I looked through the book and noticed that many of the
designs were for the amusement of the children, as well
as to develop their ingenuity. In the two volumes of the
T'ao he had only the outlines of the pictures which he
readily constructed with the blocks. But he had with him
also a small volume which was a key to the designs having
lines indicating how each block was placed. This he had
purchased for a few cash. Much of the interest of the book,
however, attached to the puzzling character of the pictures.

There was one with a verse attached somewhat like the following:

The old wife drew a chess-board
On the cover of a book,
While the child transformed a needle
Into a fishing-hook.

Chinese literature is full of examples of men and women
who applied themselves to their books with untiring
diligence. Some tied their hair to the beam of their humble
cottage so that when they nodded with sleepiness the jerk
would awake them and they might return to their books.

Others slept upon globular pillows that when they
became so restless as to move and cause the pillow to roll
from under their head they might get up and study.

The child once more took the blocks and illustrated how one who
was so poor as to be unable to furnish himself with candles,