or shave the head, or sweep the floor and house, or dig
the ground, or bury the dead.

On the fifth—You may not start upon a journey,
nor change your quarters, nor plant nor sow.

On the sixth—You may do everything specified as
on the first.

On the seventh—You must not go to school, nor
enter on a tour, nor change lodgings, nor bathe, nor
make house repairs, nor lay a foundation, nor set up
a house- frame; nor purchase property in fields,
houses, etc.; nor grind, nor plant, nor sow; nor give
up time to your flocks.

The eighth is looked upon as dubious. To-day
nothing is specified as unlucky or lucky.

On the ninth—You may offer your religious presents;
visit your friends; call on tailors to prepare a new suit;
make bargains; barter and trade; and collect your moneys.

On the tenth—You may make your religious offerings;
enter on a government office; make a matrimonial
match; get married; visit friends; start on a journey;
bathe, but it must be at five a. m.; shave the head;
practise acupuncture* surgery; make contracts; barter
and trade; sweep the house; and dig graves for the dead.

* An oriental practice of puncturing diseased parts of
the body with fine needles.

On the eleventh—You can commence a journey;
change your residence; acupuncture a patient; commission
a tailor for a new suit; repair buildings; found
a house; erect framework of it; set sail; open a contract; bargain; collect your accounts; look after your
flocks; or bury your dead.

On the thirteenth— You must at five a. m. sit
facing the south-east.

On the eighteenth—You ought to offer sacrifices,
and take a thorough bath.

On the nineteenth—You may go to school.

On the twenty-first—Quite right to set up the framework
of your house, or bury your dead.

On the twenty-fifth—You can, among other things,
enter upon your new government office; attire yourself
in your best dresses, but sit facing the north-west.

On the twenty-sixth—You ought not to work embroidery.

Although the preceding is quite sufficient
to indicate one of the methods adopted to
gratify the vulgar taste,—it is not to be presumed
that among the millions of China,
there are wanting sensible men, who despise
all participation in such folly.

One of the most striking features observable
among the insurgents in the interior of
the empire is that in the introduction to the
almanac which they have published for the
same year, eighteen hundred and fifty-three,
they discard the notices of superstitious
times and seasons that have hitherto constituted
the main attraction of the ordinary
almanac. The Cabinet of the so-called Pretender,
Hungsintsiuan, in the preface to his
calendar, avows full confidence in the superintendence
of the one Great Ruler of the
universe, rejects all suspicion of the influence
of stars and planets on the affairs of men, and
expresses the full and distinct opinion that the
almanacs sanctioned by previous emperors
are depraved, and of a corrupting tendency,
"having been cooked up," he says, in his
almanac, " by the crafts and wiles of the
devil, for the purpose of deceiving the public.
All such are accordingly to be rejected, since
years, months, days, and times are severally
under the control of the Heavenly Father,
and every year, month, day, and season is
alike good. Why then make a distinction of
lucky and unlucky days ? How can people
pick and choose good and bad days? Whoever
with a sincere heart reveres God Almighty,
the Father of Heaven, he will assuredly
enjoy his superintending care, so that
when he attends to business all will be alike
prosperous."

As this affords so wondrous a contrast to
the general tendency of the Chinese mind,
and to the written specimens above quoted,
may we not recognise evidence of some
change and improvement, amongst that
mighty and multitudinous race? We, in this
country, are not in a condition to sneer at the
Chinese almanac-makers. Faith in the predictions
of our own Francis Moore, physician,
has not wholly passed away.

WAITING.

"WHEREFORE dwell so sad and lonely,
By the desolate sea-shore;
With the melancholy surges
Beating at your cottage door?

"You shall dwell beside the castle,
Shadowed by our ancient trees!
And your life shall pass on gently,
Cared for, and in rest and ease."

"Lady, one who loved me dearly
Sailed for distant lands away;
And I wait here his returning
Hopefully from day to day.

"To my door I bring my spinning,
Watching every ship I see;
Waiting, hoping, till the sunset
Fades into the western sea.

"Every night, behind my casement
Still I place a signal light;
He will see its well-known shining
Should his ship return at night.

"Lady, see your infant smiling,
With its flaxen curling hair;—
I remember when your mother,
Was a baby just as fair.

"I was watching then, and hoping;
Years have brought great change to all;
To my neighbours in their cottage,
To you nobles at the hall.

"Not to me— for I am waiting,
And the years have fled so fast
I must look at you to tell me,
That a weary time has past!

"When I hear a footstep coming
On the shingle,—years have fled,—
Yet amid a thousand others,
I shall know his quick light tread.

"When I hear (to-night it may be)
Some one pausing at my door,
I shall know the gay soft accents,
Heard and welcomed oft before!

"So each day I am more hopeful,
He may come before the night;
Every sunset I feel surer,
He must come ere morning light.