Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1891-08-13

'hey aie not dDie 10 go 10 SCHOOL, help
their fathers in the fields. They take
OF the chickens, ducks, pigs and the
water buffalo, keep them from wander
ing far, and from destroying the crops.N
i have seen bright little fellows strad-
ding ON the back Of the water ~buffaloes,
driving them to the river to wash, aud
then throwing stones at them when they
refused to go into the water.
Certain days in the month are observed
by the farmers as market days, some
times three a month and sometimes more.
The market town is generally on the
bank Of a river where the farmers can
come by boat as well as from the coun.
try around. Market day is a great occa-
sion, and there Is always a swarming,
bustling crowd, eager to buy, sell or ex.
change. They carry their goods to aud
nom market strung on bamboo poles
CROSS the shoulders. The pig corner is
a curious place. The pigs are done up
one by one in little soft bamboo cages or
bundles, and | have often seen a pur-
chaser, like Tom, the Piper's Son. pick
up o pig and run with 1t, squealing, I'm.
der his arm. The fish are often brought
TO the market alive in the flooded bot
toms Of boats. and are then displayed for
sale in pretty little ponds. One of the
characteristics OF a Chinese market is the
beautiful odor and care with which every.
thing is arranged for sale, and the
freshness and cleanliness Of the vegeta.
bles. There is a large variety of fruits
and vegetables-nany unknown in Amer
ica-and they are all arranged. accord.
ing to %colors, in artistic rows and de.
signs very tempting to the eye,
Some people have said that the Chi.
nese have no happy home life, but they
are mistaken. As l went about among
the farm villages l saw many pretty
home scenes. AT one place l saw a
young farmer, who had just come home
from his work, walking up and down
with his little boy by the hand, chatter.
ing away happily. A few steps off the
old grandfather was sitting. contentedly
smoking his pipe. Inside the house the
farmers wife was probably busy string.
ing sweet potatoes or orange peel to dry,
or picking fax. or spinning cotton, or
pounding rice In a hollow stone floor.
Perhaps she was eating her supper, be.
cause the wives generally do not eat
until after the men of the family have
finished. The boys, after their work or
school, spin toys or play a lively game of
tag. / have seen them sometimes grab
each other by their pigtails as the most
convenient way to catch. They have a
number Of curious games that would puz-
eel a Yankee boy.
At one place l saw four little girls sit
ting down on a smooth, hard spot on the
ground that mad been brushed clean,
merrily playing some game. l stepped
near to see what it was. Would you be-
lieve IL 1t was Jacks but instead of
the little iron jacks and marble or rub.
Der ball that our children use, they had
nothing but stones, one large one 10
bounce and several smaller oDes to catch,
The Chinese farmers live In humble
fashion and are gentle and polite even to
strangers. AS l walk through the field,
if meet a farmer younger than myself
| greet him with, mi no la, sal 10 ko?"
chow are you my Younger brotherD No
matter how busy he may be he stops and
bows politely and answers, "Ho la, Sin
shang," VERY well, honorable sir; ''shik
tan NIP (have you partaken of your
morning riceO The latter is a very polite
greeting. He might ask further, "What
is your honorable nameW If 1t was an
older person ! would salute him reset.
fully with, "Lo hing (my elder brother)
or "Pak we kung'' (white haired gentle.
many. They are never too busy to ans.
wer politely, although they may regard
the stranger as fan kwai' or "foreign
devil"