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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e30473b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51073 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51073) diff --git a/old/51073-0.txt b/old/51073-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 126ebbf..0000000 --- a/old/51073-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3343 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Almond Blossoms, by Jessie Juliet Knox - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Little Almond Blossoms - A Book of Chinese Stories for Children - -Author: Jessie Juliet Knox - -Release Date: January 29, 2016 [EBook #51073] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOMS *** - - - - -Produced by Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - - - - LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOMS - - [Illustration: _A Little Almond Blossom_] - - - - - LITTLE - ALMOND BLOSSOMS - - A Book of Chinese Stories - for Children - - BY - JESSIE JULIET KNOX - - _With Illustrations from Photographs of Chinese Children - in California_ - - - BOSTON - LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY - 1907 - - _Copyright, 1904_, - BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. - - _All rights reserved_ - - Published October, 1904 - - - Printers - S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U. S. A. - - - - - _This Book is lovingly Dedicated - to - MY MOTHER_ - - - - -_CONTENTS_ - - - PAGE - -In the Land of the Dragon 3 - -Two Little Chinese Sisters 15 - -The Little Highbinder 27 - -How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 39 - -The Moon Rabbit 65 - -How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 93 - -The Easter Dream of Mun Chee 109 - -Ping Pong and Ping Yet 131 - -The Little Almond Blossom 153 - -The Christmas of Gum Ching 163 - -Ho Chin’s Fourth of July 173 - -The Little Fisher-Maiden 189 - -The Finding of Sing Ho 207 - -The Slave-Girl’s Thanksgiving 233 - - - - -_LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS_ - - - PAGE - -A Little Almond Blossom _Frontispiece_ - -“Oh, what a dreadful monster” 5 - -“The Chinese children all marched to the -music in a row” 7 - -“Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny -little Chinese way” 9 - -“She brought forth from the flute the most -wonderful sounds” 17 - -“It was the old nurse, Suey” 22 - -“‘Where are you going, little one?’” 50 - -“Little Priest” 65 - -“She and one of her sisters were on the step -in front of their home” 67 - -“Suey Hip was very much dressed up” 99 - -“She sometimes longed to get out, she and her -two little brothers” 109 - -“There was a big bouquet for Ping Pong” 147 - -“Through the narrow streets” 177 - -“Two of his little friends, with their queer little -Chinese caps on” 208 - -“His own beautiful _mo chun_” 227 - - - - -_IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON_ - - - - -_Little Almond Blossoms_ - - - - -_IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON_ - - -Chung Goy ran as fast as his little sandals would permit, up the narrow -flight of steps which led to the Chinese restaurant, and out on the -balcony, where a crowd of Chinamen were watching for the great -Procession of the Dragon. His little legs were encased in pale green -silk trousers tied at the ankles, and his lavender _shom_ (blouse) -gleamed in the light of the many dragon lanterns which were swaying in -the night breeze. His hair was in a long queue, and on his head he wore -the little round black cap of the Chinese, with a button on top. - -Chung Goy was so afraid he would miss seeing the dragon. He had never -seen it as yet, for he was not so very old, and now that the -long-expected moment had come he fairly trembled with excitement. - -His _ho chun_ (father) was on this balcony, which was near their home, -and he hurried to nestle up to him, as it was cold, and the wind was -always blowing in San Francisco. - -It seemed as if the procession would never come; he grew tired watching -so many people pass, and perhaps the fumes of the opium his father was -smoking got into his brain; but, at any rate, the first thing he - -[Illustration: _Oh, what a dreadful monster!_] - -knew he saw a great squirming thing approaching him. - -It was spitting fire from its eyes and mouth, and at first he felt -afraid. Oh, what a dreadful monster! it would surely devour him. He -heard himself saying: “Velly bad snake--I no likee; go ’way! I ’flaid.” -And then he heard a voice like the muttering of thunder, and the voice -came out of the dragon’s mouth, and it was saying in the Chinese -language: “_Samen jai_ (little boy), I have come to take you to Dragon -Land. Slip away from _ho chun_, and fly with me.” - -“Oh, no!” gasped the trembling boy, “I velly much ’flaid the big dlagon -eat me up.” And then the dragon spoke again, but this time his voice was -as soft and sweet as music, and the fire no longer came from his eyes -and mouth. He had such a kind look on his face too, and spoke in such a -persuasive tone, that little Chung Goy ceased to be afraid, and slipping -from his father’s arms he ran down the narrow steps again, and out into -the street, climbing up on the big dragon’s back. He saw lots of other -Chinese boys he knew, doing the same thing. He held on tightly, for the -dragon went in such a squirming way that he was afraid he would fall -off, and he held on to his little silk cap, too, as the dragon’s speed -increased, for it was his best one, and he did not want to lose it. - -Oh, this was jolly! He had never thought he would ever ride on a -dragon’s back. What a lot he would have to tell his _mo chun_ (mother) - -[Illustration: _The Chinese children all marched to the music in a -row_] - -when he reached home. It was a good thing _mo chun_ did not know it now, -he thought, or she would be “velly much ’flaid.” - -After squirming through all sorts of queer countries, the big dragon -stopped so suddenly that they all fell off his back, and down his -slippery sides. Chung Goy rubbed his eyes and looked around him. Oh, how -funny! There were just thousands of dragons of all sizes, and this -beautiful place was their home. They all had such kind faces, and spoke -in such a gentle way, that no one could feel afraid. There were great -groves of trees, all full of the tiny Chinese mandarin orange. Chung Goy -just loved those “ollanges,” but he had never before picked them from a -tree, as his _ho chun_ had bought them from the street-stands in -Chinatown. There were trees of _lichee_ (nuts), and long tables just -filled with Chinese candy, delicious preserved ginger, watermelon seed, -and all those good things so dear to a boy’s heart. - -It was night, but the trees were so full of the great dragon lanterns -that it made it almost as light as day, and there were no dark corners -anywhere. There was a dragon orchestra under one of the trees, playing -the loveliest Chinese music. The shrill piping of the flageolets and the -beating of the “tom-toms” were indeed beautiful to the ears of Chung Goy -and his friends. It looked too funny for anything to see dragons holding -the different instruments with their claws. The Chinese children all -marched to - -[Illustration: _Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little -Chinese way_] - -the music in a row, holding each other by the queue. - -Chung Goy had never had so much fun in all his little life as he was -having now. Just as he was beginning to feel hungry there appeared -before his gaze a very long table, just filled with everything a child -could possibly want, and all served by cunning little dragons. There -were such dainty little China cups without handles, and in them the most -delicious _chah_ (tea). - -Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little Chinese way, and -no one told them to stop. - -While they were sitting at the table the dragons brought them each a big -basket of fireworks. Now a Chinese child is even more fond of fireworks -than an American child, and so they all kicked up their little sandals -with delight, and after each one had been given a lighted Chinese punk, -they began to pop them, and oh, what fun it was! There was a delightful -noise, with so much popping, and the odor of the punks was most pleasant -to their little Chinese noses. It really seemed as if the more they -popped, the more they had left in their baskets. - -Finally, the big King of the dragons said he must take them home now, or -he would not be back in time for the parade, and it would never do to -disappoint the people. So each one was allowed to keep his basket, and -they squirmed away again, until at last they entered the narrow streets -of Chinatown, with its rows of dragon lanterns, and its odor of incense -everywhere. Once more Chung Goy climbed the narrow steps, and crept into -the arms of _ho chun_, who had not noticed his absence, and he arrived -just in time, for just then there was a great noise of “tom-toms,” and -crowds shouting. - -The streets were aglare with a strange red light, and looking down he -saw the familiar form of the King Dragon, which was spitting fire from -its eyes and mouth; but this time little Chung Goy did not feel afraid, -for he knew--he knew. - - - - -_TWO LITTLE CHINESE SISTERS_ - - -One day during the Chinese New Year, when the sea breezes blew softly -through the narrow, blossom-lined streets of Chinatown, and swayed the -great red dragon lanterns to and fro, Poon Chew and her little sister, -Poon Yet, decided that they would take a walk through the streets, and -have a look at all the beautiful things displayed in the windows. Their -_mo chun_ had dressed them up in their very best silken robes,--robes -she had made for this very week,--and they made a pretty picture as they -started out under their gay umbrella. Their blouses were of pink silk, -and their trousers of pale lavender. They wore gay head-dresses, and -were indeed beautiful to look upon. They would never have started out -alone if the little _mo chun_ had not been so busy making the great New -Year cake, which was to be served with tea to her guests of the New -Year. - -“Let’s go see Sai Gee,” said Poon Chew. - -“All light,” replied the little sister. - -Sai Gee, a little-footed playmate of theirs, lived just a few doors from -them, and they had no difficulty in finding her home. Sai Gee was also -dressed up in her gayest attire, but her feet were too small to find -much enjoyment in running around with the children whose feet were of -the ordinary size. But she could - -[Illustration: _She brought forth from the flute the most wonderful -sounds_] - -entertain them, anyway, for Sai Gee could play the flute. - -It was really wonderful. She sat upon a stool, over which an embroidered -robe had been thrown, and played to them. Her hair was done in a coil -back of her right ear, and her little brown face was sweet and wistful -as she brought forth from the flute the most wonderful sounds. Sai Gee’s -father was very wealthy, and so the little one had everything that money -could buy. Poon Chew made up her mind right then that she would ask her -father to buy her a flute. Then Sai Gee brought forth some tiny cakes, -made of powdered nuts, and some tea, and preserved watermelon; and for -each of the little sisters a big slice of New Year’s cake. - -“My! but we have good time. I likee make New Yeah call, like _mo -chun_--we go now; good-by,” said Poon Chew. - -“Let’s look in window,” the big sister said; and of course the little -one, having perfect confidence in Poon Chew, gladly followed, the soft -little hand clasped in that of the sister. Oh, the wonderful things they -saw! The streets looked like a garden, with the rows of almond blossoms -and China lilies, and on every balcony swung in rows the immense dragon -lanterns. - -They stopped awhile--they thought it only a few minutes--to watch some -boys playing a New Year’s game, and then passed on by the stores, where -the smell of the good things made them very hungry. - -“Oh, how nice the loast pohk (roast pork) smell! I velly hungly,--we go -home pletty soon,” said the older sister. - -“Yes, we go home pletty soon,” echoed Poon Yet. - -The little feet were growing tired, for they had never before been on -the streets alone, and they wanted to get all the pleasure they could -out of it. How they did wish they had brought some money, as they looked -longingly at the great heaps of candied cocoanut and ginger on the -street-stands. Their eyes must have said so, for just as they were -gazing at the dainties with longing eyes a richly-dressed Chinaman came -by, and the first thing they knew he was saying: “You likee candy, _ne -jai_?” (little girl). - -It startled them at first, but when they looked up and saw what a kind -face the man had, they did not feel afraid, but replied: “Yes--we velly -hungly--we no bling money; we catch ’em plenty money at home.” - -The man laughed good-naturedly, and having bought them a large package -of candy, started on. After they had eaten some of it they noticed the -growing darkness. Could it be possible that night was coming on? They -had not thought of that; it had seemed so bright when they started, and -it did not seem as if they could have been gone long. - -Meanwhile, what of the little brown mother at home? - -When she finished her cake she called her children. She had made a -little cake just for them, and she wanted them to come and eat it. - -“Poon Chew! Poon Yet!” she called; but no sound came back through the -silence. - -“Little one--_ne jai_, come to _mo chun_!” No reply. - -With wildly beating heart she rushed through the tiny rooms and out to -the narrow pavement. She hailed a passing policeman, and in faltering -Chinese told him that her little ones were lost, described the pretty -clothes they wore, and all the while her heart was wrung with a nameless -fear. What would life be without the soft little arms about her -neck?--the patter of the little sandalled feet?--the sound of the shrill -little voices at play? - -This policeman told others, and they were all searching for the two -children, who were out making New Year’s calls. - -And it grew darker. Poon Chew trembled, as she realized that they were -lost. She did not know which way to turn. Some men were lighting the big -dragon lanterns on the balcony opposite, so it was really night. - -“Oh, little sister, we are lost! I forget; I no ’member the way home. -What will we do?” she moaned. She had no idea what direction her home -was in, and her eyes were filled with tears; but now through the tears -she saw some one approaching. It was--oh, joy! the old nurse Suey, -leading the richly dressed little Sai Chong, brother of Sai Gee. - -She was greatly surprised when she saw the children so far from home, - -[Illustration: _It was the old nurse, Suey_] - -and they clung to her neck, weeping and laughing by turns. “Take us -home--take us home;” they cried. They had walked so far and were so -tired that she got a Chinaman who was standing by to take them all home -in his wagon. When they arrived, they found the little _mo chun_ in the -greatest distress. She was very much astonished as she saw them all -tumble out of the covered wagon, and they all cried and laughed, and -never did the little mother receive so many kisses; and four little -brown arms clasped her neck all at once, and the little sisters were so -very sorry to have been so naughty that they said: - -“_Mo chun_, beautiful cherry blossom--we neveh, neveh make New Yeah -calls again without you.” - - - - -_THE LITTLE HIGHBINDER_ - - -It was the one desire of little Sing Lee to be a highbinder. It must be -a fine thing, for his father was one, and so it must be good. It was -true he did not have a very definite idea of just what it meant to be -one, but he knew this: his father belonged to the Hip Sing Tongs, an -order of highbinders in San Francisco, and they were men who kept their -promises. At night as he lay on his hard bamboo couch, with the fumes of -opium thick around him, he could hear _ho chun_ talking in a low tone to -a crowd of men, who were all of the same order of highbinders as his -father. “There is Chong Sing,” they were saying; “he has told some of -our secrets to a white devil, and he must die; the joss frowns upon -him.” - -This sounded very discouraging for Chong Sing, and little Sing Lee felt -sorry for a moment, for he remembered that one day this same Chong Sing -had spoken kindly, and had given him a three-cornered package of -_lichee_ (nuts) and candy. He could even yet taste the delicious strips -of candied cocoanut, and the dainty citron. Chong Sing had said he would -bring him some more another time, and now--he was to die. If he died, -perhaps no one else would bring candy or speak a kind word. - -Little Sing Lee lay trembling in his bed as they planned the murder of -his friend. What could he do? He was only a little boy, and--he had -thought to be a highbinder when he was a big man like _ho chun_; and if -he was going to be one, he must conquer all tenderness of heart,--and -yet, this man had been kind to him, and it might be that he had little -boys of his own at home. - -“If I was a highbinder,” he said to himself, “I no kill nice men who -bling children candy; I kill bad men.” - -Next day he confided his thoughts to _mo chun_, but she replied: “No! -no! my little boy. No use--Hip Sing Tongs heap big--heap stlong -(strong). They no care if Chong Sing give _lichee_; they kill him, -allee samee.” But little Sing Lee did not forget. He still thought, -however, that it must be a fine thing to be a highbinder, if only one -just killed the bad men--men who did not give candy to lonely little -children and speak kind words to them. So that very day he went around -through Chinatown and organized a society of highbinders among his boy -friends. - -He succeeded in getting four other boys to join, and they all took their -oaths very solemnly. Now that they were really highbinders they must -begin to kill somebody. Not ever having killed anybody, they did not -know how to go about it, or on whom to begin. - -_Mo chun_ noticed the boys carrying on a great deal of private -conversation, and she wondered what it could be; so that night, after -Sing Lee had burned his punks before the god, and had eaten his bowl of -rice with chopsticks, she said to him: “What for you allee time whisper? -You no eat--you no sleep; tell me! what you think?” - -_Mo chun_ was such a dear little brown mother, and he loved her so, that -when she looked at him with her slanting velvet eyes, and asked him to -tell her, he just had to, that was all. He was not afraid of her, for -Chinese mothers do not punish their children, and anyway--the secret was -too good to keep, so why not tell her? She never laughed at him like _ho -chun_. So he crept close up against the warmth of her silken blouse--he -could feel her tender mother heart beating beneath it--and he gazed at -the polished hair and the pretty mouth as he talked. - -“_Mo chun_--I likee be like big man--like _ho chun_. I get boys -togeddeh; we be highbinders, allee samee _ho chun_. - -“_Ho chun_ velly fine man; he kill heap of people; I likee do that, but, -_mo chun_, my beautiful blossom, I no likee _ho chun_ to kill Chong -Sing; he heap good--he bling me candy.” - -“What you mean, little boy? How you _sabe_ (know) _ho chun_ kill Chong -Sing? Speak!--tell me!” - -“Oh, _mo chun_ of mine, I no sleep at night; I no can help--I hear _ho -chun_ say Chong Sing must die. I velly solly; he heap good man--I -likee.” - -_Mo chun_ was sorry too, for she knew him to be a good man, but she -knew there was no use to say anything. If they had decided upon his -death there was nothing to be said. - -The next day Sing Lee set forth with his little band of highbinders to -find some one to kill. _Mo chun_ had said: “You must not really kill -them, you _sabe_, just pletend kill.” - -Suddenly, as they marched on, a bright thought struck little Sing Lee. -“Suppose I tell Chong Sing?--he live near--I know the way, and--he was -kind to me.” - -He then confided his secret to his trusty men, and they marched on, -through the narrow streets, till they came to the home of the good Chong -Sing--the man who was to be killed. - -It was dark and gloomy where Chong Sing lived, and his two little -children, trudging homeward through the narrow alley-way, arrived at -the door just before the little highbinders. Sing Lee could see their -_ho chun_ as he greeted them, and they clasped their little arms about -his neck, while he gazed at them with love in his eyes--and yet--he must -die. - -Sing Lee’s mind was made up. He marched boldly to the door, and stood -under the big Chinese letters which meant happiness to all who should -enter there, and he could even smell the incense ever kept burning for -the god,--the god who had given no warning to Chong Sing. With a soft -sound of sandalled feet the doomed man appeared at the door. His face -was beaming with good nature. He carried his little girl in his arms, -and by his side stood his son, a manly little fellow. - -With his heart throbbing as if it would burst, Sing Lee advanced in -front of his men, saying, “I am Sing Lee! You were kind to me once; -these are my men--highbinders--” (at this Chong Sing smiled in a very -amused way, but the smile was changed to something else when the boy -went on) “I no forget you; I velly lonely--you bling me candy; you say -good word to me, and now--I pay you back. - -“No one know I come to tell you; the Hip Sing Tongs they say you must -die. They say you tell seclets to white devil: I no know, I no care, but -you good man; I likee save you. I want you to go ’way, acloss the water. -You go quick!--I velly solly--good-by.” - -The little highbinder did not kill any one that day; he was thinking of -a pale, set face, and two little brown arms clasped about a father’s -neck. Never mind! he would kill some one next week, or “to-mollow.” Some -one who was bad--who did not bring candy. - -There was great surprise among the Hip Sing Tongs when their victim was -not to be found. Such a thing had never happened before, and they could -account for it in no way. - -Of course they did not think to ask the little mother or the embryo -highbinder. And while they were wondering and searching, away over -across the blue sea were the Chinese father and mother, and brown, happy -children--safe. - - - - -_HOW AH CHEE FOUND SANTA CLAUS_ - - -It was Christmas Eve. In the big Chinatown of San Francisco little Ah -Chee and her brother Ah Gong were eagerly drinking in the words of the -old Chinese story-teller as he sat on the streets and told stories for -any one who cared to listen and to give him a few pennies. It was -getting late, and the sea wind blew roughly through the narrow streets, -and made the dear little Chinese noses so cold; but then Ah Chee did not -mind, for the old man had been telling them the most wonderful -tale,--something about Christmas--the ’Melican Clismas--and he had said -something about it being a little Baby’s birthday, and that almost -everybody in the world celebrated it. She pondered over it, in her vague -little Chinese way, and thought it very queer that they should make such -an ado about just a baby. - -The old man did not understand it very well himself, but he remembered -that when he used to be cook for an American family once, a long time -ago, the children had hung up their stockings on this particular night, -and had some kind of a tree with beautiful things on it. They called it -a Christmas tree, he remembered, and how pleased he had been when there -were found to be some packages for him on that same tree. They had told -him then that Santa Claus had put them there, and he could never forget -the thrill of surprise and pleasure he felt at the thought that this -mysterious Santa Claus, whoever he might be, should have remembered him -when he had never even seen him. - -And now the story was finished, and the old man went on down the street, -and entered a shop where he would smoke opium and forget all about -Christmas. But little Ah Chee did not forget. She sat scraping her -little sandals against the pavement, thinking it all over. Her _mo chun_ -was upstairs in the poor little rooms, sewing by the dim light which -struggled through the lattice, and wishing that she were not so poor, -for she had to work very hard, and often they did not have enough to -eat. The rice was almost gone now, and there were only a few leaves of -_chah_ (tea) left. - -A Chinese mother loves her children very dearly, and always tries to -gratify their every wish; so it made her feel badly to think she could -not give them embroidered _shoms_ (blouses), and sandals, instead of the -plain dark ones they always had to wear. The children had had their rice -early to-night, and had gone out in the street to play “hawk catching -young chickens,” they said. - -She did not know the story-teller had been there, but she would not have -objected if she had known, for he was a kind old man, and if she could -have spared the time from her sewing she also would have listened; for -a Chinese woman is like a child in many things. She had heard some one -say this was the American Christmas, but to her all days were -alike,--just work, that was all. - -Meanwhile Ah Chee was filled with a curious longing to run away from the -picturesque Chinatown, just for a little while, to see if she could not -find out something more about this wonderful Santa Claus. She would give -anything in the world to see him, only--she had nothing to give. All the -trinkets the poor little child owned were a mud pagoda and a bit of -painted wood she called a doll. - -Once during the Chinese New Year her dear _mo chun_ had taken them for a -walk outside of Chinatown, and she had seen the wonderful shop-windows -of the Americans. How different they were from the Chinese! She had also -seen some beautiful things that her mother had said were dolls. She had -never forgotten it, and had even dreamed of holding one of these -wonderful things in her arms. But it could only be a dream,--no such -happiness was for her,--for it was all they could do to get enough rice -to eat, without buying American dolls. - -“Ah Gong!” she cried, fired with a sudden and bold resolution, “Ah Gong! -you likee take a walk with sisteh?” - -Ah Gong was at that moment busily engaged in eating a dried herring, -which the kind-hearted owner of the shop next door had given him; but -that fact did not in the least interfere with his desire to see new -sights. His sparkling Chinese eyes fairly danced out of his head at the -mere prospect. - -“Yes, I likee,” he replied, with his mouth full of herring. “What foh -you takee walk? Where you go?” - -She took hold of the end of his queue, and pulling him toward her, -whispered in his ear the magic words: “We go see Clismas! we catch ’em -Sanny Claw.” - -This announcement was almost too much for Ah Gong, and his little -celestial brain could not take in so much happiness all at once, so he -stared at her a moment until he had swallowed the bite of herring, and -then gasped out: “But Ah Gong ’flaid Sanny Claw spit fieh (fire) on us; -allee samee heap big dlagon.” - -Ah Chee had to giggle at this, with her ever-ready Chinese giggle, but -putting her long sateen sleeve round him in a protecting manner she -answered him in the kindest tone: “Oh, no! ’Melican Sanny Claw heap good -man--allee samee joss; we go find him; come along!” - -So they started in the growing darkness, with the sweet faith of a child -in their hearts. They knew not where to go, nor which way to turn, but -only had the one thought--just to find the ’Melican Clismas. When they -had disappeared, the shopkeeper believed they had gone home for the -night, and gave them no more thought; the tired mother upstairs supposed -that they were in the shop, as they often went in there and played until -late, because it was bright, and the man was kind to them. - -They knew they could not find Santa Claus in Chinatown, so the first -thing to do was to get out of the Chinese section, and into one of the -great thoroughfares of the city. On they went, past the joss house, -where they had once been with their mother to burn pretty candles before -the joss, and they looked up with childish admiration at the big round -lanterns which hung on the balcony, and tried to read the Chinese -letters at the door. Sometime, perhaps when the moon festival came, or -the Chinese New Year, it might be that _mo chun_ would take them again, -if she had money enough to buy any more pretty candles. The good joss -liked pretty candles. - -There were many lovely things to be seen in Chinatown, but to-night they -were going somewhere else. It did not occur to them that they might get -lost, or that their dear mother might be uneasy. They were too much -excited over what the story-teller had told them to worry over anything, -so they toddled on, their hearts full of expectation. They had no idea -what Christmas would be like when they should find it, or whether it -would be alive, but they could wait. How very queer it seemed when they -had left the narrow crooked streets of Chinatown, with its smell of -incense and its balconies and lanterns, and found themselves on a great -wide street full of people, so full of people that the heart of the -motherly little Ah Chee almost failed her, and she clasped her arm -protectingly around the body of her fat baby brother, and whispered -words of encouragement in his little brown ear. - -Many people, in the hurry of their Christmas shopping, gave a passing -thought of wonder that the two little Chinese children should be in the -dense crowd alone, but thought perhaps their parents were following -them; and so, with a smile at the dimpled tea-rose face and sparkling -eyes of the Chinese maiden they passed on, to the brightness and good -cheer of their own comfortable homes. There were so many street cars, -with bells clanging, carriages dashing past, and so much noise and -confusion that they were both frightened. Even the brave little heart -of Ah Chee beat violently under the padded warmth of her dark blue -blouse, and for a moment she almost feared they would not find Santa -Claus. But just then a voice said something, and a big policeman picked -her up, and smiled at her, saying: “Where are you going, little one? -Where is mamma?” - -The timid little voice of Ah Chee replied, “_Mo chun_, she at home; can -you tell me,” she eagerly questioned, “where Sanny Claw is?” - -“Why, yes, to be sure; he is in there.” - -In there,--could it be possible they were so near the wonderful being -and had not known it? - -They saw a very large store, with great crowds of people, big and -little, jostling each other in their efforts to - -[Illustration: “_Where are you going, little one?_”] - -get in. So all these people were hunting Santa Claus. Ah Chee in her -childish eagerness slipped, and would have fallen, had she not been -caught in some one’s arms. The arms belonged to a richly dressed lady, -who looked down with indifference at the pathetic picture of the two -little children, and was about to draw her skirts aside and pass on, -when the little Christ-child must have put a thought into her worldly -heart, for she turned and looked again into the wistful little faces. - -They must have seen some sympathy in her face, for Ah Chee said -hesitatingly, “Oh, if you please, we likee see Sanny Claw; could you -show us?” - -For a moment she hesitated. What would her aristocratic friends think -if they saw her taking two dirty Chinese children into the elegant shop? - -“Why didn’t your father bring you?” she said. - -“My fatheh--he die; we no got fatheh.” - -Something in the pleading little face, and the quiver in the little red -mouths, and the despair in the great oblique eyes must have touched the -woman’s heart beneath all its worldly coating. With sudden decision she -grasped the two little trembling hands, and throwing all her old false -pride to the Christmas winds, stepped boldly into the shop, where all -was elegance and warmth and light and beauty. - -To her it was an old story. She had long since lost the spirit of -Christmas, and the old legend of Santa Claus brought no ecstasy to her, -for there were no children at her home to hang up their stockings. The -little Chinese children were all eyes now, and forgot their poverty and -the bleak darkness of their home as they looked for the first time at -all this sparkling beauty. At last they found him--the “‘Melican Sanny -Claw!” To the lady it was nothing,--such an old, old story,--but to the -two little Chinese children it was the perfect and blissful realization -of a dream, the one beautiful event in two little barren lives. And -now--they actually stood face to face with Santa Claus. Little Ah Gong -was glad to see that he was not spitting fire, like the Chinese dragon, -and felt quite reassured. - -Santa was standing by a sparkling tree all covered with pretty candles, -such as they had burned for the joss, and on top of the tree was a great -shining star. - -“What is that?” said Ah Gong, pointing with his chubby forefinger to the -star. - -“That? It is the star of Bethlehem,” said the pretty lady, with a queer -catch in her voice, while for the first time in her life she realized a -little of the true meaning of the star. - -They did not understand, and clung closer to each other as they neared -the wonderful Santa Claus. He must have come from a very cold country, -for he was dressed all in fur, from head to foot, and had rosy cheeks -and long white whiskers. - -“See,” whispered the little girl to her brother, “it is the heap good -’Melican Santa; do you see him?” - -“Yes--yes--I see him; I no ’flaid now,” he said, edging closer to him. - -The beautiful lady was whispering to Santa Claus--actually whispering. -What a brave lady she must be, and they wondered vaguely what she could -have to say to him. And, wonder of wonders! Santa came right up to them, -and putting out his big warm hand, clasped the trembling little cold -hands of the two children, and said: “What do you want me to bring you?” - -Was there ever anything so wonderful? That he should notice them, and -speak to them? Their eyes almost danced out of their heads at this -unexpected question. It had never occurred to their innocent little -hearts that he would bring them anything, because they were only -Chinese, and the Chinese did not believe in Santa Claus; they only -believed in the Moon Rabbit. - -As he spoke, visions of wonderful things flitted through their -minds,--things they dared not name. The lady said to Ah Chee: “Tell him, -dear; he would like to give you something.” - -Before the child thought, she had spoken the words: “Could you--oh, -_could_ you--bling me--a--doll?” - -“A doll? Why, yes; of course you shall have a doll,” he said, as the -lady looked at him in a meaning way. And then all the boy in little Ah -Gong’s repressed nature broke forth, and he hurriedly gasped: “A -knife--I likee knife.” - -The lady smiled at Santa again, and he said: “And what else, my little -man?” - -“I likee led (red) wagon--” - -“No--no--” whispered the timid sister, “that too muchee--Santa no likee -give so muchee.” - -Some more mysterious whispering went on, and Santa produced from his fur -pocket a little book and pencil, and wrote down a great many things. Ah -Chee did not know what he could be writing--perhaps a letter to his wife -at the North Pole, but she did not care; she only knew she was going to -get what she had longed for all her little lonely life,--a doll,--and -her motherly heart warmed and thrilled at the happy thought. - -“And what would your mamma like?” he was saying now. - -“Oh,--my _mo chun_; let me see,--I think she likee wahm (warm) _shom_ -(blouse) and--that’s all light; you must not give too muchee; you so -good--you _so_ good,” she sobbed. - -Her little starved soul was running over with the joy of Christmas--the -new joy, which she had never before tasted. - -“You shall not be forgotten, neither shall your mother. Good-by, and -merry Christmas!” he said; and then, after showing the excited children -all the beautiful toys in the shop, the lady went out with them once -more into the crowded streets. - -The air was full of Christmas cheer, and every one was smiling and -happy, as they hurried along with their arms full of mysterious packages -and called out Christmas greetings to each other. - -“Do you know where you live, children?” the lady now said. - -Fortunately Ah Chee remembered the number and place of their home, so -the lady put them into a carriage and seated herself beside them. They -waited in the carriage awhile, till a man came out of the shop and -placed many bundles of various shapes and sizes in with them. It was so -dark they could not see them, but at last, after rattling over the -cobblestones for a time, they saw that they had entered Chinatown, and -once again the odor of the incense greeted them. - -Soon the carriage stopped right in front of their door, and they could -see the pale face of _mo chun_ peeping from the lattice. - -The lady told the driver to wait, while she went with the children up -the dark stairway. _Mo chun_ was never so surprised in her life as she -was when the excited children rushed in, pulling the lady after them. -She had begun to be frightened, and was just going down to the shop to -see what was the matter, when they arrived, breathless and happy. She -was very much embarrassed to have the rich and beautiful lady come into -her poor little home, but almost as much excited and pleased over the -gifts as the children, and to see the purse of gold that Santa had -brought her. She had not dreamed there was such kindness in the whole -big world, or such plenty and happiness. - -It was enough to cure any amount of heartaches to note the rapture in -the eyes of Ah Chee as she hugged the wonderful doll to her motherly -little heart, and to see the boyish delight with which Ah Gong displayed -his knife and red wagon. There were many other gifts, yet they had never -even thought there were such things in the world. _Mo chun_ did not know -how to thank the kind lady, who had, with one gift from her jewelled -hands, lifted her and her children from poverty to comfort. She could -only make her a cup of delicious Chinese tea, and thank her in her -pretty little Chinese way; but in her heart she thanked her, and the -beautiful lady understood, and for the first time in her life realized -the true meaning of Christmas. - - - - -_THE MOON RABBIT_ - -[Illustration: _Little Priest_] - - -It was the eve of the Moon Festival. The homes and the people of -Chinatown were gay within and gay without, and the incense-laden air was -full of the holiday spirit. The Moon Festival with the Chinese is -something like the American Christmas, only it lasts longer, extending -into their New Year. - -Kon Ying had not been very happy in her little life, for she had always -been made to feel that she was one too many in the home. She had three -sisters older than herself, and the Chinese do not like so many -daughters,--they would rather have sons; so when she arrived in the -small home, it was decided to call her Kon Ying, which means “enough -hawks.” After her had come a baby brother, who was petted and spoiled in -every way possible, because he was a boy. As he was the only son, the -parents soon resorted to a queer Chinese method. They shaved his head -and called him “little priest,” allowing him to be adopted by another -family. This was done to deceive the bad spirits, and make them think -they cared no more for their child than for a despised priest, and had -thought so little of him that they had even allowed another family to -adopt him. - -Little Kon Ying had been left to herself a great deal, and so had -thought of many things. Perhaps - -[Illustration: _She and one of her sisters were on the step in front of -their home_] - -she had thought more of the Moon Rabbit than anything else, and wondered -in her childish way why it had never remembered her. She and one of her -sisters were on the step in front of their home talking about it, when -she saw her brother across the street, in front of the joss house. He -was richly dressed, and pretended he did not know her. - -The streets were beautiful to-night, so, after much persuasion, _mo -chun_ had promised to take the children to see the shop windows. Soon -the mother appeared at the door, where in a little bowl punks were -always kept burning for the god, and in her high-pitched Chinese voice -told the children she was ready. Kon Ying was happy for once. She was -happy to-night, because she was strong and young, and the Chinese world -was beautiful. And, someway, she felt that the rabbit would really -remember her to-night. - -On they went, one after another, in true Chinese fashion, but never -losing sight of the polished hair of _mo chun_ in front of them. - -How gay it all was, and how bright! The great irregular rows of big -round lanterns looked like a lot of moons, and surely the rabbit’s own -moon could not be more beautiful. They could scarcely tear themselves -away from the bakeshop windows, which were full of cakes of all kinds. -Some were shaped like the moon, and some were made into tall Chinese -pagodas, a fish, a horse, or something of the kind. Some had on them the -picture of the white rabbit, who is always pounding out rice in the -moon. On others were painted beautiful gods and goddesses. _Mo chun_ was -telling them that when good little Chinese children were all asleep the -mysterious rabbit would come to the shops and purchase the pretty -things, to leave in the homes of the children. - -Kon Ying was thinking as she pressed her cunning little nose up against -the cold glass: “I likee know if I been good enough this time. I help -_mo chun_--I play (pray) to joss heap plenty time; maybe the moon labbit -come--maybe, I no _sabe_” (understand). She only knew that she had done -her best, always; but perhaps the wonderful rabbit would not think so. -Never mind! she would pray once more to the ugly little old god at -home, before she went to sleep. - -Soon they came to the toy shops. She felt as if she could stay forever, -for there were toys of all kinds, and no one would ever know how good -they seemed to a poor little Chinese girl who had never had any toys. -The only one she had ever possessed was an old broken doll she had once -found upon a trash heap, but she had treasured it as no doll was ever -before treasured, and had given it all the pent-up love in her little -starved heart. She had even named it “Kin Leen” (golden lily), and -pretended that it was a fine aristocratic lady, with “little feet.” She -had bound its feet with strips of cloth, and it was to this doll that -she had gone with all her troubles; but no one knew this. If her proud -brother had known he would have teased her unmercifully. - -There were so many lovely pagodas in the window, and some of them were -several feet high. She would like one of these, but knew she might as -well long for the moon. There was something in the window which she -would rather have than a pagoda or anything else, and she longed for it -so intensely that a real prayer must have gone out from her little -innocent heart. It was a doll!