the fingers of both hands, "and the 'meek
would inherit the earth;'" so soon as the use of tea became universal,
mankind would grow milder, as their blood was purified from the fiery
products of the still and the wine-press! The life of man would be
prolonged and made more valuable.

"What has given China four thousand of years of existence?" asked Herr
Kaim, abruptly, of the Count.

The Count could not tell, unless it were that the nation was dead
already in all that regarded the higher life of national existence,--had
become mummified, in fact,--and did not know it.

"Not at all!" replied Herr Kalm. "It is the constant use of the
life-giving infusion of tea that has saved China! Tea soothes the
nerves; it clears the blood, expels vapors from the brain, and restores
the fountain of life to pristine activity. Ergo, it prolongs the
existence of both men and nations, and has made China the most antique
nation in the world."

Herr Kalm was a devotee to the tea-cup; he drank it strong to excite his
flagging spirits, weak to quiet them down. He took Bohea with his
facts, and Hyson with his fancy, and mixed them to secure the necessary
afflatus to write his books of science and travel. Upon Hyson he would
have attempted the Iliad, upon Bohea he would undertake to square the
circle, discover perpetual motion, or reform the German philosophy.

The professor was in a jovial mood, and gambolled away gracefully as
a Finland horse under a pack-saddle laden with the learning of a dozen
students of Abo, travelling home for the holidays.

"We are fortunate in being able to procure our tea in exchange for
our useless ginseng," remarked the Lady de Tilly, as she handed the
professor a tiny plate of the leaves, as was the fashion of the day.
After drinking the tea, the infused leaves were regarded as quite a
fashionable delicacy. Except for the fashion, it had not been perhaps
considered a delicacy at all.

The observation of the Lady de Tilly set the professor off on another
branch of the subject. "He had observed," he said, "the careless methods
of preparing the ginseng in New France, and predicted a speedy end of
the traffic, unless it were prepared to suit the fancy of the fastidious
Chinese."

"That is true, Herr Kalm," replied the Governor, "but our Indians
who gather it are bad managers. Our friend Philibert, who opened this
lucrative trade, is alone capable of ensuring its continuance. It is a
mine of wealth to New Fran