Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/78



These verses are supposed to be uttered by a beggar who complains of his bad luck on a winter's day. The song is rhymed by adding the character 兒 eur2 at the end of each verse. 抱着肩兒 pao4 cho2 chien1 'r， lit. "embracing one's shoulder" that is to keep the arms folded on the breast, as Chinese beggars do when they feel cold. 爐台兒 lu2 t'ai2 'r， a small stove made of bricks. 尋 hsin2， means to ask something from somebody, to look for, the ordinary sound of the character is hsün. 老天爺 lao3 t'ien1 ye2， the old gentleman in the sky. Has no relation whatever with our religious beliefs.―the expression