--a Chinese doll, with big slanting eyes, -like Kon Ying’s own, and the most gorgeous dress of flowered silk. - -Suddenly it dawned upon her what she would do when she got home. Instead -of praying to the god on the shelf she would pray to the moon rabbit, -and beg and beg of it to bring her a doll. If she could only have one of -those gorgeous creatures, with the tuft of black hair on its head, and -the wobbly feet and arms, and painted cheeks and lips, she would surely -never ask for anything else. There were other dolls in plenty, but none -so beautiful. They were only bits of wood, with eyes, nose, and mouth -painted on them. If she had not seen the big one she might have cared -for those, but now--she would never care for them; she had seen the -queen. - -She gasped out, in her shrill childish voice: “Oh, _mo chun_! -Why--why--won’t the moon labbit bling me doll?” - -Before the mother could reply, a kind hand was laid upon the polished -head of the little girl, and a man’s kind voice said: “The moon labbit -_will_ bling you doll, and all the little sistehs too.” - -Looking up, she saw that the voice came from the lips of a notorious -highbinder--a friend of her father’s. - -The man had been to their home many times. She had liked him, for he -always had a kind word for children, and last New Year he had even -brought them some cunning little mandarin oranges, and a package of -Chinese candy. He was said to be a very bad man, but he loved children. -Speaking a few words of holiday greeting, he passed on into the shop, -while Kon Ying and her sisters still gazed at the contents of the -windows. - -The big doll seemed to be saying: “I am yours, Kon Ying!--take me!” -while it held out its wobbly arms in entreaty. Its painted lips seemed -as if they might be forming pretty Chinese words of good wishes for the -Moon Festival. - -Kon Ying’s little celestial heart longed for it with a terrible longing, -but the glass was between them, and so--her heart could only ache in -silence. It could not happen, anyway. When did anything nice ever happen -to her? She had always been in the way, and there were no toys to spare -for her--little “Enough Hawks.” - -She was so absorbed in gazing at the doll that she did not see the -highbinder, away back in the shop. Her nose was pressed against the -glass, and her dirty little fingers had left ten marks, but she did not -know; she would not have cared if she had known. Suddenly, as she gazed, -something wonderful happened. A big blue arm reached into the window -from the shop, and slim fingers with long Chinese nails closed upon the -doll, lifting it out of the window, to disappear from the gaze of the -enraptured children. It seemed to blink its slanting eyes in farewell as -it departed. - -The pale yellow ivory face of little Kon Ying appeared to grow even more -pale as she screamed out, in that little nasal voice of hers: “She -gone--the moon labbit no can get her now to bling to me. Heap bad -spirit catch ’em doll: I so solly--I _so_ solly.” - -It seemed to her that when the doll had gone from her sight it had taken -with it the very heart out of her body, and she did not care to linger -now, so they passed on, to other sights and sounds. - -On a flower-laden balcony some one was twanging on a _sam yun_ (banjo), -but even music had no charm for her now, because--the DOLL was gone. She -would never see it again; the bad spirits had taken it. Perhaps it was -because she had neglected to pray to the god lately. She had even dared, -when no one was looking, to make a horrible face at him, and tell him -she hated him. She did this because her little heart was so heavy; no -one seemed to care for her, and the god never made anything nice happen -to her, nor paid any attention to her little prayers. Never mind! she -would pray to the moon rabbit after this; perhaps it would hear her -prayer. After she had decided upon this course she was anxious to get -back to her home. The children were all getting tired now, and their -wooden sandals dragged heavily upon the narrow pavements. - -“We go home now,” said _mo chun_; “Maybe moon labbit come to-night.” - -At last they reached their home, and the tired children ascended the -stairway. Kon Ying set to work to offer her sacrifices, as she was tired -and wanted to go to bed. She had nothing to offer the moon rabbit except -her old broken doll; so she placed it on a table and burned her incense -sticks, and everybody thought she was praying to the god. But she was -not; she knew,--and the god knew. At last she laid her tired head on the -hard couch. - -It seemed to her she had only been there a minute, when there came a -great glare of light and the sound of Chinese flutes. The lattice window -opened, and in marched a troop of tiny Chinamen, dressed in purple and -gold. Each one carried a stick of lighted incense for a torch, making -the room as bright as day. - -They marched right up to where Kon Ying lay, and the most richly dressed -one said: “Kon Ying, our queen has prepared a banquet for you; will your -highness please to accept the invitation?” - -Kon Ying was frightened at first, but something within her seemed to -speak the words: “I shall be pleased to obey the commands of your -queen;” and she made a curtsey to the royal messenger. - -“Be prepared to go when the time comes!” he said, and vanished with his -company. - -By and by there was another glare of lights, and the sound of music. The -lattice opened again, and there flitted in a crowd of the dearest little -Chinese ladies, all clad in pink silk blouses, with lavender trousers, -and pretty little golden sandals. They had so many diamonds in their -hair and ears that it almost put out little Kon Ying’s eyes. They each -carried a tiny Chinese lantern, which shed a soft light. - -The most beautiful one now approached Kon Ying and said: “The queen has -sent you a royal robe; please put it on, and we will hasten to the -moon.” - -Again the little girl gasped out: “Your highness’ commands shall be -obeyed;” and slipping from her couch she stood shivering upon the floor, -while the moon-maidens arrayed her in a robe of palest lavender. - -“Our queen heard your prayer, and has sent us to carry you to her -kingdom,” they said; and spreading out the wide Chinese sleeves of her -gown until they looked just like wings, they told her to come, and away -through the window she flew with them. - -She felt as light as a feather, and could not resist the pleasure of -making one real ugly face at the god as she passed. There stood on the -street in front of the house a row of the dearest little sedan chairs, -all glittering with gold, and carried by huge white rabbits. Before she -could say a word they had opened the door for her, and placing her -inside, flew away,--away from the squatty little god and the smell of -incense, away from the great shining lanterns of the dragon, and the -narrow, crooked streets, and into air that was so pure it seemed like a -delicious nectar. - -Kon Ying leaned from the window of her sedan chair and gazed at all the -wondrous beauty of the sky. As they passed through the milky way some -tiny star-fairies handed her a jewelled glass of the richest milk. She -was very glad, for it seemed a long time since her supper of rice and -tea. She was far away from the lights of the city now, and surrounded by -the dazzling radiance of the stars. One very large star seemed to be the -queen, and all the little stars bowed down before it, chanting the -sweetest melody. - -They were getting nearer and nearer the moon now, and, oh, how very -large it was! To Kon Ying it had always seemed no larger than a small -Chinese lantern, but now, as she came nearer, it seemed greater than the -whole world. Soon she could see it no more, and the white rabbits told -her that they were already in the moon. It was the most beautiful -country. The velvet grass was covered with the sacred almond blossom -petals, and their perfume was sweeter far than any incense. They passed -through a long avenue of pure white chrysanthemums, which showered their -petals upon them like snow. At the end of this avenue the chairs were -stopped, and cunning little white-rabbit pages assisted them gently to -the ground. A tender light flooded the place, and when Kon Ying raised -her eyes she saw before her a throne, draped with the flags of the -Imperial Court of China,--yellow silk, with blue dragons embroidered -upon them,--and on the throne sat the queen,--the good moon rabbit who -had heard her prayer. - -This queen was busily engaged in pounding rice, pounding it into a -powder, and then sending it down to earth, to be eaten during the Moon -Festival and the China New Year. She wore a pink gauze dress all -covered with glittering spangles, and as Kon Ying approached the queen -was singing: - - “The small-footed girl with the sweet little smile, - She loves to eat sugar and sweets all the while; - Her money’s all gone, and because she can’t buy, - She holds her small feet while she sits down to cry.” - -It sounded very pretty, as the queen had quite a sweet voice, and Kon -Ying soon found herself singing it with all the others. The queen -extended one soft white paw in greeting, but kept on pounding rice with -the other. - -All the dear little Chinese ladies and men now seated themselves around -the throne. The white-rabbit pages handed each one a different musical -instrument, and there burst forth the loveliest music that Kon Ying had -ever heard. She found that she could play quite as well as any of them, -which was a great surprise to her, as she had never before even touched -a musical instrument. - -After the music the queen ordered refreshments served, and they entered -a bower of almond blossoms and China lilies, seating themselves at a -long table, where they were served by a lot of tiny white-rabbit pages. -They ate with ivory chopsticks set with diamonds. The queen sat at the -head of the table, and could hold the chopsticks in her paws quite as -well as any one. What a feast that was! Yet plenty of funny things -happened, even if it was a royal company. The queen forgot herself, and -stuck her nose right into a bowl of hot rice, at which there was a -general giggle. A page quickly brought a finger-bowl and sponged the -burnt nose, so it was all right. - -There were all sorts of good Chinese things to eat,--delicious _chah_ -(tea) in little handleless bowls, all kinds of pretty moon-cakes, little -biscuit made of almond meal; watermelon seed, and many other things. -When the feast was ended the queen said that each of them could make one -wish, and it would be gratified. Kon Ying did not have to hesitate long -over her wish. - -She knew what she wanted more than anything in the world, and she -remembered that she had prayed to the rabbit, so perhaps--perhaps--“Oh, -dear queen!” she said at last in her piping little voice, “I be _so_ -good if only--if only--I could have--a doll, like the one in the shop -window; oh, if I could--if I could.” - -Her eyes were full of tears as she finished, for it meant so much to -her. The good moon rabbit replied: “You shall have your wish, little -one, for you are a good child.” - -Kon Ying now bade farewell to the queen and all the dear little Chinese -people, and jumping into the sedan chair was soon whirling away once -more, and in a short while found herself entering the window of her own -home, and placing her tired body on the bed. When she awoke the next -morning she remembered the queen’s promise, and--what was that on her -bed, close beside her? A queer looking package, and on it, written in -Chinese letters, “For good little Kon Ying, from the moon labbit.” -Hastily tearing open the packet she saw disclosed--the DOLL! She fancied -the god frowned when he saw it. - -That night, when the narrow Chinese streets were gay with the many -lanterns, and sweet with the fragrant almond blossom and lily, and the -happy crowds were thronging the streets, the old highbinder passed the -door. He smiled as he saw little Kon Ying seated in the doorway, holding -the DOLL in her arms, and with rapture unspeakable in her childish -eyes. - -“Where you catch ’em?” he inquired in a jovial tone. - -“Oh, I so happy,” she said. “I went to the moon last night, and the moon -labbit _did_ bling me the DOLL.” - -And the highbinder smiled. - - - - -_HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME TO SUEY HIP_ - - -Suey Hip was a little Chinese girl. She did not have a bright, cheerful -home, but lived in a cellar, with steps going down from the street. It -was dark and smoky down there, but of course it did not seem so bad to -Suey Hip as it would to those who have always had a nice home, because -she had never known anything else. - -Sometimes the children of a wealthy Chinese merchant would toddle by in -their richly embroidered robes, and their feet were so small they could -hardly walk. Suey Hip would sit on the top of the steps, and when she -wished, play on the pavement in front of her home. And, oh, how she did -long for some of those pretty garments! But her _mo chun_ worked very -hard to get what she had by sewing for the Chinese stores, and there was -no way to get anything more. - -Now one day when Suey Hip sat on the step sunning herself, and looking -with longing eyes at the people as they passed, there came a little -American girl, walking with her papa through the streets. Suey Hip was -very bashful, and hung her head, and scraped her little sandals on the -pavement as they passed before her. - -“Hello, little one,” said the man, in such a kind voice that Suey Hip -looked up, and as she did so, caught sight of something in the little -Dorothy’s arms that put her little motherly heart all in a glow, and she -no longer felt afraid. What was it she saw? Why, just the loveliest big -doll, with eyes that opened and shut, and it was dressed all in pink -silk. Oh, the wonder and delight that sparkled in the dark eyes as she -gazed. It seemed too beautiful to be anything but a dream, and she cried -as she looked into the sweet face of little Dorothy: “Oh, what is it? -Where you catch ’em?” - -Dorothy laughed as she replied: “Why, this is my dollie; Santa Claus -brought it to me last Christmas.” - -“Sanny Claw? Who Sanny Claw?--what’s Clismas?” eagerly inquired the -child. - -“Don’t you know what Christmas is?” said Dorothy. “Why, Christmas is -the loveliest time of all the year. It is then that we hang up our -stockings, and in the night while we are asleep Santa Claus comes down -the chimney, and fills our stockings with the loveliest things--dolls -and toys and candy, and, oh--just everything.” - -All this time Dorothy’s papa stood listening in amused silence, as he -thought it best to let the children carry on their conversation in their -own way. - -“I wish I was you,” said Suey Hip. “Sanny Claw no come here; we no have -Clismas; you think he ever come--bling me doll?” - -Just then Dorothy’s papa spoke and said: “I tell you what to do. You get -your mamma to write a note in Chinese to Santa, and we will come -to-morrow and get the note and I will see that Santa Claus gets it. It -is now just one month until Christmas, and who knows what may happen in -that time?” - -“You come again to-mollow?” eagerly inquired the child, and Dorothy -said, “Yes--yes, we will, won’t we, papa?” - -“Yes, dear, we will come again to-morrow.” - -When they had passed out of sight along the narrow streets, Suey Hip -toddled down the dark steps into the cellar she called home, and going -to her mother, who sat sewing by a tiny latticed window, she exclaimed: - -“Oh, _mo chun_! little ’Melican girl she say Sanny Claw come evvy -yeah--bling doll--bling candy, toy, evvything. She say you lite note to -Sanny Claw; tell him come bling me doll Clismas.” - -After a great deal of explanation she made her little brown mother -understand, and although she herself could not really believe that -anything so nice could happen to her child, yet she had a mother’s -tender heart, and was willing to do all the child asked of her. So she -left her work, and went to a little table where there were some -odd-looking writing materials, Suey Hip watching her eagerly all the -while, and taking up a slender brush-stick, dipped it in an ink-like -mixture, and began to make queer Chinese letters up and down the long -slip of red paper. After much effort it was finished, and given to Suey -Hip. She placed it carefully in a little - -[Illustration: _Suey Hip was very much dressed up_] - -vase, and went out again to play on the streets. - -She was so excited that night that she could hardly eat her supper of -rice and tea and little sweetened cakes. She was almost too much excited -to burn her incense before the little god in the corner, but she managed -to get through with it, and was then put to bed. Next day at the same -hour Suey Hip’s face had been scrubbed until it fairly shone, and her -thick black hair was pasted down and braided into a long queue. She wore -her best trousers and blouse of light blue silk, and little red sandals. -Suey Hip was very much dressed up. - -The shy little mother, who had also come out on the pavement to watch -for the Americans, put her fan up to hide her face when she saw them -coming, and quietly as a mouse slipped down the steps again. Suey Hip -eagerly handed them the note which was to mean so much to her. Dorothy’s -mama had come with them this time, and when she caught a glimpse of the -timid little Chinese mother peeping eagerly up at them, she, with her -kind woman’s heart, stepped down into the dark cellar, and stretched out -both her white hands to meet the little brown hands of the mother who -lived in a cellar. - -She managed to make herself understood, and there was a good deal of low -talking, and mysterious signs between the two mothers, but they -understood, as mothers will; and papa pretended he did not see and hear. -Dorothy told Suey Hip it was just a month until Christmas, and that -would not be very long--just four little weeks, which would soon pass. -Then Mrs. Suey shyly asked them to come in and have a cup of tea, which, -served in the dearest little bowls, proved to be the best they had ever -tasted. - -After that there were a great many calls from Dorothy and her mama, and -a great deal more of that mysterious whispering between the two mothers, -until at last it was announced that the very next day would be -Christmas. “Oh, too good--too good,” said Suey Hip, as she toddled -around, too delighted to be quiet one minute. - -It seemed as if the day would never pass, but after awhile the shadows -began to fall on the narrow streets, and the big lanterns were lighted, -and made everything beautiful; and Suey Hip knew that she was the only -child in all the big Chinatown who would hang up her stocking that -night. - -The hour had come. She got out her very best pair of cream-colored -stockings, and with trembling little fingers hung them securely to the -foot of her couch, and was soon in the land of dreams. In the midst of -her dream she awoke with a start. She wondered if he had been here yet. -It was so dark, but oh--she felt as if she just couldn’t wait. But she -knew _mo chun_ was tired, and she did not wish to awaken her, so she -crept softly to the foot of the bed, and groped around in the dark, for -her stockings. Once she almost fell off the bed, but finally her little -hands found what she sought, and she felt the stockings. - -They were all lumpy and fat,--what could be in them? In the top of one -she felt something large--something with hands and feet and hair. Oh, -joy! could it be? But she must wait and see. - -Oh, how glad she was when she heard _mo chun_ moving, and saw the first -glimmer of the day steal into their cellar home! With one bound she was -out of bed, and _mo chun_ was as glad as she, for really and truly, in -the dark night, the “‘Melican Sanny Claw” had by some means crept down -there, and just filled her stockings with good things. The thing with -hands and feet and hair was a real doll, with big blue eyes that opened -and shut, and yellow hair and a blue silk dress. It had on the dearest -little shoes and earrings, bracelets, a necklace, and a nice big hat. - -Oh, how she hugged it to her heart, and could scarcely put it down long -enough to see what else was there. Not only were the stockings full, but -there were lovely things all around. There was the nicest little trunk -for dollie, all full of pretty dresses and wraps, and there was doll -furniture, and the daintiest set of doll dishes. It seemed to the poor -little Chinese girl that she had everything in the world there was to -have, and--what do you suppose? Poked in through the little latticed -window they found a package, and on it the words-- - - “FOR MAMA SUEY, FROM - SANTA CLAUS.” - -When her trembling hands had eagerly opened it, what should she find but -a whole lot of gold money? Oh, how happy she was! Now she would not have -to work so hard, and strain her eyes at night by the dim candle. Now, -they could have some pork whenever they wished, and they pictured all -the happiness it would bring them. When Dorothy’s papa and mama came -that day they found the happiest hearts in the whole big city, and when -they saw the joy that had come into this little cellar home, they were -glad that they had given the note to dear old “Sanny Claw.” - - - - -_THE EASTER DREAM OF MUN CHEE_ - -[Illustration: _She sometimes longed to get out, she and her two little -brothers_] - - -Mun Chee had a wonderful dream one night. Being a little Chinese -aristocrat, she had never played just as the common people’s children -play, and in her little heart she sometimes longed to get out, she and -her two little brothers, and run wild through the narrow Chinese -streets, and to be as free as the winds, just as the children of poor -people might do; but she could not do this. So much was due to her -station in life, as she was to be a Chinese lady some far-off day. So -one night,--just the night before Easter,--after she had fallen asleep -on her couch of bamboo, she dreamed a dream as beautiful as a poor -child--a child of a coolie even might dream, for dreams are free to all, -rich and poor. Perhaps it was because she had gone to sleep wondering if -her house would be visited by the Easter rabbit, of which an American -friend had told her; perhaps--but then, it does not matter what the -reason was, for suddenly she felt some soft little taps on her eyelids, -and a warm breath fanned her cheek, and opening her eyes she beheld the -dearest, cunningest little rabbit--a white one, with bright pink eyes. -It was perched on the edge of her bed, and had awakened her by tapping -her Oriental eyelids with its soft white paws. It looked so gentle that -she loved it right away, and said: “Who are you?” - -It replied in a tiny voice: “If it please your highness, I am the queen -of the Easter rabbits; I thought you might like to go with me for a -little visit to my realm, the beautiful Easterland.” - -“Oh, I likee go,” said Mun Chee. “It must be all light to visit a queen. -Yes, yes, I will go, but how?” - -“Trust to me, and you shall arrive safely; I will carry you on my back.” - -“You? Why, you too small; I such a big girl; you no can cally me.” - -“Wait and see!” said Queen Bunny, and with that she began to grow and -grow and grow, right before Mun Chee’s astonished eyes, and pretty soon -she was as big as a horse. - -“Oh, how could you do it?” gasped the little Chinese girl. - -“Because I am in league with the fairies, and have all power,” the queen -said. “Jump on my back, if it please your ladyship, and we will hasten -away.” - -She jumped gracefully to the back of the rabbit, and clasped her plump -arms tightly around its neck. They bounded up, up, until they were so -high in the air that they could not see the world below. - -“I neveh knew that labbits could fly,” said she. - -“Well, all rabbits cannot fly,” said the queen, “only those of royal -blood. There are rabbits and rabbits, you know, just as there are people -and people. My sceptre is a white Easter lily, and whoever it touches -is at once possessed of unlimited power.” - -Now they came to the land of the birds, where they were fairly -intoxicated with the beautiful music thrilling from the throats of these -feathered songsters. Some of the trees were bright blue, and were filled -with all kinds of blue birds; then a yellow tree, something like the -acacia, was filled with canaries, making the air fairly alive with song. -So they floated on, until the songs of the birds were but an echo. - -Then came Candy-land. My! how good it smelled in this wonderful -place--all pepper-minty and nice! and what a variety of trees there -were--some big, big trees, just full of Chinese preserved ginger! and -how Mun Chee did long to put her strong white teeth into some of it! -Then there were trees so soft and white that they looked almost as if -they were covered with snow; but it really was only white marsh-mallows. -Then there were tiny Chinese fairies running all around, pulling -bon-bons apart, and squealing with delight when they popped. - -Then came Monkey-land, and this was the funniest of all, and even made a -little Chinese girl laugh. Some of them were playing a game of base-ball -with cocoanuts, and Mun Chee was all the time afraid one of them would -get hit in the head; but they seemed to know just how to avoid that. -Some of them ran up and asked her to stay to dinner with them, and then, -when they thought she was not looking, they made such horrible faces at -her that she was glad she had not accepted their invitation. After she -had watched several games she hurried on again, looking back once, to -see some of the monkeys throwing kisses at her and others making the -ugliest faces. That might have been their way of being polite, though -she really could not say, as she was not up in the etiquette of monkeys. - -Next came the land of bears. There were all kinds,--black, brown, and -white. She was scared at first, but the rabbit queen assured her they -were harmless, and warranted not to hug. They were dancing some kind of -a queer dance, and one silky white one, that looked just like a rug she -had at home, came and asked if the little celestial aristocrat would -honor him with the next dance. A look from the eyes of Queen Bunny told -her she had better accept, and she did so, smiling graciously upon the -bear. Around they went, in a giddy whirl, her queue flying in the wind, -until it seemed to Mun Chee that everything was going around with them, -and she panted: “If it’s just the same to you, I’d rather sit out the -rest of this dance.” - -“Certainly, your highness,” growled old bruin, and when she was seated -he brought her a dish of sweetened snowballs, which were quite -refreshing. - -When she told them good-by this same bear could not resist the -temptation of giving her just a teeny-weeny hug, but it didn’t hurt, and -she was quite sure he meant it as a mark of especial favor. - -Next came the land of cats. Each land had its queen, and here it was -Queen Malta, an immense maltese cat with large, yellow eyes. Such a -purring as they made when they saw Mun Chee and Queen Bunny approaching! -It was not often they were honored by royalty. The queen approached -them, walking on her hind legs, her long silky tail held by a page,--a -tiny white kitten, dressed in gauze and spangles. - -“In what way shall it please your gracious majesties to be entertained?” -said Queen Malta; but to any one else it would have sounded like -“Miaouw--miaouw--miaouw--” - -Mun Chee replied: “I likee some music.” - -Thereupon the queen tapped a silver bell, and there sprang lightly into -view a perfect chorus of the most beautiful cats. After curtseying to -the royal guests they began the music, and they sang the funniest songs -imaginable. Mun Chee laughed till her little sides ached, but when she -applauded, the noise scared away all the cats, and they scampered off, -regardless of good manners. Queen Malta called them back, and explained -matters, however, and the program was carried out without any further -commotion. Mun Chee would like to have lingered for quite a while in -each of these strange countries, but Queen Bunny told her it was -approaching the hour when they were expected at the Easter castle, and -so, after a few more swift turns through the air, they began to descend -softly, softly, until faint strains of music fell upon their ears. - -It was a triumphant march of welcome, and the notes rose glad and high. -Soon Mun Chee felt her feet touch the soft grass, and unclasping her -arms from about the rabbit’s neck, she stood and gazed about her in a -perfect bewilderment of rapture. This was so different from any of the -other countries; everywhere the eye rested upon the soft green tracery -of leaves and trees, great beds of delicate fern, and flowers of every -hue. Through an avenue of tall, waxen Easter lilies she was conducted by -two tiny white rabbits, and as they walked, a glorious anthem sounded -from all the great Easter lilies, and the golden clappers clanged -musically against their satin whiteness. - -All the while there was a strange and wonderful perfume filling the air, -even sweeter than the scent of the punks burned before the joss in the -temple. Some of the lilies bent down and kissed the dear little Chinese -maiden as she passed, and their breath was sweeter than any perfume. -After being royally entertained in the palace of pure white pearl the -child was conducted into the queen’s garden, where a feast was spread -under the shade of some tall ferns. Being seated, they were served to -delicious tea, in dainty cups, shaped like Easter lilies. Many good -things were placed before the little girl, who was very hungry, after -her long flight through the air, and nothing in her own home had ever -tasted half so good as did these dishes served by the dear little white -rabbits. - -After much chatting and laughing the strange meal was ended, and the -rabbit queen presented Mun Chee with a large basket of pearl and silver, -lined with blue and yellow, the colors of the Imperial Court of China, -and announced that they would now start out in search of Easter eggs. -“Oh, what fun!” said Mun Chee, clapping her hands for joy. A white -rabbit page went by her side, and carried her basket. Soon they came to -a dense forest of fern, and Mun Chee heard a high, squeaky voice saying: - - “Search for the one with long, long legs, - And you may find some Easter eggs.” - -“How queer!” thought Mun Chee, “to tell me about it. Well, if it has -velly long legs I betteh quit looking on the glound, and look up.” She -did so, and away back among the ferns she saw some funny bright eyes -peeping at her. - -“Why, it is a stok” (stork), she exclaimed. - -With that the stork came forward, and extended a long claw in greeting, -and, pointing to a large nest artfully concealed among the ferns, he -said: “You may take what you see, and welcome.” - -“Oh, thank you!” she said, and taking several of the very large eggs, -placed them carefully in her basket. - -“Oh, they won’t break,” said Queen Bunny. “The eggs in Easterland are -warranted not to break.” - -And now the soft trill of a canary rippled from a tree,--a tiny tree, -that a child could easily reach. Sure enough, there was the dearest -little canary, perched on a branch, singing sweetly,-- - - “Come and see! come and see, - What Canary has for thee.” - -There in the little nest were a lot of the tiniest eggs, and all bright -yellow, just the color of Mrs. Canary herself. - -“Oh, you gentle little thing--you so good to give me youh cunning little -eggs.” - -“Don’t mention it!” said Canary. - -Then a white dove cooed from its house near by,-- - - “Coo-coo, you are true, - Come and take my gift for you.” - -Her gift was six eggs, pure white, with just the tiniest little pink -polkadots in them. While she was admiring them she heard a gentle purr, -which seemed to come from the ground under her feet, and looking down -she saw peeping from a moss-lined hole in the ground a pair of pink -eyes, and a white, soft paw, as the voice of this Easter rabbit -purred,-- - - “Put your hand into the ground, - And find what no one else has found.” - -“Well, I likee find what no one else has found,” she said; and putting -her hand into the moss-lined nest, she drew out--not an egg, as she had -expected, but six of the tiniest baby rabbits, no bigger than her thumb. - -“Oh, you cunning little babies! You shall go and live with me,” said Mun -Chee; and thanking the Easter rabbit, she passed on to the home of a -blue-bird, on a swinging bough, and heard her singing,-- - - “Roses red, my eggs are blue, - Come! and I will give you two.” - -What a beautiful blue they were, to be sure! just like the sky. Then a -loud cackling fell upon her ear, and she could distinguish the words,-- - - “If you will give me a piece of bread - I’ll bring you some eggs, all bright and red.” - -She saw that the queer voice came from a bright red little hen, who gave -her some beautiful eggs when she had given the bread. - -Following the sound of a sharp voice she walked along the path until she -came to a most beautiful peacock, gorgeous in the spread of its -wonderful plumage. - -This pleased her more than any of the others, because the peacock -feather is sacred to the Chinese, and is used in their temples where -they pray to the joss. The peacock’s offering was a very large bunch of -these brilliant feathers, to take to her _mo chun_, while it said in a -queer, sharp voice,-- - - “It matters not, my little one, how stormy is the weather; - The joss will always care for those who have a peacock feather.” - -“Now for the last place,” said Queen Bunny; and following the sound of a -terrible screeching noise, they climbed a ladder into a tall tree, and -there was a beautiful American eagle. It was not cross a bit, as eagles -usually are, but was singing,-- - - “The gift I have, little girl, for you - Is three big eggs--red, white, and blue.” - -It seemed to Mun Chee that the best came last, for these were such -beautiful eggs, and so different from any of the others. Her basket was -quite full now, and as she saw the shade growing more dense beneath the -trees she thought it must be quite time for her to return to her own -home. So, after bidding good-by to all the royal company of white -rabbits, and having her arms filled with the fragrant China lilies, she -sprang upon the queen’s back once more, and sped away--away--far from -the Easter palace--the palace of a dream. - - - - -_PING PONG AND PING YET_ - - -Ping Pong was not a game, but a dear little Chinese boy, who was eagerly -looking forward to something which was almost like an American -Christmas. The Chinese do not have any Christmas, but they have -something else which serves the purpose, as far as their eager little -hearts are concerned, and that is, the Festival of the Moon. Ping Pong’s -round, fat, and very dirty face looked something like a moon as he -leaned over the counter in his father’s drug store, and watched him -weigh and mix portions of dried lizards and snakes for his customers; -for the Chinese use dried lizards and snakes, and all sorts of funny -things, for medicine. - -It would seem so very queer to an American child, but it did not strike -little Ping Pong as being at all out of the way, and he would probably -have thought it just as strange to know that people took powders and -pills. He thought when he grew up to be a “velly big man” like his -father, he would either be a druggist or a highbinder, or better still -he might be both; yet, a highbinder was one who always sought a way of -killing people he did not like, and a druggist sometimes killed people -he really did like,--but that was always through mistake, of course. - -Ping Pong and his dear little sister Ping Yet were teasing the -good-natured father to take them to the joss house. That was indeed a -queer idea. Why should two children wish to go to the temple to pray to -the joss? Surely the father could pray enough for himself and his -family, too. But he never liked to refuse any reasonable request of his -children, so he asked advice of the little mother, who was engaged in -some very mysterious occupation which compelled her to keep the kitchen -door locked. _Mo chun_ opened the door cautiously, and, peeping out, -whispered to _ho chun_, who smiled in a peculiar way. “What foh you -likee go joss house, you _hai tongs_?” (babies), she now asked, and Ping -Pong replied: “We likee play to good joss to bling us pletty -moon-cakes.” - -The mother had to giggle at that, in her dear little Chinese way, for -she knew a good deal about moon-cakes, and knew about the white rabbit. -But she was not going to tell all she knew, just now, so she only smiled -in her sweet mother way, and gave her consent to their going. - -It was just getting dark when they left, and the proud father started -out to the joss house with a happy child on each side of him, and two -small brown hands clasped tightly in his big brown ones. They had never -been to the temple before, but they had heard it was a very good thing -to do when one wanted anything very badly. - -“How pletty the big dlagon lantehns look!” they exclaimed. - -Yes, the big lanterns did indeed look pretty, as they gleamed and swayed -in front of every door in the big Chinatown of San Francisco, and looked -like big golden moons, almost as big as the moon in which the white -rabbit lived. The streets were very gay at this season, and the shops -were full of people buying gifts. - -Little Ping Yet made a very pretty picture as she shyly patted down the -narrow streets with her embroidered sandals, wide silken trousers, and -blue silk blouse richly embroidered by the loving fingers of her dear -_mo chun_. Her polished hair was done in a queue. - -The moon rabbit must surely have passed this way, for the windows were -all full of little cakes shaped like the moon. They thought that all -the year, while they were flying kites, popping fire-crackers, and -playing in the street in front of