138 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE SUGAR CANE. 



HARD AND SOFT WATER. SUGAR, HISTORY OF. IDEAS RESPECTING 



IT. INTRODUCED INTO THE COLONIES. SUGAR REFINING. 



ALIMENTARY QUALITIES. BODY GUARD OF THE KING OF COCHIN 



CHINA. HINDOO TRADITION. SPECIES OF SUGAR CANE. MANNA. 



EARLY RISING. ANECDOTE OF FREDERICK II. ECONOMY OF TIME. 



DESTRUCTION OF BOOKS BY A BEETLE. 



" ESTHER," said Mrs. Fortescue, as the party were seated 

 at the tea-table, " how very weak the tea is this evening?" 



ESTHER. 



So it is, mamma; and I know not how to account for it, for 

 the water was boiling when I made the tea. 



MRS. F. 



Perhaps, by mistake, they have given us hard water. 



HENRIETTA. 



Aunt, I often hear people talk of hard and soft water. Will 

 you have the kindness to explain to me in what the difference 

 consists'? 



MRS. F. 



The distinction of soft and hard water has reference to its 

 greater or less purity. Spring and river water are generally 

 more or less contaminated with foreign substances, while 

 rain water is much more pure. Hard water, as you are 

 aware, will not dissolve soap; nor is it calculated for extract- 

 ing the flavor of tea. This is in consequence of the quantity 

 of sulphate of lime it contains, which, if you were a chemist, 

 you would know decomposes, or, as we call it, curdles soap, 

 separating the materials of which it is composed. 



