At dawn this morning I was woken up by the reverberating explosion of firecrackers in our estate. It seemed a funeral would be held soon. Shortly afterwards I heard something like a piece of china breaking loudly, which was followed by the bellowing of several women. Then the scream died away with the procession going farther and farther. The deceased was one of my neighbors in the same block, who lived two doors away. The rented shed sheltering his body within the coffin was erected last Saturday with lamp boxes showing an old-fashioned roof and mourning couplets flanking the door. The family was considerate to play the mournful music occasionally with its volume turned down.