their home, the white rabbit must be -always pounding rice. - -It took them a very long time to get to the joss house, because there -were so many interesting things on the way. Ping Pong, in boyish -eagerness, pressed his little nose and dirty fingers right up against -the glass in one place, or at least he thought it was the glass, until -he fell right in, with his nose on a candy pagoda thirteen stories high, -and then he found out his mistake. That glass happened to be broken out, -and he was very much embarrassed. The gingerbread peacock seemed to -glare scornfully at him as his _ho chun_ pulled him out, and the -painted gods and goddesses seemed to smile on him in a pitying way. - -Little Ping Yet was as much ashamed as if she herself had fallen with -her nose on a Chinese pagoda, and she hid her face with her wide silken -sleeves. But the shopkeeper was good natured and said, with a kindly pat -of the button on top of Ping Pong’s round Chinese cap, “Neveh mind! -that’s all light; you heap good _samen jai_ and _ne jai_ (boy and girl). -I hope you get heap plenty moon-cake flom the white labbit.” - -They wandered on in happy abandon, until they reached the long steps, -which, _ho chun_ informed them, led up to the temple of the good Joss. -They had so often wondered what the joss looked like; was he a big -rabbit, or a peacock, or perhaps a dragon with scaly sides and spitting -fire? They secretly hoped, in their innocent little hearts, that if it -was a “dlagon” he would refrain from spitting fire while they were -there. When they thought of what might await them, they were almost -sorry they had come, and their timid little hearts beat fearfully -against their blouses; but the touch of _ho chun’s_ strong hand was -reassuring, and they reflected that surely there could be nothing so -very dreadful up there, or he would not have taken them. - -First they passed through a room where some Chinamen were selling long -narrow red-paper packages of incense sticks. _Ho chun_ bought one, and -the men spoke kindly to the boy and girl, and they passed on. Up -another flight of steps they went, until it seemed as if they must be -almost as high up as the moon. A strong odor of incense greeted their -nostrils, and it seemed good, for they were accustomed to it, as it was -always burning at home before the different gods and ancestral tablets. - -The odor grew stronger, and they heard some one beating the big gong. -Soon they had placed their sandalled feet upon the last step, and their -oblique eyes were fairly dazzled with the sparkle and beauty of it all. - -“Where joss? I likee see him,” they both exclaimed in awed whispers, -while _ho chun_ pointed to the gaudy altar, gay with its brass carvings -and rosettes of red paper. Bright peacock feathers were plentiful, and -seemed to stare at them with a thousand eyes. Back of it all, in a -sheltered recess, was the joss. They heaved a sigh of relief that he was -not a dragon. An American child would have thought him perfectly -hideous, but the Chinese children have such different ideas, and they -exclaimed rapturously, “Oh, velly pletty joss! heap fine god; me likee.” - -Perhaps they thought it best to say very nice things of him in his -presence, however, because it would never do to offend him, or he might -not allow the white “labbit” to visit them. So they ventured quite near, -and spoke in tones he could not fail to hear. - -After a whispered consultation with _ho chun_ they opened the pretty -red-paper package, and each took from it two incense sticks, and their -father having lighted them, the children waved them several times right -under the nose of the great and high one, and bowed their little heads -to the floor a great many times, meanwhile asking in their innocent -little way that the good joss would please make the white rabbit bring -them something nice. When they had finished, they placed the rest of the -incense sticks in the great brass urn in front of the joss, and the -sacred ashes fell down and helped to fill it up. Every time they had -bowed their heads the big gong had been beaten, and at first the noise -had frightened them, but finally they grew to like it. - -_Ho chun_ thought that while they were there, they had better try -throwing the fortune sticks, as he knew it would please them, so he -picked up a tall round box, full of bamboo sticks, and explained it to -them. They first asked the joss “Will we get any moon-cakes?” Then each -in turn took the box and shook it until one stick fell out, when they -picked it up, and _ho chun_ read the Chinese number on it, then looked -in a book and found out what that number said. Fortunately the answer -was favorable, and they felt happy now. That meant that they might -really expect some gift from the moon rabbit. - -Before going home they all stepped out on the beautiful balcony on which -were swinging the biggest lanterns they had ever seen, and they leaned -over the edge, where there were great pots of the pretty China lily in -blossom, with red papers tied around the stems, and looked at the -hundreds of people passing below them. The grown-up people all had their -arms full of bundles, and little three-cornered brown paper parcels. All -was noisy and happy and bright, because it was the eve of the Moon -Festival, and the shopping must all be done before the rabbit should -come. - -Down the long steps they went again, and into the crowded street, where -all was joy and delight, and mysterious whispering. - -“Oh, that pletty pagoda!” said Ping Pong, “I so ’flaid the labbit no -bling me pagoda, I think _ho chun_ betteh get.” - -_Ho chun_ laughed and said, “No! I wait and see if the labbit come, I -think bimeby he come and bling pagoda; I no can tell--we wait and see.” - -But what if he should forget to bring one? and they were such beautiful -pagodas, and all made of candy. The little round faces were sober for a -while, thinking how very dreadful it would be if, after all, the rabbit -did not come, or, if he did come, and should forget to bring the -much-desired pagoda. - -They were very tired when at last they reached their home, over which -gleamed the big golden Chinese letters of welcome, and in a little bowl -beside the door burned the punk sticks, day and night, to keep the evil -spirits from entering their home. Their tired little legs could hardly -climb the stairs, but at last they were there, and had tumbled into the -mother’s loving arms, and had been kissed and questioned thoroughly. - -_Mo chun_ was really astonished to hear of the glorious time they had -enjoyed, and of the many wonders they had seen. When they mentioned the -pagoda she was suddenly seized with the giggles, and her laughter was so -merry and contagious that they all laughed till their sides ached, -though the children could not have told why they laughed. The mother and -father knew why, but they would not tell. The hour had come, and indeed -it was long past the hour when they should have gone to bed, but then -the beautiful Moon Festival came only once a year, and so they might be -allowed a few privileges. They were finally asleep on their beds of -matting, and the mother looked tenderly at the rosy little faces as she -went into the kitchen--the kitchen which for some reason had been locked -all day. - -Well, morning came at last, as it always does, and before the sun was up -Ping Pong and his sister jumped out of bed, exclaiming: “Oh, _mo chun_, -has the white labbit been?” - -Oh, what were all those beautiful things on the table? Why, the whole -room was changed. When they had gone to bed the night before, there was -nothing there but just the things that belonged in the room, and -now--and now-- The white rabbit had - -[Illustration: _There was a big bouquet for Ping Pong_] - -surely been here, for the table was covered with the most beautiful -gifts they had ever seen,--lots of cunning little moon-cakes, sprinkled -with poppy and caraway seed; and some like a horse and a cow, and all -sorts of funny animals. And there was a big bouquet for Ping Pong, -because it was his birthday too. - -There were also some big candy dragons, with great staring eyes, but -now, instead of the dragons eating them, they were going to eat the -dragons. My! what fun that would be! and they could not wait, but -planted their strong white teeth in the white heads, and bit them off. -My! how sweet they were! so sweet that their bodies went next, and soon -there were no dragons at all. - -There were all kinds of gaudily painted toys of clay, and little Ping -Yet’s dancing eyes danced more than ever, and she fairly rippled over -with smiles when she saw, sticking out of a bright red pair of -embroidered sandals, a real Chinese doll. It looked very much like Ping -Yet herself, with its bright black eyes, rosy cheeks, and coal-black -hair. She thought it surely must be the most beautiful thing in the -whole big world, but _mo chun_ said she knew something more beautiful. -The little one wondered vaguely what it could be, and how anything could -be more beautiful, but she was too busy to wonder long, for Ping Pong -had uttered such a shriek of delight that she almost jumped out of her -little sandals. What could be the matter? - -“What foh you cly? you buhn youh fingeh?” she cried; and he in reply -pointed to the cause of all his excitement; it was--oh, joy!--a pagoda, -and _mo chun_ said: - - “The dragon pagoda it touches the sky; - The dragon pagoda, thirteen stories high.” - -It was just exactly like the one they had asked _ho chun_ to buy, and -the dear white rabbit in the moon must have seen right down into their -minds and brought what they wished. And oh, they were so glad now that -they had gone to the joss house, and burned the incense and thrown the -fortune sticks, for if they had not--who knows?--the white rabbit might -have forgotten them. - - - - -_THE LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOM_ - - -Mo Chun called her the little Almond Blossom, as she was so bright and -beautiful, and she loved her so. Her real name was Gum Sing, and she -was, so the mother thought, the prettiest thing in all the big Chinatown -of San Francisco. - -Gum Sing’s father kept a store, where they sold all sorts of fine china -and silk. She often went to her father’s store, but never alone. Oh, no! -she was too precious to be trusted out alone, and then she was too young -to find her way through the winding streets, and the doors all looked -alike to her, so the _mo chun_ or the nurse always accompanied her. - -Gum Sing had such a round, dimpled face, and there always seemed to be -kisses lurking in the dimples. And she had the merriest little -laugh,--just like music to her mother. It was not enough for _mo chun_ -to see this little face every day, and to sleep on the hard pillow with -it at night. No, that was not enough, for how could any one ever have -enough of so fair a thing? So the father and mother agreed that their -little Almond Blossom must have her picture taken. That was a great day -in the house of Gum. Such an event had never happened before. - -Now Gum Sing did not know at all what it meant to have her picture -taken, but she knew by the smiles on her mother’s face, and by the -careful and proud manner in which she was being arrayed, that it could -be no small thing, and that some way or other she was expected to look -as beautiful and as much like the almond flower as she could, as that -was sacred to the Chinese. - -With delight she saw that she was to wear her lavender silk blouse. “Oh, -_mo chun_,” she giggled, “I likee wear _ho chun’s_ big gold watch.” - -Now, although the little mother did not think it just exactly the proper -thing for any one so tiny as Gum Sing to wear a watch and chain, yet -this was such an important event--and such a proud moment for her--that -she could see no harm in letting her have her way about it this time. -She insisted upon carrying _mo chun’s_ big fan, too, and it certainly -did look very wonderful to see it clasped in the tiny brown hand. - -The trousers of pink silk were so bright and pretty, and the dainty -little sandals had been embroidered by _mo chun_ herself. - -When all was ready, _ho chun_ appeared on the scene, and the happy party -started out for the photograph gallery of Hen Yin Gock. - -“I so happy--I so glad,” giggled the little Gum Sing, not knowing just -what she was happy about, only she was such a happy little thing always, -and being the only child had so much love given her. At last they -reached the place. There did not seem to be anything wonderful about it. -There was a window with a lot of pictures in it, and a crowd of -Chinamen were jostling each other to see them. Then they ascended the -stairway and rapped on the door, and some one called out in Chinese, -“_Yap loi le_,” which means “Come in.” - -They went in, and the man talked to them pleasantly, but when he went -and put his head under a black curtain on some kind of a box, then Gum -Sing thought it was time to complain. This was too much! She cried: “_Mo -chun_--I no likee--will it hurt? I ’flaid the big dlagon come out of the -box.” (The nurse had evidently been telling her stories about the big -Chinese dragon.) - -Then the good Hen Yin Gock came out from the curtain, and assured her -that there was no danger. He brought out two lovely yellow roses in a -vase, and put them on a small table with a bright cover, and then told -Gum Sing: “If you heap good girl, and do what I say, I give you the -floweh, pletty soon.” - -Then he also placed on the table a flute, with gaily colored tassels, -and then the cunningest little jar, which looked very much as if it -might contain preserved ginger, and she was just thinking how much she -liked preserved ginger when the man said: “Now keep still! look light at -this box!” (The little mother trembled; could it be that after all there -was something horrible in the box?) “There is a little bird in this box, -and you may see it fly out if you are quiet. Now!--all leady!” (ready). - -Gum Sing was so full of giggles that she could hardly be quiet, and the -dimples chased each other all over her sunny face. The father and mother -gazed with love and admiration at the beauty of their little almond -flower, with one hand thrown carelessly on the table and the other -grasping the fan. - -“There!” at last said the photographer. - -Gum Sing wanted to know what it was all about, yet she could not seem to -find out. But several days after that, when _ho chun_ was out on the -pavement in front of their home, putting some China lilies in a bowl of -water, a man came, and handed him a little package. Gum Sing was all -curiosity in a minute. - -“Oh, _ho chun_, what is it? Let me see!” she cried, and _mo chun_ was -almost as eager. So the father opened the package while they waited -wonderingly, and there, before their eyes, on pieces of polished -cardboard--could it be?--yes, yes!--the picture of their little Almond -Blossom--big watch, fan, dimples, giggle and all. - -But Gum Sing wonders to this day why the bird did not come out of the -box. - - - - -_THE CHRISTMAS OF GUM CHING_ - - -Gum Ching lived in America, but she had no way of knowing it, as she -never saw any of the country, and was kept in her home all the time. As -she was unfortunate enough to be a girl, she had never been permitted to -go anywhere, except to play on the street in front of her father’s -store. Sometimes, when playing thus, she had seen little American girls -drive by in carriages with their mamas, and they seemed to be having so -much fun that little Gum Ching would look very sad after they had -passed, and would say to her brother Gum Lee: “I wish _I_ was a -’Melican little girl--they have heap good time.” - -It was Christmas day, yet this had never meant any happiness for Gum -Ching, for the Chinese save all their good times for the New Year. But -it chanced that her little brother had been attending the Mission, and -learning to read, and the little sister had heard him say that they were -going to have a Christmas tree at the Mission that very night. - -“What can a Christmas tree be?” said the little Chinese girl to herself; -and her thoughts were busy with this all day, wondering what kind of a -strange tree it was. - -Oh, if she could only go! But how could she, when she had never been out -of Chinatown, and there might be all sorts of ugly things waiting to -catch her as she passed. She could see the Mission from their upstairs -window, and she wondered vaguely if any of the little “‘Melican” girls -who had passed in their carriages would be there. She said to herself: -“Even if they should punish me when I get home I no care--because then I -have something nice to think of, anyway.” - -The darkness came at last, and Gum Ching had never been out in the dark. -She never knew before that it was quite so black, but she had made up -her mind to go, no matter what the consequences were. - -Now Gum Ching did not have any mama, and it was very lonely for her at -home, with no one but just her _ho chun_ and the little brother, who was -always off playing with some boys. After she had eaten her supper, and -had seen _ho chun_ light his long opium pipe, she knew then that he -would lie down, and not awaken until the morning. So she slipped out and -toddled on, in her small sandals, in the direction of the light which -streamed from the windows of the mission. - -She looked up at the sky, and was just saying: “I wondeh what those -pletty spahkling things are up there; I likee have one;” when suddenly -she heard a mighty roar, and right through the blackness of the night -came a great demon of fire, snorting, puffing, and screaming, and coming -right toward the poor little trembling Gum Ching. She feared to move, -and so stood quite still until the big giant had passed, and vanished -again into the darkness of the night. - -It was only the train, but Gum Ching did not know. She was only a girl. -Onward she started again, brave little soul, and soon she had reached -the Mission. No one would ever know what a terrible undertaking it was -for a little girl from China. - -The door was open, and a soft radiance streamed out, and lit up the -timid form of the little Gum Ching, as she stood on the step, in the -dark and the cold. - -She could hear a confused murmur of happy voices, and just as she was -hesitating whether she would venture in or turn and fly back to her -lonely home again, a kind hand clasped hers, and a woman’s tender voice -said: “Why, come right in, dear.” - -Gum Ching’s eyes filled with tears, for she had never before known the -sweetness of a loving woman’s voice. She was led into the room, not even -caring now if she was punished, for it was well worth it. Her sparkling -oblique eyes almost danced out of her head at all this beauty. -Everywhere were sparkles--sparkles--and they fairly dazzled her. It must -be a dream, she thought. She looked before her, and--what was that great -green tree towering toward the ceiling? It was--it must be--the -Christmas tree! And did all those pretty things really grow on the tree? -she could not understand it. - -Her brother could not believe his eyes when he saw her there. -She?--nothing but a girl?--what right had she to enjoy herself? But she -was there, for all that, and her small brown and timid hand was held in -a warm and loving clasp by one of the kind teachers, and she was made to -feel that, after all, in the big lonely world there was some one who -cared, and her little heart was full to overflowing, and she had to -blink very hard to keep back the tears--tears of pure joy. - -She was given many things from that beautiful tree, and, best of all, -the teacher took her home; and _ho chun_ was good to her, and did not -punish her at all, but promised--just think of it! promised--that she -could go to the tree again next year. - - - - -_HO CHIN’S FOURTH OF JULY_ - - -Ho Chin was ten years old, and had never had a Fourth of July. Just -think of it! Ho Chin was the son of the Chinese Consul, and his rank -placed him so far above the ordinary Chinese boys that he was very much -looked up to, and respected by them. Ho Chin did not live in one of the -small, dark, opium-scented rooms in which the rest of the Chinese -children lived, but in the elegant Consulate with its large rooms and -marble stairway; but, after all, he was just a boy, and liked the things -that boys liked. He attended a very select American school, and dressed -in American style. In fact, nothing was too good for Ho Chin--the eldest -son of a Consul. But you know, sometimes he almost wished he was a -common boy, and could run and play, and have the perfect freedom of the -street boy. - -Now at school he had of late heard of nothing but the Fourth of July. -“What is the Fourth of July?” he finally ventured to ask. - -And Johnny Moore replied, only too glad to be the first one to divulge -all its wonders, “Why, it’s--it’s--fire-crackers, you know, and flags -and soldiers, and popcorn and peanuts, and--and--everything. It’s the -best time of the year; say, it’s just bully! Didn’t you ever see one?” - -“No,” gasped the delighted Ho Chin. “Oh, do you think my papa would let -me?” And from that time on he could hardly study, his mind was so taken -up with this new subject, and he acted so strangely at home that his -mama, who was a beautiful Chinese lady and loved her handsome boy, was -very much worried over the change in him. He would leave his tea and -rice untasted, and rush from the table most unexpectedly. Why? Because -he had heard a faint whistle outside, from some of his American boy -friends, and he was eager to get out to them, to talk about the -wonderful event which was coming so near. - -The more he thought of it, the more he decided in his mind that he had -better not tell his father about it, because if he told him and should -be refused--if-- Oh, he could not bear the thought. He knew that his -father had never allowed him alone on the Chinese streets, for wise -fathers always accompany their children. For who could tell when the -child of a wealthy and noted man might be kidnapped? And the timid -little Chinese mother was never really happy when he was out of her -sight. - -So the time flew by. The Consul was called to a distant part of the -state on official business, and when Ho Chin awoke in the gray dawn of -the early morning his first thought was: “Well, I can’t tell papa when -he is not here, and I know if I told mama she would not let me go. What -will I do? I can’t miss it. - -[Illustration: _Through the narrow streets_] - -The boys will think I am a coward if I don’t go, and--I have some money -of my own.” - -So saying, he crept out of bed, and astonished the servants by his early -demand for breakfast. He knew his dainty mama would not leave her -apartments for some time, for it took so long for the maids to dress her -hair, and manicure her finger-nails, and array her in her rich silks; -so, avoiding the eyes of the servants, he crept stealthily down the long -marble stairway, jingling the money in his pocket as he went, and out -through the narrow streets, whistling merrily, in the perfect delight of -freedom. He knew he was not doing right, but here he was, at the gate of -Johnny’s house, and there was Johnny himself, just running out at the -door, cap in hand. His face wore a look of delight as he saw the Chinese -boy, and he yelled: “How’d you get here?” - -“Oh, I just came; nobody knows it--and say! Let’s begin! I’ve got some -money; let’s go to old Sing Chew, he’s got a whole store full of -fire-crackers.” - -Johnny’s mama, looking out of the window, remarked to her husband, “So -they allowed him to come, after all. Well, I’m glad of that, for he -seems such a dear little fellow.” - -Ho Chin was as happy as it is possible for a boy to be, when he found -himself in the wonderful store. Old Sing Chew was awfully busy, but not -so busy that he could not see the son of the Consul, and hastened to -attend to his wants. - -“How is it that you come alone? I neveh see you come unless your _ho -chun_ bling you,” he said. - -The boy replied, “Oh, I am a big boy now, and I like to have a good time -on the Fourth of July. This is my friend!--he goes with me.” And the old -man believed him, and admired the beautiful command the boy had of the -English language. - -It seemed a wonderful thing to Johnny that any one boy could have so -much money to spend. It seemed great wealth to him, because he had only -twenty-five cents for his fire-crackers, but the young Ho was as -generous as could be, and they left the store with all they could carry. - -What a pleasure to be a boy on the streets, where all was noise and -confusion and incessant popping of fire-crackers. One boy threw a bunch -under a horse’s feet, and he ran away and frightened a lot of people. -There were crowds of boys--boys everywhere, and a good many Chinese -boys, but only those of the lower class. What would his papa think if he -should meet him now, his hands and face all black with powder, and a -wild and reckless air about him, which did not seem at all like the -quiet little fellow his papa knew. - -Finally the great parade approached. He had only seen Chinese parades, -with the great green dragon, and it had always frightened him; but there -was no dragon in this parade. There were soldiers,--oh, so many hundreds -of them!--with their bright uniforms glittering in the sun, and their -spirited horses prancing and keeping time to the music of the many -bands. Many of the horses became scared at the noise, and Ho Chin, being -a boy, thought it great fun to see them stand on their hind legs and -prance, and act as if they would run over everybody. He did not feel -afraid, and he liked to hear the big drums; they sounded beautiful to -him, almost as beautiful as the Chinese “tom-toms.” There were so many -fine things about that parade that little Ho did not realize until after -it had passed that he was hungry. He mentioned the fact to Johnny, and, -strange to say, Johnny was hungry too. They were a long distance from -home; what should they do? - -“If I had any money left we could go into a restaurant and have our -dinner,” said the wary Johnny. - -“Oh, could we?” said Ho. “Well, we will go then, for I have plenty of -money.” - -Johnny did not need any urging, you may be sure, and many people in the -restaurant were amused to see the two little friends seated at the table -with their fire-crackers on a chair beside them. Still more amused was -the waiter, who brought them such a mixture as he had never before -served for lunch. It was dreadful! but it did not seem so to the two -hungry boys, who, with mouths full, were so interested in talking that -they did not even see the waiter. Little Ho Chin paid the bill with a -kingly air, and they strutted out to pop their crackers for the rest of -the day. They were having a fine time,--but what of the little Chinese -mother? - -When her toilet was completed she inquired for her boy, as she knew he -was to have a holiday to-day, and was told that he had breakfasted -earlier than he had ever done before, and they had not seen him since. -They supposed he had gone to her apartments. She had the whole house -searched, and was frightened almost to death. She burned her incense -before the god, and murmured: “Oh, good joss! protect my boy, and bring -him to me.” - -At that moment her boy had just blown off his coat-tail with a bunch of -fire-crackers, and it was lucky that he had not been blown to pieces. -The mother could only wait till the day wore on, as her husband was not -there to advise her, and Chinese women are so helpless. - -After this day of delight the dark night fell, and not until then was -the little Ho reminded that his mother would be worried, and he must go -home. His fire-crackers were all gone, he was tired, and so covered with -powder and dirt that one would never have recognized him as the -elegantly dressed little boy who had left home in the early morning. -“But,” he reflected, “I have had the finest time of my life; I will -never forget it.” - -It must be admitted, though, that his conscience hurt him very badly as -he wended his way home. He wondered if his father could have come home -unexpectedly. There was no way out of it; he must go and face it. He -almost felt as if he would like to run away to some place where there -were no fathers and mothers, and where it was always the Fourth of July -all the year round. - -He entered the great iron door, and had reached the top of the marble -stairway, his heart beating with fear. He almost wished now he had not -gone. The silence was so intense that he could almost hear his heart -beat--he feared the worst. But now he heard a rustle of silken garments, -and there came through the portieres--his mother! - -With wide-open black eyes he gazed at her. Oh, what would she do? what -would she say?--he stood trembling and speechless; and she?--Why, she -was just a mother, after all, and with one great sob she took him in her -arms and showered kisses on his handsome but very dirty face. He could -feel her tender heart beating through the silken blouse, and she clasped -him closer as she murmured: “The good joss has brought him back to -me--my brave and beautiful little Ho.” - -And he whispered, “Mother--forgive me! but it was all so lovely, and--I -just _love_ the Fourth of July!” - -And she, being a mother, forgave him. - - - - -_THE LITTLE FISHER-MAIDEN_ - - -Lo Luen was the little daughter of a poor Chinese fisherman, and lived -in the Chinatown of Monterey, California. She was born in this beautiful -country, and did not know anything about China, except what she had -heard her parents say. But this country was good enough for her, she -thought, with its endless skies of blue overhead, and the big noisy -ocean dashing its white spray up on the silver sands right in front of -the little hut she called home. - -It was a very poor place, and they were very poor people, but Lo Luen -did not know this, because it was all she had ever known, so it did not -disturb her simple celestial mind in the least. Then she could not get -lonely, for there was her small brother, Lo Duck, who was the -cunningest, chubbiest little boy that she had ever seen. - -_Mo chun_ was very busy always, in the little hut, as she was a -cigarette-maker, and worked at this all the time she was not doing the -cooking, and making the simple garments for the family. - -The father dearly loved his children, and often called Lo Luen his -little fisher-maiden. This was because she was such a help to him in his -fishing. She and little Lo Duck would sit out on the ground in front of -their home for hours at a time, putting bait on the hooks; and this was -a great help, for it saved so much time. - -He would cut up a great deal of fish into small bits, and put it in a -box by the children, and they would fasten it on to the hundreds of -hooks on the lines, and then the big round baskets would be all ready -for _ho chun_ to cast the lines into the ocean, and draw out the -beautiful fish. Lo Luen was very proud when she saw the fine fish in the -boat every day, for she almost felt as if she herself had caught them, -since she had put the bait on the hooks. One day she had been working so -hard that her father looked at her, as she sat there in the sun with her -sleeves rolled up, working away as if her life depended upon it, and he -said to her: “Lo Luen, how you likee go out in big boat with _ho -chun_?” - -“Oh!” she shouted, as she clapped her little brown hands, “I likee velly -much; I likee catch big fish to bling _mo chun_.” - -“All light,” said her father. “We no takee _hai tong_ (baby); he stay -with _mo chun_, he too little.” - -Lo Duck objected to this; he wanted to go too, but he would only be in -the way, and then his mother would be worried if he went, so he was -taken into the house, screaming vigorously. The timid mother felt rather -afraid to trust her little daughter out on the great noisy ocean, whose -waves came dashing upon the rocks with a boom like thunder; but the -father said she was a big girl now, and it was time she learned -something of the sea. So, while he fitted up the boat and got the nets -into it, _mo chun_ was dressing the little girl in her warmest blouse, -all heavily padded, and then got out a very thick silk hood, fastening -it securely on her head, and last of all, she took from the padded -_mumboo_ (tea-pot holder) a pot of boiling tea, and gave it to Lo Luen. - -“_Maskee-maskee_, my _samen jai_” (never mind, my little boy), she said -to the baby brother, “maybe you go next time.” - -_Mo chun_ and the baby boy went with them as far as the boat, and Lo -Luen jumped in gaily, and they were off. The water was smooth to-day, -and everything would surely be well, thought the mother. She went in and -placed a little bowl of steaming rice before the joss, so that he would -protect her little girl from the wrath of the mighty ocean, and lighted -the punks before him, so that the incense filled the little room. - -Meanwhile, the little fishing boat went dancing over the blue waves, as -light as an egg-shell, and the little Chinese girl was happy. - -They kept near the shore at first, and when they passed the Del Monte -hotel she saw hundreds of little American children running on the beach. -She loved to watch them, as they ran with bare feet, kicking up the -white sand. Some of them were jumping rope with long strands of kelp; -some were hunting shells and bits of sea-moss; some were running into -the foamy surf, filling their bright tin pails with water, and then -hurrying from the big waves they would run back to pour the water into -some little place in the sand, where they were building all sorts of -wonderful things. - -Some of the little girls had the most wonderful dolls in their arms,--or -at least they seemed wonderful to a little girl who had no doll, except -just the hard kelp balls which she had dressed up and used for dolls, as -she did not like to ask for one, for fear it would cost too much. - -They left the shore now, and went farther out, where the ocean was deep -and the waves were rough. The cool salt spray dashed in her face, and -her long queue hung over the side of the boat and dipped into the water. -_Ho chun_ told her to take it in, or a big fish might come along and -pull her in. Oh, what fun it was to see him cast in the net, and pull -out so many big fish! but she was a little afraid of them, they were so -squirmy and floppy. She cuddled up in one end of the boat, so they could -not jump on her, but _ho chun_ fixed a plank in front of her, so she was -not afraid. - -It was her turn now, and so the father produced a stout little fishing -pole and tackle, and she tried her luck at fishing in the big ocean. -Soon she felt a strong tug at her line,--so strong that it almost pulled -her in. She tugged away, though, till she almost fell out of the boat, -but it was too big for her; she could not manage it without the help of -_ho chun_. - -“_Maskee!_” he said, and took hold of the pole. She still kept her -small hands on it, though, so she could say that she caught it. Pretty -soon there came up out of the water a big, big salmon, all gold and -sparkling in the sunlight. She just squealed with delight, and her -father said: “Heap good girl; catchee velly big fish.” - -They were so interested in the work and were having such fine luck that -they did not realize how late it was getting. Lo Luen was enjoying it -so, that her father could not bear to stop her pleasure. - -The darkness fell upon the waters now, and the sea moaned sadly. The -waves grew rougher, and the air colder. It was not pretty when the sun -was not shining on it. - -“The wateh too black now; I no likee; I want see _mo chun_,” falteringly -said the little one. - -They could see the dim outlines of great ships with their lights sending -long, narrow rays across the dark of the ocean. They looked like stars, -and made one feel as if they were not alone on the vast waters. - -“We go home now--see _mo chun_; get nice hot _tea_,” said the father, in -a kind tone, as he clasped the little figure closely to him, and started -to row home. Of course Lo Luen did not really feel afraid, with her -father so near, and said: “I no ’flaid; but I likee go fast. I cold and -hungly--that’s all.” - -Her father smiled in the dark as he murmured consolingly, “Yes--that’s -all.” - -Lo Luen was thinking, as she crouched there, nestled up against _ho -chun_, “How pletty those dolls were; I be so happy if I had one--just -one, foh my velly own.” - -The moonbeams lit up the water in a silvery path, and as Lo Luen looked -at this path and thought how very beautiful it was, she noticed -something floating in the light and bounding up and down on the waves. -It looked like a big lump of seaweed. - -“What is that, _ho chun_?” she said, with childish curiosity. - -“Oh, I think just a piece of wood or a bunch of kelp; you likee get it, -little girl?” - -“Yes, we see what it is,” she said. - -It seemed determined to get away from them, for almost every time they -were near enough to touch it a big wave would come, and take it away in -the dark, and it would be lost to sight for a while. But soon the light -revealed it right within reach. _Ho chun_ put out his hand and grasped -it, and putting it on the fish said: “We see when we get home,” and -rowed away as fast as he could. - -At home the little mother was getting very uneasy. What could keep them -so long? “_Cheung kan ye lok_” (it is getting very late), she said. Oh, -why had she ever let her go? To think of her _pao chu_ (precious pearl) -being out on the big ocean at night. She imagined all sorts of horrible -things, and blamed herself. Perhaps she had not set enough food before -the joss, nor burned enough incense. She had the tea all nice and hot, -and knew if nothing had happened they would be very hungry when they -reached home. So she lighted more punks before the god, and had already -sung the baby’s little Chinese song: - - “My little baby--little boy blue-- - Is as sweet as sugar and cinnamon too; - Isn’t this precious darling of ours - Sweeter than dates and cinnamon flowers?” - -He now lay asleep on his couch, and she was all alone. - -After what seemed an age to her she heard the sound of a boat being -dragged upon the sand, and ran to the door of the hut, and stood there -looking out upon the beach. “Lo Luen! Lo Luen!” she called out in the -darkness, “_Yap loi le!