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The Red Strings.

IN N connection with a betrothal in China important ceremonies are performed with two threads of scarlet silk and four long needles. When a betrothal was duly completed it was said that the red strings were tied. The story on which this custom is founded is as follows :

About eight hundred years ago a certain Chinese student went up to the capital of his province in order to pass the examination, which corresponds with that of our degree of B. A. Being unable to sleep one night he took a walk out to a lake near the city wall. Finding there an old man reading by the moonlight, the student asked what he was studying? "The matches for all places," said the old man. "I always carry about with me the cords with which to tie such as are to be united, and when this cord has been tied the two are bound to come together. You yourself will find your future wife in the home of the old woman who sells vegetables at the north of the lake."

The young man at once took steps to find his promised wife. Going next day to the place named, he found an old ugly woman nursing a young girl.

Believing that the little one would be as ill-favored as her mother, he hired an assassin to kill the child. In a day or two days he was told that this had been done.

Some years afterwards the young student had become a mandarin. But he was still unmarried, for all attempts at bringing about a match had failed. At last another mandarin gave him his daughter in marriage. She was very beautiful, but always wore an ornament over her left eyebrow. "Why do you wear an ornament there?" asked the bridegroom.

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below; When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tidy reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"