Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/41

 TRANSLATION

Who is going to play with me? ― strike the flint-steel ― the flint steel takes fire ― sell sweet melons ― the sweet melons are bitter ― sell bean cheese ― the bean cheese is spoiled ― boil eggs in tea ― in the shell of the egg, of the egg ― there is sitting the elder brother ― the elder brother goes out to buy provisions ― inside there sits the grand-mother ― the grand mother goes out to burn incense ― and burns her nose and her eyes.

These words are often repeated by the pekinese mothers to their babies 疙疸兒 ko$1$ ta$1$ 'r means here a little thing of a round form just as it was a round metal button. 開胸順氣丸 k'ai$1$ hsiung$1$ shun$4$ ch'i$4$ uan$2$, is a medical pill advised by Chinese doctors to people who feel the breast oppressed and the respiration uneasy. The literal translation of its