to cut the other's string. All at once Banner saw the leaves of the tall camphor tree across the road begin to stir in the wind. He quickly let out more string, and the current of air drew the cord of his kite directly across the cord of Bud's kite. The glassy part of the cord cut Bud's string, and the shining fish-kite soared high in air, and then fioated far away toward the woods. Bamboo was very sorry that her brother had been beaten, but Banner shouted in triumph, "The moon has eaten up the fish. Bud. You 3 11 BUD AND BAMBOO owe me a forfeit. Give me some of your kite string; mine is not nearly long enough." Bud hated to be beaten, but he paid the for- feit willingly, giving his cousin a long piece from his cut string. When this was done, Banner tucked the for- feit carefully away in his sleeve, and said, "I must go home now, so good-bye till to-morrow." "Good-bye," called Bud and Bamboo, as they watched their cousin run through the gate. "Good-bye," he called again, as he went out on the narrow road between the rice fields, "perhaps you'll win the string back to-morrow." IV FEEDING THE PETS Early the next morning Banner came to see Bud and Bamboo. He wanted to help them feed their pets, and to share in the fun that went with this pleasing duty. "Here is Lion," said Bud. Lion was well-named, for he looked like a lion, with his short nose, his large, intelligent face, and his shaggy yellow mane. He was really a chow-dog. "Chow" is the Chinese word for food; and he was called a chow-dog, because sometimes, when there is a famine, the poor people of China eat dogs like Lion. "I'd rather have my sleeve dog than a big dog like him any day," said Bamboo, proudly. "I like a dog small enough to put in my sleeve when I want to carry him." She called her beautiful Peking dog. A tiny spaniel, spotted black and white, came trotting 13 BUD AND BAMBOO up, its small sharp bark sounding like the sputter of a firecracker. Although it was tiny, its fluffy hair, thick mane, and bushy tail made it look braver and fiercer than it really was. The children spent some time in feeding and playing with the dogs, then Banner proposed some new fun. "I've brought some organ- whistles," said he. "Don't you want to catch some pigeons, so we can tie the whistles on their tails?" As he spoke. Ban- ner took from his sleeve several tiny organs, each made of five different pipes glued together. The pipes were of the thinnest bamboo, dried and scraped, so that they were very light. The three children ran to the pigeon cote. They reached in and fastened the small pipes on the tails of the pigeons. As they did so, they let out the birds from the cage, one by one. The birds flew to and fro overhead, and the wind 14 "A Tiny Spaniel, Spotted Black and White, Came Trotting Up." FEEDING THE PETS passed through the pipes and made beautiful sounds. When the children were tired of listening to the music, Bud made a paste from rice flour, fish glue and sugar. The others watched him work. When the paste was finished he put some on the end of a long bamboo stick which looked like a fishing pole. "Watch me catch katydids," said Bud, reach- ing the end of the stick up into the banyan tree overhead. As he spoke, he touched a sleeping katydid, and brought it down, stuck fast to the paste. He pulled the insect off very carefully so as not to break its legs, and put it through a tiny door opening into a small white-wood cage. "Oh, what fun. Do lend me the stick," said Banner. Bud handed it over, and Banner reached the end down into the grass and caught a cricket, which he put into another cage. The boys fed the insects with crumbs, flies, sugar and leaves, while Bamboo, watched the fun. "Look, there comes Judge," exclaimed Bam- 15 BUD AND BAMBOO boo suddenly. "Isn't he the prettiest duck you ever saw?" Judge was indeed a beautiful bird, with his purple, blue, yellow, green, and white feathers; and Bamboo was very fond of him. She ran off to get some dried beans, and held them out toward him. Judge was very tame, and seemed to know that the children would not harm him, for he came up to them quite fearlessly. When he had swallowed the last bean, he said, "Quack, quack," just as noisily as the plain gray ducks that were killed and dried for the table. The boys laughed that so proud a duck should have so ordinary a voice. "I wonder where Tiger is this morning," said Bamboo, after they had fed the other pets. "He's the very last; he'll be starved." Tiger was a Yunnan cat without a tail. Bamboo was very proud of him, because he was so different from common cats with tails. "Tiger, Tiger," she called, looking around among the plants for him. "Oh, there you are, you lazy thing, fast asleep in the sunshine." 16 FEEDING THE PETS The big cat stretched sleepily, and dug its claws into the ground once or twice. Then he came running to Bamboo and began to purr and rub himself against her little legs. The sly fellow knew who would give him a good break- fast. "I'll get you your breakfast this minute," cried Bamboo. She set off for it, with Tiger at her heels, and Bud and Banner following as if they had never seen a tailless cat eat; though the truth is that twenty times and more they had watched Tiger do it. V BUD AND BANNER AT SCHOOL Bud and Banner and Bamboo did not spend all their time in play. The boys had their school work to do each day; and Bamboo was learning many useful things which would make her a good housekeeper when she grew up. Bud's father had hired a schoolmaster to come to the house. He had a school for Bud and the sons of several relatives who lived near by. The schoolroom opened on the beautiful garden, opposite the main gate. After bowing to the tablets of his clan, Bud started for school. He wore no cap on his 18 The Schoolmaster. BUD AND BANNER AT SCHOOL shaved head, but as the sun was hot, he carried a bamboo and paper umbrella. As he crossed the garden to the schoolroom Banner joined him. It was a warm morning, and as the two boys went into the room they took fans from the pockets in the backs of their coats, and fanned themselves. Soon other cousins came into the room, where the fine old schoolmaster was already seated. The boys chattered noisily for a few moments; then, at a sign from the schoolmaster, all was still. The schoolmaster rose and bowed nine times before a tablet bearing the name of Confucius, the great and good Chinese teacher who lived long before the history of Europe or America began. Then each boy in turn bowed before the tablet. After this ceremony, the schoolmaster seated himself behind a table. He wore large glasses with tortoise-sheU rims, that looked almost like lanterns. Each boy came up in turn with his book, which he handed to the master. Then he turned 19 BUD AND BAMBOO his back to the teacher, not in disrespect, but to show that he was not looking at the book. In this position he recited his lesson. The lesson was long and very hard. Bud did not understand all the words he was learning to repeat. "Sacred master," he said, "I do not under- stand all these words." "Say them over and over a million times," the master rei^hed. "Day by day, perhaps when you are not thinking of them, one word after another will dawn on your mind with its beautiful meaning. The great Master, Con- fucius, wrote the same truth for boy and man and the spirits of our revered dead." Bud believed his stern teacher and continued his lesson. The other boys were all shouting aloud the different lessons they were learning. It was a trying place for a tired teacher to be in, but it was the custom in all Chinese schools for the pupils to study aloud. "You have done well. Bud," said the teacher, when the long lesson came to an end. "Now, 20 BUD AND BANNER AT SCHOOL please paint the signs on your blank book. Make the strokes very soft with your brush. Lift the brush from the paper as httle as pos- sible." Bud painted this sign, ^, like two sticks crossed. It means " ten". Then he painted this sign, ^, which means "God". He pronounced the sign for God "Tien". Then he painted this sign, -f]f-, pronounced "mi", which means "rice", scattered in a field which has two cross roads over it. Before he