XXII
大秃子得病
二秃子慌
三秃子請大夫
四秃子熬薑湯
五秃子抬
六秃子埋
七秃子哭着走進來
八秃子問他哭甚麽
我家死了個秃乖乖
快快兒枱
怏快兒埋
别讓那個葫蘆子兒迸出來
NOTES
For a baldhead is meant in this song a child, for the reason explained before. 墓 chiang1 t'ang1, ginger broth, a medicine given to make the patient sweat. 乖乖 kuai1 kuai1, dear, treasure, said of children. 葫蘆子兒 hu2 lu2 tzǔ3 'r, the seeds in his gourd (meaning his head), 迸出來 peng4 ch'u1 lai2, to spring up; said of things which being thrown down, by force of elasticity, spring up.
TRANSLATION
The first baldhead gets sick ― the second baldhead is scared ― the third baldhead goes to call a doctor ― the fourth baldhead boils a ginger decoction ― the fifth baldhead bears him (the sick one) on the shoulders ― the sixth baldhead buries him ― the seventh baldhead comes in ― the eight baldead asks "why do you weep "? ― In my family a dear baldhead is dead ― quickly take him away ― quickly bury him ― lest the seeds should spring out of his gourd.