. A'Chu and other stories. ames became too rol-licking, so that he could not join the other boys insport, he was often chosen umpire. He must havebeen a just judge, for the boys usually were satisfiedwith his decisions. His father was not too poor toafford an education for his son, and was willing tosend him to school. Any one in China willing to study enough to passthe government examinations might rise to a positionof honor. It is quite possible the fish dealers sonmight have become a real judge in his nation butfor one unfortunate turn the boy took, at first withouthis pafents knowledge. Th
. A'Chu and other stories. ames became too rol-licking, so that he could not join the other boys insport, he was often chosen umpire. He must havebeen a just judge, for the boys usually were satisfiedwith his decisions. His father was not too poor toafford an education for his son, and was willing tosend him to school. Any one in China willing to study enough to passthe government examinations might rise to a positionof honor. It is quite possible the fish dealers sonmight have become a real judge in his nation butfor one unfortunate turn the boy took, at first withouthis pafents knowledge. Those days when ATau was at school were stirringtimes in China. A young emperor had come to thethrone as heir of the Empress Dowager, or queenmother. He started in with a swift hand to changethe slow old customs and make of China a new, mod-ern kingdom. When the old men shook their heads,they were promptly given pensions and allowed to gohome. Young men who approved the young emperorsreforms were called to be his © U. & U., N. Y. LILT-FOOTED GIRL BEING CARRIED BY HER SERVANT 211 212 AChu and Other Stories In a short time the wiser heads of China decidedthings were moving too rapidly. They insisted thatthe empress must look after her adopted sons son-emperor was dismissed to a quiet life, whilehis queen mother again became ruling empress of China. Perhaps in a time like this it was but natural for aboy of ATaus age to think he, too, could do thingswithout the advice of older or wiser people. Unfor-tunately for the cripple, no strong-minded mother waswatching to correct his folly before it was too late. One reform the young emperor had planned was todrive opium smoking from his kingdom. This planthe empress followed strictly. Her edicts against themanufacture and use of opium were posted in publicplaces in every city of her realm. Opium smokingwas fast destroying the nation, and all Christian peoplerejoiced that China was at last to be freed from itscurse. Th
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