could become an educated man. Bud must learn thousands of picture letters like these. Soon Bud's ink was used up, and he needed more. He took from his silk purse a thick flat stick of scented dried ink. It looked like dried hcorice, and had gold letters painted on it. He rubbed the dried ink in a few drops of water, on a flat stone. Then he dipped his thin camel's hair brush into the liquid thus made. As noon approached, the room grew very hot. The boys were becoming very restless when the master ordered "Close the mussel-shell shutters." The mussel shells set in the shutters keep out some of the fierce light of a Chinese summer 21 BUD AND BAMBOO noon-day, and still leave light enough for the boys to study by. Just as Bud used up the last of the new liquid ink which he had made, the master said, " School is over for this morning. This afternoon you will all meet me at the gate. We shall learn of life and duty, as we walk along the road. There all the busy people are moving, each thinking of the business to which he is going to attend. China is a very busy country. Wages are so small that most of our people must work all the daj^ and far into the night, to earn the money to buy food enough to keep alive." VI A "WALK WITH THE SCHOOLMASTER At the time appointed, the boys met the teacher at the gate. Much to her delight, Bam- boo was asked to go along. "They Passed Under the Gate, Which Had a Roof With Points That Curled Up Like Horns." They passed under the gate, which had a roof with points that curled up like horns. "Do you know why the shining horns turn up. Bud?" the master asked. "No, Master, why do they?" Bud answered. 23 BUD AND BAMBOO " So that the spirits of the air, when they ahght on the horns, will be shot up into the air again. Thus they will not find their way into your happy home," the master replied. "And do any of you know why the screen is placed before the gate?" he continued. "No? It is so that evil spirits which crawl on the ground may never see their way into your happy gar- den. They do not know how to go around the screen, as we learned long ago. They can see only straight ahead." The children and their teacher walked out into a busy road. It was a very narroAv road. Once it had been wider, but the farmers kept digging into it, year after year, to sow seed in the precious ground. Little farms stretched along on each side of the road, with only raised paths between them, and no fences. Each man knew the end of his farm by a little curved stone placed at the side of the path. It is considered the greatest sin and crime to remove the landmark stone. Far away, rose the gray walls which arc part of every Chinese city. The city wall is 24 A WALK WITH THE SCHOOLMASTER pierced with many gates which are closed at sundown. All at once the children laughed and pointed to a wheel-barrow. A farmer gowned in blue silk stood between the shafts, with a harness hung over his shoulders. The barrow had also a brown matting sail. On one side of the barrow sat the farmer's wife, holding some threads of yellow silk wound on a large spool. On the other side of the wheel-barrow, balancing the weight of the farmer's wife, a black pig was tied in a harness of willow wands, so tightly that he could not move his feet. The pig was not being hurt, but he was squealing with aU his might. He seemed to understand that he was going to be sold at the market. "How does the farmer's wife make the silk?" Bamboo asked. "We will leave the road, and go along this path," said the schoolmaster. "It will take us through the wet rice fields, to the farm compound over there, where I will show 25 BUD AND BAMBOO you how the girls and their mothers make silk." This promised to be fun, and Bamboo and the boys followed the schoolmaster, dehghted at the prospect. VII THE SILK FARM When they came to the farm gate, the schoolmaster gave a loud call. Soon a servant appeared, bowing. The master handed him a visiting card, a piece of soft, red paper a foot long, with large black picture-letters on it. In a few minutes, after he had had time to put on his blue silk over-gown, the farmer came to the gate. He bowed low three times. The teacher, the boys, and Bamboo all bowed low also. Then all followed the farmer into the guest room. As the children looked about they saw an air plant growing in a hanging vase. The chairs were ranged along the wall, on each side of a beautifully carved table. The farmer sat down at the right side of the table. The master sat at the left side of the BUD AND BAMBOO table, with Bamboo and the boys in the other cliairs on the same side. Soon the farmer's boys came in, bowed low, and sat down on the farmer's side of the table, along the wall. Then a servant appeared with cups of tea. All merely raised the tea to their lips, as drinking tea means "Good- bye; good luck." The boys, how- ever, ate the de- licious candied lily roots which were passed to them on a blue and white plate. The farmer A Visiting Caxd. then led the way 28 THE SILK FARM to a row of long bamboo sheds, which had shelves full of soft leaves that had been picked from the mulberry trees. The leaves of the mulberry tree are shaped like a heart, and the tree has red and white fruit that looks like a raspberry. The tree is not allowed to grow tall, and the shoots that grow out from the stump are taken off while they are small. These young shoots have very tender leaves. The children watched the millions of silk- caterpillars eating the mulberry leaves. They ate the leaves very fast; girls were bringing fresh leaves in baskets all the time. Some of the worms had curled up on twigs which had been placed among the leaves. Each one was winding, or had wound, around itself, from its mouth, a nest of double silk threads. There, if left undisturbed, it would sleep for a month, before becoming a butterfly. No one was allowed even to whisper in the sheds, for the silk worms will not eat where there is the least noise, and if they do not eat leaves, they cannot make the silk nests. 29 BUD AND BAMBOO The farmer picked up a basket with many nests in it, and the boys followed him to the farm kitchen. He put the nests into an oven, to kiU the caterpillars by suffocating them, so that they could not bore through the nests and so break the long silk thread. A fire of twigs and grasses was burning under an iron pan in which there was steaming hot water. Taking the nests from the oven, the farmer threw them into the pan. His wife caught two wet silk threads at a time, and wound them on a spool made of bamboo. "Now I know something," said Bamboo, as she stood watching the farmer's wife at her work. "What is it?" the master asked. "The woman we saw on the barrow was taking the spool of yellow silk to the city to be dyed and woven into silk for clothes." "Quite right, Miss Bamboo. But now we must go back home. To-morrow we will take a walk the other way, toward the river," said the schoolmaster. VIII ANOTHER WALK Bud asked Banner to spend the night with him. They went to their couch in good season, so as to be ready for their walk the next morning. The couch on which they slept had no mat- tress. The boys slept with a grass mat under them, and a padded blanket over them. They awoke early. Dressing quickly they went to the best room, where they bowed before Bud's father and mother, also before the tablet of the family names. The incense sticks were dying out. Bud lighted new ones, and he put more nut-oil in the lamp. It was the anniversary of his great- grandfather's birth, so he lighted some fire- crackers and let them explode before the tablet. As the floor was made of broad bricks, there was no danger of setting the house afire by shooting off the crackers. 31 BUD AND BAMBOO The boys ate breakfast, and then met the schoolmaster at the gate. They had hardly reached the road when a woman ran by, carrying a lady on her back. "It must be fun to be carried hke that," said one of the boys. "She has to be carried, be- cause her feet were tied tight when she was very young," the master re- plied. "As they ■lave never grown, she cannot walk, and she can do very little work. It shows that she is a fine lady of the old style, and that she has mone}^ enough to hire a servant." "I am glad that father did not have sister Bamboo's feet tied. We hke to have her able to see the world as if she were a man," Bud remarked quietly to Banner. 