Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/33

 without wind, and that the noise produced by their stirring, moves to sadness. 嘩拉拉 hua$1$ la$1$ la$1$, pronounced as one word, is imitative of the noise. This sad introduction is supposed to scare the boy and to get him sooner asleep. 乖乖 kuai$1$-kuai$1$, means to kiss as chinese mothers kiss their children in somewat a different way than the Europeans. The same expression is used too to say: be quiet! dont be saucy!―probably the two meanings melt in one, as the second may simply be a promise of a kiss if the boy will be quiet. Another common form for the last meaning is adverbially formed so, 乖乖兒的 kuai$1$ kuai$1$'r ti. 螞虎子 ma$1$ hu$3$ tzŭ, a phantastic monstruos creature spoken of and called every time it is thought proper to scare a baby.

The poplar leaves ― are stirring ― the baby is about to sleep and looks for his mother ― be a good boy, my treasure, get asleep ― if the bogie comes, I'll beat him.