Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-08-05

!
some young man, whom l had for
some weeks suspected Of being too in
innate with her. And now what was
| to do? At all eveGts, l would not
accede to the proposition of the rich
lady. regarded that idea with loath-
ing. | had been unfortunate; but
felt that in my inmost heart | was
virtuous. | determined to find some
employment. Iknew that apart from
my not having been educated to any
trade, / would find great difficulty in
getting work, because everything was
monopolized by women. So | sailed
forth. Unwilling to be parted from
my precious charge, who al
ways stretched his little arms implOr-
ingly to me when | left him, or when
his mother took him from me and
dangled him in that awkard way now
customary among women, | carried
him with me. | stopped first before
newspaper bulletin, among crowd
of similar unfortunate fathers with
babies in their arms-half of them
Chinese-tO see whether there was
any chance for me in those overcrOwd-
ed avOcations, now the almost sole
dependence of single men. | found
column after column of wants under
the head "male,n and very few
under "fcmale.n There were hundreds
of men wanting situations as cooks,
Chambermaids, laundresses, w9iters,
and ladies' Wallets, and | could see,
with my limited knowledge of Chi
nese, that hundreds more were apply
ing for the same positions in the Chin
esecOlumns. The fact is the Orientals
haYe long since so OvercrOWded these
branches in Boston, that there is but
small chance for native man to get
fair play, especially if like me encum-
bered with child. But taking note
of several of the advertisements. | de-
termined to try my chances. So |
went forth towards the elegant quar-
ters of the city. | lpassed great rows
of warehouses, where sharp-looking
ladies were smoking and Chatterlng.
There were scarcely any men to be
seen, except in the capacity of porters
and draymen. AS | noticed how these
ladies' stared at me, and what rude
remarks they made upon me, and how
cruelty they laughed when they saw
me compelled to carry my own baby,
while Chinese were so plenty. | hur-
ried on towards those streets inhabited
by small shop keepers, where might
hope to sec more Of my own sex, from
whom | might expect little sympa-
thy. heard one very stylish dame
say, "Good-looking fellows must be
gcttingplenty, when such beauty as
that has to take his own brat.n But ]
remembered that "virtue is its own
re Vard,n and closing my ears at all
their ribaldry, and my eyes to their
seductive smiles, | fastened on. ]
went the rounds of all my advertise
ments without success. | found the
gentlemen, as usual, in parlor smoll-
ing-room, billiard-rOom, aud nursery,
gossiping over their small affairs; but
everywhere met the same rebull-"no
work for men with inCumbrences," "
Everywhere was the same suspicion
the same searching questions.
! Was / married? where was the
child's mother? why does she not sup
port it? One kindly looking man told
me that it was useless for me to apply
for such situations. ! was so hand
some no husband would agree to have
me in the house. The Chinese ser~
wants were very rough and abusive.
| The Chinese women especially annoy
ed me exceedingly by their imperti-
nent questions and rude familiarities.
! At last, weary and follorn, retraced
my steps. was glad to hear, on
reaching my abode, that the great
lady, after waiting two hours for me,
had left word that she would call the
next day. | vowed that she should not
set eyes on me again. So early in the
morning made up a small bundle of
clothes, and taking up the child fled
from the house and city, determined if
l must perish it should he among the
green fields. Nearly ypenniless, ICould
not afford to ride, and set out on foot
towards my native village, determin-
ed to cast myself upon my mothers
mercy, though l had not dared to write
to her since had discovered how cru
ely had been betrayed. 1t was har-
vest-time. AS | passed field after field
! saw the men working laboriously.
Many of them had their infants with
them, Some whose children needed
especial care had them secured beside
them on lheirreaping machines. 9th
ers would run occasionally to the
trees, where their little ones were re-
posing, to attend them. Most of them
seemed to regard me with great con-
tempt, as q man who had no one to
care for him. AS l passed the farm
houses, / could observe that those of
the ladies who were not away at the
races, or riding about among their aC-
quaintances, were reading or writing ;
while every family had acouple of chi"
; namen to do house-worll, the China
women being mostly mOnOpolized by
, city families. SO | trudged on two wea-
, ry days, sleeping in barns at night,
and buying the cheapest food to save
/ my remaining money. ! was subject
t to many insults along the road by
those who called themselves ladies
but at last arrived, unframed, i'll sight
of my native village. 1t was just be-
| fore sunset, the time when everybody
: is relaxing, and looking for objects Of
| interests. AS | passed up the main
, street, the few who cOndescended tC
/ notice me at all, bowed stillly. Some
[ of the young men snickered. The girls
/ generally regarded me with a con.
9 temptuous indifference, which seemed
y TO say "Served him right A crowC
= OF children, seeing their elders whis
v pering about me followed at a shor
+ distance, talking very busily among
= themselves. My heart sank. saw
y that one there would aid me. All thu
I old friends with whom | had been al
i especial favorite slunk away. Thos'
q who were inclined to pc civil were re
4 strained by the fear of the rest.
/ wandered through the town, hesitatinn!
:. for some time about visiting my moth
If er's house. Finally approached tn
IS garden gate. My parents were both il
d the front yard. My father started ant
r turned pale at sight Of me, and looke'
d beseechingly towards my mother
q She stood there, cold as marble. AS
IS reached the gate, the child as if indis
ID tinctiyely preceiving the relationship
is leaped in my arms and reached on
re toward my father, He sprang forward
n but my mother detained him by grasT
pr ing his arm. Bursting into tears, h
A. turned away. My mother said, in
10 violent way, "Begone you are til
h disgrace of the whole family. Newt
,g show yourself here again.
= CouyuleiveIy EOldinp the 6abC to m