32 "His Head Had Been Put Through a Heavy Wooden Collar and Locked There." ANOTHER WALK "Oh, look," shouted Banner. They saw a man on his knees at the roadside. His head had been put through a heavy wooden collar, and locked there. His wicked deeds were painted on the collar. A soldier stood by, with a lash, and a large spear which had three prongs like a hay-fork; and sometimes he punished the bad man. Across the road, another bad man sat in the mud. His feet had been put through a locked wooden trap, called a stock, on which his crimes were painted. "These men," said the schoolmaster, "have gambled, smoked opium, stolen, and broken good laws in all kinds of ways time and time again. That is why they are punished in a public place. We hope that the punishment will make them ashamed, so that they will stop doing wrong things." The boys shivered, and were sorry, and for a minute they were a bit afraid. They soon saw other things, however, and forgot all about the bad men. Soldiers, wearing red coats which had a round white mark in the center with the word "Brave" 33 BUD AND BAMBOO on it, came running along the road. They beat large gongs and drums, and everybody stepped aside, out of respect, as they passed. " It is a judge and ruler," the master explained. There was the judge in a chair. He was being carried on the shoulders of eight men who were running as fast as they could. One man held a large red umbrella over him. "You mustn't laugh," said Bud, who saw that Banner was smiling. ''I can't help it," Banner replied. "It is funny to see a judge bobbing up and down, as he is being carried so fast over this rough road." IX THE FISHERMAN The road on which they were walking led to the river. As they came near the bank, the teacher called the attention of the boys to a low yellow boat, which had two sticks pointing over the water. The stern was much higher than the bow, so that the boat seemed to sail back- ward. A number of black, bald-headed birds, which looked like eagles, were sitting on the sticks, watching the water. Suddenly the boatman spoke in a sharp voice. The birds instantly dived into the water. In a few seconds they came swimming back, each with a fish in its beak. "Why don't the birds swaUow the fish?" Bud asked. "The fisherman has put rings round their throats to prevent them from swallowing," the master replied, 35 BUD AND BAMBOO The boatman took the fish from the birds. If the birds had killed them, he threw the fish into a basket of salt. If the fish were still alive, he threw them into a tank of water in the boat, to be sold later. As there is no ice to keep food sweet in China, the fish are allowed to live until they are ready to be cooked. "Those hungry, trained birds fish all day," said the master. "At night the boatman takes the rings off their necks, and allows them to swallow a few of the fish, which he cuts up for them. The birds are cormorants." "Do you know, boys, that a boat like that cannot sink," continued the schoolmaster. "Why not?" some of the boys asked. "Because it is made in compartments. If a rock drives a hole through one compartment, only that small part of the boat fills with water. All our boats are made so, but I have heard that boats in some countries often sink, because they are not built with compartments." "The fisherman just flooded one of the com- partments of his boat to use as a tank for his live fish, didn't he?" Bud suggested. 36 THE FISHERMAN The master nodded. "Look over there," cried Banner. The boys looked in the direction toward which he pointed. They saw a moving boat. Two men were walking on a tread-mill that turned round and round and swung the paddle that propelled the boat. In the cabin, which looked like a yellow bird- cage, sat the passenger. He had a black skull cap on his head, and his gown was of the bright- est blue silk. Every man in China must wear blue if he wishes to be in style. "In larger boats, they sometimes make a heavy, trained water-buffalo do the treading," said the master. "0 look at the wooden eye on the front of the boat," cried Banner. "What is it for?" "So that the boat may see where to go, and may not run onto rocks, or into other boats and drown people," the master an- swered. "That is what the boatmen have the eye put there for. Of course sensible people know that a boat cannot see, but many of the boatmen are ignorant, and they 37 BUD AND BAMBOO think the eye really keeps the boat off the rocks. "But now we must go home. To-morrow I will walk with you over a road that leads to the city." X A FUNERAL PROCESSION Early the following day, the boys, with Bamboo and the schoolmaster, started in the direction of the great city wall. They soon came to a large cemetery. It was filled with little round hills built over graves. There were "It Was Filled With Little Round Hills Built Over Graves." no fences between graves. The master bowed nine times, and the children followed his exam- ple. "Have we any cousins in this cemetery? Is that why we bow to these spirits?" Bamboo asked. 39 BUD AND BAMBOO "We are all relatives of one another," the schoolmaster replied. A httle farther on a funeral procession passed quickl3^ by, and they all bowed again. The mourners were in white, which is China's funeral color. The yellow and white coffin hung from the shoulders of four men, who were harnessed under bamboo poles. They ran as fast as they could with the heavy coffin. The people called aloud the name of the dead person . ' ' Chang is dead , ' ' they cried. "Chang is dead. Chang is dead. Come back to your sons, good Chang." Two men dressed in white ran ahead of the coffin. Each carried a tray filled with food, to offer to the departed spirit. 40 The Umbrella Bearer. A FUNERAL PROCESSION Three men ran behind the coffin. One carried a flag, the second a lantern, the third an um- brella. On the umbrella was written a hst of the positions and school honors which the dead man had held. His school certificate was carried by itself on a large lantern. In China, a man is prouder of his learning and his manners, than of his wealth, his clothes, or his looks. The man's wife walked alone, a long way behind. She wore a long white veil, and a white flower was fastened in her hair to show that she would never marry again. Her hair was hanging loose, so that everyone would know that she was full of grief. When she was too tired to cry any more, mourners who were paid to cry began a loud wailing. They tore their clothes and pulled their hair, to show how great was the grief and how honorable the manners of the family. There were no high stones or monuments in the cemetery to which the coffin was carried. In some places little brick caves were built in the ground, under a mound. These caves were 41 BUD AND BAMBOO painted blue and white, and the coffins were placed in the middle of them, and tightly covered over with bricks. Most of the graves showed only a mound over the buried coffin, or an urn in which the body had been buried. Water-buffaloes, with great curved horns, fed between the graves. XI A TEA AND RICE FARM "Look, children, here is a tea farm," said the schoolmaster, as they continued their walk after the funeral procession had passed. "The people are picking tea to be sent to all parts of the world. Some of it may go as far off as America." The tea bushes were not very tall, and as it was a cloudy day, men, women, boys and girls were all out picking the leaves. A cloudy day is the best time for picking, because then the hot sun does not burn out the flavor from the tender leaves as they are picked. The girls carried the baskets of leaves to a man who had built a fire of twigs, under a bam- boo shed. The leaves were all thrown into a wide iron pan, and shaken over the fire until they were curled up tight from the sHght heat. 4 43 BUD AND BAMBOO The man was very careful only to dry and curl the leaves, and not to burn the flavor out of them. The leaves turned from green to black, as