The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

240
THE BOY TRAVKLLERS.
keep thetn in place were carried out of the window and lost in the sea.
And so you see how it is that the eoniinissious that my fi'ieiids gave me
the money for are the only ones I have been aide to execute.'
"But in the present case," said Doctor Lronson, "it is all right, as
your father privately gave me the money to Imy the articles your sister
wants. So you can go ahead and get them without any fear that you will
trench on the amount you have for your personal expenses."
The boys went on a round of shopping, and kept it up, at ii-regular
intervals, during their stay in Japan. And in their shopping excursions
they learned much about the country and people that they would not
have been likely to know of in any other way.
One of the first things on the list was a silk wrapper with nice em-
FKAKKS PUKCIIASK.
broidery. Tliis gave rather a wide
latitude in the way of selection, and
Frank was somewhat puzzled what
to get. He went to the store of one
of the greatest silk-merchants of Yokohama
and stated his wants. He
was bewildered by the variety of
things placed before him, and by
their great beauty in color and work-
manship. There were so many pret-
ty things for sale there that he did
not know when to stop buying; and
he privately admitted to Fred that it
was fortunate he was resti'icted in
the amount he was to expend, oi' he
would Ije in danger of buying out
the whole of the establishment. He
found the goods wei'e admirably
adapted to the foreign taste, and, at
the same time, they ]ireserved the
national characteristics that gave
them value as the products of Ja-
pan.
He selected a rolie of a delicate
blue, and finely enibroidei'ed with
silk of various colors. The cndiroideries represented flowers and leaves in
curious combinations; and Mhen the robe was placed on a frame where
the ligiit could fall full u])om it, Frank thought he had never seen anything