The girl was then in Tai-hsiao's clothes attired,

(In truth the bridal vestments well became her). Soothed by the wily dame, caressed, admired, She for a time forgot she was but hired,

And thought she was the bride-and who can
blame her?

She was so young, so modest, and so pretty,
To lend her thus for money seemed a pity.

Yet there she stood, a living sacrifice,

Of guilt unconscious-she was but obeying
Her parents' orders, yet at what a price!
Her purity to screen another's vice.

She was an innocent they were betraying.
In vain might she bewail her sad position,
She had no power to alter her condition.

"Tis six o'clock. See yonder a long procession comes; And now they reach the house, amid the crash of gongs and drums.*

Tai-hsiao remains within the room, she dare not show her

face,

And envies in her heart the girl who pro tem takes her place.

*When the bridal chair arrives it is escorted by musicians beating gongs and drums, blowing trumpets, etc. On the return of the procession, when the bride is in the chair, the music is softer, small gongs, clarionets, flutes, fifes, etc., being used.

Luan-ying, now veiled, is carried, through the hubbub and the din,*

To the bridal chair in waiting, and safely placed within ; To soft and plaintive music the train returns once more, Bringing the fictitious bride, till they reach the bridegroom's door.

The chair is lowered carefully, the girl assisted out
By two officious matrons; the people round about
Throng nearer, just to get a view; the bridal carpet's
spread,+

The girl, supported by the two, within the house is led.

* The bride, closely veiled, is carried to the chair, and placed in it by her father, brother, uncle, or, in case of her having neither, by her nearest male relative. On her arriving at the bridegroom's, she walks from the chair to the house.

† When the chair containing the bride arrives at the bridegroom's house, a carpet is spread from the chair to the hall, if the parties are rich; if they are poor, two short pieces are used, the bride in her progress alternately stepping on either, the hind one she has just quitted being hastily raised and again spread in front of her, this being repeated till she reaches the house. Previous to the bride quitting the chair, the bridegroom stands outside his door with a bow and arrow in his hand; he stretches the bow to its fullest extent three times, with the arrow pointing to the chair; sometimes the bridegroom lets fly at it, this is done to frighten away her "bad spirits." After this she is assisted out by two matrons, and supported into the courtyard, where both bride and bridegroom worship heaven and earth. The bride is then led towards the door

Heaven and earth were worshipped, every necessary rite Was gone through most punctiliously. The poor girl quaked with fright;

She formed a thousand plans, as the time wore slowly on, What should she do when night came, and all the guests were gone?

of the house; on the door-sill is placed an apple, on the top of which is also placed a saddle; this is emblematical of domestic happiness, the two characters, p'ing-an, "apple and saddle,” having the same sound as p'ing an, "peace, tranquillity," etc. Within the entrance of the door is placed a pan containing live charcoal, implying a hope that the husband may be prosperous. The bride steps first over the saddle, then over the pan of charcoal; she is then led to the kang; at the foot of this is a bag containing various cerials, principally millet, step by step may she ascend, or may she be good and prosperous. The bride sits on the kang, and the bridegroom standing at its foot takes off her veil with a steelyard or weighing stick; he then ascends the kang and sits facing the bride. Each of them are now handed a bowl of small dumplings, containing minced meat of some kind, of which both of them must partakethese are nearly raw. The bridegroom's mother then asks them, "Is what you are eating cooked or uncooked ?" They will naturally answer "uncooked"; the character used having also the meaning "to bear, to produce," etc., the answer implies a hope that she may bear children. The bridegroom's mother then hands them two goblets tied together with red string, both drink in silence, and the ceremony is complete.

The matrons attending the bride must have husbands and children, and the more children they have, the better it is considered. No widows on any account are allowed to be in attendance.

Slowly sank the setting sun,

Behind the mountains disappearing;

The bright stars shone forth one by oneHeaven's myriad eyes were downward peering.

At length none but themselves remained,
The wedding guests had all departed;
The fact was scarcely ascertained

When up the bridegroom's mother started,

Exclaiming, as a lamp she lighted,

"Thank goodness? they've all gone away! For which, my dear, I am delighted— But ain't this been a busy day?

"Lor! how pale the dear child's face is!
Poor thing! she's tired. Come along,

My dear; for you the proper place is
The bed-so I'll spread the kang.”

The girl was to an inner chamber led,
Assisted by her mother in undressing;
Detaching, too, the trinkets from her head,
The dame, when she had made the bridal bed,

Called in her son, and left them with a blessing.

There stood the bridegroom, there the borrowed

bride;

Both feeling somewhat disconcerted.

He timidly steals to her side,

Embraces her with love and conscious pride;
She trembling stands, with face and eyes averted.

What shall she do? Oh! for some hiding-place!
Would that the ground would open and receive her!
Where can she run and hide her burning face?
Is there no method to avert disgrace?

How make him, but for a moment, leave her?

How can she tell him they're not really wed

That avarice to this cruel state has brought her? A bright idea pops into her head

She turned, and to the bridegroom trembling said, "I am so thirsty, please bring me some water."

There was no water in the room, she knew.
He seized a cup and hastened to obey her,
Off to the kitchen in a moment flew.

She closed the door, the bolt securely drew,

And sank down, almost fainting, in a chair.

He got the water and was hastening back,

Groping his way, to keep himself from falling, Through the dark passage, with extended neck, When 'gainst the door be ran,—this sudden check Not only brought him up, but sent him sprawling.

16*