Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-01-08
CHINESE FAMILY LIFE.
A Chinese Father states His Condition
Sou1 mbitions In Life.

- ~ Shanghai Celestial Empire.
| l aul1Ae third son of my father, and
am ffty-0ne years of age, He was a
native OF the province ofeCheh Kiang,
and was at the time of hisSdeath an ex-
pectant rnagistrses in attendance at the
court of the provincial government of
Y. He died at the age of fifty four,
just twenty years ago. My paternal
grandfather was full xnagistrate of the
district Of R4 in this province, and
we considered him the progenitor of our
family. A connections with our Cheh
kiang ancestors has long since been cut
of and forgotten. Nave also one uncle
living, - younger brother of my father.
My m0e6r was q small footed Cheh
Klang Nlnan, and came from her native
PRO Rith my father; abe could
speak yh0 Mandarin dialect as we'll as
her native tongue, and it is to her that l
am indebted to the Kwan-hwa which l
now use. My mother bore my father
two sons besides myself; one, younger
than myself, died at the age Of three or
four years. l am married to a small
footed native OF Y, who is now forty
eight years of age. BY her l have had
nine children, four boys and five girls.
OF these there are five now living. My
eldest child living is daughter, aged
twenty.seven, who is married to local
trader, and belongs of course to my fam
lily no longer. My eldest living son,
aged twenty five, is employed as tutor
TO boys in the neighborhood of our dwell
ling, and his total earnings from this
source would amount to about eight
dollars month. He is married to the
daughter of a clerk in the provincial
treasurer's office.
My second daughter was married this
year to the teacher of boys school. /
These marriages are the great expense to
us respectable families. 1t cost me $500,
nearly one years salary. to defray the
cost of our last little affair. OF this ] !
hadpsaved $i20; in the delicate guise Of
cake money many of the neighbors con-
tributed from 81 to I'll. / apiece, and
the rest | had to borrow, and am still
paying of. The chief expense is for the |
three days open house kept during the
festivities. Pork, cakes, wines, etc.,
have to be literally distributed around,
and it would never do for a gentleman
of my position to be shabby. Then the
wife's outfit must always be supplied by
her own family. Tables, chairs, clothes
trunks, pots and pans, aud goodness
knows what not. All! you have little
idea how We Chinese fathers must scrape
md starve to do our duty respectfully.
Well, my secand son is still at school; he
Is twenty-one years of age, but as yet
not betrothed. My youngest daughter
Is thirteen, and she learns her household
duties at home. OF course all the
females of our family are small footed.
Ny uncle's son, aged forty five is still
alive and has four daughters. My wife
md children, and my cousin and his
leuS assAtcrs, thus form the whole Of n
,ur family. 4
My house consists of six apartments
md stands me five dollars q month for
sent; two of the apartments are recep-
ion rooms. Before was employed by
my foreign friend ! served as clerk in
custom house: but never having any in
;lination to squeeze did not goton well.
know / am stupid, but l really cannot
'queeze, although my friends make sport
II me for it. like to be quiet and in
dependent, and as long as long as get
Ay s0AaIy IeSuldIy pdlu HOp0 W IemAln ,
If the same mind. Were to die my
wife would take one share of what little
have; one share would be re- !.
'erve1 for the expenses of my youngest
daughters wedding, and share apiece
would 60 to each of my two sons. Be-
'ides the members our family we keep
me coolie and one old woman to do the
'ough work of the household. Every
lay walk four English miles to my
luties, and four miles back again in
he afternoon. This / have done for
nearly twenty years. Certainly might
move to a nearer place, but ! enjoy a
7ery high position in my neighborhood,
icing one of the spokesmen of the ward.
The wards are of different sizes. Ours is
! small one, consisting of not more than !
100 houses. All small matters are re-
erred to the four spokesmen, who either
ettle the matter individually or meet in !.
he temple to discuss it. Grave matters
% before the district magistrate in the !
lsual way. ,.