The winding of his clock was quite an occurrence in the course of the day, something to be looked forward to.

The mixing of his tobacco was a positive event and undertaken with all gravity, while the task of keeping it moist and ripe in the blue china jar, with the sponge attachment, that always stood on the bamboo tea-table by the Japanese screen, was a wearing anxiety that was yet a pleasure.
It became a fad with him to do without matches, using as a substitute "lights," tapers of twisted paper to be ignited at the famous stove.

He found amusement for two days in twisting and rolling these "lights," cutting frills in the larger ends with a pair of scissors, and stacking them afterward in a Chinese flower jar he had bought for the purpose and stood on top of the bookcases.

The lights were admirably made and looked very pretty.

When he had done he counted them.