A CUP OF TEA

Shannon News, 4 September 1928, Page 4

A CUP OF TEA

ITS MANY MAGICS. , Tea in the morning, tea in tho evening, tea in the afternoon—for a refreshment, gossip, or fortune. Time nover matters as long as the beverage which is the inspiration of the latter two is tea. ' ■ *

As a .restorative tea is imbued with powers, seldom suspected by the average doctor—headaches, tired feet, anfi nerives need only the one cure, prescribed at homo and to be taken immediately. Reading the tea-leaves in an empty cup by '' one who knows,'' carries excitement with it—renewed hopes, despair, who knows-? Surely the sober mind of man does not realise what fortune lies in the depths of his man-size cup, or he would ponder awhile before considering the maerial benefits to be derived from van immediate refill. New -Zealand requirements demand tea as its sign of hospitality, and there was never a countryman who was so seandalousiy forgetful that he would fail to .proffer it in large quantities t« Ms guests. In Japan and China this .mark of hospitality is traditional, and pale, straw-coloured tea is served in tiny, handless cups as a rite.never to bo neglected. Even swagmen, calling at the home-: stead for food to help him on his way,: askß first for tea -nnd sugar, and ;" smoko-time" in the shearing sheds sends the cook for his steaming billy, | into which great pannikans are dipped, and the scalding refreshment, no matter how hot, is poured down parched throats, its effects paling to insignificance the happiness of dreams in "poppyland.'*