they dried and curled. The heat made them grow sweeter than they were when they were grow- ing on the white-flowered bush. "Watch him pack the leaves," said the master. The man put a piece of matting around a wooden box. Then he painted on the box with red and black paint, pictures of dragons, and pagodas, and tree-like Chinese characters. He lined the box with a thin sheet of lead, to keep the tea from getting damp Avhile on board ship, bound to some far-away land. The men and women filled the box with dried tea-leaves, putting in some jasmine and orange 44 'The Girls Carried the Baskets of Leaves." A TEA AND RICE FARM blossoms to give them scent. Then they nailed down the cover. Twenty boxes were tied together and carried on a bamboo pole between two men who ran with the boxes to the city. There they were put on a ship lying beside the wharf at the bank of the great river. The children now turned their attention to other things. " See the white ducks," said Bamboo, clapping her hands, her dark eyes flashing with delight. The tea farmer had a pool near the road. It was covered with large white Peking ducks, so tame that they followed wherever the farmer's servant led them to feed, between the wet rows of growing rice. Bud was more interested in some laborers in a field near by, than he was in the ducks. "They look as if they were having a pretty good time," he said. The men had cut rice plants from the pond in handfuls, and had thrown it, as it dried, on a hard, clay floor. With large bamboo sticks in hand, they were beating it and jumping among 45 BUD AND BAMBOO the stalks, while they all sang a song in a very high key. Then they drove a water-buffalo, with shoes on his feet, upon the floor, and made him walk around in the straw. At last they gathered up the straw, and at the bottom were the heaps of golden rice grains, all ready to cook. The rice was yellow, not white, for the Chinese do not polish off the outer coating, as Americans do. They like the fine food that is in the outer coating, and they know that the white polished rice is not so healthful as the rice they eat, although it looks prettier. "I am tired," said Bamboo. "It is hot and damp here. Let's not go any further." "We shall go home by another road," said the teacher, "and walk toward the city another day, when Bamboo is not so tired." XII LUNCH BY THE WAYSIDE It was several days later, and the master, his pupils and Bamboo had taken a long walk. "I am hungry," said Banner. "Let's stop at this food-stall by the wayside and get some- thing to eat." With the master's consent, they all stopped for a lunch. "What fine sweet cakes and jellies," said Bud. One of the boys bought a piece of shark's fin. It was very sticky, but the boy ^^^^^^^^ was hungry and it tasted good. K;'^^^^^ The shark's fin cost only one- BSCljH^B tenth of a cent. It was paid for ^^^^^J^ with a large coin with a hole in ^H^^^ the middle, so that many could °™' be carried on a string. On one side the coin had curly letters; they made the name of the Chinese Emperor in Manchurian writing. On 47 BUD AND BAMBOO the other side was the name of the Emperor in Chinese letters. There were no roasts on the counter of the food-stall, for in China all meats are cut up in small pieces and fried in veget abl e oils. One boy bought six little pieces of pork strung on a willow wand. He pushed off one piece at a time, and ate it with his bowl of rice. Another boy asked for an old egg. A lump of dried clay was handed to him, which he broke carefully in two. Inside was the egg, which was very black and hard, because it had been buried a long time. 48 Eating a Bowl of Rice. LUNCH BY THE WAYSIDE Bud asked for a piece of sugar-cane, and his white teeth made the sweet juice run out on his fingers. Bamboo had some Uly roots preserved in sugar. They tasted Hke nuts, and were very good. The hly which the Chinese preserve in this way is called "narcissus" in America. Because it has a flower like a white and gold star, and a sweet fragrance, it is called "starbreath" by the Chinese. The schoolmaster ate a handful of nuts. He crushed the thin, dry skin with his fingers, and it broke like a hollow brown egg-shell. In the center was a nut, with flesh like a dried raisin around it. This flesh the master ate, and it was very good, even better than a raisin. Lichee trees grew across the road from the food-stall, and the cook was drying the fruit in banana- leaf baskets. There was neither bread, butter nor milk on the stand. The Chinese eat no cheese or butter or milk. They make flour only into colored cakes; never into bread, for they do not use yeast in flour. 49 BUD AND BAMBOO Behind the stall was a pool, and the cook was placing in it some reeds covered with tiny yellow eggs. "What is he doing?" Bamboo asked. "He is going to raise some fish," the master replied. "He found those eggs on the reeds at the river-side. He pulled up the reeds, eggs and all. When the heat hatches the eggs, he will have the fish in his own pool, where he can feed them. Then after they are grown, he can catch them in a net any time he likes. Now let us have tea." The cook poured tea for each one, putting it into cups that had no handles. After they had finished drinking it, they continued their walk, much refreshed. XIII A PAGODA CHURCH "Now we will walk toward home," said the master. "I am sure we all feel better for our lunch." The boys walked on ahead, but Bamboo took hold of the master's sleeve, for she was pretty tired. "Why are they turning that screw over there?" she asked. "They are making oil, to use for cooking, for lamps, and to grease barrow wheels," was the master's reply. A farmer poured shelled peanuts into a strong barrel which had staves that were not close together. Then he fastened the lid down and screwed it deep on the barrel. Soon the rich oil began to ooze out at the bottom of the barrel. It ran into heavy oiled paper, which had been placed inside a bamboo cage. 51 BUD AND BAMBOO "Is it a paper bottle?" Bamboo asked. "Yes, little one," the master answered. "What do thej^ do with the squeezed peanuts left at the bottom of the barrel?" asked Bud, who had drop- ped back to hear what the master was saying. "They mix it with rice for cakes, and they send some of it to America and other countries for peanut but- ter. Sometimes they feed it to pigs, to make them very fat for feast time. If thej^ have a great deal of it, the farmers mix it with earth, to make the soil rich in order to raise more peanuts." They were walking along the Pagoda Road, and soon they came near one of the most beauti- 52 .%/^ "A Pagoda is Like a Church Steeple, With Seven Liltle Galleries Around It.'' A PAGODA CHURCH ful kind of buildings in China. A pagoda is like a church steeple, with seven little galleries around it. In the sunlight it is very beautiful, as it is covered with white, green, and blue tiles made of porcelain. "What are the little flags for?" Bamboo asked, pointing to a bamboo pole from which fluttered several pieces of brightly colored silks. "They have prayers on them," said the master. "When a person is poor or sick, some friend or relative buys a prayer-flag from the priest. The flag flutters a request to the god Buddha, up there in the sunlight or the moon- light." "I wish somebody would buy me a prayer- flag. I feel sick," said Bamboo. "We shall be home before long," the master said, putting his arm about the child, and half- carrying her along. XIV BAMBOO IS ILL That night Bamboo complained of a head- ache. The schoolmaster hurried for the Bud- dhist priest, and Bud went for the doctor. The doctor arrived first, and ordered Bamboo to be covered with many padded cotton blan- kets. Then he took dried snake-skin and a deer's horn, and ground them to powder with a file. He mixed the dose in wine, and gave it to Bamboo. The medicine made poor Bamboo more sick. It was not a good thing to give her, but the doctor did not know that. After ordering some more blankets put around his patient, he picked some leaves off a tea- bush. Then, after he had pulled up a rhubarb 54 A Prayer-Wheel. BAMBOO IS ILL root and had ground some of it for her, he gave her a large cup