his lyre when he and his disciples were attacked by banditti? And if he could show such indifference to danger in circumstances of so great peril, should not I be able to preserve a calm demeanor in the presence of this storming bully?" The sound of Chang's returning footsteps drove Violet again into her place of concealment. There," he said as he entered the room, is the paper you gave me; and now deny your own handwriting if you dare.

“Please sit down, uncle, and let me ask you one or two questions. What was the date of my birth?"

"You were born on the 15th of the eighth month, in the second watch. I and your father were, as it happened, drinking to the full moon when the news was brought us."

"And when did your daughter, Autumn-leaf, first see the light?"

"On the 6th of the sixth month, as I well remember; for the weather was so intensely hot that her mother's life was in danger."

And now, uncle, will you read the date represented by the cyclical characters on the paper which you hold in your hand?"

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"Oh, I don't know anything about cyclical characters,' replied Chang. "Such knowledge,' he added in a vain attempt to conceal his ignorance, 'is only fit for astrologers and women. "Is it possible," said Plum-blossom, in a tone of revengeful mockery, that with your wide circle of knowledge, you don't understand these simple characters? Well, then, let me, ignorant young girl' as I am, explain them to you. These first characters, Ke wei, stand for the month which is vulgarly known as the Serpent month, which, as perhaps you know, is the sixth month.

"Yes, I know that."

"Well, these next characters, Kea yin, represent the sixth day of the month, and this is, therefore, the date of my cousin's birth, and not of mine the year of our births being the same."

"You have attempted to ruin me," he said, "by an abominable fraud; but I will be even with you. I will impeach you before the Prefect, and then see whether you will be able to escape from the clutches of the law as easily as you think you have from mine."

"You had better not be in too great a hurry, uncle. From things I have lately heard, the Prefect has not been altogether acting with you in this matter; and if I were to charge you with attempting to decoy me into a marriage in the absence of father and against my consent, it might go hardly with you.

"What does it matter?'' groaned the wretched man, as he threw himself back in his chair; I am ruined, whatever happens. So what can I do better than either throw myself into the well or take a dose of gold-leaf, and so end my miseries ?"

"I have a better plan than either of those you suggest," said Plum-blossom: "and if you will listen to my advice, I think I can get you out of your difficulty. You would like to have your daughter married, I suppose?''

"Does not a weary man long to throw his burden off his back?"

Very well, then, why should you not throw this burden into the lap of young Wang? He has throughout the business negotiated for your daughter'; then let him take your daughter.

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4

But he will discover the fraud." "Not until it is too late. He won't see her face until she is his wife, and then he will be ashamed to confess that he has been hoodwinked."

"Well," said Chang, after a few minutes' reflection, as it is the only way out of the difficulty, I will risk it. But there is no time to be lost; and the least you can do, after the way you have behaved, is to come over and help us with the arrangements, for young Wang is to be here this evening."

Peace being thus restored, the unnatural allies went to propose their scheme to Autumn-leaf. That young lady, who was as free from any bashfulness or refined feeling as her worthy parent, was delighted at the idea. Being very plain in appearance and ungainly in figure, she had entertained but faint hopes of matrimony, and the prospect, therefore, of gaining a husband so rich as young Wang was charming beyond measure to her. She at once consented to play the part required, and, without a moment's loss of time, prepared to bedeck herself for the occasion. Anticipating a marriage, though not having been certain of the exact day, Chang had arranged

everything in readiness except the bride. The decorations and scarlet hangings were all at hand, and a very few hours' work sufficed to adorn the family hall and altar with the splendors usual on such occasions. But the bride was not so easily beautified. However, after all the resources of Plum-blossom's wardrobe, as well as her own, had been exhausted in choosing dresses and petticoats which became her best, she was pronounced presentable. Much the confederates trusted to the long red veil which was to cover her face and person until her arrival at her new home; and minute were the directions which I'lumblossom gave her for concealing her features until the next morning.

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Assume a modesty, even if you don't feel bashful. Shrink within the curtains when your husband approaches you, and protest against his keeping the lamp alight. If in the morning there should be an outbreak of anger on his part, try to soften him with tears; and if that should prove unavailing, pretend to be in despair and threaten suicide. No man likes a fuss and a scandal; and after a time, you may be quite sure he will settle down quietly.'

