Many of the children had never seen any thing like it , and sat staring about them in mute admiration and expectancy ; but the older ones criticised freely , and indulged in wild speculations as to the meaning of various convulsions of nature going on behind the curtain . While Teacher was dressing the actresses for the tragedy , Miss Celia and Thorny , who were old hands at this sort of amusement , gave a `` Potato '' pantomime as a side show . Across an empty stall a green cloth was fastened , so high that the heads of the operators were not seen . A little curtain flew up , disclosing the front of a Chinese pagoda painted on pasteboard , with a door and window which opened quite naturally . This stood on one side , several green trees with paper lanterns hanging from the boughs were on the other side , and the words `` Tea Garden , '' printed over the top , showed the nature of this charming spot . Few of the children had ever seen the immortal Punch and Judy , so this was a most agreeable novelty , and before they could make out what it meant , a voice began to sing , so distinctly that every word was heard , -- `` In China there lived a little man , His name was Chingery Wangery Chan . '' Here the hero `` took the stage '' with great dignity , clad in a loose yellow jacket over a blue skirt , which concealed the hand that made his body . A pointed hat adorned his head , and on removing this to bow he disclosed a bald pate with a black queue in the middle , and a Chinese face nicely painted on the potato , the lower part of which was hollowed out to fit Thorny 's first finger , while his thumb and second finger were in the sleeves of the yellow jacket , making a lively pair of arms . While he saluted , the song went on , -- `` His legs were short , his feet were small , And this little man could not walk at all . '' Which assertion was proved to be false by the agility with which the `` little man '' danced a jig in time to the rollicking chorus , -- `` Chingery changery ri co day , Ekel tekel happy man ; Uron odesko canty oh , oh , Gallopy wallopy China go . '' At the close of the dance and chorus , Chan retired into the tea garden , and drank so many cups of the national beverage , with such comic gestures , that the spectators were almost sorry when the opening of the opposite window drew all eyes in that direction . At the lattice appeared a lovely being ; for this potato had been pared , and on the white surface were painted pretty pink checks , red lips , black eyes , and oblique brows ; through the tuft of dark silk on the head were stuck several glittering pins , and a pink jacket shrouded the plump figure of this capital little Chinese lady . After peeping coyly out , so that all could see and admire , she fell to counting the money from a purse , so large her small hands could hardly hold it on the window seat . While she did this , the song went on to explain , -- `` Miss Ki Hi was short and squat , She had money and he had not So off to her he resolved to go , And play her a tune on his little banjo . '' During the chorus to this verse Chan was seen tuning his instrument in the garden , and at the end sallied gallantly forth to sing the following tender strain , -- `` Whang fun li , Tang hua ki , Hong Kong do ra me ! Ah sin lo , Pan to fo , Tsing up chin leute ! '' Carried away by his passion , Chan dropped his banjo , fell upon his knees , and , clasping his hands , bowed his forehead in the dust before his idol . But , alas ! -- `` Miss Ki Hi heard his notes of love , And held her wash-bowl up above It fell upon the little man , And this was the end of Chingery Chan , '' Indeed it was ; for , as the doll 's basin of real water was cast forth by the cruel charmer , poor Chan expired in such strong convulsions that his head rolled down among the audience . Miss Ki Hi peeped to see what had become of her victim , and the shutter decapitated her likewise , to the great delight of the children , who passed around the heads , pronouncing a `` Potato '' pantomime `` first-rate fun . ''
Then they settled themselves for the show , having been assured by Manager Thorny that they were about to behold the most elegant and varied combination ever produced on any XXXXX .
close curtain dignity eyes hat lattice lips operators passion stage