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A China cup, and other stories for children

Chapter 10: FOOTNOTES:
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About This Book

A loosely connected collection of short stories for children that animate everyday objects and animals to dramatize moral lessons. Several tales trace the fortunes of items from manufacture to domestic life, examining vanity, suffering, and fragility, while others present animal-based fables that defend rights, reveal mistakes, or explore small, everyday adventures. The narratives are simple and episodic, often emphasizing empathy and consequence through vivid, matter-of-fact narration and occasional whimsical detail. A concluding tale explains a playful origin for the collection itself, linking the stories and underscoring their didactic but gentle tone.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A copeck (in Russian kopéika) is a Russian copper; 100 copecks form one rouble. A rouble is worth 2s. 0-2/5d. in English money.

[2] Pronounce 'Neekeéteech.' The reader should rather be told here that the Russian fashion of calling a person, when addressing him or her, is not by his or her surname, but by the Christian name, with the addition of his or her father's name, somewhat altered in a way to express 'son of' or 'daughter of' such-a-one; for example—Iván Nikítich (John, son of Nikíta). Among common people and among friends they address only in one's Christian name without the addition of the father's name ('ót-chest-vo'); but if, in addressing a common person, you wish to express some deference, you use only the 'ótchestvo,' without the person's Christian name; for example, 'Nikítich' instead of 'Iván Nikítich.' Such is the case in our tale.

[3] The plural of the Polish word 'koúntoush.'

[4] A Polish term of abuse; literally, blood (or race) of a dog.

[5] Yegór means George in Russian.

[6] About twelve shillings.

[7] Oukraïnïen whisky.

[8] Nalívka—sweet pleasant Oukraïnïen liquor made of whisky and fruit.

[9] The Vagaï is one of the largest tributaries of Irtýsh, a mighty stream, which flows into one of the most gigantic rivers of Siberia, the Obi.

[10] A rather large brown bird, with white spots, belonging to the crow family. Its Latin name is Nucifraga Caryocatœ.

[11] Virgin forest in Siberia.

[12] A police-officer, acting as chief of the district.