of tea and rhubarb. This made her very hot and moist, and soon put her to sleep. Then the priest came, and turned a prayer- wheel round and round. Lit- tle prayers were written on the wheel. Afterwards he took paper imi- tations of gold and silver money, and burned them ' « 1^ O before the im- age of Bud- dha and the carved tablet of Bamboo's great-grandfather. "Why is he doing that, father?" asked Bud, who watched the priest with great interest. "He is paying the god Buddha spirit money, to make Bamboo well." The next morning the little girl was bet- 55 W-i I The Cliff-Swallows' Nests. BUD AND BAMBOO ter, and her mother said, "I am going to get a dried swallow's nest and cook it for Bamboo." The cliff-swallows' nests are gathered on the islands of South China. The nest is made by the swallow's mouth. The saliva is spun around in thin strings, and dries in the form of a nest. Bamboo's mother went to the shop where the nests were sold, and bought one, although it cost a great deal. This very good food soon made Bamboo well enough to sit up, and before long she was able to see her friends again. XV THE ENTERTAINMENT "We will have a little play, to amuse Bam- boo, since she is not well enough to go out-of- doors," said the schoolmaster. Lanterns, gowns, and masks were brought. The boys all knew their parts for they studied very bright little plays in school. They Avent, too, four times a year at the Fair season, to the big theater. The side of Bamboo's room, opposite the couch, was arranged as a stage. Bud rushed in, dressed as a warrior of the olden time ; his sword was very dreadful. He stamped about, saying that he was looking for the enemy. From the other door Banner rushed in, and fought Bud with his painted sword. Banner was dressed like a golden general. After reciting some history, both left the stage. 57 BUD AND BAMBOO Soon someone dressed like a queen, in red, blue and gold, with pearl chains hanging from her cap, was carried on the stage in a chair painted yellow to represent royalty. She sang this little song: Happy am I, Here will I stay; Bamboo cannot die, I drive pain away, For I am the Fairy of Happiness; My name is Fu. She waved a wand shaped like a dragon, and shook the bell on the end of a long peacock feather. Bamboo was so pleased that she laughed aloud. Then Bud ran in again, dressed like a clown. "I will tell Bamboo a funny story of the beggars of Peking, to make her laugh and get well," he said. "The beggars stole all the bed-clothes at the Beggars' Hotel. Then the hotel man made a large carpet with many holes in it. The beggars were all gathered at night in a room covered with feathers, and the big 58 THE ENTERTAINMENT carpet was dropped on them, like a huge blan- ket, so heavy that they could not steal it. Each beggar pushed his head through the hole that was given him, so that he might get air. You see all the beggars of Peking must go to bed, and get up in the morning, at the very same minute." Bud bowed his way out, everybody shouting "Hi Yah," and "Sing," in approval. He Avas sure that Bamboo must know his voice, although he was disguised like a yellow clown. Next, dancers, dressed like kings, soldiers, princesses and clowns entered, and Bamboo grew dizzy as she watched them whirl around. Then a curtain was set up and the lights were put out. Bamboo could hear a noise behind the curtain. When everything was ready, the curtain was taken away. There, in the darkness, stood a toy city of lanterns, with beautiful pagodas, houses like Bamboo's own, gardens and many other things. Tiny lanterns were placed along the walls of this fairy city. They were of every color and many shapes such as birds, fishes, moons, stars, pigs and flags. 5 59 BUD AND BAMBOO The boys all now came in, still in their cos- tumes, but without their masks. They sat near Bamboo's couch while the schoolmaster told them stories of wonderful happenings that took place long ago, in the beautiful city of stars at which they were looking. At last Bamboo was too tired to hear any more. She lay down on the couch, and fell asleep. "Let us all go out very quietly," said the master. "Bamboo will get well. The fever is broken. See how she is smiling in her sleep. She is lost in the fairy city of dreams." XVI A VISIT TO THE CITY "While Bamboo is getting well," said the schoolmaster the next morning, "I will take you boys for a visit to the city. I want you to see how some of the things you know about are made. We will ride, so that you may not be too tired to see what I wish to show you after we get there." Coolies were hired, to take the boys to the city in wheel-barrows. The wheels were very high, and one boy sat on each side of a barrow. The wind blew toward the city, so the mat- ting sail was hoisted. The man behind pushed and steadied the barrow. They almost flew, they went so quickly, and everyone on the road stepped out of the way very politely. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" went the great gong in the gate tower. A soldier came over to see who was there. 61 BUD AND BAMBOO When he saw that it was a party of boys with their teacher, he waved an order Avith his hand, and they were allowed to go through the dark, low gate, and pass within the walls. The streets of the city were as narrow as The City Gate. the country roads, and when a passenger chair passed, the boys had to go into a shop. The shop signs hung down toward the side- walk, and the letters were placed one under another. All the signs were black, red and gold, and they looked very fine. The first place they visited was a shop where books were made. The Chinese boy begins to 62 A VISIT TO THE CITY read his book at the last page, and as he turns the pages he reads toward the front. The leaves are of soft bamboo paper, and the print- ing is on but one side of the page. The books have no hard covers. As the print is large they are thick, so that as he advances in his classes, the Chinese boy has a huge pile to carry. "There is a jade store over the way," said Bud, when they had seen about all there was of book-making. "I know the owner," said the schoolmaster, "we shall go over and see what he can show us." Jade is the precious stone of China. It looks like pink and green glass. It is hard, and can be polished very smooth, in the shape of fruit, animals, fish or rings. "My father wears a jade ring for good luck," said Banner. "Bamboo has a jade bracelet," said Bud. "And I wear jade beads, for good luck and wisdom," the master said. "I am going to take you next to the bird- feather jewel shop, and that is the last place we shall visit to-day," he added. 63 BUD AND BAMBOO At the bird-feather jeweler's they found work- men taking the blue tail-feathers of the king- fisher birds, and pounding the feathers into rough silver-ware. When the silver was cov- ered with the fine bits of feathers, it was polished smooth. The silver and bright blue looked very beautiful. "Look at these vase-makers," said the school- master. A worker took a plain silver vase, and fastened on it copper wires, in the shapes of birds, flowers, mountains, and dragons. Then he filled the different spaces with purple, blue, green and gold paste, made of glass and clay. As this work was finished, the vase was placed in a very hot oven, where the colored clay was baked. Another man was baking some of the vases, and the boys went over to the oven to see just what he did. Sometimes he blew air below the fire to give it more draught and increase the heat. Sometimes he blew air into the oven, so as to cool it suddenly. This caused delicate cracks to appear in the enamel. 64 A VISIT TO THE CITY Then he took the vase out, and poUshed the shiny clay smooth on a wheel. He next covered the vase with a clear, glassy paste, and put it in the oven again. The heat made a glaze over the bright colors, and the beautiful vase was finished. XVII WOODCARVING, POTTERY AND LACQUER-MAKING On their next visit to the city, the boys went first to see the teakwood carvers. The shop was heavily scented with the odor from the red chips and shavings of hard teakwood. Workmen were carving wonderful tables, chairs, cabinets and screens. On the top of each table and chair, and in each screen, they laid a smooth, green stone, in which there were veins Vjranching like a tree. They stained the red teakwood a deep, shiny black. "That chair will last forever, and will always be a cool place for sitting when the sun is hot," said the schoolmaster. "Oh, yes," said Banner quickly, "we have a chair just hke that at home. But please, Master, tell us about that yellow bureau. Why does it smell just like a temple?" "It is made of the same fragrant sandal- wood that is in the incense sticks," the master replied. 