New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30

1Stt4NSt' ilC " tts Nri,f "a t%ii't l''Sb-Niit
two qualities rare in the average American
servant. He was like Malyolio. ''sad and
clVll' with NE: only once, and then under
great provocation do reMenl Der OF his
exhibiting any impatience.
1t was my habit, after leaving the Office
at right, to take him with me 10 my rooms,
as the bearer OF any supplemental! or nap
Ply alter thought in the editorial way that
might occur 10 me before the paper went 10
press. One night l had been scrihblpg
away past the usual hour Of discussing
Wan Lee, and had become quite obliyiou5
OF his presence in Guar near my door,
when suddenly became aware at Voice
saying, in plaintive accents. something that
sounded like :Chy Lee
L faced around sternIy.
What did you say?
Me say 'Chy Lee.
"N clip | said. impateDt!r.
You sabe How 90, john:
YES"
you sabe SO long, john'''
Eyes
"Well, 'Chy Lee alice same
| understood him quite plainly. IL ap-
peared that "Chv Lee vas form oI good
night" and that Wan Lee vas anxious to
go home. But an instinct OF mischief which
| fear | possessed in common with HIM I'M
peeled me TO act as II Obvious oI the hint.
l AIiALeEItu EOuit tl!lIS ilptt'S NV AlA'AtA-
standing him. and again bent over my
work. In a few minutes heard his wooden
shoes pattering patAetically over the floor.
| looked up. lie was standing near the
door.
You no sabe. 'Cby I.ee!''
mo" | said, sternly.
You sabe 1uucLee big so0.ee.-aliee
same"
And with this audic.ty upon his lips. he
lal i1rr var ia
as meek and patient as before, ana did
not recall his otferse. As probable peace
offering, he BACKED all my boots-a duty
never required Of Manufacturing pair OF
butf deer skin slippers and an an immense
pair OF horsemans Jack boots, on which he
INDUCED his remorse for two hours
l have spoken Of his honesty as being
quality of his intellect rather than his
principle. but | recall about this time two
exceptions TO the rule. l was anxious TO
get some fresh eggs. as a change 10 the
heavy diet of mining town. and knowing
that Wan Lees countrymen were great
poultry raisers, applied to him. He fur
nisheu them TO me regularly every morn
ing; but refused to take any pay, saying
that the man did not sell them-a re-
markable instance OF selfabnegatlon.
as eggs were then worth halt dollar
apiece. One morning. NY nelEh50r. For
ItHlcI, dICpptt4 III GkjpL- 4llC a. DANtlAiG1olf
ard took occasion 10 bewall his own
ii fortune. as his hens had lately
stopped laying or wandered OF in the bush.
Wan Lee. who was present during our col
loquy, preserved his characteristic sad tact
turnity. When my nelghbor had gone lie
turned 70 me with a slight chuckle; "Flos-
tells heLs-Wan Lees nens-allee same y
lis other OIense was mere serious and am
bilious. 1t was season OF great irregu-
l., 81. -I- y 7 u
heard me deplore the delay ia the delivery
OF my letters and newspapers. On arriving
a my office one day. | was amazed to find
my table covered with letters, evidently just
from the pcstolfce, but unfortunately not
one addressed TO nle. l turned 60 W al Lee,
who was surveying them with a calm salts
faction, and demanded an explanation. 10
my horror. he pointed 10 an empty mail
bag IN the oOruer, anu said: 'PUstman he
say no lettee. .Iohn-no iettee, John. Post
man pientee lie Postman no good. Me
catchee lettae last night-allee same,'
Luckily it was still early; the mails had not
been distributed; had hurried interview
with the postmaster, and Wan Lees bold
attempt at r0bbIng the United States mail
was finally condoned by the purchase Of a
new mail bag, and the whole affair thus
kept a secret.
If my liking for my little pagan page had
not been sufficient, my duty 10 Hop Sing
was enough TO cause Inc TO take Wan Lee
with me when | returned to San Francisco,
after my two years experience with the
Northern Star. l do not thinl. he contem-
plated the change with pleasure. ! 2ttrib-
uted his feelings to nervous dread Of
crowded public streets-when he had 30 90
across town for ne on an errand, he always
made long circuit OF the outskrts-to his
dislike for the discipline of the Chinese and
English school to which proposed TO send
him, to his tOnuness for the tree Vagrant
lie of the mines 10 sheer willfullntssi That
it might have been a supeIstitious premoni-
ton did not occur to me until long after.
Nevertheless it really seemed as il tie
opportunity / had long looked for and
confidently expected had come-the oppor-
tunity of placing Wan Lee under gently
restraining Influences. Of subiecting nina to
life and experience that would draw out
OF him what good MY superficial care and
Hires ulated kindness could not teach
Wan Lee was placed at the school of
Chinese missionary-an intelligent and kind
hearted gentleman, who had shown great
interest IN the boy, and who, better than
all, had wonderful faith in him, A home
was found for him in the family OF a widow,
who had bright and interesting daughter
about two Years younger than Wan Lee
1t was this bright, CHEEKY, innocent and
artIess child that touched and reached a
depth in the boys nature that hitherto had
been unsuspected-that awakened a moral
susceptibility that had lain tor years insen.
sible alike TO the teachings CT society or the
ethics OF the theologlans.
These few brief months, bright with a
promise that we never saw fulfilled. must
have been happy ones to Wan Lee. He
worshiped his little friend with something
of the same superstition, but without any
of the caprice, that he bestowed upon his
porcelain pagan god. 1t was his delight to
walk behind her to school, carrying her
books-a service always fraught with dan.
ger to him from the little hands of his
Caucasian Christian brothers. He made
her the most marvellous toys, ho would cut
out of carrots and turnips the most aston
ishing roses and tulips, he made Hfelike
chickens out of melon seeds, he constructed
fans and kites. and was singularly prof.
Gent in the making of dolls paper dresses
On. the other hand, she PLAYED and
sang to him, taught him q thousand
little prettinesses and retinements only
known to girls, gave him a yellow
ribbon for his piigtail, as best suited his
complexion, read to him, showed him
wherein he was original and valuable, took
him to Sunday school with her, against the
precedents of the school, and, smaIl-womsn-
like, triumphed. l wish l could add here
that she effected his conversion, and made
him give up his porcelain idol, but | am
telling a true story, and the little girl was
quite content to fill him with her own
Christian goodness, without letting him
know that be was changed. So they got
along very well together-this little Chris
tan girl with her shining cross hanging
around her plump, white, little neck, and
this dark little pagan, with his hldeous
porcelain idol hidden away in his house.
= rrhnrc ,rera two dog of 49, az-a...c.1