Primed with this excellent advice, Autumn-leaf went through the ceremonies of the day without betraying herself. The awkwardness with which she entered the audience hall and bowed to the bridegroom was put down by himself and his friends to natural timidity. The remaining rites she executed faultlessly. She did reverence to neaven and earth and to her ancestors, and finally entered the bridal sedan-chair which was to carry her to her new home with complete composure, much to the relief or her father, who all day long was so tremulous with nervous excitement, that, from time to time, he was compelled to seek courage from his opiumpipe. When at last the doors were shut on the bridal pair his gratification was great, although, at the same time, it was painfully mingled with a sense of the possible evil consequences which might very likely ensue on the course he had taken. However, for the present there

was freedom from anxiety, and he wisely determined to let the future take care of itself.

"I should like to see Mr. Wang's face when he wakes to-morrow morning," said Violet, laughing, as she followed her mistress back to her apartments. But," she added, as the sound of loud raps were heard at the front door, "who can that be knocking at the street gate so violently? He cannot, surely, have found out the trick already? If he has, what will you do?''

The first question was soon answered, for just as she finished speaking, a servant announced that the Prefect had sent his secretary to inquire whether Plum-blossom's marriage, which he had only just heard was in course of performance, was taking place with her full consent or not, as he was prepared to interfere in case she was being coerced ; and at the same time to hand her a letter from her father, which had been forwarded with the usual official dispatches from Peking.

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Beg the secretary to assure the Prefect," replied Plum-blossom, "that his infinite kindness toward me is deeply engraven on my heart; and to inform him that, happily for me, it was not I who was married this evening but my cousin."

With impatience and deep emotion. Plum-blossom now turned to open her father's letter, the contents of which brought tears of delight to her eyes, and caused Violet to perform a dance as nearly resembling a fandango as is possible, with feet just two inches and a half long. That the President should have returned from the frontier covered with honors was only what Plum-blossom felt might have been looked for; but that he expected to arrived at Ping-chow on the very next day, was a cause of unspeakable joy and relief to her. This, however, was not quite all the news the letter contained. "I am bringing with

me,

wrote her father, "a young Mr. Tieh, to whose foresight and courage I mainly attribute the successful issue of my mission.-Blackwood's Magazine.

means of enjoyment, they will cherish no feelings of discontent. Both France and England are at one in the above respect.

The English excel in their use of ways and ineans for the acquisition of wealth; the French delight in extravagance and waste. With the former the result of the general eagerness to get rich is that everything, however inferior in quality, is high-priced, while with the latter, extravagance has become a national habit, and prices know no bounds. Such is the difference between the two countries, a difference, however, which entails the same inconvenience upon the traveller in either case.

III. PROPOSALS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHINA IN HER RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

At Shanghai I met Chang Huan-lun, a young man of great promise and extraordinary attainments. He submitted to me six propositions, which evince such orginality of thought and such depth of insight, and are so different from the random assertions one often hears, that I reproduce them here. They are as follows:

1. The necessity of contracting a firm alliance with England, for the purpose of repelling Russian aggression.

The condition of Europe at the present day is analogous to that of China in the time of the seven States. Russia represents the State of Ch'in, England the State of Ch'i, and Turkey that of Wei. As long as the people of Ch'in were prevented from carrying out their designs upon the State of Wei, they were unable to make encroachments upon the other States; and in like manner, as long as Russia is kept from having her way in Turkey, she will be unable to override the rest of Europe. The people of Ch'in made terms with the State of Ch'i, with the aid of which they annihilated the State of Wei, and it was by this alliance that the Ch'in eventually succeeded in annexing the whole six countries. But, on the contrary, England, while ostensibly protecting Turkey, in reality acts as the safeguard of the whole of Europe, and it is England's intervention that alone prevents Russia from carrying out her designs upon Turkey. At the Berlin Congress the