_” (come in!) and there was a rush of sandalled -feet, and in just a moment two cold brown hands were clasped in her warm -ones, and a dear little cold nose was pressed against her face. “Lo -Luen, precious pearl, you have come back, and the joss is good,” she -said. - -After the fish were put away _ho chun_ came in, and everything was peace -and happiness again. The warm room seemed more welcome than ever before, -for they were benumbed with cold, and oh, so hungry! _Mo chun_, with all -gentleness and love, soon had them seated, with bowls of steaming rice -before them, and fried fish, and other good things which she had -prepared in their absence. - -After supper Lo Luen happened to think of the mysterious bundle of -seaweed, and _ho chun_ went out and brought it in. It was very wet, and -smelled of the sea. - -“I guess it’s only a piece of wood with kelp on,” said _mo chun_; but -anyway, they tore the wet seaweed from it, while Lo Luen looked eagerly -on. What could that be sticking out of the weed? It looked--it actually -looked like a doll’s foot. It couldn’t be, and yet--With a great cry of -joy Lo Luen saw her father uncover the treasure. All the pent-up feeling -of starved child-life was in her cry, for there, disclosed to her -dancing, oblique eyes was a doll--a real one, and a very beautiful one. -She could not believe it at first, but rubbed her eyes. They were all -astonished, for this was indeed an event in their barren lives. - -The doll opened her eyes as if she were alive, and seemed to gaze at -them in gratitude for being saved from the cruel water. Lo Luen hugged -it to her wildly beating heart and her face beamed with a rapturous joy -the like of which had never before come to her. She was such a little -mother, always, and now she would have something upon which to shower -all the wealth of love repressed in her warm little heart. - -They did not attempt to solve the mystery. To them it was enough that -this beautiful toy had been sent to them from the waters. It may have -been that the doll was lost in some shipwreck, or that some of the -little maidens at Del Monte had left it too near the water, and the -waves had carried it away. It belonged now to the little Chinese -fisher-maiden, and that was enough to know. - -She slept that night with the precious doll in her arms--dear little Lo -Luen! - - - - -_THE FINDING OF SING HO_ - - -Little Sing Ho did not look very happy as he stood out on the pavement -in front of his home. He had intended taking a beautiful walk, and had -his umbrella already over his head, preparatory to starting, when his -_mo chun_ appeared on the scene, and said: “Where you going, _hai tong_ -(baby)?” - -Now Sing Ho did not like to be called _hai tong_, for he felt that he -was almost a big man, so he replied: “I going foh walk, down stleet.” - -“No, no! you too small; you stay home now, and maybe bimeby _mo chun_ -take you,” she said; and then she hurried into the house to see if the -rice was burning. When she had disappeared he stood there for a moment, -with the gay umbrella over him, looking very much displeased. - -He was only four years old, it is true, but do you know, he often -thought he knew more than his dear mother. Now Sing Ho was the only -child, and had always been loved and petted, and had never been denied -anything in his short little life. He remembered many walks he had taken -with his father and mother, and he had always had such a good time that -he thought it would be still better if he could take a walk all alone. -He had just seen two of his little friends, with their queer little -Chinese caps on, - -[Illustration: _Copyright, 1900, by Schulze._ - -_Two of his little friends, with their queer little Chinese caps on_] - -and they had said they were going for a walk, so why not he? - -He knew his _mo chun_ was very busy, embroidering a _blouse_ for him to -wear on the New Year, and the San Nin (New Year) would be here -to-morrow. So he thought in his baby way that he would take advantage of -his mama, and only walk down the street a little way, and she would -never know. He was too small to realize that it is a very difficult -matter for even grown-up persons to find their way through the narrow -and tortuous streets of the big Chinatown of San Francisco. He could not -be expected to know these things. - -So he wandered on, and soon forgot his fear in watching the beautiful -things all around him. Chinatown was in holiday attire, and as far as -the eye could reach the narrow streets were a perfect mass of bloom and -beauty. On both sides of the streets were ranged great stands of the -China lily and fragrant almond blossom, with delicate shades of pink. - -Someway he found it very hard to get past the store windows, as they -seemed to have so many things in them that boys like, and he forgot -everything in the delight of gazing at them, and pressed his eager -little round face right up against the glass in some places, and poked -his cunning little nose into a fragrant bunch of lilies, to inhale their -sweetness. _Mo chun_ had some lilies at home, but not so many nor such -beautiful ones as these. At every door were strange Chinese letters, -and he looked longingly at great bunches of peacock feathers with their -many eyes, and the gaudy rosettes of red paper which are everywhere on -the New Year. Almost every one that he met carried a brown paper parcel -of pork and an onion, or some kind of funny looking lettuce, for the -Chinese love pork better than the Americans love turkey, and it had to -be a very poor person indeed who did not feel able to buy himself a -piece of pork on the New Year. - -Chinamen of all kinds were thronging the streets, and so many children, -too, were toddling along with some older person, that no one noticed -that the little boy was alone. - -He believed he had only to walk back just a little way and he would be -at home. He did not know that he had made several turns, and that it -would be impossible for him to find his way back alone. - -Naughty little Sing Ho! There were so many American people, too, in the -shops, buying curious and beautiful things. On both sides of the street -were rows of great dragon lanterns. He looked at them in childish -wonder, longing for the great swaying globes. Suddenly he felt something -hit him on the arm, and, looking upward, saw far above him some -beautiful Chinese ladies on a balcony; and what is this that they have -thrown down? Something very near to the heart of a boy,--a bright bunch -of fire-crackers! - -He was smiling now without any difficulty. Just then he heard a woman’s -shrill, high-pitched voice speaking to him from the latticed window -above him, saying: “Little boy! little boy! where is your _mo chun_?” - -“She at home,” he replied, and then hesitatingly faltered, “_Ngo pa ngo -tong cho lu lok_” (I am afraid I have lost my way). - -He was crying now, and presented a very mournful appearance to the gaze -of the passer-by. These ladies above him were those of the tiny “golden -lily feet,” and very wealthy and aristocratic, so they could not leave -their rooms and come down to him, as that was not their custom. If it -had been the next day they could have done so, for on every day of the -week of San Nin they were permitted to leave their homes and go -anywhere they pleased. - -“_Ni kiu mat meng a?_” (what is your name?) they asked. - -“My name? Sing Ho,” he cried. - -“You come up,” they called down to him, pointing meanwhile to a dark and -narrow stairway which led up from the street. - -“It so dark--Sing Ho ’flaid to go alone--I want _mo chun_--boo, hoo,” he -wailed, in a pitiful little voice. - -“But you must come. We find _mo chun_; we give you heap plenty -fiah-clackeh (fire-cracker), plenty nice little cake; come on!” - -Baby though he was, he remembered that his mother had always warned him -against strangers, and told him never to allow any one to persuade him -to go with them. But finally he decided that this was very different, -and that anything would be better than being lost on the street. - -“All light!” he sobbed, and started in great fear up the narrow -stairway. Ugh! how dark it was! and he trembled, as his little sandalled -feet crept hesitatingly on. When he at last reached the end of the -stairway he found himself in a dark and narrow hall thick with the fumes -of opium. - -Where were the beautiful ladies?--and the little cakes? Nothing was to -be seen but the gaunt figures of Chinamen gliding stealthily to and fro -in the narrow hall. There were many doors on either side the hallway, -and in each door was a small, square lattice into which the men would -speak some queer words in Chinese, when the door would be cautiously -opened, and he would enter. When the doors opened little Sing Ho caught -glimpses of many Chinamen with cards in their hands, seated around some -tables and calling out in a loud voice strange Chinese words which he -could not understand. In some of the rooms he could see men reclining on -bamboo couches and smoking opium. Oh, if his mother could see him now, -as he stood there alone, and trembling in the half-darkness! - -Just then his dear and beautiful little mother had put the last stitch -in the blouse she was embroidering, and proudly held it out to the -admiring gaze of her sister, who lived with her. - -“He is playing outside; I go get him,” she said; and with a smile on her -lips she opened the door and called him. - -“Sing Ho! Sing Ho!” - -No reply. - -“Why, that is strange,” she thought. “Maybe he come in the house and go -to sleep.” - -She hurried into the small bedroom and looked eagerly at the couch. No, -there was no _samen jai_ there. She was trembling now, with a nameless -fear. Her pretty face grew pale, and the little brown nervous fingers -were like ice. - -Her boy--her baby--the honored one of the house of Sing, whose birth had -crowned her with glory. Why, he must be there; he could not be gone from -her--and yet--where was he? Her little tender baby boy who had never -been from her side; the little brown face, naughty, sometimes, it is -true, but always, to the mother, the dearest of things in all the big -world. - -Without stopping to change her house-robes she rushed down the street, -and to the store of her husband, Sing Kee. He was just going down into -the cellar after some tubs of preserved ginger, when he was startled by -seeing his wife appear before him. The cat, that had always been loved -and petted by little Sing Ho, lay sunning itself at the entrance, and -Sing Kee looked up with a very serious face, for he knew that no little -matter would bring his wife thus unexpectedly to his place of business. -She surely would not be going on the street the day before the New -Year. - -“What’s the matter?” he asked in Chinese. She could hardly reply for the -wild throbbing of her tender heart. - -“My baby--my precious pearl--he lost! I no can find him; he gone--I no -know where.” - -And then she hid her face in her trembling brown hands and wept in the -wildest grief. The poor father was terrified, for he knew what a big -place Chinatown was, and how easily a little child could be lost or -stolen, or hidden away, and no one would ever see it again. He knew the -underground passages and dark opium dens which were thick around them, -and his heart almost broke as he listened to her story. She had little -to tell. It was only that he had wanted to take a walk, and she had told -him he must not go, believing that he would obey her, as he always had. - -They started through the streets now, in search of him, their eager eyes -gazing in all directions. Two of his little playmates stood on a -doorstep, and they inquired of them if they had seen him. Yes, they had -seen him early in the afternoon. He had passed them, carrying his -umbrella. - -The distracted parents searched until the dark night fell and the great -dragon lanterns were lighted in the balcony of the joss house near by. - -The joss house!--there was an idea! Why had they not thought of it -before? They would go there at once, and supplicate the god, that they -might find their baby. They ascended the long flights of stairs until -they were right in the room with the joss. There were little bowls of -ashes full of punks, to be burned before the god, and the odor of -incense filled the air as they lighted them and waved them before the -joss. - -Sing Kee threw many of the little carved prayer-sticks into the air, -too, and when they fell, looked at them eagerly, evidently seeing -something about them which pleased him, for he smiled, and said to the -timid little mother: “They say we find him to-mollow--we go home now.” - -They went home, but it was not home to-night without the dear little -round, saucy face on the hard pillow, the patter of the little -sandalled feet on the floors, and the click of the little chopsticks. -There was no sleep for them that night. They had told the Chinatown -police of their loss, but no clue had yet been reported. - -Early next morning they started out again, on their weary search. It was -the first day of the New Year, but they had not dreamed they would -celebrate it in this way, as with heavy hearts they picked their way -through the narrow streets, glancing in every direction, and up at the -flower-laden balconies, with the candles burning for the joss. - -Meanwhile the little Sing Ho had stood in fright, and looked around him, -in the darkness of the hallway. Where were the pretty ladies? Had he -only dreamed he saw them? - -Suddenly he heard a high-pitched but sweet voice somewhere above him, -saying: “Where are you, little boy? Come up the other stairs.” - -The other stairs? where were they? He had supposed that he was at the -top now, but on looking around he saw still another flight of steps, and -gladly running to them he started on upward again, as fast as his tired -little legs could carry him. When he reached the top, some one opened a -door, cautiously, and calling out “_Yap loi le!_” (Come in!) reached out -a beautiful jewelled hand, and drew him softly within the room. - -Oh, how lovely it all was! There was a chatter of women’s voices in -high-bred, nasal tones, and the room was warm, and smelled of incense. -One very pretty little lady drew him to her as tenderly as a mother, -and said to him in the sweetest tones: “Do not fear, little one! I will -find _mo chun_ for you. Where do you live?” - -“Why, I live with _mo chun_ and _ho chun_,” he said. - -“Where do they live?” she inquired. - -“I no know--they live at my home--and _mo chun_ she make me velly pletty -blouse.” - -Poor little boy! so he could not give them any clue, then, by which they -might find his parents. Well, they would have to wait, and do the best -they could under the circumstances. They tried to make him forget his -sorrow for a while, and showed him many wonderful things. In the centre -of the room was a table, all arranged for the New Year, and on it were -great bowls of China lilies, and Chinese lemons and oranges. Then there -was a polished tray, holding all kinds of candy and nuts. The windows -were a perfect mass of lily and almond blossom, and peacock’s feathers -were everywhere staring, with their green eyes. Outside was the balcony, -from which the ladies had first spoken to the little lost boy, and on it -were many big dragon lanterns, whose soft light fell upon the flowers, -and made it look like fairyland. - -They served tea out on the balcony, and gave Sing Ho the dearest little -cup, and cakes, and plenty of watermelon seed to nibble at, and -everything that he loved, except--his dear mama. When the breezes began -to blow too roughly and sway the dragon lanterns, they decided to put -the little stranger to bed. This was the worst moment of all. How could -he go to bed without his dear mother’s kiss? Oh, how his lonely little -heart ached and ached, and he just had to let the big tears come, and -roll down his cheeks. He didn’t want to be rude to the pretty lady, -but--there was no one like his _mo chun_. Finally he did go to sleep, -though, and when he awoke it was the first day of the New Year. - -He was waited upon like a little king, with a big bowl of rice and ivory -chopsticks, nice hot tea, and little almond cakes--everything that one -could wish, but--it did not take the ache out of his heart. After -breakfast he and the beautiful lady went - -[Illustration: _Copyright, 1900, by Schulze._ - -_His own beautiful_ mo chun] - -out on the balcony, and sat there for hours, looking down at the crowd. - -The streets were thronged now, and there was an incessant noise of -fireworks. The New Year had begun in earnest. The lady was going to take -him for a walk that afternoon, but they would sit on the balcony now, -and watch the crowds beneath. There were so many children, and all -dressed in their richest robes. It made the heart of little Sing Ho ache -to see the richly embroidered blouses, so like his own, and if he had -not been naughty and run away he might even now be walking along down -there, wearing the blouse, and holding the hand of his own beautiful _mo -chun_. - -His own beautiful _mo chun_?--Why--why--he rubbed his eyes and stared -down into the street. Was he dreaming? - -“_Mo chun! Mo chun!_” he screamed, in his shrill baby voice; for down on -the street beneath the balcony hurried a pale but pretty little Chinese -woman, her searching gaze going in every direction. - -“It is my _mo chun_! Stop!” he cried; and the Chinese lady on the -balcony threw down her painted fan and hit the little mother of Sing Ho -right on the head. Glancing upward in surprise, the mother looked -straight into the eyes of her precious pearl, her little Sing Ho! Oh, -the rapture and the mother-love that shone in her face now! How the -light came back into her eyes, and the red lips smiled, and the red rose -bloomed in her cheeks as she reached out her arms to the balcony and -sobbed: “_Hai tong! hai tong_ (baby! baby)!” - -The father, who had gone on in front of her, Chinese fashion, was called -back, and together they ascended the same steps which had so frightened -their baby boy. As it was the New Year week it was perfectly proper that -they should both enter the rooms of the Chinese ladies, and what a happy -time that was! - -Every one soon became acquainted, through the medium of a little child, -and very soon they were all having a New Year’s cup of tea and other -dainties, and were laughing and chatting away as if they had known each -other always. - -When they went home Sing Ho was given so many beautiful things that his -little arms were full, and _ho_ _chun_ said as they entered the door of -their own home: “I knew we would find him, because the prayer-sticks -said so.” - - - - -_THE SLAVE-GIRL’S THANKSGIVING_ - - -It was Thanksgiving Eve; but of this fact Pao Chu was entirely ignorant, -for how could she know anything of Thanksgiving, or of giving thanks, -when she was only a little Chinese slave, and had never been out of her -prison in Chinatown? - -Quong Lee, the president of the Quong Duck Tong, a highbinder society, -was her owner, and she supposed that everybody was like him, and that -there was no goodness or happiness in all the world. All the world to -Pao Chu meant just the limited area she could see from her iron-barred -window--about one foot square. And yes--on one occasion the old hag who -guarded her had fallen into a deep opium sleep, and Pao Chu had slipped -out on the tiny, flower-decked balcony, and, leaning far over, had gazed -with pathetic eagerness down at the swarming crowd of Chinamen below. -Her name meant “precious pearl,” but she could see no reason for such a -meaning, unless--yes, it must be because she would bring a big price -when she was sold again. She had overheard Quong Lee talking to the old -hag Suey Gong one night when they had thought she slept, and he had said -then that one of his highbinder friends had offered him three thousand -dollars for Pao Chu, but he was not going to sell her yet, as he -thought he could get five thousand soon, for she was growing more -beautiful every day. But the poor little pearl paid dearly for that one -little tantalizing glimpse of the Chinese world. It happened to be the -night of a Chinese celebration,--the “Moon Festival,”--and the light -from the great dragon lanterns swaying above her shone full upon her -pretty face. Many glanced upward, and were startled by the lovely -apparition. Her face was full of Oriental witchery, and the tender young -soul of her shone out in the great velvet eyes, and the pretty mouth -glowed like a scarlet rose, while her hair shone in the mystical fairy -light of the lanterns. - -But alas for Pao Chu, the pure pearl in the mire! As she gazed down at -the moving merry crowd, her whole soul in her eyes, and living a whole -life in that one moment, two passed beneath the balcony--a fateful two; -one the highbinder friend of her master, who saw her face, and forever -after wished to gain possession of it for his own, and the other her -master, Quong Lee, the great and high--Quong Lee, the demon and -arch-fiend. At first he was amazed at the transformation that happiness -had made in her face, and then--with one bound he was up the stairs. The -poor little slave-girl stood transfixed with horror. She called -hysterically on the little squatty god in the corner, but the god -stolidly refused to listen,--indeed he always had refused. She could not -recall a time when he had ever listened; and now her master strode -furiously into the room, and grasped the poor trembling child with his -great murderous hands. He shook her violently, and hurled at her all the -Chinese profanity at his command. He beat her so that she almost died, -and she would so much rather have really died, but he would not kill the -goose that laid the golden eggs. Oh, no! this little bit of stubborn -womanhood would fill his purse with gold some day, and so--he must not -go too far. He must not cripple or maim her or she would be a drug on -the market. He would simply beat her and starve her for a few days, and -bestow upon her every vile epithet in his category. - -He then dragged the old Suey Gong from her hard couch and gave her a -beating. Her brain was so deadened with opium that she could not -understand why she was being beaten; but then it did not matter why, she -had often been beaten, and there must be a reason for it. She would have -liked to know, of course, but then it was a woman’s place to be beaten, -as the _yen_, or female principle, was the source of all evil, and must -be chastised whenever the male principle should see fit to do so. - -From that time on there was no more freedom for the little slave. No -fresh air save that which came through the tiny lattice; no glimpse of -any human being save the old hag and the highbinder. Nothing to do but -just to sit and make cigarettes all day, for her master to sell, and to -talk to the old Suey Gong. - -It was two years since her fateful visit to the balcony, and the girl -was talking in her innocent way to the old woman. - -“Suey Gong! do you know when I be sold? Will the new master beat me evly -day? What kind of a life will it be? Tell me!” These, and many other -questions, but to none of them could the old woman reply. If she had -known the answers she would not have dared. - -“I no _sabe_ (understand) anything,” she said, “I only know China girl -neveh be happy. Bad spirits allee timee stay with her. She must allee -timee play (pray) to the gods; she must work for man, he must beat her; -she neveh be flee (free). She have heap plenty bad time here; I no know -why; I no can tell.” - -“But why should I play to god when he neveh hear? Listen! listen!--Suey -Gong! I no play to Chinese god any more. Afteh this I play--I play -to--’Melican god. Then we see!” - -The old woman held up her hands in horror. The American spirit had -surely gotten into this bit of Chinese girlhood. O that she had never -told this girl about the American god! It was too late now, though, for -Pao Chu with clasped hands was saying: - -“Oh, heap good ’Melican joss! Listen to a poor slave-girl’s prayer! My -master he beat me evly day; I no can tell why. I tly to be good, but he -allee time beat me and starve me; I _so_ unhappy. Oh, good ’Melican god, -if you can hear me, set me flee (free)!” - -This innocent petition was enough to have brought tears to the eyes of -even the little clay god, but he was not moved. Old Suey Gong was so -terrified for fear the girl’s prayer would bring down the whole horde of -evil spirits upon them that she in feverish haste set to work to light -fresh incense sticks before the joss, and to set fresh bowls of food and -tea before him. All this happened on Thanksgiving Eve, though there was -nothing at all in the slave-girl’s life for which she could be thankful, -even if she had known it was Thanksgiving. - -But wait!--there _was_ something, for old Suey Gong was telling her that -the master had received an important telegram from some member of the -Quong Duck Tong, which had called him out of the city, and he would not -be able to return for two whole days,--two days without being beaten! -Perhaps already the ’Melican god had heard. If she could only gain the -consent of the old woman she might once more venture on the forbidden -balcony. The fates were kind and the opium goddess filled the old -woman’s brain with dreams, and held down her eyelids. She slept, but the -little girl did not. Garbed in pale lavender silk, she stole noiselessly -out on the forbidden balcony. Her slim brown fingers lovingly caressed -the Chinese lilies wrapped in red paper to scare away the bad spirits. -Just now the bad spirits were not on duty, luckily for the little -Chinese maiden. The tang of the sea air was so refreshing to her -starved senses. She could look down to-night without fear, for her -master would not come to-night, and in a childish, unformed way she -breathed a blessing on the unknown highbinder who had sent the message, -and although she did not know it was Thanksgiving Eve, a prayer of -thanks to the unknown, intangible power who had given her this moment’s -freedom went up from her innocent heart. - -Everywhere down the streets of “Little China” the big lanterns glowed -and swung in the fresh night air. A bell pealed out on the silence, and -seemed to speak of peace, and of something different from the life she -knew. - -Suddenly her eye fell upon some one who did not wear the accustomed -queue and blouse,--a big, strong American man with a kind face stood -looking up at her. He wore a blue suit and brass buttons, and on his -coat gleamed a great shining star. While he gazed upward at the girl a -carriage rattled over the cobble-stones and stopped right under the -balcony. - -And now the big man was saying--could it be that he was speaking to -her?--Hello, little one! Would you like to celebrate Che San Yet?” She -knew that meant thanksgiving, but the Chinese Thanksgiving did not come -until February, and she could not imagine what he meant. - -He resumed: “Come with me, you poor little slave, and I will take you to -a good, kind home, where they will never beat you, and you will be -free.” - -Free? She could not take in the meaning of the word. She could not even -dream what it must be to be free. “Oh, no! I velly much ’flaid bad -spirit catch me; I no can come; you down so low, and I up so high.” - -But just then the carriage door opened, and a woman’s sweet face looked -out, and a woman held out motherly arms of love toward the high balcony -and its lonely occupant. - -And old Suey Gong still slept. - -A sweet voice called up: “Come and live with me, dear; I will always be -kind.” - -Pao Chu’s eyes filled with tears. It was the first time in all her life -that any one had ever spoken a kind word to her. Before she could reply, -the big policeman, who had some way slipped in through the rear, had -taken her trembling little form in his strong arms, and hurrying down, -placed her in the carriage, where she was clasped in the tender arms of -Miss Cameron, Superintendent of the Chinese Rescue Mission. - -She could not understand yet that she was free; but when she awoke on -Thanksgiving morning and saw all the happy Chinese girl faces around -her, and at the bountiful Thanksgiving table was made to understand the -reason of it all, she then realized the true meaning of Thanksgiving, -and said: “It would neveh have happened if I had not played to the good -’Melican God.” - - - - - - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Little Almond Blossoms, by Jessie Juliet Knox - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOMS *** - -***** This file should be named 51073-0.txt or 51073-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/7/51073/ - -Produced by Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Little Almond Blossoms - A Book of Chinese Stories for Children - -Author: Jessie Juliet Knox - -Release Date: January 29, 2016 [EBook #51073] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOMS *** - - - - -Produced by Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<hr class="full" /> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 304px;"> -<a href="images/cover_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="304" height="450" alt="[Image not available]" /></a> -</div> - - -<p class="cb">LITTLE ALMOND<br /> -BLOSSOMS</p> - -<p><a name="front" id="front"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 322px;"> -<a href="images/frontis_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/frontis_sml.jpg" width="322" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>A Little Almond Blossom</i></p></div> -</div> - - - - -<h1> -LITTLE<br /> -ALMOND BLOSSOMS</h1> - -<p class="cb">A Book of Chinese Stories<br /> -for Children<br /> -<br /> -BY<br /> -JESSIE JULIET KNOX<br /> -<br /> -<i>With Illustrations from Photographs of Chinese Children<br /> -in California</i><br /> -<br /> -<br /> -BOSTON<br /> -LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY<br /> -1907<br /> -<br /><br /> -<i>Copyright, 1904</i>,<br /> -<span class="smcap">By Little, Brown, and Company</span>.<br /> -<br /> -<i>All rights reserved</i><br /> -<br /> -<small>Published October, 1904<br /> -<span class="eng">Printers</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">S. J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U. S. A.</span><br /></small> -<br /><br /> -<i>This Book is lovingly Dedicated<br /> -to<br /> -MY MOTHER</i><br /> -</p> - -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr><td> </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> - - -<tr><td><a href="#IN_THE_LAND_OF_THE_DRAGON">In the Land of the Dragon</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_003">3</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#TWO_LITTLE_CHINESE_SISTERS">Two Little Chinese Sisters</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_015">15</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_LITTLE_HIGHBINDER">The Little Highbinder</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_027">27</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#HOW_AH_CHEE_FOUND_SANTA_CLAUS">How Ah Chee found Santa Claus</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_039">39</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_MOON_RABBIT">The Moon Rabbit</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_065">65</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#HOW_SANTA_CLAUS_CAME_TO_SUEY_HIP">How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_093">93</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_EASTER_DREAM_OF_MUN_CHEE">The Easter Dream of Mun Chee</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_109">109</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#PING_PONG_AND_PING_YET">Ping Pong and Ping Yet</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_131">131</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_LITTLE_ALMOND_BLOSSOM">The Little Almond Blossom</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_153">153</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_CHRISTMAS_OF_GUM_CHING">The Christmas of Gum Ching</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_163">163</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#HO_CHINS_FOURTH_OF_JULY">Ho Chin’s Fourth of July</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_173">173</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_LITTLE_FISHER-MAIDEN">The Little Fisher-Maiden</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_189">189</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_FINDING_OF_SING_HO">The Finding of Sing Ho</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_207">207</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_SLAVE-GIRLS_THANKSGIVING">The Slave-Girl’s Thanksgiving</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_233">233</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a><i>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</i></h2> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr><td> </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#front">A Little Almond Blossom</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#front"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#OH_WHAT_A_DREADFUL_MONSTER">“Oh, what a dreadful monster”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_005">5</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THE_CHINESE_CHILDREN_ALL_MARCHED_TO_THE_MUSIC_IN_A_ROW">“The Chinese children all marched to the music in a row”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_007">7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#EVERYBODY_GIGGLED_ALL_THE_TIME_IN_THEIR_FUNNY_LITTLE_CHINESE_WAY">“Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little Chinese way”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_009">9</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#SHE_BROUGHT_FORTH_FROM_THE_FLUTE_THE_MOST_WONDERFUL_SOUNDS">“She brought forth from the flute the most wonderful sounds”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_017">17</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#IT_WAS_THE_OLD_NURSE_SUEY">“It was the old nurse, Suey”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_022">22</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#WHERE_ARE_YOU_GOING_LITTLE_ONE">“ ‘Where are you going, little one?’ ”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_050">50</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#LITTLE_PRIEST">“Little Priest”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_065">65</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#SHE_AND_ONE_OF_HER_SISTERS_WERE_ON_THE_STEP_IN_FRONT_OF_THEIR_HOME">“She and one of her sisters were on the step in front of their home”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_067">67</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#SUEY_HIP_WAS_VERY_MUCH_DRESSED_UP">“Suey Hip was very much dressed up”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_099">99</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#SHE_SOMETIMES_LONGED_TO_GET_OUT_SHE_AND_HER_TWO_LITTLE_BROTHERS">“She sometimes longed to get out, she and her two little brothers”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_109">109</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THERE_WAS_A_BIG_BOUQUET_FOR_PING_PONG">“There was a big bouquet for Ping Pong”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_147">147</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#THROUGH_THE_NARROW_STREETS">“Through the narrow streets”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_177">177</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#TWO_OF_HIS_LITTLE_FRIENDS_WITH_THEIR_QUEER_LITTLE_CHINESE_CAPS_ON">“Two of his little friends, with their queer little Chinese caps on”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_208">208</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><a href="#HIS_OWN_BEAUTIFUL_MO_CHUN">“His own beautiful <i>mo chun</i>”</a></td><td align="right" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_227">227</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<h2><i>IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON</i><a name="page_001" id="page_001"></a></h2> - -<h1><i>Little Almond<br /> -Blossoms</i></h1> - -<hr /> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="IN_THE_LAND_OF_THE_DRAGON" id="IN_THE_LAND_OF_THE_DRAGON"></a><i>IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON</i></h2> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">C</span>HUNG GOY ran as fast as his little sandals would permit, up the narrow -flight of steps which led to the Chinese restaurant, and out on the -balcony, where a crowd of Chinamen were watching for the great -Procession of the Dragon. His little legs were encased in pale green -silk trousers tied at the ankles, and his lavender <i>shom</i> (blouse) -gleamed in the light of the many dragon lanterns which were swaying in -the night breeze.<a name="page_002" id="page_002"></a> His hair was in a long queue, and on his head he wore -the little round black cap of the Chinese, with a button on top.</p> - -<p>Chung Goy was so afraid he would miss seeing the dragon. He had never -seen it as yet, for he was not so very old, and now that the -long-expected moment had come he fairly trembled with excitement.</p> - -<p>His <i>ho chun</i> (father) was on this balcony, which was near their home, -and he hurried to nestle up to him, as it was cold, and the wind was -always blowing in San Francisco.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if the procession would never come; he grew tired watching -so many people pass, and perhaps the fumes of the opium his father was -smoking got into his brain; but, at any rate, the first thing he<a name="page_003" id="page_003"></a></p> - - -<p><a name="OH_WHAT_A_DREADFUL_MONSTER" id="OH_WHAT_A_DREADFUL_MONSTER"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/facing004_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing004_sml.jpg" width="450" height="332" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>Oh, what a dreadful monster!</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_004" id="page_004"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_005" id="page_005"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">knew he saw a great squirming thing approaching him.</p> - -<p>It was spitting fire from its eyes and mouth, and at first he felt -afraid. Oh, what a dreadful monster! it would surely devour him. He -heard himself saying: “Velly bad snake—I no likee; go ’way! I ’flaid.” -And then he heard a voice like the muttering of thunder, and the voice -came out of the dragon’s mouth, and it was saying in the Chinese -language: “<i>Samen jai</i> (little boy), I have come to take you to Dragon -Land. Slip away from <i>ho chun</i>, and fly with me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no!” gasped the trembling boy, “I velly much ’flaid the big dlagon -eat me up.” And then the dragon spoke again, but this time his voice was -as soft and sweet as<a name="page_006" id="page_006"></a> music, and the fire no longer came from his eyes -and mouth. He had such a kind look on his face too, and spoke in such a -persuasive tone, that little Chung Goy ceased to be afraid, and slipping -from his father’s arms he ran down the narrow steps again, and out into -the street, climbing up on the big dragon’s back. He saw lots of other -Chinese boys he knew, doing the same thing. He held on tightly, for the -dragon went in such a squirming way that he was afraid he would fall -off, and he held on to his little silk cap, too, as the dragon’s speed -increased, for it was his best one, and he did not want to lose it.</p> - -<p>Oh, this was jolly! He had never thought he would ever ride on a -dragon’s back. What a lot he would have to tell his <i>mo chun</i> (mother)<a name="page_007" id="page_007"></a></p> - -<p><a name="THE_CHINESE_CHILDREN_ALL_MARCHED_TO_THE_MUSIC_IN_A_ROW" id="THE_CHINESE_CHILDREN_ALL_MARCHED_TO_THE_MUSIC_IN_A_ROW"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 327px;"> -<a href="images/facing006_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing006_sml.jpg" width="327" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>The Chinese children all marched to the music in a row</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p class="nind">when he reached home. It was a good thing <i>mo chun</i> did not know it now, -he thought, or she would be “velly much ’flaid.”</p> - -<p>After squirming through all sorts of queer countries, the big dragon -stopped so suddenly that they all fell off his back, and down his -slippery sides. Chung Goy rubbed his eyes and looked around him. Oh, how -funny! There were just thousands of dragons of all sizes, and this -beautiful place was their home. They all had such kind faces, and spoke -in such a gentle way, that no one could feel afraid. There were great -groves of trees, all full of the tiny Chinese mandarin orange. Chung Goy -just loved those “ollanges,” but he had never before picked them from a -tree, as his <i>ho chun</i> had bought<a name="page_008" id="page_008"></a> them from the street-stands in -Chinatown. There were trees of <i>lichee</i> (nuts), and long tables just -filled with Chinese candy, delicious preserved ginger, watermelon seed, -and all those good things so dear to a boy’s heart.</p> - -<p>It was night, but the trees were so full of the great dragon lanterns -that it made it almost as light as day, and there were no dark corners -anywhere. There was a dragon orchestra under one of the trees, playing -the loveliest Chinese music. The shrill piping of the flageolets and the -beating of the “tom-toms” were indeed beautiful to the ears of Chung Goy -and his friends. It looked too funny for anything to see dragons holding -the different instruments with their claws. The Chinese children all -marched to<a name="page_009" id="page_009"></a></p> - -<p><a name="EVERYBODY_GIGGLED_ALL_THE_TIME_IN_THEIR_FUNNY_LITTLE_CHINESE_WAY" id="EVERYBODY_GIGGLED_ALL_THE_TIME_IN_THEIR_FUNNY_LITTLE_CHINESE_WAY"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 322px;"> -<a href="images/facing008_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing008_sml.jpg" width="322" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little Chinese way</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_010" id="page_010"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_011" id="page_011"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">the music in a row, holding each other by the queue.</p> - -<p>Chung Goy had never had so much fun in all his little life as he was -having now. Just as he was beginning to feel hungry there appeared -before his gaze a very long table, just filled with everything a child -could possibly want, and all served by cunning little dragons. There -were such dainty little China cups without handles, and in them the most -delicious <i>chah</i> (tea).