picks，tobaccopipes，papermouchoirs，andnumbersofothertriflesmadeofbamboo，straw，grass，andwood。Thesegoodsareonstands，andintheroombehind，opentothestreet，allthedomesticavocationsaregoingon，andthehousewifeisusuallytobeseenboilingwaterorsewingwithababytuckedintothebackofherdress。Aluciferfactoryhasrecentlybeenputup，andinmanyhousefrontsmenarecuttingupwoodintolengthsformatches。Inotherstheyarehuskingrice，averylaboriousprocess，inwhichthegrainispoundedinamortarsunkinthefloorbyaflat-endedwoodenpestleattachedtoalonghorizontallever，whichisworkedbythefeetofaman，invariablynaked，whostandsattheotherextremity。
Insomewomenareweaving，inothersspinningcotton。Usuallytherearethreeorfourtogether——themother，theeldestson’swife，andoneortwounmarriedgirls。Thegirlsmarryatsixteen，andshortlythesecomely，rosy，wholesome-lookingcreaturespassintohaggard，middle-agedwomenwithvacantfaces，owingtotheblackeningoftheteethandremovaloftheeyebrows，which，iftheydonotfollowbetrothal，areresortedtoonthebirthofthefirstchild。Inotherhouseswomenareattheirtoilet，blackeningtheirteethbeforecircularmetalmirrorsplacedinfoldingstandsonthemats，orperformingablutions，unclothedtothewaist。Earlythevillageisverysilent，whilethechildrenareatschool；theirreturnenlivensitalittle，buttheyarequietevenatplay；atsunsetthemenreturn，andthingsarealittlelivelier；youhearagooddealofsplashinginbaths，andafterthattheycarryaboutandplaywiththeiryoungerchildren，whiletheolderonespreparelessonsforthefollowingdaybyrecitingtheminahigh，monotonoustwang。Atdarkthepaperwindowsaredrawn，theamado，orexternalwoodenshutters，areclosed，thelampislightedbeforethefamilyshrine，supperiseaten，thechildrenplayatquietgamesroundtheandon；andabouttenthequiltsandwoodenpillowsareproducedfromthepress，theamadoarebolted，andthefamilyliesdowntosleepinoneroom。Smalltraysoffoodandthetabako-bonarealwayswithinreachofadultsleepers，andonegrowsquiteaccustomedtohearthesoundofashesbeingknockedoutofthepipeatintervalsduringthenight。Thechildrensitupaslateastheirparents，andareincludedinalltheirconversation。
Ineversawpeopletakesomuchdelightintheiroffspring，carryingthemabout，orholdingtheirhandsinwalking，watchingandenteringintotheirgames，supplyingthemconstantlywithnewtoys，takingthemtopicnicsandfestivals，neverbeingcontenttobewithoutthem，andtreatingotherpeople’schildrenalsowithasuitablemeasureofaffectionandattention。Bothfathersandmotherstakeaprideintheirchildren。Itismostamusingaboutsixeverymorningtoseetwelveorfourteenmensittingonalowwall，eachwithachildundertwoyearsinhisarms，fondlingandplayingwithit，andshowingoffitsphysiqueandintelligence。Tojudgefromappearances，thechildrenformthechieftopicatthismorninggathering。Atnight，afterthehousesareshutup，lookingthroughthelongfringeofropeorrattanwhichconcealstheslidingdoor，youseethefather，whowearsnothingbutamaroin“thebosomofhisfamily，“bendinghisugly，kindlyfaceoveragentle-lookingbaby，andthemother，whomoreoftenthannothasdroppedthekimonofromhershoulders，enfoldingtwochildrendestituteofclothinginherarms。Forsomereasonstheypreferboys，butcertainlygirlsareequallypettedandloved。Thechildren，thoughforourideastoogentleandformal，areveryprepossessinginlooksandbehaviour。Theyaresoperfectlydocileandobedient，soreadytohelptheirparents，sogoodtothelittleones，and，inthemanyhourswhichIhavespentinwatchingthematplay，Ihaveneverheardanangrywordorseenasourlookoract。
Buttheyarelittlemenandwomenratherthanchildren，andtheirold-fashionedappearanceisgreatlyaidedbytheirdress，which，asIhaveremarkedbefore，isthesameasthatofadults。
Thereare，however，variousstylesofdressingthehairofgirls，bywhichyoucanformaprettyaccurateestimateofanygirl’sageuptohermarriage，whenthecoiffureundergoesadefinitechange。