Having finished her tea, the buxom Dame Kuo Then she rose from the table, declared she had done ;— She would stroll round the fair now, and look at the fun. Depositing a douceur in the Abbot's willing hand, "When the fair is finished, you must come and hunt us up; You'll always find a welcome, and a bed, a plate, and cup." Dame Kuo made her way through the thick of the fair, And old as she was, not a young lady there Enjoyed herself more, or felt greater delight, Than she did at every queer sound or strange sight. Buying and selling, Screaming and yelling; "By your leave! Stand aside! Can't you see where you're going?" Roaring and shouting, Ranting and spouting, Cymbal banging, flute squeaking, and long-trumpet blowing. Gonging and drumming, Fiddling and strumming, Interspersed with a good deal of squalling and bawling. Hawking and talking; The girl slack-rope walking "How nicely she does it!"-Ai, ya! she is falling!" Cursing and swearing, "This, ma'am, is the stall, if you want a nice fairing. Here are all sorts of toys, For good little boys, Red-string, flowers, and knicknacks, for young ladies' wearing. "Here are mouth-pieces made From the purest of jade, And pipes that will make bad tobacco smoke pleasant. For industrious wives ; Make a choice from my wares-there's no time like the present." Losing and winning, Laughing and grinning, Humming-top spinning;-on dry land boats rowing; Horses a-neighing, Donkeys a-braying, Begging priests praying;—stilt-walking, stone-throwing. Whirligging and swinging, Story-telling, bell-ringing. A drummer is singing, at the same time is plying And performs sundry feats with ; While the third one in mid-air is constantly flying. Snuffing and smoking, Jesting and joking, Or saying smart things, which set people laughing. And each other crushing, To hear merry-andrews their audience chaffing. What a hubbub and din; "Just going to begin!" What changing of money! what taking and giving! Within, actors playing: And puppets which look just as if they were living. Clod-hoppers swarming To see rats performing, Or peep-shows, with gay scenes which constantly vary. "For three cash may be seen A girl-aged sixteen, With the legs of a horse and the face of a fairy!" * A whirligig-similar to those used in English fairs, is called "Umbrella Wheel.” Female tumblers-athletes, Performing strange feats; Quack doctors, rogues, thieves, and beggars, are numerous; Some, pity exciting; Some, squabbling and fighting: Here are scenes of all sorts, grave, gay, sad, or humorous. ; Dame Kuo having seen all the sights of the fair, Climbed into her cart and returned to Peking, Well pleased with her trip to the fair at Hsi-ting. INVERTED FACTS. 1ST MONTH. In the first month we keep up the Dragon-Boat Feast;* The sun, at this time, always sets in the east; Temples are never built facing the south ;† (How glibly a crammer slips out of one's mouth!) A stout man is one with no flesh on his bones; If indulged in, to all sorts of wickedness leads. * This festival really occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month. + Exactly the reverse. |