Penny-tossing, or rolling, carries out the idea of marbles. But it is not considered a nice game, and only bad boys indulge in it.

Swimming is not popular, although many Chinese boys learn to swim. Fishing means work with the 5 Chinese. A man or boy goes fishing simply for the fish, and not for the fun; and I am of the opinion that my countrymen are right.

Since

Of indoor games and pastimes there is only a small list. Since young ladies and gentlemen are not allowed, 10 in China, to enjoy one another's society, dancing is, of course, out of the question. A Chinese gentleman would consider it a foolish waste of time to hop about and twirl around for a whole night. Amusements requiring so much exertion are not to his taste; and 15 as for throwing his arm around a girl's waist in the whirl of the waltz, a Chinese gentleman would not permit such an impolite act. Accordingly gentlemen's indoor pastimes are cricket-fighting and quail fighting.

20

Cricket-fighting is a sort of passion or craze with some Chinese. In the cricket season, men and boys hunt for them by the wayside, or among thickets on the mountains. When caught they are fed and afterwards tested as to their fighting qualities. A good 25 fighter will fetch quite a large sum.

Dominoes is a game played by men and women as well as children. It is different from the American game, being more like the card game of whist.

Guessing pennies always furnishes much amusement to little boys and girls. Chinese coins are made of brass and copper, with a square hole in the middle for convenience in carrying. On one side is a legend in 5 Chinese giving the name of the emperor's reign and the word "currency." The game is to guess the name of the reign when the coin is turned upside down. Another game is played around a fruit-stand; it is to guess the number of seeds in an orange. The loser 10 pays for the orange while the winner eats it.

There are not many games in which boys and girls play together. If they do play together it is only while they are children, under ten or twelve. Growing-up girls will have nothing whatever to do with 15 boys, though Chinese boys and girls are very sociable, each with friends of their own sex.

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Why are out-of-door games
that include running, leap- 3.

ing, and all other kinds of
exercise of value to chil-
dren? Are they better
than exercise in a gymna- 4.
sium? If so, why?

2. What is the purpose of the
play of animals? Tell how
kittens play, and show
what preparation their play
is for what they have to

do when grown up. Make a list of your games that include exercise of your muscles. Show how they develop your body. What kind of games that

we have are not played by Chinese children? Why do they not play these games? What do they miss by not playing these games?

5. Describe the games of
Chinese children. In what
games do they excel us? 7.
In what kinds of play do
we excel them?

6. How do Chinese boys and
girls differ from American

boys and girls in playing games together?

Do you think that Chinese

boys and girls have as much fun as you have? Give your reasons.

Write your name in kindness, love, and mercy on the hearts you come in contact with, and you will never be forgotten.

CHALMERS

FORGET-ME-NOT

When to the flowers so beautiful
The Father gave a name,
Back came a little blue-eyed one,

All timidly it came,

And standing at its Father's feet,
And gazing in His face,

It said in low and trembling tones,
With sweet and gentle grace,

"Dear God, the name thou gavest me,

Alas! I have forgot."

Then kindly looked the Father down,

And said, "Forget-me-not."

THE BROOK

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

This is a very famous poem, and it is also a beautiful song, for the music sounds just like the swift flowing of a brook.

You have never seen the brook about which Alfred Tennyson, the great English poet, wrote this fine poem. You will probably never see his brook, and it does not matter if you do not. But you have seen your own brook, which came from some lake where coot and hern (water birds) swam in the rushes; and your own brook did exactly what Mr. Tennyson, in this poem, says his brook did. So, in reading the poem, never mind Mr. Tennyson's brook in England, but try to see whether this poem tells how your brook says to you,—

"I come from haunts of coot and hern,

I make a sudden sally,

And sparkle out among the fern,

To bicker down a valley."

As you read, you will see that the words sound just like the flowing of the brook; and you will find yourself hurrying along the bank of the brook to keep up with its flow. Read the first stanza and try it.

But before we

The pictures in this poem are very wonderful. try to see them, we must learn the meanings of some words that are new to us, else we shall miss many fine pictures. Here are the new words: