MOUCRNERS AND RELIGIOUS FAITHS. 203

a missionary to the heathen, but she could send ’em papers; so
she begged a lot with pictures, and Rick and I—when we don’t
forget — give them round; and, doctor, children like to look
at them.”

“Oh yes. They see the picture and get some good idea from it,
unless Nurse Fennel sent them a bad assortment. But you didn’t
tell what you saw.” e

“Well, I saw people bowing on the floor, and they seemed to be
in a great deal of trouble.”

“You are right, Ralph. Some one had already told me that a
death had taken place there. Did you see a screen turned upside
down, and a kind of table near it; and was there any light on
the table; and did you see dishes?”

“Oh yes.”

“Well, behind the screen was the dead body, the head turned
to the north —for the Japanese are very particular about the direction
of the head. Near: the body, probably, were the chop-sticks
and eating-tray the deceased had used; cups and saucers also. Food
too doubtless was there.”

“They seemed to be in terrible trouble,’ said Ralph sympathet-
ically.

The journey was delayed next day, and. the boys saw a funeral
procession move along the road. A platform resting on two poles
that four bearers uplifted, supported the coffin. The coffin was
covered with a white cloth, and the bearers wore a white dress.
In the procession were priests wearing their robes; and there were
the bearers of lanterns, which were of white paper.

“White seems to be the color of mourning more than black,”
thought Rick. Something else he noticed; and he asked the doctor
about it.