The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-31
OUR CHINESE SERVANT.

Yes, we employ Chinese. And so do
many of our friends and acquaintances.
Never shall wo forget the first China
man whom we employed as q houee
servant. The excellent and trusted
Bridget who had lived with us 50 long
was to he married. She remained be-
yond her time that we might fill her
place, bnt each aspirant to the culinary
domain seemed worse than the proceed
ing, and finally we asked our Chinese
laundry man if he could send ns a
China hoy, as theyare called. Bid?ie
protested.
"Ooh can't heal to think OF YES
having e Chinaman They will stale
all there is in the bouse, and ye's won't
know where it gees"
But we made due allowance for Bid
dies preiudices, engaged ga boy," and
he came at the time appointed.
A neat, rather handsome fellow. he
was. and as lie disappeated into his
room, bundle in hand, we were con.
scions Of Il great drawing of the spirit
toward him. In five Minutes be emerg
ed, clad in the daintiest of white blouses
aud aprons, his pigtail girded around
MS head as meaning business, and with
S--S u Ai' W. ''tNf' Hilti ut SOuBIU us
out ia the parlOr, and oame and stood
before us, his head slightly bowed, his
hands folded, perfectly silent, awaiting
orders. There was submissiyeness i6
his attitude, his expression, his whole
aspect, which suggested the Old Tesla.
ment and the "Arabian Nights" in
turn, Our heart leaped up, as Words
worth's to rainbow. Here was new
regime. lnGeed! How promising How
delightful
He went to work in way which
showed perfect acquaintance with his
duties, and we mentally planned to
teach him (was he not heather y, to
make much of him, and to keep him a
long time. 1t was nice to have such a
diStingue looking creature around, and
how dettly he waited on door and table !
About the middle of the afternoon, an
other Chinaman appeared on the scene,
and the two had much cackle together.
No. l showed No. 2 his kitchen, laun-
dry, and closet; and we concluded that
he was pleased with his conveuiencea,
and was receiving congratulations there |
upon. BY five o'clock ne again "eame |
and stood before u.s."
MY hiend heap good boy; he stay
yon; | catch-nm Place, San Flancisco.h
And China boy No. l summarily de-
parted, leaving behind him quite an iu-
ferior substitute. And with him went,
as we learned that evening, all the crack
ed wheat which We CHANGED to have in
the -four closet.
Wonderfully keen, observant and
bright, in an hour the "Cbina boy" will
take in the situation of everything about
the house. Nor do they seem to notice
anything, which is the wonderful part of
1t. Those narrow little eyes, cut bias,
seem always either cast down or looking
at vacancy, and yet nothing escapes
their observation. Owing to this quick
ness, one does not dread changing them
on the score of stupidity. But one does
dread it on the score of obstinacy, for il
is next to impossible to make them do
anything otherwise than as they learned
from the first person who taught them.
For instance, one of them would always
wet his pastry before baking it, aud
bring it ont shiny, like a German pret-
eel. RamOnstrances were in vain; call
light, was the answer, but the pastry ]
was always all wrong. We inferred that
le had been first taught how to make {
pie crust IN German restaurant.
They resent nothing more than being [
accused of lying and stealing, and there {
s nothing, apparently, which they think
'marter than TO lie and to steal. No |
natter how kind you may have been, no i
natter what obligations they may be
lnder; they seem to lack the moral sense
which recognizes ingratitude. The I
Jhinaman who takes care of our garden,
great gambler, and, therefore, often !
educed to straits, will come to us when
hungry to be warmed and filed, aud if
le gets opportunity will carry off, on
eaving the premises, loaf of bread, a
oil OF butter, or all the eggs in the hen I
louse. One soon learns to feel neither /
urpyise nor indignation at these little
ccuIences, but to guard against them i
s well as may be. i