</p> - -<p>Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny little Chinese way, and -no one told them to stop.</p> - -<p>While they were sitting at the table the dragons brought them each a big -basket of fireworks. Now a Chinese child is even more fond of fireworks -than an American child,<a name="page_012" id="page_012"></a> and so they all kicked up their little sandals -with delight, and after each one had been given a lighted Chinese punk, -they began to pop them, and oh, what fun it was! There was a delightful -noise, with so much popping, and the odor of the punks was most pleasant -to their little Chinese noses. It really seemed as if the more they -popped, the more they had left in their baskets.</p> - -<p>Finally, the big King of the dragons said he must take them home now, or -he would not be back in time for the parade, and it would never do to -disappoint the people. So each one was allowed to keep his basket, and -they squirmed away again, until at last they entered the narrow streets -of Chinatown, with its rows of dragon lanterns, and its odor of<a name="page_013" id="page_013"></a> incense -everywhere. Once more Chung Goy climbed the narrow steps, and crept into -the arms of <i>ho chun</i>, who had not noticed his absence, and he arrived -just in time, for just then there was a great noise of “tom-toms,” and -crowds shouting.</p> - -<p>The streets were aglare with a strange red light, and looking down he -saw the familiar form of the King Dragon, which was spitting fire from -its eyes and mouth; but this time little Chung Goy did not feel afraid, -for he knew—he knew.<a name="page_014" id="page_014"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_015" id="page_015"></a></p> - - - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="TWO_LITTLE_CHINESE_SISTERS" id="TWO_LITTLE_CHINESE_SISTERS"></a><i>TWO LITTLE CHINESE SISTERS</i></h2> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">O</span>NE day during the Chinese New Year, when the sea breezes blew softly -through the narrow, blossom-lined streets of Chinatown, and swayed the -great red dragon lanterns to and fro, Poon Chew and her little sister, -Poon Yet, decided that they would take a walk through the streets, and -have a look at all the beautiful things displayed in the windows. Their -<i>mo chun</i> had dressed them up in their very best silken robes,—robes -she had made for this very week,—and they made a pretty picture as they -started out under their gay umbrella. Their<a name="page_016" id="page_016"></a> blouses were of pink silk, -and their trousers of pale lavender. They wore gay head-dresses, and -were indeed beautiful to look upon. They would never have started out -alone if the little <i>mo chun</i> had not been so busy making the great New -Year cake, which was to be served with tea to her guests of the New -Year.</p> - -<p>“Let’s go see Sai Gee,” said Poon Chew.</p> - -<p>“All light,” replied the little sister.</p> - -<p>Sai Gee, a little-footed playmate of theirs, lived just a few doors from -them, and they had no difficulty in finding her home. Sai Gee was also -dressed up in her gayest attire, but her feet were too small to find -much enjoyment in running around with the children whose feet were of -the ordinary size. But she could</p> - -<p><a name="SHE_BROUGHT_FORTH_FROM_THE_FLUTE_THE_MOST_WONDERFUL_SOUNDS" id="SHE_BROUGHT_FORTH_FROM_THE_FLUTE_THE_MOST_WONDERFUL_SOUNDS"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 297px;"> -<a href="images/facing016_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing016_sml.jpg" width="297" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>She brought forth from the flute the most wonderful sounds</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_017" id="page_017"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">entertain them, anyway, for Sai Gee could play the flute.</p> - -<p>It was really wonderful. She sat upon a stool, over which an embroidered -robe had been thrown, and played to them. Her hair was done in a coil -back of her right ear, and her little brown face was sweet and wistful -as she brought forth from the flute the most wonderful sounds. Sai Gee’s -father was very wealthy, and so the little one had everything that money -could buy. Poon Chew made up her mind right then that she would ask her -father to buy her a flute. Then Sai Gee brought forth some tiny cakes, -made of powdered nuts, and some tea, and preserved watermelon; and for -each of the little sisters a big slice of New Year’s cake.<a name="page_018" id="page_018"></a></p> - -<p>“My! but we have good time. I likee make New Yeah call, like <i>mo -chun</i>—we go now; good-by,” said Poon Chew.</p> - -<p>“Let’s look in window,” the big sister said; and of course the little -one, having perfect confidence in Poon Chew, gladly followed, the soft -little hand clasped in that of the sister. Oh, the wonderful things they -saw! The streets looked like a garden, with the rows of almond blossoms -and China lilies, and on every balcony swung in rows the immense dragon -lanterns.</p> - -<p>They stopped awhile—they thought it only a few minutes—to watch some -boys playing a New Year’s game, and then passed on by the stores, where -the smell of the good things made them very hungry.<a name="page_019" id="page_019"></a></p> - -<p>“Oh, how nice the loast pohk (roast pork) smell! I velly hungly,—we go -home pletty soon,” said the older sister.</p> - -<p>“Yes, we go home pletty soon,” echoed Poon Yet.</p> - -<p>The little feet were growing tired, for they had never before been on -the streets alone, and they wanted to get all the pleasure they could -out of it. How they did wish they had brought some money, as they looked -longingly at the great heaps of candied cocoanut and ginger on the -street-stands. Their eyes must have said so, for just as they were -gazing at the dainties with longing eyes a richly-dressed Chinaman came -by, and the first thing they knew he was saying: “You likee candy, <i>ne -jai</i>?” (little girl).<a name="page_020" id="page_020"></a></p> - -<p>It startled them at first, but when they looked up and saw what a kind -face the man had, they did not feel afraid, but replied: “Yes—we velly -hungly—we no bling money; we catch ’em plenty money at home.”</p> - -<p>The man laughed good-naturedly, and having bought them a large package -of candy, started on. After they had eaten some of it they noticed the -growing darkness. Could it be possible that night was coming on? They -had not thought of that; it had seemed so bright when they started, and -it did not seem as if they could have been gone long.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, what of the little brown mother at home?</p> - -<p>When she finished her cake she called her children. She had made<a name="page_021" id="page_021"></a> a -little cake just for them, and she wanted them to come and eat it.</p> - -<p>“Poon Chew! Poon Yet!” she called; but no sound came back through the -silence.</p> - -<p>“Little one—<i>ne jai</i>, come to <i>mo chun</i>!” No reply.</p> - -<p>With wildly beating heart she rushed through the tiny rooms and out to -the narrow pavement. She hailed a passing policeman, and in faltering -Chinese told him that her little ones were lost, described the pretty -clothes they wore, and all the while her heart was wrung with a nameless -fear. What would life be without the soft little arms about her -neck?—the patter of the little sandalled feet?—the sound of the shrill -little voices at play?</p> - -<p><a name="page_022" id="page_022"></a>This policeman told others, and they were all searching for the two -children, who were out making New Year’s calls.</p> - -<p>And it grew darker. Poon Chew trembled, as she realized that they were -lost. She did not know which way to turn. Some men were lighting the big -dragon lanterns on the balcony opposite, so it was really night.</p> - -<p>“Oh, little sister, we are lost! I forget; I no ’member the way home. -What will we do?” she moaned. She had no idea what direction her home -was in, and her eyes were filled with tears; but now through the tears -she saw some one approaching. It was—oh, joy! the old nurse Suey, -leading the richly dressed little Sai Chong, brother of Sai Gee.</p> - -<p>She was greatly surprised when she saw the children so far from home,</p> - -<p><a name="IT_WAS_THE_OLD_NURSE_SUEY" id="IT_WAS_THE_OLD_NURSE_SUEY"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/facing022_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing022_sml.jpg" width="450" height="356" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>It was the old nurse, Suey</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_023" id="page_023"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">and they clung to her neck, weeping and laughing by turns. “Take us -home—take us home;” they cried. They had walked so far and were so -tired that she got a Chinaman who was standing by to take them all home -in his wagon. When they arrived, they found the little <i>mo chun</i> in the -greatest distress. She was very much astonished as she saw them all -tumble out of the covered wagon, and they all cried and laughed, and -never did the little mother receive so many kisses; and four little -brown arms clasped her neck all at once, and the little sisters were so -very sorry to have been so naughty that they said:</p> - -<p>“<i>Mo chun</i>, beautiful cherry blossom—we neveh, neveh make New Yeah -calls again without you.”<a name="page_024" id="page_024"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_025" id="page_025"></a></p> - - - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_LITTLE_HIGHBINDER" id="THE_LITTLE_HIGHBINDER"></a><i>THE LITTLE HIGHBINDER</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_026" id="page_026"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_027" id="page_027"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>T was the one desire of little Sing Lee to be a highbinder. It must be -a fine thing, for his father was one, and so it must be good. It was -true he did not have a very definite idea of just what it meant to be -one, but he knew this: his father belonged to the Hip Sing Tongs, an -order of highbinders in San Francisco, and they were men who kept their -promises. At night as he lay on his hard bamboo couch, with the fumes of -opium thick around him, he could hear <i>ho chun</i> talking in a low tone to -a crowd of men, who were all of the same<a name="page_028" id="page_028"></a> order of highbinders as his -father. “There is Chong Sing,” they were saying; “he has told some of -our secrets to a white devil, and he must die; the joss frowns upon -him.”</p> - -<p>This sounded very discouraging for Chong Sing, and little Sing Lee felt -sorry for a moment, for he remembered that one day this same Chong Sing -had spoken kindly, and had given him a three-cornered package of -<i>lichee</i> (nuts) and candy. He could even yet taste the delicious strips -of candied cocoanut, and the dainty citron. Chong Sing had said he would -bring him some more another time, and now—he was to die. If he died, -perhaps no one else would bring candy or speak a kind word.<a name="page_029" id="page_029"></a></p> - -<p>Little Sing Lee lay trembling in his bed as they planned the murder of -his friend. What could he do? He was only a little boy, and—he had -thought to be a highbinder when he was a big man like <i>ho chun</i>; and if -he was going to be one, he must conquer all tenderness of heart,—and -yet, this man had been kind to him, and it might be that he had little -boys of his own at home.</p> - -<p>“If I was a highbinder,” he said to himself, “I no kill nice men who -bling children candy; I kill bad men.”</p> - -<p>Next day he confided his thoughts to <i>mo chun</i>, but she replied: “No! -no! my little boy. No use—Hip Sing Tongs heap big—heap stlong -(strong). They no care if Chong Sing give <i>lichee</i>; they kill him, -allee<a name="page_030" id="page_030"></a> samee.” But little Sing Lee did not forget. He still thought, -however, that it must be a fine thing to be a highbinder, if only one -just killed the bad men—men who did not give candy to lonely little -children and speak kind words to them. So that very day he went around -through Chinatown and organized a society of highbinders among his boy -friends.</p> - -<p>He succeeded in getting four other boys to join, and they all took their -oaths very solemnly. Now that they were really highbinders they must -begin to kill somebody. Not ever having killed anybody, they did not -know how to go about it, or on whom to begin.</p> - -<p><i>Mo chun</i> noticed the boys carrying on a great deal of private -conversation,<a name="page_031" id="page_031"></a> and she wondered what it could be; so that night, after -Sing Lee had burned his punks before the god, and had eaten his bowl of -rice with chopsticks, she said to him: “What for you allee time whisper? -You no eat—you no sleep; tell me! what you think?”</p> - -<p><i>Mo chun</i> was such a dear little brown mother, and he loved her so, that -when she looked at him with her slanting velvet eyes, and asked him to -tell her, he just had to, that was all. He was not afraid of her, for -Chinese mothers do not punish their children, and anyway—the secret was -too good to keep, so why not tell her? She never laughed at him like <i>ho -chun</i>. So he crept close up against the warmth of her silken blouse—he -could feel her tender<a name="page_032" id="page_032"></a> mother heart beating beneath it—and he gazed at -the polished hair and the pretty mouth as he talked.</p> - -<p>“<i>Mo chun</i>—I likee be like big man—like <i>ho chun</i>. I get boys -togeddeh; we be highbinders, allee samee <i>ho chun</i>.</p> - -<p>“<i>Ho chun</i> velly fine man; he kill heap of people; I likee do that, but, -<i>mo chun</i>, my beautiful blossom, I no likee <i>ho chun</i> to kill Chong -Sing; he heap good—he bling me candy.”</p> - -<p>“What you mean, little boy? How you <i>sabe</i> (know) <i>ho chun</i> kill Chong -Sing? Speak!—tell me!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, <i>mo chun</i> of mine, I no sleep at night; I no can help—I hear <i>ho -chun</i> say Chong Sing must die. I velly solly; he heap good man—I -likee.”</p> - -<p><i>Mo chun</i> was sorry too, for she knew him to be a good man, but she<a name="page_033" id="page_033"></a> -knew there was no use to say anything. If they had decided upon his -death there was nothing to be said.</p> - -<p>The next day Sing Lee set forth with his little band of highbinders to -find some one to kill. <i>Mo chun</i> had said: “You must not really kill -them, you <i>sabe</i>, just pletend kill.”</p> - -<p>Suddenly, as they marched on, a bright thought struck little Sing Lee. -“Suppose I tell Chong Sing?—he live near—I know the way, and—he was -kind to me.”</p> - -<p>He then confided his secret to his trusty men, and they marched on, -through the narrow streets, till they came to the home of the good Chong -Sing—the man who was to be killed.</p> - -<p>It was dark and gloomy where Chong Sing lived, and his two little -children, trudging homeward through<a name="page_034" id="page_034"></a> the narrow alley-way, arrived at -the door just before the little highbinders. Sing Lee could see their -<i>ho chun</i> as he greeted them, and they clasped their little arms about -his neck, while he gazed at them with love in his eyes—and yet—he must -die.</p> - -<p>Sing Lee’s mind was made up. He marched boldly to the door, and stood -under the big Chinese letters which meant happiness to all who should -enter there, and he could even smell the incense ever kept burning for -the god,—the god who had given no warning to Chong Sing. With a soft -sound of sandalled feet the doomed man appeared at the door. His face -was beaming with good nature. He carried his little girl in his arms, -and by his side stood his son, a manly little fellow.<a name="page_035" id="page_035"></a></p> - -<p>With his heart throbbing as if it would burst, Sing Lee advanced in -front of his men, saying, “I am Sing Lee! You were kind to me once; -these are my men—highbinders—” (at this Chong Sing smiled in a very -amused way, but the smile was changed to something else when the boy -went on) “I no forget you; I velly lonely—you bling me candy; you say -good word to me, and now—I pay you back.</p> - -<p>“No one know I come to tell you; the Hip Sing Tongs they say you must -die. They say you tell seclets to white devil: I no know, I no care, but -you good man; I likee save you. I want you to go ’way, acloss the water. -You go quick!—I velly solly—good-by.”</p> - -<p>The little highbinder did not kill<a name="page_036" id="page_036"></a> any one that day; he was thinking of -a pale, set face, and two little brown arms clasped about a father’s -neck. Never mind! he would kill some one next week, or “to-mollow.” Some -one who was bad—who did not bring candy.</p> - -<p>There was great surprise among the Hip Sing Tongs when their victim was -not to be found. Such a thing had never happened before, and they could -account for it in no way.</p> - -<p>Of course they did not think to ask the little mother or the embryo -highbinder. And while they were wondering and searching, away over -across the blue sea were the Chinese father and mother, and brown, happy -children—safe.<a name="page_037" id="page_037"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="HOW_AH_CHEE_FOUND_SANTA_CLAUS" id="HOW_AH_CHEE_FOUND_SANTA_CLAUS"></a><i>HOW AH CHEE FOUND SANTA CLAUS</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_038" id="page_038"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_039" id="page_039"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>T was Christmas Eve. In the big Chinatown of San Francisco little Ah -Chee and her brother Ah Gong were eagerly drinking in the words of the -old Chinese story-teller as he sat on the streets and told stories for -any one who cared to listen and to give him a few pennies. It was -getting late, and the sea wind blew roughly through the narrow streets, -and made the dear little Chinese noses so cold; but then Ah Chee did not -mind, for the old man had been telling them the most wonderful -tale,—something about Christmas—the ’Melican Clis<a name="page_040" id="page_040"></a>mas—and he had said -something about it being a little Baby’s birthday, and that almost -everybody in the world celebrated it. She pondered over it, in her vague -little Chinese way, and thought it very queer that they should make such -an ado about just a baby.</p> - -<p>The old man did not understand it very well himself, but he remembered -that when he used to be cook for an American family once, a long time -ago, the children had hung up their stockings on this particular night, -and had some kind of a tree with beautiful things on it. They called it -a Christmas tree, he remembered, and how pleased he had been when there -were found to be some packages for him on that same tree. They had told -him then that<a name="page_041" id="page_041"></a> Santa Claus had put them there, and he could never forget -the thrill of surprise and pleasure he felt at the thought that this -mysterious Santa Claus, whoever he might be, should have remembered him -when he had never even seen him.</p> - -<p>And now the story was finished, and the old man went on down the street, -and entered a shop where he would smoke opium and forget all about -Christmas. But little Ah Chee did not forget. She sat scraping her -little sandals against the pavement, thinking it all over. Her <i>mo chun</i> -was upstairs in the poor little rooms, sewing by the dim light which -struggled through the lattice, and wishing that she were not so poor, -for she had to work very hard, and often they did not have enough to<a name="page_042" id="page_042"></a> -eat. The rice was almost gone now, and there were only a few leaves of -<i>chah</i> (tea) left.</p> - -<p>A Chinese mother loves her children very dearly, and always tries to -gratify their every wish; so it made her feel badly to think she could -not give them embroidered <i>shoms</i> (blouses), and sandals, instead of the -plain dark ones they always had to wear. The children had had their rice -early to-night, and had gone out in the street to play “hawk catching -young chickens,” they said.</p> - -<p>She did not know the story-teller had been there, but she would not have -objected if she had known, for he was a kind old man, and if she could -have spared the time from her sewing she also would have listened;<a name="page_043" id="page_043"></a> for -a Chinese woman is like a child in many things. She had heard some one -say this was the American Christmas, but to her all days were -alike,—just work, that was all.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Ah Chee was filled with a curious longing to run away from the -picturesque Chinatown, just for a little while, to see if she could not -find out something more about this wonderful Santa Claus. She would give -anything in the world to see him, only—she had nothing to give. All the -trinkets the poor little child owned were a mud pagoda and a bit of -painted wood she called a doll.</p> - -<p>Once during the Chinese New Year her dear <i>mo chun</i> had taken them for a -walk outside of Chinatown, and she had seen the wonder<a name="page_044" id="page_044"></a>ful shop-windows -of the Americans. How different they were from the Chinese! She had also -seen some beautiful things that her mother had said were dolls. She had -never forgotten it, and had even dreamed of holding one of these -wonderful things in her arms. But it could only be a dream,—no such -happiness was for her,—for it was all they could do to get enough rice -to eat, without buying American dolls.</p> - -<p>“Ah Gong!” she cried, fired with a sudden and bold resolution, “Ah Gong! -you likee take a walk with sisteh?”</p> - -<p>Ah Gong was at that moment busily engaged in eating a dried herring, -which the kind-hearted owner of the shop next door had given him; but -that fact did not in the least<a name="page_045" id="page_045"></a> interfere with his desire to see new -sights. His sparkling Chinese eyes fairly danced out of his head at the -mere prospect.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I likee,” he replied, with his mouth full of herring. “What foh -you takee walk? Where you go?”</p> - -<p>She took hold of the end of his queue, and pulling him toward her, -whispered in his ear the magic words: “We go see Clismas! we catch ’em -Sanny Claw.”</p> - -<p>This announcement was almost too much for Ah Gong, and his little -celestial brain could not take in so much happiness all at once, so he -stared at her a moment until he had swallowed the bite of herring, and -then gasped out: “But Ah Gong ’flaid Sanny Claw spit fieh (fire) on us; -allee samee heap big dlagon.”<a name="page_046" id="page_046"></a></p> - -<p>Ah Chee had to giggle at this, with her ever-ready Chinese giggle, but -putting her long sateen sleeve round him in a protecting manner she -answered him in the kindest tone: “Oh, no! ’Melican Sanny Claw heap good -man—allee samee joss; we go find him; come along!”</p> - -<p>So they started in the growing darkness, with the sweet faith of a child -in their hearts. They knew not where to go, nor which way to turn, but -only had the one thought—just to find the ’Melican Clismas. When they -had disappeared, the shopkeeper believed they had gone home for the -night, and gave them no more thought; the tired mother upstairs supposed -that they were in the shop, as they often went in there and played until -late,<a name="page_047" id="page_047"></a> because it was bright, and the man was kind to them.</p> - -<p>They knew they could not find Santa Claus in Chinatown, so the first -thing to do was to get out of the Chinese section, and into one of the -great thoroughfares of the city. On they went, past the joss house, -where they had once been with their mother to burn pretty candles before -the joss, and they looked up with childish admiration at the big round -lanterns which hung on the balcony, and tried to read the Chinese -letters at the door. Sometime, perhaps when the moon festival came, or -the Chinese New Year, it might be that <i>mo chun</i> would take them again, -if she had money enough to buy any more pretty candles. The good joss -liked pretty candles.<a name="page_048" id="page_048"></a></p> - -<p>There were many lovely things to be seen in Chinatown, but to-night they -were going somewhere else. It did not occur to them that they might get -lost, or that their dear mother might be uneasy. They were too much -excited over what the story-teller had told them to worry over anything, -so they toddled on, their hearts full of expectation. They had no idea -what Christmas would be like when they should find it, or whether it -would be alive, but they could wait. How very queer it seemed when they -had left the narrow crooked streets of Chinatown, with its smell of -incense and its balconies and lanterns, and found themselves on a great -wide street full of people, so full of people that the heart of the -motherly little Ah Chee<a name="page_049" id="page_049"></a> almost failed her, and she clasped her arm -protectingly around the body of her fat baby brother, and whispered -words of encouragement in his little brown ear.</p> - -<p>Many people, in the hurry of their Christmas shopping, gave a passing -thought of wonder that the two little Chinese children should be in the -dense crowd alone, but thought perhaps their parents were following -them; and so, with a smile at the dimpled tea-rose face and sparkling -eyes of the Chinese maiden they passed on, to the brightness and good -cheer of their own comfortable homes. There were so many street cars, -with bells clanging, carriages dashing past, and so much noise and -confusion that they were both frightened. Even the brave little heart<a name="page_050" id="page_050"></a> -of Ah Chee beat violently under the padded warmth of her dark blue -blouse, and for a moment she almost feared they would not find Santa -Claus. But just then a voice said something, and a big policeman picked -her up, and smiled at her, saying: “Where are you going, little one? -Where is mamma?”</p> - -<p>The timid little voice of Ah Chee replied, “<i>Mo chun</i>, she at home; can -you tell me,” she eagerly questioned, “where Sanny Claw is?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, to be sure; he is in there.”</p> - -<p>In there,—could it be possible they were so near the wonderful being -and had not known it?</p> - -<p>They saw a very large store, with great crowds of people, big and -little, jostling each other in their efforts to</p> - -<p><a name="WHERE_ARE_YOU_GOING_LITTLE_ONE" id="WHERE_ARE_YOU_GOING_LITTLE_ONE"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/facing050_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing050_sml.jpg" width="450" height="444" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p>“<i>Where are you going, little one?</i>”</p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_051" id="page_051"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">get in. So all these people were hunting Santa Claus. Ah Chee in her -childish eagerness slipped, and would have fallen, had she not been -caught in some one’s arms. The arms belonged to a richly dressed lady, -who looked down with indifference at the pathetic picture of the two -little children, and was about to draw her skirts aside and pass on, -when the little Christ-child must have put a thought into her worldly -heart, for she turned and looked again into the wistful little faces.</p> - -<p>They must have seen some sympathy in her face, for Ah Chee said -hesitatingly, “Oh, if you please, we likee see Sanny Claw; could you -show us?”</p> - -<p>For a moment she hesitated. What would her aristocratic friends think<a name="page_052" id="page_052"></a> -if they saw her taking two dirty Chinese children into the elegant shop?</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t your father bring you?” she said.</p> - -<p>“My fatheh—he die; we no got fatheh.”</p> - -<p>Something in the pleading little face, and the quiver in the little red -mouths, and the despair in the great oblique eyes must have touched the -woman’s heart beneath all its worldly coating. With sudden decision she -grasped the two little trembling hands, and throwing all her old false -pride to the Christmas winds, stepped boldly into the shop, where all -was elegance and warmth and light and beauty.</p> - -<p>To her it was an old story. She had long since lost the spirit of -Christmas, and the old legend of Santa Claus brought no ecstasy to her, -for<a name="page_053" id="page_053"></a> there were no children at her home to hang up their stockings. The -little Chinese children were all eyes now, and forgot their poverty and -the bleak darkness of their home as they looked for the first time at -all this sparkling beauty. At last they found him—the “ ‘Melican Sanny -Claw!” To the lady it was nothing,—such an old, old story,—but to the -two little Chinese children it was the perfect and blissful realization -of a dream, the one beautiful event in two little barren lives. And -now—they actually stood face to face with Santa Claus. Little Ah Gong -was glad to see that he was not spitting fire, like the Chinese dragon, -and felt quite reassured.</p> - -<p>Santa was standing by a sparkling tree all covered with pretty candles,<a name="page_054" id="page_054"></a> -such as they had burned for the joss, and on top of the tree was a great -shining star.</p> - -<p>“What is that?” said Ah Gong, pointing with his chubby forefinger to the -star.</p> - -<p>“That? It is the star of Bethlehem,” said the pretty lady, with a queer -catch in her voice, while for the first time in her life she realized a -little of the true meaning of the star.</p> - -<p>They did not understand, and clung closer to each other as they neared -the wonderful Santa Claus. He must have come from a very cold country, -for he was dressed all in fur, from head to foot, and had rosy cheeks -and long white whiskers.</p> - -<p>“See,” whispered the little girl to her brother, “it is the heap good -’Melican Santa; do you see him?”<a name="page_055" id="page_055"></a></p> - -<p>“Yes—yes—I see him; I no ’flaid now,” he said, edging closer to him.</p> - -<p>The beautiful lady was whispering to Santa Claus—actually whispering. -What a brave lady she must be, and they wondered vaguely what she could -have to say to him. And, wonder of wonders! Santa came right up to them, -and putting out his big warm hand, clasped the trembling little cold -hands of the two children, and said: “What do you want me to bring you?”</p> - -<p>Was there ever anything so wonderful? That he should notice them, and -speak to them? Their eyes almost danced out of their heads at this -unexpected question. It had never occurred to their innocent little -hearts that he would bring them<a name="page_056" id="page_056"></a> anything, because they were only -Chinese, and the Chinese did not believe in Santa Claus; they only -believed in the Moon Rabbit.</p> - -<p>As he spoke, visions of wonderful things flitted through their -minds,—things they dared not name. The lady said to Ah Chee: “Tell him, -dear; he would like to give you something.”</p> - -<p>Before the child thought, she had spoken the words: “Could you—oh, -<i>could</i> you—bling me—a—doll?”</p> - -<p>“A doll? Why, yes; of course you shall have a doll,” he said, as the -lady looked at him in a meaning way. And then all the boy in little Ah -Gong’s repressed nature broke forth, and he hurriedly gasped: “A -knife—I likee knife.”</p> - -<p>The lady smiled at Santa again,<a name="page_057" id="page_057"></a> and he said: “And what else, my little -man?”</p> - -<p>“I likee led (red) wagon—”</p> - -<p>“No—no—” whispered the timid sister, “that too muchee—Santa no likee -give so muchee.”</p> - -<p>Some more mysterious whispering went on, and Santa produced from his fur -pocket a little book and pencil, and wrote down a great many things. Ah -Chee did not know what he could be writing—perhaps a letter to his wife -at the North Pole, but she did not care; she only knew she was going to -get what she had longed for all her little lonely life,—a doll,—and -her motherly heart warmed and thrilled at the happy thought.</p> - -<p>“And what would your mamma like?” he was saying now.</p> - -<p>“Oh,—my <i>mo chun</i>; let me see,<a name="page_058" id="page_058"></a>—I think she likee wahm (warm) <i>shom</i> -(blouse) and—that’s all light; you must not give too muchee; you so -good—you <i>so</i> good,” she sobbed.</p> - -<p>Her little starved soul was running over with the joy of Christmas—the -new joy, which she had never before tasted.</p> - -<p>“You shall not be forgotten, neither shall your mother. Good-by, and -merry Christmas!” he said; and then, after showing the excited children -all the beautiful toys in the shop, the lady went out with them once -more into the crowded streets.</p> - -<p>The air was full of Christmas cheer, and every one was smiling and -happy, as they hurried along with their arms full of mysterious packages -and called out Christmas greetings to each other.<a name="page_059" id="page_059"></a></p> - -<p>“Do you know where you live, children?” the lady now said.</p> - -<p>Fortunately Ah Chee remembered the number and place of their home, so -the lady put them into a carriage and seated herself beside them. They -waited in the carriage awhile, till a man came out of the shop and -placed many bundles of various shapes and sizes in with them. It was so -dark they could not see them, but at last, after rattling over the -cobblestones for a time, they saw that they had entered Chinatown, and -once again the odor of the incense greeted them.</p> - -<p>Soon the carriage stopped right in front of their door, and they could -see the pale face of <i>mo chun</i> peeping from the lattice.</p> - -<p>The lady told the driver to wait,<a name="page_060" id="page_060"></a> while she went with the children up -the dark stairway. <i>Mo chun</i> was never so surprised in her life as she -was when the excited children rushed in, pulling the lady after them. -She had begun to be frightened, and was just going down to the shop to -see what was the matter, when they arrived, breathless and happy. She -was very much embarrassed to have the rich and beautiful lady come into -her poor little home, but almost as much excited and pleased over the -gifts as the children, and to see the purse of gold that Santa had -brought her. She had not dreamed there was such kindness in the whole -big world, or such plenty and happiness.</p> - -<p>It was enough to cure any amount of heartaches to note the rapture in<a name="page_061" id="page_061"></a> -the eyes of Ah Chee as she hugged the wonderful doll to her motherly -little heart, and to see the boyish delight with which Ah Gong displayed -his knife and red wagon. There were many other gifts, yet they had never -even thought there were such things in the world. <i>Mo chun</i> did not know -how to thank the kind lady, who had, with one gift from her jewelled -hands, lifted her and her children from poverty to comfort. She could -only make her a cup of delicious Chinese tea, and thank her in her -pretty little Chinese way; but in her heart she thanked her, and the -beautiful lady understood, and for the first time in her life realized -the true meaning of Christmas.</p> - -<p><a name="page_062" id="page_062"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_063" id="page_063"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_MOON_RABBIT" id="THE_MOON_RABBIT"></a><i>THE MOON RABBIT</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_064" id="page_064"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_065" id="page_065"></a></p> - -<p><a name="LITTLE_PRIEST" id="LITTLE_PRIEST"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/facing064_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing064_sml.jpg" width="450" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>Little Priest</i></p></div> -</div> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>T was the eve of the Moon Festival. The homes and the people of -Chinatown were gay within and gay without, and the incense-laden air was -full of the holiday spirit. The Moon Festival with the Chinese is -something like the American Christmas, only it lasts longer, extending -into their New Year.</p> - -<p>Kon Ying had not been very happy in her little life, for she had always -been made to feel that she was one too many in the home. She had three -sisters older than herself, and the Chinese do not like so many -daughters,—they would rather have<a name="page_066" id="page_066"></a> sons; so when she arrived in the -small home, it was decided to call her Kon Ying, which means “enough -hawks.” After her had come a baby brother, who was petted and spoiled in -every way possible, because he was a boy. As he was the only son, the -parents soon resorted to a queer Chinese method. They shaved his head -and called him “little priest,” allowing him to be adopted by another -family. This was done to deceive the bad spirits, and make them think -they cared no more for their child than for a despised priest, and had -thought so little of him that they had even allowed another family to -adopt him.</p> - -<p>Little Kon Ying had been left to herself a great deal, and so had -thought of many things. Perhaps</p> - -<p><a name="SHE_AND_ONE_OF_HER_SISTERS_WERE_ON_THE_STEP_IN_FRONT_OF_THEIR_HOME" id="SHE_AND_ONE_OF_HER_SISTERS_WERE_ON_THE_STEP_IN_FRONT_OF_THEIR_HOME"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 321px;"> -<a href="images/facing066_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing066_sml.jpg" width="321" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>She and one of her sisters were on the step in front of -their home</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_067" id="page_067"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">she had thought more of the Moon Rabbit than anything else, and wondered -in her childish way why it had never remembered her. She and one of her -sisters were on the step in front of their home talking about it, when -she saw her brother across the street, in front of the joss house. He -was richly dressed, and pretended he did not know her.</p> - -<p>The streets were beautiful to-night, so, after much persuasion, <i>mo -chun</i> had promised to take the children to see the shop windows. Soon -the mother appeared at the door, where in a little bowl punks were -always kept burning for the god, and in her high-pitched Chinese voice -told the children she was ready. Kon Ying was happy for once. She was -happy to-night, because she was<a name="page_068" id="page_068"></a> strong and young, and the Chinese world -was beautiful. And, someway, she felt that the rabbit would really -remember her to-night.</p> - -<p>On they went, one after another, in true Chinese fashion, but never -losing sight of the polished hair of <i>mo chun</i> in front of them.</p> - -<p>How gay it all was, and how bright! The great irregular rows of big -round lanterns looked like a lot of moons, and surely the rabbit’s own -moon could not be more beautiful. They could scarcely tear themselves -away from the bakeshop windows, which were full of cakes of all kinds. -Some were shaped like the moon, and some were made into tall Chinese -pagodas, a fish, a horse, or something of the kind. Some had on them the -picture of the white<a name="page_069" id="page_069"></a> rabbit, who is always pounding out rice in the -moon. On others were painted beautiful gods and goddesses. <i>Mo chun</i> was -telling them that when good little Chinese children were all asleep the -mysterious rabbit would come to the shops and purchase the pretty -things, to leave in the homes of the children.</p> - -<p>Kon Ying was thinking as she pressed her cunning little nose up against -the cold glass: “I likee know if I been good enough this time. I help -<i>mo chun</i>—I play (pray) to joss heap plenty time; maybe the moon labbit -come—maybe, I no <i>sabe</i>” (understand). She only knew that she had done -her best, always; but perhaps the wonderful rabbit would not think so. -Never mind! she would pray once more to the ugly<a name="page_070" id="page_070"></a> little old god at -home, before she went to sleep.