66 POTTERY AND LACQUER-MAKING "I'd like to be a sandal-wood carver," said Bud, who liked pretty things. "I am not surprised," the master answered, "but we must leave here. I want you to see how they make the plates and cups for the feasts." Men were digging gray clay from a pit. Others were melting sand in furnaces, others mixing colors in bowls, and still others were shaping wet clay on wheels. A furnace door was opened, and the thin cups and plates were put carefully in, to be baked. After a short time they were taken out and painted with gold and silver, and many bright colors in designs of flowers, dragons, fish, animals, pagodas, bridges, and boats with huge sails. Then they were put back into the furnace and baked again until the colors melted into the baked clay-and-sand coating. When they were taken out again and cooled. Bud was handed a cup to look through. "It is so light and thin that I can see the sun through it," he said. "It is so strong," the master rephed, "that the hottest tea will not crack it. Beautiful 67 BUD AND BAMBOO earthenware was first and best made in China. For this reason it is called 'china' in some countries. Now let us go to the lacquer shop." The lacquer artists had boxes, book-covers, toys, and trays, which they covered, in damp weather, with lacquer, which is the melted gum of a tree. Strange- ly enough, the gum hardens better in wet Bamboo's Lacquered Box. weather. After two coats of gum have been put on, the artists paint gold flowers on the boxes and trays. When these are dry they cover them all over with uncolored gum, so that the golden flowers seem to be floating in water. It was very beautiful work, and the lacquer shone so bright in the sunhght that one could hardly look at it. The gold flowers were soft and rich. Sometimes the artists set pieces of pearl- shell, and thin pieces of colored stones in the gum, so that a golden boat would have a pearl sail, and the cabin of the boat would have blue windows. "I am going to take a lacquered box home to 68 POTTERY AND LACQUER-MAKING Bamboo, for her to keep her colored silk threads in," said Bud. "It is time to go. I hear the evening gong ringing at the gate. We had better hurry, or we shall be locked in the city until morning," said Banner, whose hearing was more acute than the old schoolmaster's. On the way home, the boys saw some washer- women, standing deep in a stream. "See them pound the clothes on the rocks," said Bud. "Yes," said the master, "it gets the dirt out of the clothes, but it soon spoils them, for it tears the cloth. That is the reason we have to have so many new clothes. But we must hurry. It is growing late." They reached home before dark, and found Bamboo waiting for them, very eager to hear about their trip. "To-morrow, Bamboo may go with you," said their father, and Bamboo clapped her hands with glee. Bud, too, was very happy that his sister was well once more, and could go to walk with them. 69 XVIII THE WEDDING PROCESSION It was the first time that Bamboo had been away from the house since her illness. The master and the boys had agreed to make their walk a short one, so that she might go with them. As they Avere all passing out of the garden gate, they saw a large red chair, and many smaller ones, being carried by. "Oh, tell me what it means," said Bamboo. "It is good luck; the chair is going for a bride," explained the master. "The messen- gers have a red letter, bordered with gold. It was written by the young man, asking the lovely girl to be his wife, according to the promise made between her parents and his parents years ago. If she and her parents are still of this mind, she accepts many presents, among them a silver-covered roast pig, and two live geese tied together. 70 THE WEDDING PROCESSION "Then she puts on a red veil, and steps into the covered red chair. On each side march the men with gongs, vioHns, flutes, guitars, and firecrackers. Some of the red chairs are empty, but they are carried so that the neighbors will 71 BUD AND BAMBOO think that the wedding presents are very many. "Everyone is happy, and a great deal of red paper and rice are scattered along the road. Her future husband always hves next to his father's house, and the large red chair is set down at the door. The groom steps out to the chair, and taps on it three times with his fan. "As the bride has small bound feet, she cannot walk very well, and must be carried into the house on the back of a servant. She is asked to step over burning coals, and to walk under a tray of food, which means that she will be a good housekeeper. The young man takes the veil from his bride's face. This is the first time that he has ever seen the beautiful girl, for she was chosen for him by his parents, to whom he is always obedient. "The happy couple go into the best room, and together, as man and wife now, they bow nine times before the tablets on which are the names of the young man's grandfather and ancestors. Then the new little wife lights an incense stick, and starts the worship smoke before the tablets, which she will never allow to die out. Then 72 THE WEDDING PROCESSION husband and wife both go out into the garden, under the sky, and bow to God. "On an orange tree are hung such presents as pearls, ivory fans, king-fisher feather hair- pins, and veils. The bride takes them down and wears them and looks very pretty in them. The groom plucks a pink peony flower, almost as large as the bride's head, and hands it to her. "Then they go into the house again, and take up two cups of tea which are tied together with red string. If they wish good luck, they must both drink together, without breaking the string. Everyone is teasing the young couple, so as to make them nervous. Suddenly the bride tries to sit on the tail of her husband's coat, so as to show by this omen that she will be his ruler in the home, and win her way when he argues with her. He tries to keep his coat- tail away, and at the same time is very careful not to break the string which holds the cups of tea together. Everyone laughs, and the fun grows merrier. "Soon the great feast begins. The bride must go into the kitchen, and bring in the first 73 BUD AND BAMBOO dish of sweets. She offers these first to her husband's father and mother. Then she bows to them nine times." "Ill be a bride myself, some day, and ride in a great red chair with curtains," said Bamboo. XIX A SHORT WALK WITH BAMBOO After watching the wedding procession and hearing the master's story, they all continued their walk. "Over there are some of the beans from which they make the black sauce that we like so much with our meat," said the master. Men and women were grinding the beans and mixing them with water, yeast, salt, and sharp pepper flavors. The mixture was set out in the very hot sun in great stone jars, with the covers off, to ferment until it was black. "What is done with so much sauce?" Banner asked. "It is shipped to far-away covmtries, and is bottled for use on the table," the master ex- plained. "Bamboo," he continued, "should you like to see how your new mat was made?" "Yes, indeed I s^lould," replied the httle girl. 6 75 BUD AND BAMBOO Bamboo had that morning been given a new mat for the brick floor of her room. It had, worked on it, green and yellow and blue dragons and pagodas. "1 will take you to a swamp-farm near by, and show you," said the schoolmaster. Bamboo was delighted to learn about her mat, and the boys were quite as well pleased. They would have a chance to paddle in the water among the fishes. "Father says that when I am old enough, he will buy me a boat with a matting sail," said Banner. They came very soon to the swamp, where some men were cutting the thick grass or rushes. Other men were spreading the rushes in the sun to dry. The dried rushes were split into several strips each, then were wet again, and dyed with very bright colors. They were then ready to be woven, under a shed, into mats for bed-rooms, or for boatsails. "That's the kind of sail I want when I have my boat," said Banner. 