Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/49

 child's grief is movingly depicted. The boy likeneslikens [sic] himself to a small cabbage which gets yellow and dry in the earth, because nobody takes care of it. The comparison is not poetical for us, but in China there is nothing peculiarly vulgar attached to the word cabbage. 過 kuo$4$ is here for 過日子 kuo$4$ jih$4$-tzŭ, to live, to get on. 三年整 san$1$ nien$2$ cheng$3$, just after three years. 泡湯 p'ao$4$ t'ang$1$, to pour the gravy on the rice. 哭哭帝帝 k'u$1$ k'u$1$ t'i$2$ t'i$2$, weeping and wailing.

TRANSLATION

Like the small cabbage ― which has become yellow and dry on the ground ~ at the age of seven or eight years, I have lost my mother. ― I lived so well near my father ― only I was afraid he would take another wife ― and he has taken her; just after three years ― they have given me a brother who is more worthy than I am ― because he eats the food ― and I only may pour the gravy on my rice ― weeping and wailing I think of my own mother! XIV