and seemed to see the falling snow flakes add to the vast expanse of snow. In my native home everyone was busy making preparations for the New Year celebrations. I was again a young boy and was making a snow Lohan, with my playmates in the backyard. The Lohan's eyes were made by sticking in two pieces of coal, and they appeared very black against the snow. The eyes blinked and became Lien-shu's eyes.
"I want to live a few more years," I heard a familiar voice say.
"Why?" I asked without any apparent reason; the question sounded idiotic the moment I uttered it.
This idiotic question woke me from my reveries. I sat up and lit a cigarette. I opened the window and looked out: the snow was falling thicker than ever. Someone knocked on the gate; there was a sound of footsteps which I recognized as those of the porter. He pushed open my door and handed me a letter in a long envelope. The handwriting was very cursive but I made out in a glance the words "Sealed by Wei." It came from Lien-shu.
This was the first letter which I had had from since I left S. I knew of his lazy habits and did not miss his letters, though sometimes I could not help resenting his silence. Now his letter aroused my curiosity and I opened it hastily. The handwriting inside was also very cursive. The letter read as follows:
SHEN-FEI :
How should I address you?[1] I'll leave the space blank and let you fill in whatever you like. It does not make any difference to me.
- ↑ Chinese usage requires some such word as "elder brother" or "friend" after the name.
