River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-12-20
an KIN's CHRISTMAS TREE.

Al htA-N IhHA0l MAS IhEEs
| have more than once reiterated the
following simple story, by word Of mouth.
for several reasons. In the first place. it
Il as strictly true as il is strange: in the
next, it enables me to justify gratitude in
a quarter where justification is seldom
accorded; and again because it places our
patiently suffering, much abused John
ChInaman in a better light, and shows
him to be as fully susceptible to humane
and generous treatment as his more for
tunate fellows of the less slanted optics
and less pronounced expression of nose
and check bone.
As the winter holidays of 1876 APP
preached, they found me in a very I'M
enviable state Of mind.
| was living, with my family. H. the
little mining town OF Red Gulch, not a
hundred miles from Marysville. Califor-
MIA. A continued run Of i'll fortune had
reduced re from the proud position of a
mining speculatoT on my own account to
the SUPPLEMENTARY of a small average
paving quartz mill. II was barely sufiici-
eut to subsist on in the provoking hard
times that prevailed. Long continued i'll
success had broken my spirit aud under
mined my individual energy. and il WAS
only bv observing the strictest economy
IN everything that nav good wife and
managed 10 make both ends meet in the
conduct OF our household, and at The same
time send our three children To respect
able school, and preserve IN outward sem
blance 10 the thrift and dCcency that had
distinguished US in our prosperous days
And one of our sources of annoyance
Just at the time of which was speaking
was that our little ones would have to be
put off with their Christmas tree, 10 which
they had been accustomed once a year
from the time they were born. But they
took it better than could have been eX-
peCted when their mother prepared them
for their disappointment beforehand.
Tommy, the eldest. who was a yerilab.c
little philosopher in his way >tOutiy as
serted that he had outgrOWn such childish
IuxuTies. and would manage TO make
merry enough if we would treat him To
new pair Of boots. of which he was sadly
in need. poor fellow.
Bella also pretended To think nothing
of the disappointment: buff little Jenny,
whose brief recollection could not include
more than two Christmas trees at the
furthcst. looked a little dOwncast when
told that Santa Claus would this year have
nothing for her but "a cheap doll and a
picture book, she did not whimpcr about
il. bait bore it like trump.
Still, know that :hey feel the disap-
pOintment bitterly at heart, said nv wife
sadly; sand hope we shall be able next
Christmas to make amends to them"
Suppose l cut one of the dwarf frs ont
on the mountain, and hang It over with
sugar pIums and cheap candies" l sug-
gc.ed. 'ItwOuld be better than nothing "
Il don't think it would after the beau
tiful and expensive trees to which tao
darlings have been accustomed
Then let Us think and say no more
about it." said l with some impotence.
Il wouldn't mind their disappointment
81 much, continued my wife. IF it was
not constantly aggravated by the Cameron
children, next door, who are forever crew
ing over our chicks by describing tse
magnificent tree their parents are going
to provide for ther.'
Il have a notion 10 move to the other
end Of town" I exclaimed. biting my lip
for Mr. Cameron was one OF my employ
ers, and the one who most persistently
reminded me Of my dependent position
having known me IN other days when
was as well off as himself.
THAT would cost more than a vel
loaded Christmas tree, | am afraid, sale
my wife.
Just then Master Tommy came stump
irg in from school, with his satchel on hi.
arm, and a brighter look on his face thar
l had seen it wear for some time.
"HOorayr he cried, were going L
have a Christmas tree after all =
"Yes indeed exclaimed Bella, whC
Just then made her appearance at hi
heels, towing in Jenny. whose eyes wer,
also dancing in her head; "a better and +;
more wonderful tree than is in all Cali
fOrnia."
and where is it to come FROM" said
in much surprise.
"Ah Kin Is going to give 1t to US.
But my wife and myself burst out laugh
ing at this.
An Kin was a simple minded, Chinese
laundryman. who had formerly been EN-
plOved by me in my little shaft on Feathe
River, when l was delving for gold on m
own account. lie had been taken with
dreadful fever, from which only the mos
unremitting care ON our part, togethc
with fortunate - -tOring, had restore,
him To life and usefulness though To tn
latter only with impaired and broker
faculties. lie had never been strong
minded 1t his brightest, and his eOnya
lcscence left him sOdevaStated of his small
store of Oriental cunning rs tOverge upOl
imbecility, while his physical cnergie
had only recuperated sufficiently 10 en-
able him to earn a precarious subsistence
at a neighDoring laundry that was ca.T'e'
on by one of his COuntrynen. He had q
first joined a shOwman's enterprise in tn
capacity of "the great original Chimes
iuCgler," vocation in which he accord
inc to his own acCountl had teen a pro
ficient in the flOwery kingd IA; but hi
impaired faculties had deprived him q
his former skill-if, indeed. he ever pos
sessed any-and he at length settled dow
rs a spiritless ard unambitious man wash
erwOman. But lie had never forgotten
our humane treatment during his lines:
though We had come to look upon tn
stupid expression of his gratitude as con
tanning as much intelligence as w0ul'
have been betrayed BIZ well-diSpositione,
Newfoundland dog.
1T will certainly be a fine tree YOU vii
obtain from All Kin" said l. Bette
put such notions awayat once, my dears.
But, papa said Tommy, earnestly
he swears he will come here Christina
morning and make a lovely Christina
tree grow right out of the ground"
Yes, put in Bella, and he promise
that It shall be ever - much better tha
the Cameron girls are 10 have"
AL covered with silver and dold,