CO129-498-21 Government Educational department- salaries- prospects and vacancies 15-7-1926 - 25-1-1927 — Page 28

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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PAIR OF SPECTACLES.

I am a pair of spectacles, so people call me, and I think everyone in the world knows what a pair of spectacles is. Spectacles is the name given to my family, and as I have no particular name, I just call myself Spectacles.

I cannot remember much about my childhood and my parents. Someone told me that I was an orphan when I was a baby. There is one thing that I shall never forget in my life, that is, I was burnt, cut, put into moulds, and pierced by some sharp-pointed thing by the cruel creature- the man. At last, I was framed in a golden frame, and put into a glass case in an optical shop. time in all my life.

This was the happiest

I looked very handsome and fashionable in my frame; I was free, I had many friends there, and I had little work to do; I talked and slept as I liked, and nobody interfered with me.

One day, a customer came into the shop. his nose for a short time, and I tried my best to help him to I was put on see clearly, for that was what he wanted me to do, I thought. He liked me very much, and bought me for about twenty dollars. I was then put into a shining metal case and brought away by him.

me.

He was a young, learned man, and never was angry with Every day he wiped me with a piece of snow white cloth gently, and I helped him to see every tiny thing distinctly. I tried to learn how to read and write from him, though he never taught me a single word; and this is why I can write my story now.

I was with him for about seven years, then he said I was out of fashion, and really I was, for people were wearing another kind of spectacles then; but my looks had never changed, I never grew old; it was people's sight that had altered. He locked me in a drawer, and bought another pair of my family; and this was not unkind of him, for one should follow the fashion.

I do not remember

I have never been touched since then. how long I have been locked up. I can see no friends, no relatives, nothing at all except myself and the shining metal case in which I am. I long to see the world, the stars, the moon, the sun, and the clear, blue firmament again. it is impossible, I think.

But, Then I wish to die, and it is also impossible, for I have heard that a pair of spectacles will never die however ill he may be. Oh, what shall I do? I write my autobiography during my solitary hours, and I hope I can find some other things to do when I finish

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writing this. Oh, may people have constant minds and let nobody suffer in the universe!

SUNG NGAN LUI. Class 1.

A FABLE.

The crow which the Chinese called

Wu ah lived with her friend in the roof of a house for a few weeks. Every day, when she stood on her nest, she would cry out

66 chuck chuck." Her voice was so hateful that people in the opposite house would stare at her and the little children throw stones at her. For it was and is said that the voice of a crow is an omen of misfortunes, and most people believed in this.

In the verandah of the house where the little children lived, there was a canary in a cage hung on the wall.

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'Mrs. Crow, what are you talking so busily with your friend?" the Canary asked. "I am talking about moving, Mr. Canary," she answered. Why!" the Canary said,

* it seems quite peaceful a place for you to live in.'

So you may think, said the Crow, but there's something you don't know." "May I hear it ?" asked the Canary.

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"The children in your house always throw stones at me whenever I speak and make it uncomfortable for me to live here,” said Mrs. Crow, “If this goes on, my life will end.”

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,,

"But why should they dislike your voice?" asked the Canary. Because,' said she,

people believe that the voice of a crow foretells bad happening.

move.

If that is the only reason, there is no need for you to It's the same wherever you go, for it is your voice that troubles you. If you don't want to be disturbed, you must change your voice, if not, the only thing you can do is be careful when you speak," advised the Canary.

The Crow, after listening to these words, felt shamed and was speechless.

TSE TONG TAI,

Class 2.

IMPRESSIONS OF EXAMINATION WEEK.

The most uneasy time which every student has to pass through is examination week. When I went to sit for my first examination at the University, I felt rather worried at the beginning as everything had to be well prepared a few days before.