representatives of the other Powers maintained an attitude of indecision and indifference, evidently under the impression that the protection of Turkey and the defence of India were matters which concerned England only. This was in a sense true enough, but it ignored the fact that India's danger was England's danger, and that danger to England meant danger to the whole of Europe. Nor is it only Europe which is so affected; China is exposed to equal danger. If China could patch up the roof before the rain comes on, and secure the friendship of England, she would, with England on her side, have nothing to fear from the aggressive designs of Russia Now, Chinese Turkestan and Ili are close to India, and the success of Russian attempts to coerce China in that quarter would be fraught with trouble to England. It may therefore be possible at some future date to gain England's assistance in effecting an amicable arrangement. If England puts forth all her might to protect Turkey, is it improbable that she would make some slight effort to aid China? To this some may object, and say that Russia and England are alike in their rapacious tendencies, and that there is no likelihood of gaining England to our side. argument ignores the fact that England, though still to outward appearance powerful, is gradually losing the substance of her strength, and that her present policy is directed toward maintaining her high position by peaceful measures. She is far different now from what she was in Tao Kuang's reign,* and there would be no difficulty in coming to an understanding with her.

This

2. The importance of adopting an honest and straightforward course of policy in our international relations, with a view to removing feelings of mutual distrust.

For close upon 200 years China has held intercourse with European countries; she has learned and adopted Western methods, and yet still she shows a studied indifference to Western people. Among all classes, from the highest to the lowest, this feeling remains as strong as ever. Western nations are well aware

*Referring to the period of our first war with China, 1841-2.

of its existence, and often decline to meet us frankly in the treatment of international matters. In the West, countries which may have been bitter enemies in the past are ever ready to come to each other's assistance in any question which involves China. Foreign nations are strong in their power of united action, while China stands alone, weak and friendless. If we were able to drive them from our doors, we might afford to ignore their existence; but now that they have gained an entrance into our very homes, can we expect, if we treat them with contempt when all is well with us, to find them cordial friends when trouble arises? An open and frank course of conduct in times of peace would insure a ready exchange of confidence in times of trouble. Their treatment of Japan may be adduced as evidence. The Japanese have gone so far in their imitation of Western ways as to alter their calendar and change their national costume; and though foreigners laugh at their folly, still they are always ready to lend them a helping hand in time of need.

Trouble frequently arises from Englishmen travelling and preaching in the interior, and the mischief, once done, is hard to repair. It would be advisable to come to some satisfactory arrangement with England on the subject. Travellers should be required to procure passports, and as an additional precaution, the officials of the places to which they resort should send the local elders with them to prepare the people for their reception. The foreign consuls, too, might be asked to keep their countrymen under proper control, and not allow them to proceed without authority into. the interior under penalty of forfeiting their right to recognition. Though Western Governments do not comply in all respects with the rules of International Law still such rules if properly enforced ought to insure the permanence of dynasties, by linking together the strong and weak among nations in a common bond, and so prove a treasure to those who guide the destinies of the world.

3. The advantages of embracing every opportunity of meeting Western scholars, so as to profit by their intercourse and conversation.

Western officials especially ought to

be received with civility and politeness. International questions are too numer ous, and national peculiarities are too marked, to admit the hope of all differences being effaced; still, if Western scholars were certain of a cordial and sincere reception, they would gladly give us the benefit of their opinions, and by constant intercourse with them we should gradually penetrate their inmost thoughts.

One step for which foreigners take credit to themselves is the establishment of schools throughout China. Now, there are many foreigners who would be glad to devote themselves to the study of Chinese literature, and if China founded an educational establishment, with a competent staff of Chinese professors, for the instruction of such, foreigners could no longer claim for themselves a monopoly of good deeds, and the undertaking, while entailing little expense, would earn for us the gratitude of Western rulers. Moreover, a scheme of this kind would be attended with further advantages. In course of time, the students who had attained a knowledge of Chinese literature might be stimulated, by the prospect of gaining a reputation for themselves, to translate foreign books for diffusion in China. Again, in the West, the power of public opinion is second only to that of the Government, and the direction it received from those we had trained might possibly be of use to us in some future difficulty.

4. The advisableness of keeping ourselves informed from time to time of the price and quality of Western mechanical appliances, so as to avoid falling victims to fraud in purchasing them.

If China is to establish foundries, open mines, and engage in similar enterprises, it will be necessary for her to make extensive use of machinery. The machinery hitherto purchased has sometimes been of inferior quality, often unsuitable, and generally exorbitant in price. Contracts have been regarded as a mere empty form, and disputes have generally ended in the seller recklessly repudiating his responsibility. What I would now propose is, that a Chinese officer should be specially appointed to note the constant changes in the machinery market, and to effect purchases on safe terms for China.