A CHINESE WRITER
CHAPTER X. A BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM. |
HE Street of Apothecaries was no exception to the general rule that Sybil had laid down. It also was very narrow, and, like many other streets in Canton, was so covered over at the top that in walking through it the sun did not burn too fiercely, neither did the rain fall upon the passers-by.
The shops opened right upon the street, which was very gay indeed with sign-boards. Just in front of the shops were granite counters, on which goods were shown to purchasers.
Many of the sign-boards rested on granite pedestals. On one side of each shop was a little altar, dedicated to the god of wealth, or the god supposed to preside over the special trade carried on within. Every heathen Chinese merchant and shopkeeper has some little spot set apart for this worship, although all the shops have not an altar, but many only a piece of red paper pasted upon a wall, on which the characters meaning "god of wealth" are written, and before which incense and candles are burnt. Every day, as soon as the shop is opened, worship is paid to this divinity.