</p> - -<p>Soon they came to the toy shops. She felt as if she could stay forever, -for there were toys of all kinds, and no one would ever know how good -they seemed to a poor little Chinese girl who had never had any toys. -The only one she had ever possessed was an old broken doll she had once -found upon a trash heap, but she had treasured it as no doll was ever -before treasured, and had given it all the pent-up love in her little -starved heart. She had even named it “Kin Leen” (golden lily), and -pretended that it was a fine aristocratic lady, with “little feet.” She -had bound its feet with strips of cloth, and it was to this doll that -she had gone with all her<a name="page_071" id="page_071"></a> troubles; but no one knew this. If her proud -brother had known he would have teased her unmercifully.</p> - -<p>There were so many lovely pagodas in the window, and some of them were -several feet high. She would like one of these, but knew she might as -well long for the moon. There was something in the window which she -would rather have than a pagoda or anything else, and she longed for it -so intensely that a real prayer must have gone out from her little -innocent heart. It was a doll!—a Chinese doll, with big slanting eyes, -like Kon Ying’s own, and the most gorgeous dress of flowered silk.</p> - -<p>Suddenly it dawned upon her what she would do when she got home. Instead -of praying to the god on the<a name="page_072" id="page_072"></a> shelf she would pray to the moon rabbit, -and beg and beg of it to bring her a doll. If she could only have one of -those gorgeous creatures, with the tuft of black hair on its head, and -the wobbly feet and arms, and painted cheeks and lips, she would surely -never ask for anything else. There were other dolls in plenty, but none -so beautiful. They were only bits of wood, with eyes, nose, and mouth -painted on them. If she had not seen the big one she might have cared -for those, but now—she would never care for them; she had seen the -queen.</p> - -<p>She gasped out, in her shrill childish voice: “Oh, <i>mo chun</i>! -Why—why—won’t the moon labbit bling me doll?”<a name="page_073" id="page_073"></a></p> - -<p>Before the mother could reply, a kind hand was laid upon the polished -head of the little girl, and a man’s kind voice said: “The moon labbit -<i>will</i> bling you doll, and all the little sistehs too.”</p> - -<p>Looking up, she saw that the voice came from the lips of a notorious -highbinder—a friend of her father’s.</p> - -<p>The man had been to their home many times. She had liked him, for he -always had a kind word for children, and last New Year he had even -brought them some cunning little mandarin oranges, and a package of -Chinese candy. He was said to be a very bad man, but he loved children. -Speaking a few words of holiday greeting, he passed on into the shop, -while Kon Ying<a name="page_074" id="page_074"></a> and her sisters still gazed at the contents of the -windows.</p> - -<p>The big doll seemed to be saying: “I am yours, Kon Ying!—take me!” -while it held out its wobbly arms in entreaty. Its painted lips seemed -as if they might be forming pretty Chinese words of good wishes for the -Moon Festival.</p> - -<p>Kon Ying’s little celestial heart longed for it with a terrible longing, -but the glass was between them, and so—her heart could only ache in -silence. It could not happen, anyway. When did anything nice ever happen -to her? She had always been in the way, and there were no toys to spare -for her—little “Enough Hawks.”</p> - -<p>She was so absorbed in gazing at the doll that she did not see the<a name="page_075" id="page_075"></a> -highbinder, away back in the shop. Her nose was pressed against the -glass, and her dirty little fingers had left ten marks, but she did not -know; she would not have cared if she had known. Suddenly, as she gazed, -something wonderful happened. A big blue arm reached into the window -from the shop, and slim fingers with long Chinese nails closed upon the -doll, lifting it out of the window, to disappear from the gaze of the -enraptured children. It seemed to blink its slanting eyes in farewell as -it departed.</p> - -<p>The pale yellow ivory face of little Kon Ying appeared to grow even more -pale as she screamed out, in that little nasal voice of hers: “She -gone—the moon labbit no can get her now to bling to me. Heap bad<a name="page_076" id="page_076"></a> -spirit catch ’em doll: I so solly—I <i>so</i> solly.”</p> - -<p>It seemed to her that when the doll had gone from her sight it had taken -with it the very heart out of her body, and she did not care to linger -now, so they passed on, to other sights and sounds.</p> - -<p>On a flower-laden balcony some one was twanging on a <i>sam yun</i> (banjo), -but even music had no charm for her now, because—the DOLL was gone. She -would never see it again; the bad spirits had taken it. Perhaps it was -because she had neglected to pray to the god lately. She had even dared, -when no one was looking, to make a horrible face at him, and tell him -she hated him. She did this because her little heart was so heavy; no -one seemed to<a name="page_077" id="page_077"></a> care for her, and the god never made anything nice happen -to her, nor paid any attention to her little prayers. Never mind! she -would pray to the moon rabbit after this; perhaps it would hear her -prayer. After she had decided upon this course she was anxious to get -back to her home. The children were all getting tired now, and their -wooden sandals dragged heavily upon the narrow pavements.</p> - -<p>“We go home now,” said <i>mo chun</i>; “Maybe moon labbit come to-night.”</p> - -<p>At last they reached their home, and the tired children ascended the -stairway. Kon Ying set to work to offer her sacrifices, as she was tired -and wanted to go to bed. She had nothing to offer the moon rabbit except -her old broken doll; so she<a name="page_078" id="page_078"></a> placed it on a table and burned her incense -sticks, and everybody thought she was praying to the god. But she was -not; she knew,—and the god knew. At last she laid her tired head on the -hard couch.</p> - -<p>It seemed to her she had only been there a minute, when there came a -great glare of light and the sound of Chinese flutes. The lattice window -opened, and in marched a troop of tiny Chinamen, dressed in purple and -gold. Each one carried a stick of lighted incense for a torch, making -the room as bright as day.</p> - -<p>They marched right up to where Kon Ying lay, and the most richly dressed -one said: “Kon Ying, our queen has prepared a banquet for you; will your -highness please to accept the invitation?”<a name="page_079" id="page_079"></a></p> - -<p>Kon Ying was frightened at first, but something within her seemed to -speak the words: “I shall be pleased to obey the commands of your -queen;” and she made a curtsey to the royal messenger.</p> - -<p>“Be prepared to go when the time comes!” he said, and vanished with his -company.</p> - -<p>By and by there was another glare of lights, and the sound of music. The -lattice opened again, and there flitted in a crowd of the dearest little -Chinese ladies, all clad in pink silk blouses, with lavender trousers, -and pretty little golden sandals. They had so many diamonds in their -hair and ears that it almost put out little Kon Ying’s eyes. They each -carried a tiny Chinese lantern, which shed a soft light.<a name="page_080" id="page_080"></a></p> - -<p>The most beautiful one now approached Kon Ying and said: “The queen has -sent you a royal robe; please put it on, and we will hasten to the -moon.”</p> - -<p>Again the little girl gasped out: “Your highness’ commands shall be -obeyed;” and slipping from her couch she stood shivering upon the floor, -while the moon-maidens arrayed her in a robe of palest lavender.</p> - -<p>“Our queen heard your prayer, and has sent us to carry you to her -kingdom,” they said; and spreading out the wide Chinese sleeves of her -gown until they looked just like wings, they told her to come, and away -through the window she flew with them.</p> - -<p>She felt as light as a feather, and could not resist the pleasure of -mak<a name="page_081" id="page_081"></a>ing one real ugly face at the god as she passed. There stood on the -street in front of the house a row of the dearest little sedan chairs, -all glittering with gold, and carried by huge white rabbits. Before she -could say a word they had opened the door for her, and placing her -inside, flew away,—away from the squatty little god and the smell of -incense, away from the great shining lanterns of the dragon, and the -narrow, crooked streets, and into air that was so pure it seemed like a -delicious nectar.</p> - -<p>Kon Ying leaned from the window of her sedan chair and gazed at all the -wondrous beauty of the sky. As they passed through the milky way some -tiny star-fairies handed her a jewelled glass of the richest milk. She -was very glad, for it<a name="page_082" id="page_082"></a> seemed a long time since her supper of rice and -tea. She was far away from the lights of the city now, and surrounded by -the dazzling radiance of the stars. One very large star seemed to be the -queen, and all the little stars bowed down before it, chanting the -sweetest melody.</p> - -<p>They were getting nearer and nearer the moon now, and, oh, how very -large it was! To Kon Ying it had always seemed no larger than a small -Chinese lantern, but now, as she came nearer, it seemed greater than the -whole world. Soon she could see it no more, and the white rabbits told -her that they were already in the moon. It was the most beautiful -country. The velvet grass was covered with the sacred almond blossom -petals, and their perfume was sweeter<a name="page_083" id="page_083"></a> far than any incense. They passed -through a long avenue of pure white chrysanthemums, which showered their -petals upon them like snow. At the end of this avenue the chairs were -stopped, and cunning little white-rabbit pages assisted them gently to -the ground. A tender light flooded the place, and when Kon Ying raised -her eyes she saw before her a throne, draped with the flags of the -Imperial Court of China,—yellow silk, with blue dragons embroidered -upon them,—and on the throne sat the queen,—the good moon rabbit who -had heard her prayer.</p> - -<p>This queen was busily engaged in pounding rice, pounding it into a -powder, and then sending it down to earth, to be eaten during the Moon -Festival and the China New<a name="page_084" id="page_084"></a> Year. She wore a pink gauze dress all -covered with glittering spangles, and as Kon Ying approached the queen -was singing:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“The small-footed girl with the sweet little smile,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">She loves to eat sugar and sweets all the while;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Her money’s all gone, and because she can’t buy,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">She holds her small feet while she sits down to cry.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>It sounded very pretty, as the queen had quite a sweet voice, and Kon -Ying soon found herself singing it with all the others. The queen -extended one soft white paw in greeting, but kept on pounding rice with -the other.</p> - -<p>All the dear little Chinese ladies and men now seated themselves<a name="page_085" id="page_085"></a> around -the throne. The white-rabbit pages handed each one a different musical -instrument, and there burst forth the loveliest music that Kon Ying had -ever heard. She found that she could play quite as well as any of them, -which was a great surprise to her, as she had never before even touched -a musical instrument.</p> - -<p>After the music the queen ordered refreshments served, and they entered -a bower of almond blossoms and China lilies, seating themselves at a -long table, where they were served by a lot of tiny white-rabbit pages. -They ate with ivory chopsticks set with diamonds. The queen sat at the -head of the table, and could hold the chopsticks in her paws quite as -well as any one. What a feast that<a name="page_086" id="page_086"></a> was! Yet plenty of funny things -happened, even if it was a royal company. The queen forgot herself, and -stuck her nose right into a bowl of hot rice, at which there was a -general giggle. A page quickly brought a finger-bowl and sponged the -burnt nose, so it was all right.</p> - -<p>There were all sorts of good Chinese things to eat,—delicious <i>chah</i> -(tea) in little handleless bowls, all kinds of pretty moon-cakes, little -biscuit made of almond meal; watermelon seed, and many other things. -When the feast was ended the queen said that each of them could make one -wish, and it would be gratified. Kon Ying did not have to hesitate long -over her wish.</p> - -<p>She knew what she wanted more than anything in the world, and she<a name="page_087" id="page_087"></a> -remembered that she had prayed to the rabbit, so perhaps—perhaps—“Oh, -dear queen!” she said at last in her piping little voice, “I be <i>so</i> -good if only—if only—I could have—a doll, like the one in the shop -window; oh, if I could—if I could.”</p> - -<p>Her eyes were full of tears as she finished, for it meant so much to -her. The good moon rabbit replied: “You shall have your wish, little -one, for you are a good child.”</p> - -<p>Kon Ying now bade farewell to the queen and all the dear little Chinese -people, and jumping into the sedan chair was soon whirling away once -more, and in a short while found herself entering the window of her own -home, and placing her tired body on the bed. When she awoke the next -morning she re<a name="page_088" id="page_088"></a>membered the queen’s promise, and—what was that on her -bed, close beside her? A queer looking package, and on it, written in -Chinese letters, “For good little Kon Ying, from the moon labbit.” -Hastily tearing open the packet she saw disclosed—the DOLL! She fancied -the god frowned when he saw it.</p> - -<p>That night, when the narrow Chinese streets were gay with the many -lanterns, and sweet with the fragrant almond blossom and lily, and the -happy crowds were thronging the streets, the old highbinder passed the -door. He smiled as he saw little Kon Ying seated in the doorway, holding -the DOLL in her arms, and with rapture unspeakable in her childish -eyes.<a name="page_089" id="page_089"></a></p> - -<p>“Where you catch ’em?” he inquired in a jovial tone.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I so happy,” she said. “I went to the moon last night, and the moon -labbit <i>did</i> bling me the DOLL.”</p> - -<p>And the highbinder smiled.</p> - -<p><a name="page_090" id="page_090"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_091" id="page_091"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="HOW_SANTA_CLAUS_CAME_TO_SUEY_HIP" id="HOW_SANTA_CLAUS_CAME_TO_SUEY_HIP"></a><i>HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME TO SUEY HIP</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_092" id="page_092"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_093" id="page_093"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">S</span>UEY HIP was a little Chinese girl. She did not have a bright, cheerful -home, but lived in a cellar, with steps going down from the street. It -was dark and smoky down there, but of course it did not seem so bad to -Suey Hip as it would to those who have always had a nice home, because -she had never known anything else.</p> - -<p>Sometimes the children of a wealthy Chinese merchant would toddle by in -their richly embroidered robes, and their feet were so small they could -hardly walk. Suey Hip would sit on the top of the steps, and when<a name="page_094" id="page_094"></a> she -wished, play on the pavement in front of her home. And, oh, how she did -long for some of those pretty garments! But her <i>mo chun</i> worked very -hard to get what she had by sewing for the Chinese stores, and there was -no way to get anything more.</p> - -<p>Now one day when Suey Hip sat on the step sunning herself, and looking -with longing eyes at the people as they passed, there came a little -American girl, walking with her papa through the streets. Suey Hip was -very bashful, and hung her head, and scraped her little sandals on the -pavement as they passed before her.</p> - -<p>“Hello, little one,” said the man, in such a kind voice that Suey Hip -looked up, and as she did so, caught sight of something in the<a name="page_095" id="page_095"></a> little -Dorothy’s arms that put her little motherly heart all in a glow, and she -no longer felt afraid. What was it she saw? Why, just the loveliest big -doll, with eyes that opened and shut, and it was dressed all in pink -silk. Oh, the wonder and delight that sparkled in the dark eyes as she -gazed. It seemed too beautiful to be anything but a dream, and she cried -as she looked into the sweet face of little Dorothy: “Oh, what is it? -Where you catch ’em?”</p> - -<p>Dorothy laughed as she replied: “Why, this is my dollie; Santa Claus -brought it to me last Christmas.”</p> - -<p>“Sanny Claw? Who Sanny Claw?—what’s Clismas?” eagerly inquired the -child.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you know what Christmas is?” said Dorothy. “Why, Christ<a name="page_096" id="page_096"></a>mas is -the loveliest time of all the year. It is then that we hang up our -stockings, and in the night while we are asleep Santa Claus comes down -the chimney, and fills our stockings with the loveliest things—dolls -and toys and candy, and, oh—just everything.”</p> - -<p>All this time Dorothy’s papa stood listening in amused silence, as he -thought it best to let the children carry on their conversation in their -own way.</p> - -<p>“I wish I was you,” said Suey Hip. “Sanny Claw no come here; we no have -Clismas; you think he ever come—bling me doll?”</p> - -<p>Just then Dorothy’s papa spoke and said: “I tell you what to do. You get -your mamma to write a note in Chinese to Santa, and we<a name="page_097" id="page_097"></a> will come -to-morrow and get the note and I will see that Santa Claus gets it. It -is now just one month until Christmas, and who knows what may happen in -that time?”</p> - -<p>“You come again to-mollow?” eagerly inquired the child, and Dorothy -said, “Yes—yes, we will, won’t we, papa?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, dear, we will come again to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>When they had passed out of sight along the narrow streets, Suey Hip -toddled down the dark steps into the cellar she called home, and going -to her mother, who sat sewing by a tiny latticed window, she exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Oh, <i>mo chun</i>! little ’Melican girl she say Sanny Claw come evvy -yeah—bling doll—bling candy, toy, evvything. She say you lite<a name="page_098" id="page_098"></a> note to -Sanny Claw; tell him come bling me doll Clismas.”</p> - -<p>After a great deal of explanation she made her little brown mother -understand, and although she herself could not really believe that -anything so nice could happen to her child, yet she had a mother’s -tender heart, and was willing to do all the child asked of her. So she -left her work, and went to a little table where there were some -odd-looking writing materials, Suey Hip watching her eagerly all the -while, and taking up a slender brush-stick, dipped it in an ink-like -mixture, and began to make queer Chinese letters up and down the long -slip of red paper. After much effort it was finished, and given to Suey -Hip. She placed it carefully in a little</p> - -<p><a name="SUEY_HIP_WAS_VERY_MUCH_DRESSED_UP" id="SUEY_HIP_WAS_VERY_MUCH_DRESSED_UP"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 322px;"> -<a href="images/facing098_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing098_sml.jpg" width="322" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>Suey Hip was very much dressed up</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_099" id="page_099"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">vase, and went out again to play on the streets.</p> - -<p>She was so excited that night that she could hardly eat her supper of -rice and tea and little sweetened cakes. She was almost too much excited -to burn her incense before the little god in the corner, but she managed -to get through with it, and was then put to bed. Next day at the same -hour Suey Hip’s face had been scrubbed until it fairly shone, and her -thick black hair was pasted down and braided into a long queue. She wore -her best trousers and blouse of light blue silk, and little red sandals. -Suey Hip was very much dressed up.</p> - -<p>The shy little mother, who had also come out on the pavement to watch -for the Americans, put her<a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a> fan up to hide her face when she saw them -coming, and quietly as a mouse slipped down the steps again. Suey Hip -eagerly handed them the note which was to mean so much to her. Dorothy’s -mama had come with them this time, and when she caught a glimpse of the -timid little Chinese mother peeping eagerly up at them, she, with her -kind woman’s heart, stepped down into the dark cellar, and stretched out -both her white hands to meet the little brown hands of the mother who -lived in a cellar.</p> - -<p>She managed to make herself understood, and there was a good deal of low -talking, and mysterious signs between the two mothers, but they -understood, as mothers will; and papa pretended he did not see and hear. -Dorothy told Suey Hip it was just a<a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a> month until Christmas, and that -would not be very long—just four little weeks, which would soon pass. -Then Mrs. Suey shyly asked them to come in and have a cup of tea, which, -served in the dearest little bowls, proved to be the best they had ever -tasted.</p> - -<p>After that there were a great many calls from Dorothy and her mama, and -a great deal more of that mysterious whispering between the two mothers, -until at last it was announced that the very next day would be -Christmas. “Oh, too good—too good,” said Suey Hip, as she toddled -around, too delighted to be quiet one minute.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if the day would never pass, but after awhile the shadows -began to fall on the narrow streets,<a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a> and the big lanterns were lighted, -and made everything beautiful; and Suey Hip knew that she was the only -child in all the big Chinatown who would hang up her stocking that -night.</p> - -<p>The hour had come. She got out her very best pair of cream-colored -stockings, and with trembling little fingers hung them securely to the -foot of her couch, and was soon in the land of dreams. In the midst of -her dream she awoke with a start. She wondered if he had been here yet. -It was so dark, but oh—she felt as if she just couldn’t wait. But she -knew <i>mo chun</i> was tired, and she did not wish to awaken her, so she -crept softly to the foot of the bed, and groped around in the dark, for -her stockings. Once she almost fell off the bed, but finally her little -hands<a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a> found what she sought, and she felt the stockings.</p> - -<p>They were all lumpy and fat,—what could be in them? In the top of one -she felt something large—something with hands and feet and hair. Oh, -joy! could it be? But she must wait and see.</p> - -<p>Oh, how glad she was when she heard <i>mo chun</i> moving, and saw the first -glimmer of the day steal into their cellar home! With one bound she was -out of bed, and <i>mo chun</i> was as glad as she, for really and truly, in -the dark night, the “ ‘Melican Sanny Claw” had by some means crept down -there, and just filled her stockings with good things. The thing with -hands and feet and hair was a real doll, with big blue eyes that opened -and shut, and yellow<a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a> hair and a blue silk dress. It had on the dearest -little shoes and earrings, bracelets, a necklace, and a nice big hat.</p> - -<p>Oh, how she hugged it to her heart, and could scarcely put it down long -enough to see what else was there. Not only were the stockings full, but -there were lovely things all around. There was the nicest little trunk -for dollie, all full of pretty dresses and wraps, and there was doll -furniture, and the daintiest set of doll dishes. It seemed to the poor -little Chinese girl that she had everything in the world there was to -have, and—what do you suppose? Poked in through the little latticed -window they found a package, and on it the words—</p> - -<p class="c"> -“FOR MAMA SUEY, FROM<br /> -SANTA CLAUS.”<br /> -</p> - -<p><a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a></p> - -<p>When her trembling hands had eagerly opened it, what should she find but -a whole lot of gold money? Oh, how happy she was! Now she would not have -to work so hard, and strain her eyes at night by the dim candle. Now, -they could have some pork whenever they wished, and they pictured all -the happiness it would bring them. When Dorothy’s papa and mama came -that day they found the happiest hearts in the whole big city, and when -they saw the joy that had come into this little cellar home, they were -glad that they had given the note to dear old “Sanny Claw.”</p> - -<p><a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_EASTER_DREAM_OF_MUN_CHEE" id="THE_EASTER_DREAM_OF_MUN_CHEE"></a><i>THE EASTER DREAM OF MUN CHEE</i><a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a></h2> - -<p><a name="SHE_SOMETIMES_LONGED_TO_GET_OUT_SHE_AND_HER_TWO_LITTLE_BROTHERS" id="SHE_SOMETIMES_LONGED_TO_GET_OUT_SHE_AND_HER_TWO_LITTLE_BROTHERS"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/facing109_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing109_sml.jpg" width="450" height="301" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>She sometimes longed to get out, she and her two little brothers</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a></p> - -<p>Mun Chee had a wonderful dream one night. Being a little Chinese -aristocrat, she had never played just as the common people’s children -play, and in her little heart she sometimes longed to get out, she and -her two little brothers, and run wild through the narrow Chinese -streets, and to be as free as the winds, just as the children of poor -people might do; but she could not do this. So much was due to her -station in life, as she was to be a Chinese lady some far-off day. So -one night,—just the night before<a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a> Easter,—after she had fallen asleep -on her couch of bamboo, she dreamed a dream as beautiful as a poor -child—a child of a coolie even might dream, for dreams are free to all, -rich and poor. Perhaps it was because she had gone to sleep wondering if -her house would be visited by the Easter rabbit, of which an American -friend had told her; perhaps—but then, it does not matter what the -reason was, for suddenly she felt some soft little taps on her eyelids, -and a warm breath fanned her cheek, and opening her eyes she beheld the -dearest, cunningest little rabbit—a white one, with bright pink eyes. -It was perched on the edge of her bed, and had awakened her by tapping -her Oriental eyelids with its soft white paws. It looked so gentle that -she<a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a> loved it right away, and said: “Who are you?”</p> - -<p>It replied in a tiny voice: “If it please your highness, I am the queen -of the Easter rabbits; I thought you might like to go with me for a -little visit to my realm, the beautiful Easterland.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I likee go,” said Mun Chee. “It must be all light to visit a queen. -Yes, yes, I will go, but how?”</p> - -<p>“Trust to me, and you shall arrive safely; I will carry you on my back.”</p> - -<p>“You? Why, you too small; I such a big girl; you no can cally me.”</p> - -<p>“Wait and see!” said Queen Bunny, and with that she began to grow and -grow and grow, right before Mun Chee’s astonished eyes, and pretty soon -she was as big as a horse.<a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a></p> - -<p>“Oh, how could you do it?” gasped the little Chinese girl.</p> - -<p>“Because I am in league with the fairies, and have all power,” the queen -said. “Jump on my back, if it please your ladyship, and we will hasten -away.”</p> - -<p>She jumped gracefully to the back of the rabbit, and clasped her plump -arms tightly around its neck. They bounded up, up, until they were so -high in the air that they could not see the world below.</p> - -<p>“I neveh knew that labbits could fly,” said she.</p> - -<p>“Well, all rabbits cannot fly,” said the queen, “only those of royal -blood. There are rabbits and rabbits, you know, just as there are people -and people. My sceptre is a white Easter lily, and whoever it<a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a> touches -is at once possessed of unlimited power.”</p> - -<p>Now they came to the land of the birds, where they were fairly -intoxicated with the beautiful music thrilling from the throats of these -feathered songsters. Some of the trees were bright blue, and were filled -with all kinds of blue birds; then a yellow tree, something like the -acacia, was filled with canaries, making the air fairly alive with song. -So they floated on, until the songs of the birds were but an echo.</p> - -<p>Then came Candy-land. My! how good it smelled in this wonderful -place—all pepper-minty and nice! and what a variety of trees there -were—some big, big trees, just full of Chinese preserved ginger! and -how Mun Chee did long to put her strong<a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a> white teeth into some of it! -Then there were trees so soft and white that they looked almost as if -they were covered with snow; but it really was only white marsh-mallows. -Then there were tiny Chinese fairies running all around, pulling -bon-bons apart, and squealing with delight when they popped.</p> - -<p>Then came Monkey-land, and this was the funniest of all, and even made a -little Chinese girl laugh. Some of them were playing a game of base-ball -with cocoanuts, and Mun Chee was all the time afraid one of them would -get hit in the head; but they seemed to know just how to avoid that. -Some of them ran up and asked her to stay to dinner with them, and then, -when they thought she was not looking, they made such<a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a> horrible faces at -her that she was glad she had not accepted their invitation. After she -had watched several games she hurried on again, looking back once, to -see some of the monkeys throwing kisses at her and others making the -ugliest faces. That might have been their way of being polite, though -she really could not say, as she was not up in the etiquette of monkeys.</p> - -<p>Next came the land of bears. There were all kinds,—black, brown, and -white. She was scared at first, but the rabbit queen assured her they -were harmless, and warranted not to hug. They were dancing some kind of -a queer dance, and one silky white one, that looked just like a rug she -had at home, came and asked if the little celestial aristocrat would -honor<a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a> him with the next dance. A look from the eyes of Queen Bunny told -her she had better accept, and she did so, smiling graciously upon the -bear. Around they went, in a giddy whirl, her queue flying in the wind, -until it seemed to Mun Chee that everything was going around with them, -and she panted: “If it’s just the same to you, I’d rather sit out the -rest of this dance.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly, your highness,” growled old bruin, and when she was seated -he brought her a dish of sweetened snowballs, which were quite -refreshing.</p> - -<p>When she told them good-by this same bear could not resist the -temptation of giving her just a teeny-weeny hug, but it didn’t hurt, and -she was quite sure he meant it as a mark of especial favor.<a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a></p> - -<p>Next came the land of cats. Each land had its queen, and here it was -Queen Malta, an immense maltese cat with large, yellow eyes. Such a -purring as they made when they saw Mun Chee and Queen Bunny approaching! -It was not often they were honored by royalty. The queen approached -them, walking on her hind legs, her long silky tail held by a page,—a -tiny white kitten, dressed in gauze and spangles.</p> - -<p>“In what way shall it please your gracious majesties to be entertained?” -said Queen Malta; but to any one else it would have sounded like -“Miaouw—miaouw—miaouw—”</p> - -<p>Mun Chee replied: “I likee some music.”</p> - -<p>Thereupon the queen tapped a silver bell, and there sprang lightly<a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a> into -view a perfect chorus of the most beautiful cats. After curtseying to -the royal guests they began the music, and they sang the funniest songs -imaginable. Mun Chee laughed till her little sides ached, but when she -applauded, the noise scared away all the cats, and they scampered off, -regardless of good manners. Queen Malta called them back, and explained -matters, however, and the program was carried out without any further -commotion. Mun Chee would like to have lingered for quite a while in -each of these strange countries, but Queen Bunny told her it was -approaching the hour when they were expected at the Easter castle, and -so, after a few more swift turns through the air, they began to descend -softly, softly,<a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a> until faint strains of music fell upon their ears.</p> - -<p>It was a triumphant march of welcome, and the notes rose glad and high. -Soon Mun Chee felt her feet touch the soft grass, and unclasping her -arms from about the rabbit’s neck, she stood and gazed about her in a -perfect bewilderment of rapture. This was so different from any of the -other countries; everywhere the eye rested upon the soft green tracery -of leaves and trees, great beds of delicate fern, and flowers of every -hue. Through an avenue of tall, waxen Easter lilies she was conducted by -two tiny white rabbits, and as they walked, a glorious anthem sounded -from all the great Easter lilies, and the golden clappers clanged -musically against their satin whiteness.<a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a></p> - -<p>All the while there was a strange and wonderful perfume filling the air, -even sweeter than the scent of the punks burned before the joss in the -temple. Some of the lilies bent down and kissed the dear little Chinese -maiden as she passed, and their breath was sweeter than any perfume. -After being royally entertained in the palace of pure white pearl the -child was conducted into the queen’s garden, where a feast was spread -under the shade of some tall ferns. Being seated, they were served to -delicious tea, in dainty cups, shaped like Easter lilies. Many good -things were placed before the little girl, who was very hungry, after -her long flight through the air, and nothing in her own home had ever -tasted half so good as did these<a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a> dishes served by the dear little white -rabbits.</p> - -<p>After much chatting and laughing the strange meal was ended, and the -rabbit queen presented Mun Chee with a large basket of pearl and silver, -lined with blue and yellow, the colors of the Imperial Court of China, -and announced that they would now start out in search of Easter eggs. -“Oh, what fun!” said Mun Chee, clapping her hands for joy. A white -rabbit page went by her side, and carried her basket. Soon they came to -a dense forest of fern, and Mun Chee heard a high, squeaky voice saying:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Search for the one with long, long legs,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">And you may find some Easter eggs.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>“How queer!” thought Mun Chee, “to tell me about it. Well,<a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a> if it has -velly long legs I betteh quit looking on the glound, and look up.” She -did so, and away back among the ferns she saw some funny bright eyes -peeping at her.</p> - -<p>“Why, it is a stok” (stork), she exclaimed.</p> - -<p>With that the stork came forward, and extended a long claw in greeting, -and, pointing to a large nest artfully concealed among the ferns, he -said: “You may take what you see, and welcome.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, thank you!” she said, and taking several of the very large eggs, -placed them carefully in her basket.</p> - -<p>“Oh, they won’t break,” said Queen Bunny. “The eggs in Easterland are -warranted not to break.”</p> - -<p>And now the soft trill of a canary rippled from a tree,—a tiny tree,<a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a> -that a child could easily reach. Sure enough, there was the dearest -little canary, perched on a branch, singing sweetly,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Come and see! come and see,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">What Canary has for thee.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>There in the little nest were a lot of the tiniest eggs, and all bright -yellow, just the color of Mrs. Canary herself.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you gentle little thing—you so good to give me youh cunning little -eggs.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t mention it!” said Canary.</p> - -<p>Then a white dove cooed from its house near by,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Coo-coo, you are true,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Come and take my gift for you.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>Her gift was six eggs, pure white, with just the tiniest little pink -polka<a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a>dots in them. While she was admiring them she heard a gentle purr, -which seemed to come from the ground under her feet, and looking down -she saw peeping from a moss-lined hole in the ground a pair of pink -eyes, and a white, soft paw, as the voice of this Easter rabbit -purred,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Put your hand into the ground,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">And find what no one else has found.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>“Well, I likee find what no one else has found,” she said; and putting -her hand into the moss-lined nest, she drew out—not an egg, as she had -expected, but six of the tiniest baby rabbits, no bigger than her thumb.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you cunning little babies! You shall go and live with me,” said Mun -Chee; and thanking the Easter<a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a> rabbit, she passed on to the home of a -blue-bird, on a swinging bough, and heard her singing,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Roses red, my eggs are blue,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Come! and I will give you two.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>What a beautiful blue they were, to be sure! just like the sky. Then a -loud cackling fell upon her ear, and she could distinguish the words,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“If you will give me a piece of bread<br /></span> -<span class="i1">I’ll bring you some eggs, all bright and red.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>She saw that the queer voice came from a bright red little hen, who gave -her some beautiful eggs when she had given the bread.</p> - -<p>Following the sound of a sharp voice she walked along the path until she -came to a most beautiful peacock, gorgeous in the spread of its -wonderful plumage.<a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a></p> - -<p>This pleased her more than any of the others, because the peacock -feather is sacred to the Chinese, and is used in their temples where -they pray to the joss. The peacock’s offering was a very large bunch of -these brilliant feathers, to take to her <i>mo chun</i>, while it said in a -queer, sharp voice,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“It matters not, my little one, how stormy is the weather;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The joss will always care for those who have a peacock feather.