Wang the Ninth

father's voice, however, answered its first stirrings and cries; so after a while the philosophic instin

o and fro cheerfully and briskly; and the rising sun which was peeping through the gaps in the paper seemed ready to invade the whole room. In one corner were the two baskets and the litter of blacksmith'

ly half-rolled and half-tumbled to the earthen floor from the low k'ang on which

fearfully it peeped out as if it ha

umble and clatter of the carts, and the cries of the vendors never ceased: they seemed a veritable brook of life which went on for ever. Enchanted by this animation little Wang remained stockstill, wondering what would happe

for sale in a thin raucous voice, putting one finger into an ear as he called so as to sense the quality of his tune from the vibrations. Children a

totally unobserved, looking at each disappearing mouthful with envious eyes, and wondering what he sh

tter-of-fact way, treating the

y," announced lit

en said; but the child only stood there frowning, showing traces of the r

should be. When one is small it is always so: only with age does the appet

ng shook

replied. Then gaining courage he a

nd, watching the

per ladle he dipped very deeply into his cauldron, as if generous feelings possessed him, bringing out notwithstanding the smallest possible amount of his hot mess by means of a quick turn of the handle. Then

every drop with wolfish rapidity. "I see you could eat more. But I must have my money

a baby in her

t and found a place to sleep with one of the militia. He h

lso because he hated being the object of such attentions. Everybody was looking at him no

me little stones, not paying any further attention to the scene around him. The other children observed his antics with curious e

Then another, not to be outdone, gave him a little from his little bowl of congee, and squatting down beside him tried to talk to him in small baby words. The women and the old man drifted away, but all the children remained and were joined by ot

tle Wang, by reason of that mysterious quality which sets one man over others, was alrea