76 A SHORT WALK WITH BAMBOO "And here's a red, yellow, and blue mat that I should hke for mother's room," said Bamboo. "It has two geese on it, which means a happy home." "While we are here," said the schoolmaster, "would you Hke to see how they catch reed birds, to keep in cages and to eat?" the school- master asked. "Yes, indeed," said the boys. "Then look over there." They all looked in the direction pointed out by the teacher. A boy had scattered rice on the ground. The beautiful green and yellow reed birds flew down to eat it, while over them hung a net suspended from a tree. The net had stones around the edge. Sudden- ly the boy pulled the string, and as they started to fly upward, nearly all the birds were caught under the falling net. The boy put the birds into a bamboo cage, to take them to the city to sell for food or for pets. XX THE CITY AGAIN The boys had enjoyed the sights of the citj^ so much that they begged to be allowed to go again. After a talk with Bud's father, the '"We Are Off. Hurrah! ' Shouted Bud as They Started." schoolmaster hired the wheel-barrows once more. The coolies, or barrow-men, who pushed them, asked a cent each for the long ride. A cent 78 THE CITY AGAIN seems a very small amount to the people of some countries, but it will buy ten times as much food in China as it will in America. Besides, as the coolies slept out under the starry sky, they did not need to pay room-rent. So a cent each was not bad payment for a coolie. "We are off. Hurrah!" shouted Bud as they started. Banner was looking back- ward at the time, and he unbalanced the barrow so that they both nearly fell off. The cooUe was very angry for a minute. When they reached the gates of the city, they were not allowed to enter for a while. It was a feast day in honor of the god who was supposed to watch over the city. Every city has a different god, who is said to protect it, and his name is written high upon the wall in large red characters. The judge and soldiers were setting off fire-crackers to "call the god's attention," as they said. When all this was finished, and after they had entered the city, they came to a hole where men were building the foundation of a large building for a foreign consul. High in the air, 79 BUD AND BAMBOO the laborers were making a mat-shed roof and sides, with bamboo poles and mats. "Why do they put up a mat-shed first? " asked Bud. "To keep off the rain and the hot sun, while they work at the real building of plaster, brick, stone, and mi:&^^. tiles," the mas- ter replied. The builders worked swiftly and quietly. They used no nails, but tied the poles to- gether firmly with bamboo cords. This method does away with the noise of hammering, and makes it possible for them to use the same poles over and over again. "Did you ever stop to think how wonderful bamboo is, and how much we use it?" asked the master. 80 "'It IS Really a Giant Grass Which Grows as Largo as a Tree.' " THE CITY AGAIN " It's good and strong, I know that," said Bud. "O, and pretty, too," put in Bamboo, who ahvays noticed pretty things. "Yes, pretty as well as useful," said the master. "It is really a giant grass which grows as large as a tree, in our warm, moist climate. We make ropes of its outer covering, or skin. We make masts, whips and fences out of it, and beams for our houses. We make chairs, tables, and picture- frames with it. "When we cut out the soft heart, the big bam- boo rod, which is always straight, can be used for a pipe to carry water, oil or gas. We make fans, umbrellas, rain-coats and shoes of the leaves. We soak it in water with lime, and make paper out of it. The bamboo grows so fast. Bud, that although you were able to walk over it yesterday, to-morrow it wiU be higher than your head." Bud opened his eyes wide and said he was going to plant some and watch it grow. "O," cried Banner, suddenly, as they started to walk on, "I have torn my shoe!" 81 BUD AND BAMBOO "Never mind," said the schoolmaster, "there is a man over there who will mend it for you." Across the road, under a large umbrella, stood a shoemaker who offered to mend five pairs of shoes for a cent. He took off Banner's shoe, and looked at it carefully. The shoe was made of several layers of felt sewn together, without cither nails or leather. The shoemaker cut four or five thicknesses of soft cloth the shape of the hole, and fitted them in. Then he sewed the edges firmly, over and over, until they were smooth, and the shoe was ready for use again. Banner clapped his hands, and said he could walk a hundred miles without getting tired, it was so elastic and soft. The master led the boys homeward by way of the south gate of the city, near the river. They crossed a bridge, and the boys had to be very careful not to slip as they climbed up the wet steps which led to it. "Master, why are those yellow bags tied behind the back of the baby on that boat?" Bud asked. "They are hollow melons and gourds, which have been scraped thin and dried. If the baby 82 THE CITY AGAIN falls overboard, she will not sink, and her father can swim to rescue her," the schoolmaster replied. "Look at the men over in that field, matching larks and canaries," cried Banner. Men, as well as boys, had brought their bird cages out into the field. The birds were sent up into the air, and the one that sang loudest won the prize. The birds were so tame that they flew back to their owners, who fed them sweet seeds as a reward. If a hawk came flying through the air, the birds would stop their singing and fly quickly back to their cages. "Look at that crowd of people over there. What are they doing?" called Banner, whose sharp eyes saw everything. The master, who was tall, looked over the heads of the crowd, and told the boys what he saw. Two men had quarreled. One had boasted that his grandfather was a finer man than the other's grandfather. Then they had called each other names. Each man put out his foot and caught the other man's plaited hair, or queue. They pulled so hard that each twisted 83 BUD AND BAMBOO the other's head around, and while it hurt terribly, it looked very funny to see two men who were quarreling look away from each other. The master was much provoked at the sight. He told the boys that when they did not agree, it was better to go and argue before some elder person, rather than to fight or pull queues. "Remember, we are all relatives of one another," said the master. "Do you remember," he continued, "that very soon, in February, our New Year time comes round again, the happiest season of the year, when nobody is allowed to ciuarrel during the whole week of holiday making?" "Oh, tell us about New Year's," said all the boys eagerly, for though they had heard it again and again, the story was always new. XXI THE NEW year's FESTIVAL This is the story of New Year's, as the school- master told it to the boys: "New Year's is China's happiest time. We then begin life anew. No one works for a week. Every bill is paid. Every boy forgives his enemy, and makes a visit to everyone he knows. No one drinks liquor. "The graves are visited and swept clean, the boy saying at the tomb, 'Lo, Father, I have swept clean thy tomb.' The family tablets are made bright with new gold and black var- nish. The great names loved by the family are worshiped many times, and their fine deeds are re-told to inspire all to similar deeds. "The tables are piled high with good things to eat. The red shutters are put on the shop, mean- ing, 'No business done now, but come to the family door and enjoy yourseh with us in our home.' 85 BUD AND BAMBOO "Everyone gives presents, and the poorest beggar may go to his rich relative without fear, and demand a welcome, and food and raiment. ''Every boy and girl must wear a new suit of beautiful blue silk clothes. Every man has his head and face shaved each morning. The girls have new gold and jet pins, and silk flowers for their hair. "On one day we shall all go up the highest mountain, as near to heaven as we can get, and return thanks for another year's blessings; and we shall all promise to do good and not evil in the future. "We shall take many rides that week, to the hills, the cemeteries, the temple, the theater, the lake, the woods, — wherever it is beautiful and where we can have a fine time. "We will hire a company of actors, and build a theater in the field beside the house. We shall have music, and processions with red banners and lanterns of the giant fish. There will be feasts, and the priests, dressed all in pink, will amuse us with their stories and per- formances. 86 THE NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL "The clown who owns the dancing bears and jumping monlvcys will come around. At the feasts you will see the silvered roast pigs, and the gold-covered puddings. We shall have new long, red visiting-cards painted, and we shall paste them on our gate, to show where we, and all our relatives, are proud to live. Ours is a family village, for son and nephew, father and uncle, sister and cousin — there are no quar- rels among us, but all live together in peace and friendship. "We shall fill the house with flowers, and we shall sit out in the garden far into the night, telling stories, and listening to the gentle breeze in the tall trees. "We shall paint the picture of a bat on our front screen, because a bat is the sign of long life. The Governor's wife, you know, has a bat embroidered on her robes, as a good-luck wish that she may live long. "Your father, Bud, is going to erect an arch over the road in honor of his mother. All the judges and soldiers are to come and see the beau- tiful work, and they will set off loads of fire- 87 BUD AND BAMBOO crackers, and will blow trumpets and beat wooden drums." "I wish New Year's week were here this minute," said Banner with a happy sigh, as the story was finished, and all the others wished so too. XXII BAMBOO AT WORK AND AT PLAY Bamboo did not go to school with the boys in the study room. Bud and his cousins were studying hard, in order to become great men in China. But Bamboo was very busy with Bamboo. 89 BUD AND BAMBOO "Bamboo Had a Tame Black and White Magpie." her mother, and her aunt, who went from house to house, teaching girls. Bamboo was taught to make beautiful em- broidery, with gold thread on blue silk. She made dragons, and flowers, and temples, and sanpan boats. She also learned how to make lace, and to embroider felt slippers in gold, black, and blue. Bamboo had a tame black and white magpie, which was always watching for a chance to steal and hide her silver thimble. Sometimes Bamboo enjo3'cd this trick, but when she was ver}^ busy, it made her feel cross. One day Bamboo's aunt came into the room with a box. "What is in the box?" Bamboo asked. "Open it and see," said her aunt. Bamboo opened the box and took out a flat harp, which she laid on the table. 90 BAMBOO AT WORK AND AT PLAY "Here are two peacock's feathers, with a piece of wood on the end of each. You will strike the wires, as I teach you the songs of old China. Then you can sing to please your father, when he sits in the garden at night and thinks," said her aunt. The music that Bamboo made was much sweeter than that which her father made on his queer violin and flute. Bamboo was also taught how to glue all kinds of colored seeds and grain, on such things as paper models of houses, trees, temples, pagodas, and boats. "What are these pretty toys for, mother?" asked Bamboo. "They are for the feast of the Star-man and his Star-wife, which takes place in the Autumn. I will tell you the pretty story: "You know they live now each in a bright star across from each other over the Milky Way. They were once a farmer and his wife on the earth. The wife was quarrelsome at times. When she went above, the god Tien separated her from her husband in punishment, and makes her wander over the skies for a whole year, ' 91 BUD AND BAMBOO except when the stars come together over the Milky Way. Then because she can embroider cleverly, the god Tien allows her to cross safely over to her husband on the lovely carpet of the Milky Way, and adorn his star-home with fine curtains. He gives her the fine food that only a good farmer can grow. "When the festival comes around in the Fall, we will cover tables with our needle and toy work, and all your father's friends, and my friends, will bring cakes and sweets; and they will praise our skill with the needle, and with these colored seeds." Then Bamboo was more anxious than ever to do her work well, so that they would "Largo Jad. and Gold ^U praise her when the Pins in tiip Hair." festival time came around. Bamboo learned how to oil and dress her mother's hair over a large form, which made it stand out far behind on her neck. She put many large jade and gold pins in the hair. Her mother never wore a hat, but carried a bamboo umbrella 92 A Dwarfed Tree. BAMBOO AT WORK AND AT PLAY instead. At night the mother placed a Httle wooden pillow under her neck, to keep her hair from being crushed. "We must make some padded blankets," said Bamboo's mother one day. Then the little girl learned how to fill cotton bat- ting between the colored sheets, and sew it all to- gether. As there is no stove in a Chinese house, Bamboo made heavy padded coats for all at home to wear in the cool season. Her father's coat was a long one of blue silk. Her mother's was short, of red and gold. When dressed for company, her father wore a long gown down to his feet, and her mother wore wide trousers. The Chinese say that the rest of the world copied the style of dress from them, as they are the oldest people, but that the styles became mixed, so that in other countries men wear trousers and women the long gowns. 93 BUD AND BAMBOO Bamboo was taught to dwarf bamboos and trees, in pots in the garden. She bent them into odd shapes, and by pinching the leaves and keeping the pots small, and giving the plants little water, she was able to dwarf a tree so that it would not grow at all, even if it should live two hundred years. Her father taught her to trim bushes into the shapes of men, and women, and birds, and animals, and then to put porcelain heads, hands and feet on them. Together they made a little to3^ garden in the corner of the compound. It had toy streams and bridges, water-falls, lakes, boats, pagodas, temples, people and animals in it, and here Bamboo placed all her dwarf trees and dwarf bamboos. This was the spot where Bamboo and her mother and her aunt sat often- cst, when they were making the gorgeous embroidery. XXIII BUD AT THE EXAMINATION Bud was studying very hard. Every morning before breakfast he crossed the garden to the study room, and recited for an hour. He had passed the examination in the great city. The examination stalls were in a park, "The Examination Stalls Were in n Park, Thousands of Them Together." 95 BUD AND BAMBOO thousands of them together. Each had a tile roof, and looked almost like a bath-tub placed on one end. In the center of the park was a high tower, overlooking everything. There the examiners watched. For three days and nights the boys stayed in the closed stalls, until they had answered all the questions. No one was allowed by the soldiers to go near the students, so that no help could be given to them, and they Avere searched before they went into the stalls, so that they could not carry books in with them. In China everybody knows how to cook, and Bud took care of himself. Each boy had his food, blanket and cooking vessels with him. Bud's mark was so good that the Government wants him to prepare to be an official. His father is very much pleased, and his mother and Bamboo are very proud of him. His father bought a large red banner and hung it out over the gate. It stated that a boy who had won a "degree" lived there. Bud is known every- where as the "scholar," which is the next title in honor to that of an "official" in old China. 96 0)