author - "Isaac Taylor Headland"

l condition of herparents was such that when a child she had to help in caring forthe younger children, carrying them on her back, as girls do inChina, and amusing them with such simple toys as are hawked aboutthe streets or sold in the shops for a cash or two apiece; thatshe and her brothers and little sisters amused themselves withsuch games as blind man's buff, prisoner's base, kicking marblesand flying kites in company with the other children of theirneighbourhood. During these early years she was as fond of thepuppet plays, trained mice shows, bear shows, and "Punch andJudy" as she was in later years of the theatrical performanceswith which she entertained her visitors at the palace. She wascompelled to run errands for her mother, going to the shops, asoccasion required, for the daily supply of oils, onions, garlic,and other vegetables that constituted the larger portion of theirfood. I found out also that there is not the slightest foundationfor the story that in her childhood she was so