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>“Now for the last place,” said Queen Bunny; and following the sound of a -terrible screeching noise, they climbed a ladder into a tall tree, and -there was a beautiful American eagle. It was not cross a bit, as eagles -usually are, but was singing,—</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“The gift I have, little girl, for you<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Is three big eggs—red, white, and blue.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a></p> - -<p>It seemed to Mun Chee that the best came last, for these were such -beautiful eggs, and so different from any of the others. Her basket was -quite full now, and as she saw the shade growing more dense beneath the -trees she thought it must be quite time for her to return to her own -home. So, after bidding good-by to all the royal company of white -rabbits, and having her arms filled with the fragrant China lilies, she -sprang upon the queen’s back once more, and sped away—away—far from -the Easter palace—the palace of a dream.</p> - -<p><a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="PING_PONG_AND_PING_YET" id="PING_PONG_AND_PING_YET"></a><i>PING PONG AND PING YET</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">P</span>ING PONG was not a game, but a dear little Chinese boy, who was eagerly -looking forward to something which was almost like an American -Christmas. The Chinese do not have any Christmas, but they have -something else which serves the purpose, as far as their eager little -hearts are concerned, and that is, the Festival of the Moon. Ping Pong’s -round, fat, and very dirty face looked something like a moon as he -leaned over the counter in his father’s drug store, and watched him -weigh and mix portions of dried lizards and snakes for his customers;<a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a> -for the Chinese use dried lizards and snakes, and all sorts of funny -things, for medicine.</p> - -<p>It would seem so very queer to an American child, but it did not strike -little Ping Pong as being at all out of the way, and he would probably -have thought it just as strange to know that people took powders and -pills. He thought when he grew up to be a “velly big man” like his -father, he would either be a druggist or a highbinder, or better still -he might be both; yet, a highbinder was one who always sought a way of -killing people he did not like, and a druggist sometimes killed people -he really did like,—but that was always through mistake, of course.</p> - -<p>Ping Pong and his dear little sister Ping Yet were teasing the -<a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a>good-natured father to take them to the joss house. That was indeed a -queer idea. Why should two children wish to go to the temple to pray to -the joss? Surely the father could pray enough for himself and his -family, too. But he never liked to refuse any reasonable request of his -children, so he asked advice of the little mother, who was engaged in -some very mysterious occupation which compelled her to keep the kitchen -door locked. <i>Mo chun</i> opened the door cautiously, and, peeping out, -whispered to <i>ho chun</i>, who smiled in a peculiar way. “What foh you -likee go joss house, you <i>hai tongs</i>?” (babies), she now asked, and Ping -Pong replied: “We likee play to good joss to bling us pletty -moon-cakes.”<a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a></p> - -<p>The mother had to giggle at that, in her dear little Chinese way, for -she knew a good deal about moon-cakes, and knew about the white rabbit. -But she was not going to tell all she knew, just now, so she only smiled -in her sweet mother way, and gave her consent to their going.</p> - -<p>It was just getting dark when they left, and the proud father started -out to the joss house with a happy child on each side of him, and two -small brown hands clasped tightly in his big brown ones. They had never -been to the temple before, but they had heard it was a very good thing -to do when one wanted anything very badly.</p> - -<p>“How pletty the big dlagon lantehns look!” they exclaimed.<a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a></p> - -<p>Yes, the big lanterns did indeed look pretty, as they gleamed and swayed -in front of every door in the big Chinatown of San Francisco, and looked -like big golden moons, almost as big as the moon in which the white -rabbit lived. The streets were very gay at this season, and the shops -were full of people buying gifts.</p> - -<p>Little Ping Yet made a very pretty picture as she shyly patted down the -narrow streets with her embroidered sandals, wide silken trousers, and -blue silk blouse richly embroidered by the loving fingers of her dear -<i>mo chun</i>. Her polished hair was done in a queue.</p> - -<p>The moon rabbit must surely have passed this way, for the windows were -all full of little cakes shaped like the<a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a> moon. They thought that all -the year, while they were flying kites, popping fire-crackers, and -playing in the street in front of their home, the white rabbit must be -always pounding rice.</p> - -<p>It took them a very long time to get to the joss house, because there -were so many interesting things on the way. Ping Pong, in boyish -eagerness, pressed his little nose and dirty fingers right up against -the glass in one place, or at least he thought it was the glass, until -he fell right in, with his nose on a candy pagoda thirteen stories high, -and then he found out his mistake. That glass happened to be broken out, -and he was very much embarrassed. The gingerbread peacock seemed to -glare scornfully at him as his <i>ho chun</i> pulled<a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a> him out, and the -painted gods and goddesses seemed to smile on him in a pitying way.</p> - -<p>Little Ping Yet was as much ashamed as if she herself had fallen with -her nose on a Chinese pagoda, and she hid her face with her wide silken -sleeves. But the shopkeeper was good natured and said, with a kindly pat -of the button on top of Ping Pong’s round Chinese cap, “Neveh mind! -that’s all light; you heap good <i>samen jai</i> and <i>ne jai</i> (boy and girl). -I hope you get heap plenty moon-cake flom the white labbit.”</p> - -<p>They wandered on in happy abandon, until they reached the long steps, -which, <i>ho chun</i> informed them, led up to the temple of the good Joss. -They had so often wondered<a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a> what the joss looked like; was he a big -rabbit, or a peacock, or perhaps a dragon with scaly sides and spitting -fire? They secretly hoped, in their innocent little hearts, that if it -was a “dlagon” he would refrain from spitting fire while they were -there. When they thought of what might await them, they were almost -sorry they had come, and their timid little hearts beat fearfully -against their blouses; but the touch of <i>ho chun’s</i> strong hand was -reassuring, and they reflected that surely there could be nothing so -very dreadful up there, or he would not have taken them.</p> - -<p>First they passed through a room where some Chinamen were selling long -narrow red-paper packages of incense sticks. <i>Ho chun</i> bought one, and -the men spoke kindly to the<a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a> boy and girl, and they passed on. Up -another flight of steps they went, until it seemed as if they must be -almost as high up as the moon. A strong odor of incense greeted their -nostrils, and it seemed good, for they were accustomed to it, as it was -always burning at home before the different gods and ancestral tablets.</p> - -<p>The odor grew stronger, and they heard some one beating the big gong. -Soon they had placed their sandalled feet upon the last step, and their -oblique eyes were fairly dazzled with the sparkle and beauty of it all.</p> - -<p>“Where joss? I likee see him,” they both exclaimed in awed whispers, -while <i>ho chun</i> pointed to the gaudy altar, gay with its brass carv<a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a>ings -and rosettes of red paper. Bright peacock feathers were plentiful, and -seemed to stare at them with a thousand eyes. Back of it all, in a -sheltered recess, was the joss. They heaved a sigh of relief that he was -not a dragon. An American child would have thought him perfectly -hideous, but the Chinese children have such different ideas, and they -exclaimed rapturously, “Oh, velly pletty joss! heap fine god; me likee.”</p> - -<p>Perhaps they thought it best to say very nice things of him in his -presence, however, because it would never do to offend him, or he might -not allow the white “labbit” to visit them. So they ventured quite near, -and spoke in tones he could not fail to hear.<a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a></p> - -<p>After a whispered consultation with <i>ho chun</i> they opened the pretty -red-paper package, and each took from it two incense sticks, and their -father having lighted them, the children waved them several times right -under the nose of the great and high one, and bowed their little heads -to the floor a great many times, meanwhile asking in their innocent -little way that the good joss would please make the white rabbit bring -them something nice. When they had finished, they placed the rest of the -incense sticks in the great brass urn in front of the joss, and the -sacred ashes fell down and helped to fill it up. Every time they had -bowed their heads the big gong had been beaten, and at first the noise -had frightened them, but finally they grew to like it.<a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a></p> - -<p><i>Ho chun</i> thought that while they were there, they had better try -throwing the fortune sticks, as he knew it would please them, so he -picked up a tall round box, full of bamboo sticks, and explained it to -them. They first asked the joss “Will we get any moon-cakes?” Then each -in turn took the box and shook it until one stick fell out, when they -picked it up, and <i>ho chun</i> read the Chinese number on it, then looked -in a book and found out what that number said. Fortunately the answer -was favorable, and they felt happy now. That meant that they might -really expect some gift from the moon rabbit.</p> - -<p>Before going home they all stepped out on the beautiful balcony on which -were swinging the biggest lan<a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a>terns they had ever seen, and they leaned -over the edge, where there were great pots of the pretty China lily in -blossom, with red papers tied around the stems, and looked at the -hundreds of people passing below them. The grown-up people all had their -arms full of bundles, and little three-cornered brown paper parcels. All -was noisy and happy and bright, because it was the eve of the Moon -Festival, and the shopping must all be done before the rabbit should -come.</p> - -<p>Down the long steps they went again, and into the crowded street, where -all was joy and delight, and mysterious whispering.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that pletty pagoda!” said Ping Pong, “I so ’flaid the labbit no -bling me pagoda, I think <i>ho chun</i> betteh get.”<a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a></p> - -<p><i>Ho chun</i> laughed and said, “No! I wait and see if the labbit come, I -think bimeby he come and bling pagoda; I no can tell—we wait and see.”</p> - -<p>But what if he should forget to bring one? and they were such beautiful -pagodas, and all made of candy. The little round faces were sober for a -while, thinking how very dreadful it would be if, after all, the rabbit -did not come, or, if he did come, and should forget to bring the -much-desired pagoda.</p> - -<p>They were very tired when at last they reached their home, over which -gleamed the big golden Chinese letters of welcome, and in a little bowl -beside the door burned the punk sticks, day and night, to keep the evil -spirits from entering their home.<a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a> Their tired little legs could hardly -climb the stairs, but at last they were there, and had tumbled into the -mother’s loving arms, and had been kissed and questioned thoroughly.</p> - -<p><i>Mo chun</i> was really astonished to hear of the glorious time they had -enjoyed, and of the many wonders they had seen. When they mentioned the -pagoda she was suddenly seized with the giggles, and her laughter was so -merry and contagious that they all laughed till their sides ached, -though the children could not have told why they laughed. The mother and -father knew why, but they would not tell. The hour had come, and indeed -it was long past the hour when they should have gone to bed, but then -the beautiful Moon Festival came only once a year,<a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a> and so they might be -allowed a few privileges. They were finally asleep on their beds of -matting, and the mother looked tenderly at the rosy little faces as she -went into the kitchen—the kitchen which for some reason had been locked -all day.</p> - -<p>Well, morning came at last, as it always does, and before the sun was up -Ping Pong and his sister jumped out of bed, exclaiming: “Oh, <i>mo chun</i>, -has the white labbit been?”</p> - -<p>Oh, what were all those beautiful things on the table? Why, the whole -room was changed. When they had gone to bed the night before, there was -nothing there but just the things that belonged in the room, and -now—and now— The white rabbit had</p> - -<p><a name="THERE_WAS_A_BIG_BOUQUET_FOR_PING_PONG" id="THERE_WAS_A_BIG_BOUQUET_FOR_PING_PONG"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 448px;"> -<a href="images/facing146_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing146_sml.jpg" width="448" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>There was a big bouquet for Ping Pong</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">surely been here, for the table was covered with the most beautiful -gifts they had ever seen,—lots of cunning little moon-cakes, sprinkled -with poppy and caraway seed; and some like a horse and a cow, and all -sorts of funny animals. And there was a big bouquet for Ping Pong, -because it was his birthday too.</p> - -<p>There were also some big candy dragons, with great staring eyes, but -now, instead of the dragons eating them, they were going to eat the -dragons. My! what fun that would be! and they could not wait, but -planted their strong white teeth in the white heads, and bit them off. -My! how sweet they were! so sweet that their bodies went next, and soon -there were no dragons at all.<a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a></p> - -<p>There were all kinds of gaudily painted toys of clay, and little Ping -Yet’s dancing eyes danced more than ever, and she fairly rippled over -with smiles when she saw, sticking out of a bright red pair of -embroidered sandals, a real Chinese doll. It looked very much like Ping -Yet herself, with its bright black eyes, rosy cheeks, and coal-black -hair. She thought it surely must be the most beautiful thing in the -whole big world, but <i>mo chun</i> said she knew something more beautiful. -The little one wondered vaguely what it could be, and how anything could -be more beautiful, but she was too busy to wonder long, for Ping Pong -had uttered such a shriek of delight that she almost jumped out of her -little sandals. What could be the matter?<a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a></p> - -<p>“What foh you cly? you buhn youh fingeh?” she cried; and he in reply -pointed to the cause of all his excitement; it was—oh, joy!—a pagoda, -and <i>mo chun</i> said:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“The dragon pagoda it touches the sky;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The dragon pagoda, thirteen stories high.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>It was just exactly like the one they had asked <i>ho chun</i> to buy, and -the dear white rabbit in the moon must have seen right down into their -minds and brought what they wished. And oh, they were so glad now that -they had gone to the joss house, and burned the incense and thrown the -fortune sticks, for if they had not—who knows?—the white rabbit might -have forgotten them.</p> - -<p><a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_LITTLE_ALMOND_BLOSSOM" id="THE_LITTLE_ALMOND_BLOSSOM"></a><i>THE LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOM</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">M</span>O CHUN called her the little Almond Blossom, as she was so bright and -beautiful, and she loved her so. Her real name was Gum Sing, and she -was, so the mother thought, the prettiest thing in all the big Chinatown -of San Francisco.</p> - -<p>Gum Sing’s father kept a store, where they sold all sorts of fine china -and silk. She often went to her father’s store, but never alone. Oh, no! -she was too precious to be trusted out alone, and then she was too young -to find her way through the winding streets, and the doors all<a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a> looked -alike to her, so the <i>mo chun</i> or the nurse always accompanied her.</p> - -<p>Gum Sing had such a round, dimpled face, and there always seemed to be -kisses lurking in the dimples. And she had the merriest little -laugh,—just like music to her mother. It was not enough for <i>mo chun</i> -to see this little face every day, and to sleep on the hard pillow with -it at night. No, that was not enough, for how could any one ever have -enough of so fair a thing? So the father and mother agreed that their -little Almond Blossom must have her picture taken. That was a great day -in the house of Gum. Such an event had never happened before.</p> - -<p>Now Gum Sing did not know at all what it meant to have her picture<a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a> -taken, but she knew by the smiles on her mother’s face, and by the -careful and proud manner in which she was being arrayed, that it could -be no small thing, and that some way or other she was expected to look -as beautiful and as much like the almond flower as she could, as that -was sacred to the Chinese.</p> - -<p>With delight she saw that she was to wear her lavender silk blouse. “Oh, -<i>mo chun</i>,” she giggled, “I likee wear <i>ho chun’s</i> big gold watch.”</p> - -<p>Now, although the little mother did not think it just exactly the proper -thing for any one so tiny as Gum Sing to wear a watch and chain, yet -this was such an important event—and such a proud moment for her—that -she could see no harm in letting her have her way about it<a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a> this time. -She insisted upon carrying <i>mo chun’s</i> big fan, too, and it certainly -did look very wonderful to see it clasped in the tiny brown hand.</p> - -<p>The trousers of pink silk were so bright and pretty, and the dainty -little sandals had been embroidered by <i>mo chun</i> herself.</p> - -<p>When all was ready, <i>ho chun</i> appeared on the scene, and the happy party -started out for the photograph gallery of Hen Yin Gock.</p> - -<p>“I so happy—I so glad,” giggled the little Gum Sing, not knowing just -what she was happy about, only she was such a happy little thing always, -and being the only child had so much love given her. At last they -reached the place. There did not seem to be anything wonderful about it. -There was a window with a lot<a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a> of pictures in it, and a crowd of -Chinamen were jostling each other to see them. Then they ascended the -stairway and rapped on the door, and some one called out in Chinese, -“<i>Yap loi le</i>,” which means “Come in.”</p> - -<p>They went in, and the man talked to them pleasantly, but when he went -and put his head under a black curtain on some kind of a box, then Gum -Sing thought it was time to complain. This was too much! She cried: “<i>Mo -chun</i>—I no likee—will it hurt? I ’flaid the big dlagon come out of the -box.” (The nurse had evidently been telling her stories about the big -Chinese dragon.)</p> - -<p>Then the good Hen Yin Gock came out from the curtain, and assured her -that there was no danger.<a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a> He brought out two lovely yellow roses in a -vase, and put them on a small table with a bright cover, and then told -Gum Sing: “If you heap good girl, and do what I say, I give you the -floweh, pletty soon.”</p> - -<p>Then he also placed on the table a flute, with gaily colored tassels, -and then the cunningest little jar, which looked very much as if it -might contain preserved ginger, and she was just thinking how much she -liked preserved ginger when the man said: “Now keep still! look light at -this box!” (The little mother trembled; could it be that after all there -was something horrible in the box?) “There is a little bird in this box, -and you may see it fly out if you are quiet. Now!—all leady!” (ready).<a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a></p> - -<p>Gum Sing was so full of giggles that she could hardly be quiet, and the -dimples chased each other all over her sunny face. The father and mother -gazed with love and admiration at the beauty of their little almond -flower, with one hand thrown carelessly on the table and the other -grasping the fan.</p> - -<p>“There!” at last said the photographer.</p> - -<p>Gum Sing wanted to know what it was all about, yet she could not seem to -find out. But several days after that, when <i>ho chun</i> was out on the -pavement in front of their home, putting some China lilies in a bowl of -water, a man came, and handed him a little package. Gum Sing was all -curiosity in a minute.</p> - -<p>“Oh, <i>ho chun</i>, what is it? Let<a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a> me see!” she cried, and <i>mo chun</i> was -almost as eager. So the father opened the package while they waited -wonderingly, and there, before their eyes, on pieces of polished -cardboard—could it be?—yes, yes!—the picture of their little Almond -Blossom—big watch, fan, dimples, giggle and all.</p> - -<p>But Gum Sing wonders to this day why the bird did not come out of the -box.<a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_CHRISTMAS_OF_GUM_CHING" id="THE_CHRISTMAS_OF_GUM_CHING"></a><i>THE CHRISTMAS OF GUM CHING</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">G</span>UM CHING lived in America, but she had no way of knowing it, as she -never saw any of the country, and was kept in her home all the time. As -she was unfortunate enough to be a girl, she had never been permitted to -go anywhere, except to play on the street in front of her father’s -store. Sometimes, when playing thus, she had seen little American girls -drive by in carriages with their mamas, and they seemed to be having so -much fun that little Gum Ching would look very sad after they had -passed, and would say to her brother Gum Lee: “I wish <i>I</i><a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a> was a -’Melican little girl—they have heap good time.”</p> - -<p>It was Christmas day, yet this had never meant any happiness for Gum -Ching, for the Chinese save all their good times for the New Year. But -it chanced that her little brother had been attending the Mission, and -learning to read, and the little sister had heard him say that they were -going to have a Christmas tree at the Mission that very night.</p> - -<p>“What can a Christmas tree be?” said the little Chinese girl to herself; -and her thoughts were busy with this all day, wondering what kind of a -strange tree it was.</p> - -<p>Oh, if she could only go! But how could she, when she had never been out -of Chinatown, and there might be all sorts of ugly things waiting to<a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a> -catch her as she passed. She could see the Mission from their upstairs -window, and she wondered vaguely if any of the little “ ‘Melican” girls -who had passed in their carriages would be there. She said to herself: -“Even if they should punish me when I get home I no care—because then I -have something nice to think of, anyway.”</p> - -<p>The darkness came at last, and Gum Ching had never been out in the dark. -She never knew before that it was quite so black, but she had made up -her mind to go, no matter what the consequences were.</p> - -<p>Now Gum Ching did not have any mama, and it was very lonely for her at -home, with no one but just her <i>ho chun</i> and the little brother, who was -always off playing with<a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a> some boys. After she had eaten her supper, and -had seen <i>ho chun</i> light his long opium pipe, she knew then that he -would lie down, and not awaken until the morning. So she slipped out and -toddled on, in her small sandals, in the direction of the light which -streamed from the windows of the mission.</p> - -<p>She looked up at the sky, and was just saying: “I wondeh what those -pletty spahkling things are up there; I likee have one;” when suddenly -she heard a mighty roar, and right through the blackness of the night -came a great demon of fire, snorting, puffing, and screaming, and coming -right toward the poor little trembling Gum Ching. She feared to move, -and so stood quite still until the big giant had passed, and van<a name="page_167" id="page_167"></a>ished -again into the darkness of the night.</p> - -<p>It was only the train, but Gum Ching did not know. She was only a girl. -Onward she started again, brave little soul, and soon she had reached -the Mission. No one would ever know what a terrible undertaking it was -for a little girl from China.</p> - -<p>The door was open, and a soft radiance streamed out, and lit up the -timid form of the little Gum Ching, as she stood on the step, in the -dark and the cold.</p> - -<p>She could hear a confused murmur of happy voices, and just as she was -hesitating whether she would venture in or turn and fly back to her -lonely home again, a kind hand clasped hers, and a woman’s tender<a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a> voice -said: “Why, come right in, dear.”</p> - -<p>Gum Ching’s eyes filled with tears, for she had never before known the -sweetness of a loving woman’s voice. She was led into the room, not even -caring now if she was punished, for it was well worth it. Her sparkling -oblique eyes almost danced out of her head at all this beauty. -Everywhere were sparkles—sparkles—and they fairly dazzled her. It must -be a dream, she thought. She looked before her, and—what was that great -green tree towering toward the ceiling? It was—it must be—the -Christmas tree! And did all those pretty things really grow on the tree? -she could not understand it.</p> - -<p>Her brother could not believe his eyes when he saw her there. -She?—<a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a>nothing but a girl?—what right had she to enjoy herself? But she -was there, for all that, and her small brown and timid hand was held in -a warm and loving clasp by one of the kind teachers, and she was made to -feel that, after all, in the big lonely world there was some one who -cared, and her little heart was full to overflowing, and she had to -blink very hard to keep back the tears—tears of pure joy.</p> - -<p>She was given many things from that beautiful tree, and, best of all, -the teacher took her home; and <i>ho chun</i> was good to her, and did not -punish her at all, but promised—just think of it! promised—that she -could go to the tree again next year.</p> - -<p><a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="HO_CHINS_FOURTH_OF_JULY" id="HO_CHINS_FOURTH_OF_JULY"></a><i>HO CHIN’S FOURTH OF JULY</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">H</span>O CHIN was ten years old, and had never had a Fourth of July. Just -think of it! Ho Chin was the son of the Chinese Consul, and his rank -placed him so far above the ordinary Chinese boys that he was very much -looked up to, and respected by them. Ho Chin did not live in one of the -small, dark, opium-scented rooms in which the rest of the Chinese -children lived, but in the elegant Consulate with its large rooms and -marble stairway; but, after all, he was just a boy, and liked the things -that boys liked. He attended a very select American<a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a> school, and dressed -in American style. In fact, nothing was too good for Ho Chin—the eldest -son of a Consul. But you know, sometimes he almost wished he was a -common boy, and could run and play, and have the perfect freedom of the -street boy.</p> - -<p>Now at school he had of late heard of nothing but the Fourth of July. -“What is the Fourth of July?” he finally ventured to ask.</p> - -<p>And Johnny Moore replied, only too glad to be the first one to divulge -all its wonders, “Why, it’s—it’s—fire-crackers, you know, and flags -and soldiers, and popcorn and peanuts, and—and—everything. It’s the -best time of the year; say, it’s just bully! Didn’t you ever see one?”<a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a></p> - -<p>“No,” gasped the delighted Ho Chin. “Oh, do you think my papa would let -me?” And from that time on he could hardly study, his mind was so taken -up with this new subject, and he acted so strangely at home that his -mama, who was a beautiful Chinese lady and loved her handsome boy, was -very much worried over the change in him. He would leave his tea and -rice untasted, and rush from the table most unexpectedly. Why? Because -he had heard a faint whistle outside, from some of his American boy -friends, and he was eager to get out to them, to talk about the -wonderful event which was coming so near.</p> - -<p>The more he thought of it, the more he decided in his mind that he had -better not tell his father about<a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a> it, because if he told him and should -be refused—if— Oh, he could not bear the thought. He knew that his -father had never allowed him alone on the Chinese streets, for wise -fathers always accompany their children. For who could tell when the -child of a wealthy and noted man might be kidnapped? And the timid -little Chinese mother was never really happy when he was out of her -sight.</p> - -<p>So the time flew by. The Consul was called to a distant part of the -state on official business, and when Ho Chin awoke in the gray dawn of -the early morning his first thought was: “Well, I can’t tell papa when -he is not here, and I know if I told mama she would not let me go. What -will I do? I can’t miss it.</p> - -<p><a name="THROUGH_THE_NARROW_STREETS" id="THROUGH_THE_NARROW_STREETS"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 325px;"> -<a href="images/facing176_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing176_sml.jpg" width="325" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>Through the narrow streets</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a></p> - -<p>The boys will think I am a coward if I don’t go, and—I have some money -of my own.”</p> - -<p>So saying, he crept out of bed, and astonished the servants by his early -demand for breakfast. He knew his dainty mama would not leave her -apartments for some time, for it took so long for the maids to dress her -hair, and manicure her finger-nails, and array her in her rich silks; -so, avoiding the eyes of the servants, he crept stealthily down the long -marble stairway, jingling the money in his pocket as he went, and out -through the narrow streets, whistling merrily, in the perfect delight of -freedom. He knew he was not doing right, but here he was, at the gate of -Johnny’s house, and there was Johnny himself, just running out at<a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a> the -door, cap in hand. His face wore a look of delight as he saw the Chinese -boy, and he yelled: “How’d you get here?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I just came; nobody knows it—and say! Let’s begin! I’ve got some -money; let’s go to old Sing Chew, he’s got a whole store full of -fire-crackers.”</p> - -<p>Johnny’s mama, looking out of the window, remarked to her husband, “So -they allowed him to come, after all. Well, I’m glad of that, for he -seems such a dear little fellow.”</p> - -<p>Ho Chin was as happy as it is possible for a boy to be, when he found -himself in the wonderful store. Old Sing Chew was awfully busy, but not -so busy that he could not see the son of the Consul, and hastened to -attend to his wants.<a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a></p> - -<p>“How is it that you come alone? I neveh see you come unless your <i>ho -chun</i> bling you,” he said.</p> - -<p>The boy replied, “Oh, I am a big boy now, and I like to have a good time -on the Fourth of July. This is my friend!—he goes with me.” And the old -man believed him, and admired the beautiful command the boy had of the -English language.</p> - -<p>It seemed a wonderful thing to Johnny that any one boy could have so -much money to spend. It seemed great wealth to him, because he had only -twenty-five cents for his fire-crackers, but the young Ho was as -generous as could be, and they left the store with all they could carry.</p> - -<p>What a pleasure to be a boy on the streets, where all was noise and<a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a> -confusion and incessant popping of fire-crackers. One boy threw a bunch -under a horse’s feet, and he ran away and frightened a lot of people. -There were crowds of boys—boys everywhere, and a good many Chinese -boys, but only those of the lower class. What would his papa think if he -should meet him now, his hands and face all black with powder, and a -wild and reckless air about him, which did not seem at all like the -quiet little fellow his papa knew.</p> - -<p>Finally the great parade approached. He had only seen Chinese parades, -with the great green dragon, and it had always frightened him; but there -was no dragon in this parade. There were soldiers,—oh, so many hundreds -of them!—with their bright uniforms<a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a> glittering in the sun, and their -spirited horses prancing and keeping time to the music of the many -bands. Many of the horses became scared at the noise, and Ho Chin, being -a boy, thought it great fun to see them stand on their hind legs and -prance, and act as if they would run over everybody. He did not feel -afraid, and he liked to hear the big drums; they sounded beautiful to -him, almost as beautiful as the Chinese “tom-toms.” There were so many -fine things about that parade that little Ho did not realize until after -it had passed that he was hungry. He mentioned the fact to Johnny, and, -strange to say, Johnny was hungry too. They were a long distance from -home; what should they do?<a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a></p> - -<p>“If I had any money left we could go into a restaurant and have our -dinner,” said the wary Johnny.</p> - -<p>“Oh, could we?” said Ho. “Well, we will go then, for I have plenty of -money.”</p> - -<p>Johnny did not need any urging, you may be sure, and many people in the -restaurant were amused to see the two little friends seated at the table -with their fire-crackers on a chair beside them. Still more amused was -the waiter, who brought them such a mixture as he had never before -served for lunch. It was dreadful! but it did not seem so to the two -hungry boys, who, with mouths full, were so interested in talking that -they did not even see the waiter. Little Ho Chin paid the bill with a -kingly air, and they<a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a> strutted out to pop their crackers for the rest of -the day. They were having a fine time,—but what of the little Chinese -mother?</p> - -<p>When her toilet was completed she inquired for her boy, as she knew he -was to have a holiday to-day, and was told that he had breakfasted -earlier than he had ever done before, and they had not seen him since. -They supposed he had gone to her apartments. She had the whole house -searched, and was frightened almost to death. She burned her incense -before the god, and murmured: “Oh, good joss! protect my boy, and bring -him to me.”</p> - -<p>At that moment her boy had just blown off his coat-tail with a bunch of -fire-crackers, and it was lucky that he had not been blown to pieces.<a name="page_184" id="page_184"></a> -The mother could only wait till the day wore on, as her husband was not -there to advise her, and Chinese women are so helpless.</p> - -<p>After this day of delight the dark night fell, and not until then was -the little Ho reminded that his mother would be worried, and he must go -home. His fire-crackers were all gone, he was tired, and so covered with -powder and dirt that one would never have recognized him as the -elegantly dressed little boy who had left home in the early morning. -“But,” he reflected, “I have had the finest time of my life; I will -never forget it.”</p> - -<p>It must be admitted, though, that his conscience hurt him very badly as -he wended his way home. He wondered if his father could have<a name="page_185" id="page_185"></a> come home -unexpectedly. There was no way out of it; he must go and face it. He -almost felt as if he would like to run away to some place where there -were no fathers and mothers, and where it was always the Fourth of July -all the year round.</p> - -<p>He entered the great iron door, and had reached the top of the marble -stairway, his heart beating with fear. He almost wished now he had not -gone. The silence was so intense that he could almost hear his heart -beat—he feared the worst. But now he heard a rustle of silken garments, -and there came through the portieres—his mother!</p> - -<p>With wide-open black eyes he gazed at her. Oh, what would she do? what -would she say?—he stood trembling and speechless; and she?—<a name="page_186" id="page_186"></a>Why, she -was just a mother, after all, and with one great sob she took him in her -arms and showered kisses on his handsome but very dirty face. He could -feel her tender heart beating through the silken blouse, and she clasped -him closer as she murmured: “The good joss has brought him back to -me—my brave and beautiful little Ho.”</p> - -<p>And he whispered, “Mother—forgive me! but it was all so lovely, and—I -just <i>love</i> the Fourth of July!”</p> - -<p>And she, being a mother, forgave him.<a name="page_187" id="page_187"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_LITTLE_FISHER-MAIDEN" id="THE_LITTLE_FISHER-MAIDEN"></a><i>THE LITTLE FISHER-MAIDEN</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_188" id="page_188"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_189" id="page_189"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">L</span>O LUEN was the little daughter of a poor Chinese fisherman, and lived -in the Chinatown of Monterey, California. She was born in this beautiful -country, and did not know anything about China, except what she had -heard her parents say. But this country was good enough for her, she -thought, with its endless skies of blue overhead, and the big noisy -ocean dashing its white spray up on the silver sands right in front of -the little hut she called home.</p> - -<p>It was a very poor place, and they were very poor people, but Lo Luen<a name="page_190" id="page_190"></a> -did not know this, because it was all she had ever known, so it did not -disturb her simple celestial mind in the least. Then she could not get -lonely, for there was her small brother, Lo Duck, who was the -cunningest, chubbiest little boy that she had ever seen.</p> - -<p><i>Mo chun</i> was very busy always, in the little hut, as she was a -cigarette-maker, and worked at this all the time she was not doing the -cooking, and making the simple garments for the family.</p> - -<p>The father dearly loved his children, and often called Lo Luen his -little fisher-maiden. This was because she was such a help to him in his -fishing. She and little Lo Duck would sit out on the ground in front of -their home for hours at a time,<a name="page_191" id="page_191"></a> putting bait on the hooks; and this was -a great help, for it saved so much time.</p> - -<p>He would cut up a great deal of fish into small bits, and put it in a -box by the children, and they would fasten it on to the hundreds of -hooks on the lines, and then the big round baskets would be all ready -for <i>ho chun</i> to cast the lines into the ocean, and draw out the -beautiful fish. Lo Luen was very proud when she saw the fine fish in the -boat every day, for she almost felt as if she herself had caught them, -since she had put the bait on the hooks. One day she had been working so -hard that her father looked at her, as she sat there in the sun with her -sleeves rolled up, working away as if her life depended upon it, and he -said to her: “Lo Luen,<a name="page_192" id="page_192"></a> how you likee go out in big boat with <i>ho -chun</i>?”