Untitled

AT A FAN-MAKER'S. 121
of matting, made for him as fast as he required them. He was
a muscular little fellow, and wielded a stout wooden beetle
with marvellous dexterity, never once missing the iron driver
or lessening the force of his blows.
"Merciful Kuwannon! " exclaimed the old lady, eyeing the
Jewetts with wonder.
wears a head-covering just like the
"
boys!
:? What strange beings ! Why, the girl
'That is one for your new Derby, Sal lie," whispered Fitz,
"
in English. Say something complimentary, and astonish
her."
"Honorable mother, how old are you? "asked the girl,
making a Japanese polite inquiry.
The dame gaped with amazement, and dropping the knife
and the piece of bamboo she had in her hand said,
" Many pardons for an unintentional offence. Honorable
lady, I hope you will forgive my impertinence."
Sallie assured her that she was not angry, and was turning
to quit the place, when they heard the shrill cries of children
and saw a man, armed with a big sword, marching round the
corner.
" Kari-ivasa ! " (sword juggler) shouted the urchins.
The stroller's assistant elbowed his way through the crowd,
and setting two sambo of white wood upon the ground, made
the following speech:
" Honorable patrons, and noblemen from afar, you are
about to behold a most wonderful sight. All we require is
the insignificant sum of five tempo. What is such a price for
a performance like the one my master can give,
tance ! a breath of air! "
a mere pit-
After delivering a long speech, in which he described his
employer as the greatest acrobat in the world, he opened his
fan, and, advancing to the strangers, requested a fee. The