</p> - -<p>“Oh!” she shouted, as she clapped her little brown hands, “I likee velly -much; I likee catch big fish to bling <i>mo chun</i>.”</p> - -<p>“All light,” said her father. “We no takee <i>hai tong</i> (baby); he stay -with <i>mo chun</i>, he too little.”</p> - -<p>Lo Duck objected to this; he wanted to go too, but he would only be in -the way, and then his mother would be worried if he went, so he was -taken into the house, screaming vigorously. The timid mother felt rather -afraid to trust her little daughter out on the great noisy ocean, whose -waves came dashing upon the rocks with a boom like thunder; but the -father said she was a big girl now, and it was time she learned -something of<a name="page_193" id="page_193"></a> the sea. So, while he fitted up the boat and got the nets -into it, <i>mo chun</i> was dressing the little girl in her warmest blouse, -all heavily padded, and then got out a very thick silk hood, fastening -it securely on her head, and last of all, she took from the padded -<i>mumboo</i> (tea-pot holder) a pot of boiling tea, and gave it to Lo Luen.</p> - -<p>“<i>Maskee-maskee</i>, my <i>samen jai</i>” (never mind, my little boy), she said -to the baby brother, “maybe you go next time.”</p> - -<p><i>Mo chun</i> and the baby boy went with them as far as the boat, and Lo -Luen jumped in gaily, and they were off. The water was smooth to-day, -and everything would surely be well, thought the mother. She went in and -placed a little bowl of<a name="page_194" id="page_194"></a> steaming rice before the joss, so that he would -protect her little girl from the wrath of the mighty ocean, and lighted -the punks before him, so that the incense filled the little room.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the little fishing boat went dancing over the blue waves, as -light as an egg-shell, and the little Chinese girl was happy.</p> - -<p>They kept near the shore at first, and when they passed the Del Monte -hotel she saw hundreds of little American children running on the beach. -She loved to watch them, as they ran with bare feet, kicking up the -white sand. Some of them were jumping rope with long strands of kelp; -some were hunting shells and bits of sea-moss; some were running into -the foamy surf, filling their bright tin pails with water, and then -hurrying<a name="page_195" id="page_195"></a> from the big waves they would run back to pour the water into -some little place in the sand, where they were building all sorts of -wonderful things.</p> - -<p>Some of the little girls had the most wonderful dolls in their arms,—or -at least they seemed wonderful to a little girl who had no doll, except -just the hard kelp balls which she had dressed up and used for dolls, as -she did not like to ask for one, for fear it would cost too much.</p> - -<p>They left the shore now, and went farther out, where the ocean was deep -and the waves were rough. The cool salt spray dashed in her face, and -her long queue hung over the side of the boat and dipped into the water. -<i>Ho chun</i> told her to take it in, or a big fish might come along and -pull her in.<a name="page_196" id="page_196"></a> Oh, what fun it was to see him cast in the net, and pull -out so many big fish! but she was a little afraid of them, they were so -squirmy and floppy. She cuddled up in one end of the boat, so they could -not jump on her, but <i>ho chun</i> fixed a plank in front of her, so she was -not afraid.</p> - -<p>It was her turn now, and so the father produced a stout little fishing -pole and tackle, and she tried her luck at fishing in the big ocean. -Soon she felt a strong tug at her line,—so strong that it almost pulled -her in. She tugged away, though, till she almost fell out of the boat, -but it was too big for her; she could not manage it without the help of -<i>ho chun</i>.</p> - -<p>“<i>Maskee!</i>” he said, and took hold of the pole. She still kept her -small<a name="page_197" id="page_197"></a> hands on it, though, so she could say that she caught it. Pretty -soon there came up out of the water a big, big salmon, all gold and -sparkling in the sunlight. She just squealed with delight, and her -father said: “Heap good girl; catchee velly big fish.”</p> - -<p>They were so interested in the work and were having such fine luck that -they did not realize how late it was getting. Lo Luen was enjoying it -so, that her father could not bear to stop her pleasure.</p> - -<p>The darkness fell upon the waters now, and the sea moaned sadly. The -waves grew rougher, and the air colder. It was not pretty when the sun -was not shining on it.</p> - -<p>“The wateh too black now; I no likee; I want see <i>mo chun</i>,” falteringly -said the little one.<a name="page_198" id="page_198"></a></p> - -<p>They could see the dim outlines of great ships with their lights sending -long, narrow rays across the dark of the ocean. They looked like stars, -and made one feel as if they were not alone on the vast waters.</p> - -<p>“We go home now—see <i>mo chun</i>; get nice hot <i>tea</i>,” said the father, in -a kind tone, as he clasped the little figure closely to him, and started -to row home. Of course Lo Luen did not really feel afraid, with her -father so near, and said: “I no ’flaid; but I likee go fast. I cold and -hungly—that’s all.”</p> - -<p>Her father smiled in the dark as he murmured consolingly, “Yes—that’s -all.”</p> - -<p>Lo Luen was thinking, as she crouched there, nestled up against <i>ho -chun</i>, “How pletty those dolls<a name="page_199" id="page_199"></a> were; I be so happy if I had one—just -one, foh my velly own.”</p> - -<p>The moonbeams lit up the water in a silvery path, and as Lo Luen looked -at this path and thought how very beautiful it was, she noticed -something floating in the light and bounding up and down on the waves. -It looked like a big lump of seaweed.</p> - -<p>“What is that, <i>ho chun</i>?” she said, with childish curiosity.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I think just a piece of wood or a bunch of kelp; you likee get it, -little girl?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we see what it is,” she said.</p> - -<p>It seemed determined to get away from them, for almost every time they -were near enough to touch it a big wave would come, and take it away in -the dark, and it would be lost to sight for a while. But soon<a name="page_200" id="page_200"></a> the light -revealed it right within reach. <i>Ho chun</i> put out his hand and grasped -it, and putting it on the fish said: “We see when we get home,” and -rowed away as fast as he could.</p> - -<p>At home the little mother was getting very uneasy. What could keep them -so long? “<i>Cheung kan ye lok</i>” (it is getting very late), she said. Oh, -why had she ever let her go? To think of her <i>pao chu</i> (precious pearl) -being out on the big ocean at night. She imagined all sorts of horrible -things, and blamed herself. Perhaps she had not set enough food before -the joss, nor burned enough incense. She had the tea all nice and hot, -and knew if nothing had happened they would be very hungry when they -reached home. So she lighted more punks before the god,<a name="page_201" id="page_201"></a> and had already -sung the baby’s little Chinese song:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“My little baby—little boy blue—<br /></span> -<span class="i3">Is as sweet as sugar and cinnamon too;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Isn’t this precious darling of ours<br /></span> -<span class="i3">Sweeter than dates and cinnamon flowers?”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>He now lay asleep on his couch, and she was all alone.</p> - -<p>After what seemed an age to her she heard the sound of a boat being -dragged upon the sand, and ran to the door of the hut, and stood there -looking out upon the beach. “Lo Luen! Lo Luen!” she called out in the -darkness, “<i>Yap loi le!</i>” (come in!) and there was a rush of sandalled -feet, and in just a moment two cold brown hands were clasped in her warm -ones, and a dear little cold nose was pressed against her<a name="page_202" id="page_202"></a> face. “Lo -Luen, precious pearl, you have come back, and the joss is good,” she -said.</p> - -<p>After the fish were put away <i>ho chun</i> came in, and everything was peace -and happiness again. The warm room seemed more welcome than ever before, -for they were benumbed with cold, and oh, so hungry! <i>Mo chun</i>, with all -gentleness and love, soon had them seated, with bowls of steaming rice -before them, and fried fish, and other good things which she had -prepared in their absence.</p> - -<p>After supper Lo Luen happened to think of the mysterious bundle of -seaweed, and <i>ho chun</i> went out and brought it in. It was very wet, and -smelled of the sea.</p> - -<p>“I guess it’s only a piece of wood with kelp on,” said <i>mo chun</i>; but<a name="page_203" id="page_203"></a> -anyway, they tore the wet seaweed from it, while Lo Luen looked eagerly -on. What could that be sticking out of the weed? It looked—it actually -looked like a doll’s foot. It couldn’t be, and yet—With a great cry of -joy Lo Luen saw her father uncover the treasure. All the pent-up feeling -of starved child-life was in her cry, for there, disclosed to her -dancing, oblique eyes was a doll—a real one, and a very beautiful one. -She could not believe it at first, but rubbed her eyes. They were all -astonished, for this was indeed an event in their barren lives.</p> - -<p>The doll opened her eyes as if she were alive, and seemed to gaze at -them in gratitude for being saved from the cruel water. Lo Luen hugged -it to her wildly beating heart<a name="page_204" id="page_204"></a> and her face beamed with a rapturous joy -the like of which had never before come to her. She was such a little -mother, always, and now she would have something upon which to shower -all the wealth of love repressed in her warm little heart.</p> - -<p>They did not attempt to solve the mystery. To them it was enough that -this beautiful toy had been sent to them from the waters. It may have -been that the doll was lost in some shipwreck, or that some of the -little maidens at Del Monte had left it too near the water, and the -waves had carried it away. It belonged now to the little Chinese -fisher-maiden, and that was enough to know.</p> - -<p>She slept that night with the precious doll in her arms—dear little Lo -Luen!<a name="page_205" id="page_205"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_FINDING_OF_SING_HO" id="THE_FINDING_OF_SING_HO"></a><i>THE FINDING OF SING HO</i></h2> - -<p><a name="page_206" id="page_206"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_207" id="page_207"></a></p> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">L</span>ITTLE SING HO did not look very happy as he stood out on the pavement -in front of his home. He had intended taking a beautiful walk, and had -his umbrella already over his head, preparatory to starting, when his -<i>mo chun</i> appeared on the scene, and said: “Where you going, <i>hai tong</i> -(baby)?”</p> - -<p>Now Sing Ho did not like to be called <i>hai tong</i>, for he felt that he -was almost a big man, so he replied: “I going foh walk, down stleet.”</p> - -<p>“No, no! you too small; you stay home now, and maybe bimeby <i>mo chun</i> -take you,” she said; and<a name="page_208" id="page_208"></a> then she hurried into the house to see if the -rice was burning. When she had disappeared he stood there for a moment, -with the gay umbrella over him, looking very much displeased.</p> - -<p>He was only four years old, it is true, but do you know, he often -thought he knew more than his dear mother. Now Sing Ho was the only -child, and had always been loved and petted, and had never been denied -anything in his short little life. He remembered many walks he had taken -with his father and mother, and he had always had such a good time that -he thought it would be still better if he could take a walk all alone. -He had just seen two of his little friends, with their queer little -Chinese caps on,</p> - -<p><a name="TWO_OF_HIS_LITTLE_FRIENDS_WITH_THEIR_QUEER_LITTLE_CHINESE_CAPS_ON" id="TWO_OF_HIS_LITTLE_FRIENDS_WITH_THEIR_QUEER_LITTLE_CHINESE_CAPS_ON"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a href="images/facing208_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing208_sml.jpg" width="450" height="332" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>Two of his little friends, with their queer little Chinese caps on</i></p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_209" id="page_209"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">and they had said they were going for a walk, so why not he?</p> - -<p>He knew his <i>mo chun</i> was very busy, embroidering a <i>blouse</i> for him to -wear on the New Year, and the San Nin (New Year) would be here -to-morrow. So he thought in his baby way that he would take advantage of -his mama, and only walk down the street a little way, and she would -never know. He was too small to realize that it is a very difficult -matter for even grown-up persons to find their way through the narrow -and tortuous streets of the big Chinatown of San Francisco. He could not -be expected to know these things.</p> - -<p>So he wandered on, and soon forgot his fear in watching the beautiful -things all around him. China<a name="page_210" id="page_210"></a>town was in holiday attire, and as far as -the eye could reach the narrow streets were a perfect mass of bloom and -beauty. On both sides of the streets were ranged great stands of the -China lily and fragrant almond blossom, with delicate shades of pink.</p> - -<p>Someway he found it very hard to get past the store windows, as they -seemed to have so many things in them that boys like, and he forgot -everything in the delight of gazing at them, and pressed his eager -little round face right up against the glass in some places, and poked -his cunning little nose into a fragrant bunch of lilies, to inhale their -sweetness. <i>Mo chun</i> had some lilies at home, but not so many nor such -beautiful ones as these. At every door were strange Chinese letters,<a name="page_211" id="page_211"></a> -and he looked longingly at great bunches of peacock feathers with their -many eyes, and the gaudy rosettes of red paper which are everywhere on -the New Year. Almost every one that he met carried a brown paper parcel -of pork and an onion, or some kind of funny looking lettuce, for the -Chinese love pork better than the Americans love turkey, and it had to -be a very poor person indeed who did not feel able to buy himself a -piece of pork on the New Year.</p> - -<p>Chinamen of all kinds were thronging the streets, and so many children, -too, were toddling along with some older person, that no one noticed -that the little boy was alone.</p> - -<p>He believed he had only to walk back just a little way and he would<a name="page_212" id="page_212"></a> be -at home. He did not know that he had made several turns, and that it -would be impossible for him to find his way back alone.</p> - -<p>Naughty little Sing Ho! There were so many American people, too, in the -shops, buying curious and beautiful things. On both sides of the street -were rows of great dragon lanterns. He looked at them in childish -wonder, longing for the great swaying globes. Suddenly he felt something -hit him on the arm, and, looking upward, saw far above him some -beautiful Chinese ladies on a balcony; and what is this that they have -thrown down? Something very near to the heart of a boy,—a bright bunch -of fire-crackers!</p> - -<p>He was smiling now without any difficulty. Just then he heard a<a name="page_213" id="page_213"></a> woman’s -shrill, high-pitched voice speaking to him from the latticed window -above him, saying: “Little boy! little boy! where is your <i>mo chun</i>?”</p> - -<p>“She at home,” he replied, and then hesitatingly faltered, “<i>Ngo pa ngo -tong cho lu lok</i>” (I am afraid I have lost my way).</p> - -<p>He was crying now, and presented a very mournful appearance to the gaze -of the passer-by. These ladies above him were those of the tiny “golden -lily feet,” and very wealthy and aristocratic, so they could not leave -their rooms and come down to him, as that was not their custom. If it -had been the next day they could have done so, for on every day of the -week of San Nin they were permitted to leave<a name="page_214" id="page_214"></a> their homes and go -anywhere they pleased.</p> - -<p>“<i>Ni kiu mat meng a?</i>” (what is your name?) they asked.</p> - -<p>“My name? Sing Ho,” he cried.</p> - -<p>“You come up,” they called down to him, pointing meanwhile to a dark and -narrow stairway which led up from the street.</p> - -<p>“It so dark—Sing Ho ’flaid to go alone—I want <i>mo chun</i>—boo, hoo,” he -wailed, in a pitiful little voice.</p> - -<p>“But you must come. We find <i>mo chun</i>; we give you heap plenty -fiah-clackeh (fire-cracker), plenty nice little cake; come on!”</p> - -<p>Baby though he was, he remembered that his mother had always warned him -against strangers, and told him never to allow any one to<a name="page_215" id="page_215"></a> persuade him -to go with them. But finally he decided that this was very different, -and that anything would be better than being lost on the street.</p> - -<p>“All light!” he sobbed, and started in great fear up the narrow -stairway. Ugh! how dark it was! and he trembled, as his little sandalled -feet crept hesitatingly on. When he at last reached the end of the -stairway he found himself in a dark and narrow hall thick with the fumes -of opium.</p> - -<p>Where were the beautiful ladies?—and the little cakes? Nothing was to -be seen but the gaunt figures of Chinamen gliding stealthily to and fro -in the narrow hall. There were many doors on either side the hallway, -and in each door was a small, square lattice into which the<a name="page_216" id="page_216"></a> men would -speak some queer words in Chinese, when the door would be cautiously -opened, and he would enter. When the doors opened little Sing Ho caught -glimpses of many Chinamen with cards in their hands, seated around some -tables and calling out in a loud voice strange Chinese words which he -could not understand. In some of the rooms he could see men reclining on -bamboo couches and smoking opium. Oh, if his mother could see him now, -as he stood there alone, and trembling in the half-darkness!</p> - -<p>Just then his dear and beautiful little mother had put the last stitch -in the blouse she was embroidering, and proudly held it out to the -admiring gaze of her sister, who lived with her.<a name="page_217" id="page_217"></a></p> - -<p>“He is playing outside; I go get him,” she said; and with a smile on her -lips she opened the door and called him.</p> - -<p>“Sing Ho! Sing Ho!”</p> - -<p>No reply.</p> - -<p>“Why, that is strange,” she thought. “Maybe he come in the house and go -to sleep.”</p> - -<p>She hurried into the small bedroom and looked eagerly at the couch. No, -there was no <i>samen jai</i> there. She was trembling now, with a nameless -fear. Her pretty face grew pale, and the little brown nervous fingers -were like ice.</p> - -<p>Her boy—her baby—the honored one of the house of Sing, whose birth had -crowned her with glory. Why, he must be there; he could not be gone from -her—and yet—<a name="page_218" id="page_218"></a>where was he? Her little tender baby boy who had never -been from her side; the little brown face, naughty, sometimes, it is -true, but always, to the mother, the dearest of things in all the big -world.</p> - -<p>Without stopping to change her house-robes she rushed down the street, -and to the store of her husband, Sing Kee. He was just going down into -the cellar after some tubs of preserved ginger, when he was startled by -seeing his wife appear before him. The cat, that had always been loved -and petted by little Sing Ho, lay sunning itself at the entrance, and -Sing Kee looked up with a very serious face, for he knew that no little -matter would bring his wife thus unexpectedly to his place of business. -She surely would not be<a name="page_219" id="page_219"></a> going on the street the day before the New -Year.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” he asked in Chinese. She could hardly reply for the -wild throbbing of her tender heart.</p> - -<p>“My baby—my precious pearl—he lost! I no can find him; he gone—I no -know where.”</p> - -<p>And then she hid her face in her trembling brown hands and wept in the -wildest grief. The poor father was terrified, for he knew what a big -place Chinatown was, and how easily a little child could be lost or -stolen, or hidden away, and no one would ever see it again. He knew the -underground passages and dark opium dens which were thick around them, -and his heart almost broke as he listened to her story. She had<a name="page_220" id="page_220"></a> little -to tell. It was only that he had wanted to take a walk, and she had told -him he must not go, believing that he would obey her, as he always had.</p> - -<p>They started through the streets now, in search of him, their eager eyes -gazing in all directions. Two of his little playmates stood on a -doorstep, and they inquired of them if they had seen him. Yes, they had -seen him early in the afternoon. He had passed them, carrying his -umbrella.</p> - -<p>The distracted parents searched until the dark night fell and the great -dragon lanterns were lighted in the balcony of the joss house near by.</p> - -<p>The joss house!—there was an idea! Why had they not thought<a name="page_221" id="page_221"></a> of it -before? They would go there at once, and supplicate the god, that they -might find their baby. They ascended the long flights of stairs until -they were right in the room with the joss. There were little bowls of -ashes full of punks, to be burned before the god, and the odor of -incense filled the air as they lighted them and waved them before the -joss.</p> - -<p>Sing Kee threw many of the little carved prayer-sticks into the air, -too, and when they fell, looked at them eagerly, evidently seeing -something about them which pleased him, for he smiled, and said to the -timid little mother: “They say we find him to-mollow—we go home now.”</p> - -<p>They went home, but it was not home to-night without the dear little -round, saucy face on the hard pillow,<a name="page_222" id="page_222"></a> the patter of the little -sandalled feet on the floors, and the click of the little chopsticks. -There was no sleep for them that night. They had told the Chinatown -police of their loss, but no clue had yet been reported.</p> - -<p>Early next morning they started out again, on their weary search. It was -the first day of the New Year, but they had not dreamed they would -celebrate it in this way, as with heavy hearts they picked their way -through the narrow streets, glancing in every direction, and up at the -flower-laden balconies, with the candles burning for the joss.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the little Sing Ho had stood in fright, and looked around him, -in the darkness of the hallway. Where were the pretty ladies? Had he -only dreamed he saw them?<a name="page_223" id="page_223"></a></p> - -<p>Suddenly he heard a high-pitched but sweet voice somewhere above him, -saying: “Where are you, little boy? Come up the other stairs.”</p> - -<p>The other stairs? where were they? He had supposed that he was at the -top now, but on looking around he saw still another flight of steps, and -gladly running to them he started on upward again, as fast as his tired -little legs could carry him. When he reached the top, some one opened a -door, cautiously, and calling out “<i>Yap loi le!</i>” (Come in!) reached out -a beautiful jewelled hand, and drew him softly within the room.</p> - -<p>Oh, how lovely it all was! There was a chatter of women’s voices in -high-bred, nasal tones, and the room was warm, and smelled of incense. -One very pretty little lady drew him<a name="page_224" id="page_224"></a> to her as tenderly as a mother, -and said to him in the sweetest tones: “Do not fear, little one! I will -find <i>mo chun</i> for you. Where do you live?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I live with <i>mo chun</i> and <i>ho chun</i>,” he said.</p> - -<p>“Where do they live?” she inquired.</p> - -<p>“I no know—they live at my home—and <i>mo chun</i> she make me velly pletty -blouse.”</p> - -<p>Poor little boy! so he could not give them any clue, then, by which they -might find his parents. Well, they would have to wait, and do the best -they could under the circumstances. They tried to make him forget his -sorrow for a while, and showed him many wonderful things. In the centre -of the room was a table, all<a name="page_225" id="page_225"></a> arranged for the New Year, and on it were -great bowls of China lilies, and Chinese lemons and oranges. Then there -was a polished tray, holding all kinds of candy and nuts. The windows -were a perfect mass of lily and almond blossom, and peacock’s feathers -were everywhere staring, with their green eyes. Outside was the balcony, -from which the ladies had first spoken to the little lost boy, and on it -were many big dragon lanterns, whose soft light fell upon the flowers, -and made it look like fairyland.</p> - -<p>They served tea out on the balcony, and gave Sing Ho the dearest little -cup, and cakes, and plenty of watermelon seed to nibble at, and -everything that he loved, except—his dear mama. When the breezes<a name="page_226" id="page_226"></a> began -to blow too roughly and sway the dragon lanterns, they decided to put -the little stranger to bed. This was the worst moment of all. How could -he go to bed without his dear mother’s kiss? Oh, how his lonely little -heart ached and ached, and he just had to let the big tears come, and -roll down his cheeks. He didn’t want to be rude to the pretty lady, -but—there was no one like his <i>mo chun</i>. Finally he did go to sleep, -though, and when he awoke it was the first day of the New Year.</p> - -<p>He was waited upon like a little king, with a big bowl of rice and ivory -chopsticks, nice hot tea, and little almond cakes—everything that one -could wish, but—it did not take the ache out of his heart. After -breakfast he and the beautiful lady went</p> - -<p><a name="HIS_OWN_BEAUTIFUL_MO_CHUN" id="HIS_OWN_BEAUTIFUL_MO_CHUN"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 295px;"> -<a href="images/facing226_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/facing226_sml.jpg" width="295" height="450" alt="[Images not available]" /></a> -<div class="caption"><p><i>His own beautiful</i> mo chun</p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="page_227" id="page_227"></a></p> - -<p class="nind">out on the balcony, and sat there for hours, looking down at the crowd.</p> - -<p>The streets were thronged now, and there was an incessant noise of -fireworks. The New Year had begun in earnest. The lady was going to take -him for a walk that afternoon, but they would sit on the balcony now, -and watch the crowds beneath. There were so many children, and all -dressed in their richest robes. It made the heart of little Sing Ho ache -to see the richly embroidered blouses, so like his own, and if he had -not been naughty and run away he might even now be walking along down -there, wearing the blouse, and holding the hand of his own beautiful <i>mo -chun</i>.</p> - -<p>His own beautiful <i>mo chun</i>?—Why—why—he rubbed his eyes<a name="page_228" id="page_228"></a> and stared -down into the street. Was he dreaming?</p> - -<p>“<i>Mo chun! Mo chun!</i>” he screamed, in his shrill baby voice; for down on -the street beneath the balcony hurried a pale but pretty little Chinese -woman, her searching gaze going in every direction.</p> - -<p>“It is my <i>mo chun</i>! Stop!” he cried; and the Chinese lady on the -balcony threw down her painted fan and hit the little mother of Sing Ho -right on the head. Glancing upward in surprise, the mother looked -straight into the eyes of her precious pearl, her little Sing Ho! Oh, -the rapture and the mother-love that shone in her face now! How the -light came back into her eyes, and the red lips smiled, and the red rose -bloomed in her cheeks as she reached out her<a name="page_229" id="page_229"></a> arms to the balcony and -sobbed: “<i>Hai tong! hai tong</i> (baby! baby)!”</p> - -<p>The father, who had gone on in front of her, Chinese fashion, was called -back, and together they ascended the same steps which had so frightened -their baby boy. As it was the New Year week it was perfectly proper that -they should both enter the rooms of the Chinese ladies, and what a happy -time that was!</p> - -<p>Every one soon became acquainted, through the medium of a little child, -and very soon they were all having a New Year’s cup of tea and other -dainties, and were laughing and chatting away as if they had known each -other always.</p> - -<p>When they went home Sing Ho was given so many beautiful things that his -little arms were full, and <i>ho</i><a name="page_230" id="page_230"></a> <i>chun</i> said as they entered the door of -their own home: “I knew we would find him, because the prayer-sticks -said so.”<a name="page_231" id="page_231"></a></p> - - - - - -<p><a name="page_232" id="page_232"></a></p> - -<p><a name="page_233" id="page_233"></a></p> - -<h2 class="lefty"><a name="THE_SLAVE-GIRLS_THANKSGIVING" id="THE_SLAVE-GIRLS_THANKSGIVING"></a><i>THE SLAVE-GIRL’S THANKSGIVING</i></h2> - - -<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>T was Thanksgiving Eve; but of this fact Pao Chu was entirely ignorant, -for how could she know anything of Thanksgiving, or of giving thanks, -when she was only a little Chinese slave, and had never been out of her -prison in Chinatown?</p> - -<p>Quong Lee, the president of the Quong Duck Tong, a highbinder society, -was her owner, and she supposed that everybody was like him, and that -there was no goodness or happiness in all the world. All the world to -Pao Chu meant just the limited area she could see from her<a name="page_234" id="page_234"></a> iron-barred -window—about one foot square. And yes—on one occasion the old hag who -guarded her had fallen into a deep opium sleep, and Pao Chu had slipped -out on the tiny, flower-decked balcony, and, leaning far over, had gazed -with pathetic eagerness down at the swarming crowd of Chinamen below. -Her name meant “precious pearl,” but she could see no reason for such a -meaning, unless—yes, it must be because she would bring a big price -when she was sold again. She had overheard Quong Lee talking to the old -hag Suey Gong one night when they had thought she slept, and he had said -then that one of his highbinder friends had offered him three thousand -dollars for Pao Chu, but he was not going to sell her yet, as he<a name="page_235" id="page_235"></a> -thought he could get five thousand soon, for she was growing more -beautiful every day. But the poor little pearl paid dearly for that one -little tantalizing glimpse of the Chinese world. It happened to be the -night of a Chinese celebration,—the “Moon Festival,”—and the light -from the great dragon lanterns swaying above her shone full upon her -pretty face. Many glanced upward, and were startled by the lovely -apparition. Her face was full of Oriental witchery, and the tender young -soul of her shone out in the great velvet eyes, and the pretty mouth -glowed like a scarlet rose, while her hair shone in the mystical fairy -light of the lanterns.</p> - -<p>But alas for Pao Chu, the pure pearl in the mire! As she gazed<a name="page_236" id="page_236"></a> down at -the moving merry crowd, her whole soul in her eyes, and living a whole -life in that one moment, two passed beneath the balcony—a fateful two; -one the highbinder friend of her master, who saw her face, and forever -after wished to gain possession of it for his own, and the other her -master, Quong Lee, the great and high—Quong Lee, the demon and -arch-fiend. At first he was amazed at the transformation that happiness -had made in her face, and then—with one bound he was up the stairs. The -poor little slave-girl stood transfixed with horror. She called -hysterically on the little squatty god in the corner, but the god -stolidly refused to listen,—indeed he always had refused. She could not -recall a time when he had ever<a name="page_237" id="page_237"></a> listened; and now her master strode -furiously into the room, and grasped the poor trembling child with his -great murderous hands. He shook her violently, and hurled at her all the -Chinese profanity at his command. He beat her so that she almost died, -and she would so much rather have really died, but he would not kill the -goose that laid the golden eggs. Oh, no! this little bit of stubborn -womanhood would fill his purse with gold some day, and so—he must not -go too far. He must not cripple or maim her or she would be a drug on -the market. He would simply beat her and starve her for a few days, and -bestow upon her every vile epithet in his category.</p> - -<p>He then dragged the old Suey Gong from her hard couch and gave<a name="page_238" id="page_238"></a> her a -beating. Her brain was so deadened with opium that she could not -understand why she was being beaten; but then it did not matter why, she -had often been beaten, and there must be a reason for it. She would have -liked to know, of course, but then it was a woman’s place to be beaten, -as the <i>yen</i>, or female principle, was the source of all evil, and must -be chastised whenever the male principle should see fit to do so.</p> - -<p>From that time on there was no more freedom for the little slave. No -fresh air save that which came through the tiny lattice; no glimpse of -any human being save the old hag and the highbinder. Nothing to do but -just to sit and make cigarettes all day, for her master to sell, and to -talk to the old Suey Gong.<a name="page_239" id="page_239"></a></p> - -<p>It was two years since her fateful visit to the balcony, and the girl -was talking in her innocent way to the old woman.</p> - -<p>“Suey Gong! do you know when I be sold? Will the new master beat me evly -day? What kind of a life will it be? Tell me!” These, and many other -questions, but to none of them could the old woman reply. If she had -known the answers she would not have dared.</p> - -<p>“I no <i>sabe</i> (understand) anything,” she said, “I only know China girl -neveh be happy. Bad spirits allee timee stay with her. She must allee -timee play (pray) to the gods; she must work for man, he must beat her; -she neveh be flee (free). She have heap plenty bad time here; I no know -why; I no can tell.”<a name="page_240" id="page_240"></a></p> - -<p>“But why should I play to god when he neveh hear? Listen! listen!—Suey -Gong! I no play to Chinese god any more. Afteh this I play—I play -to—’Melican god. Then we see!”</p> - -<p>The old woman held up her hands in horror. The American spirit had -surely gotten into this bit of Chinese girlhood. O that she had never -told this girl about the American god! It was too late now, though, for -Pao Chu with clasped hands was saying:</p> - -<p>“Oh, heap good ’Melican joss! Listen to a poor slave-girl’s prayer! My -master he beat me evly day; I no can tell why. I tly to be good, but he -allee time beat me and starve me; I <i>so</i> unhappy. Oh, good ’Melican god, -if you can hear me, set me flee (free)!”<a name="page_241" id="page_241"></a></p> - -<p>This innocent petition was enough to have brought tears to the eyes of -even the little clay god, but he was not moved. Old Suey Gong was so -terrified for fear the girl’s prayer would bring down the whole horde of -evil spirits upon them that she in feverish haste set to work to light -fresh incense sticks before the joss, and to set fresh bowls of food and -tea before him. All this happened on Thanksgiving Eve, though there was -nothing at all in the slave-girl’s life for which she could be thankful, -even if she had known it was Thanksgiving.</p> - -<p>But wait!—there <i>was</i> something, for old Suey Gong was telling her that -the master had received an important telegram from some member of the -Quong Duck Tong, which<a name="page_242" id="page_242"></a> had called him out of the city, and he would not -be able to return for two whole days,—two days without being beaten! -Perhaps already the ’Melican god had heard. If she could only gain the -consent of the old woman she might once more venture on the forbidden -balcony. The fates were kind and the opium goddess filled the old -woman’s brain with dreams, and held down her eyelids. She slept, but the -little girl did not. Garbed in pale lavender silk, she stole noiselessly -out on the forbidden balcony. Her slim brown fingers lovingly caressed -the Chinese lilies wrapped in red paper to scare away the bad spirits. -Just now the bad spirits were not on duty, luckily for the little -Chinese maiden. The tang of the sea air was so refreshing<a name="page_243" id="page_243"></a> to her -starved senses. She could look down to-night without fear, for her -master would not come to-night, and in a childish, unformed way she -breathed a blessing on the unknown highbinder who had sent the message, -and although she did not know it was Thanksgiving Eve, a prayer of -thanks to the unknown, intangible power who had given her this moment’s -freedom went up from her innocent heart.</p> - -<p>Everywhere down the streets of “Little China” the big lanterns glowed -and swung in the fresh night air. A bell pealed out on the silence, and -seemed to speak of peace, and of something different from the life she -knew.</p> - -<p>Suddenly her eye fell upon some one who did not wear the accustomed<a name="page_244" id="page_244"></a> -queue and blouse,—a big, strong American man with a kind face stood -looking up at her. He wore a blue suit and brass buttons, and on his -coat gleamed a great shining star. While he gazed upward at the girl a -carriage rattled over the cobble-stones and stopped right under the -balcony.</p> - -<p>And now the big man was saying—could it be that he was speaking to -her?—Hello, little one! Would you like to celebrate Che San Yet?” She -knew that meant thanksgiving, but the Chinese Thanksgiving did not come -until February, and she could not imagine what he meant.</p> - -<p>He resumed: “Come with me, you poor little slave, and I will take you to -a good, kind home, where they will never beat you, and you will be -free.”<a name="page_245" id="page_245"></a></p> - -<p>Free? She could not take in the meaning of the word. She could not even -dream what it must be to be free. “Oh, no! I velly much ’flaid bad -spirit catch me; I no can come; you down so low, and I up so high.”</p> - -<p>But just then the carriage door opened, and a woman’s sweet face looked -out, and a woman held out motherly arms of love toward the high balcony -and its lonely occupant.</p> - -<p>And old Suey Gong still slept.</p> - -<p>A sweet voice called up: “Come and live with me, dear; I will always be -kind.”</p> - -<p>Pao Chu’s eyes filled with tears. It was the first time in all her life -that any one had ever spoken a kind word to her. Before she could reply, -the big policeman, who had some<a name="page_246" id="page_246"></a> way slipped in through the rear, had -taken her trembling little form in his strong arms, and hurrying down, -placed her in the carriage, where she was clasped in the tender arms of -Miss Cameron, Superintendent of the Chinese Rescue Mission.</p> - -<p>She could not understand yet that she was free; but when she awoke on -Thanksgiving morning and saw all the happy Chinese girl faces around -her, and at the bountiful Thanksgiving table was made to understand the -reason of it all, she then realized the true meaning of Thanksgiving, -and said: “It would neveh have happened if I had not played to the good -’Melican God.”</p> - - - - - - - - -<hr class="full" /> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Little Almond Blossoms, by Jessie Juliet Knox - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOMS *** - -***** This file should be named 51073-h.htm or 51073-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/7/51073/ - -Produced by Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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