Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-05
He was eaziue at It. fall Of uitv, when


he saw a small pair of worn shoes, fol-
lowed By two little legs. appearing slowly
from above him at the end of the wagon
he was studying. followed shortly after by
the body belonging to'the legs; and when
it was all down on the ground it proved
to be Tartar baby. about three years
old. The Yankee and the Tartar looked
at each other with great establishment.
Sam noticed the high cheek bones. which
seemed to squeeze up the little black eyes
tie band of black hair fringing his forehead
below his pointed cap; his red cheeks,
and his stumpy legs and feet. He put out
one hand to Sam. and then drew it back,
and tucked one of his fingers in the cor
to him at once, the sea-child had had so
few play-fellows. Sam said ..good-morn-
ing;'' and the infant replied with deli
cious little gurgle. showing row of white
teeth, and remark in infantile Tartar.
which undoubtedly meant. How do you do ?
Sam responded BY holding out the gor-
geously painted toy the cOmpradore had
given him. This was favorablv received
with another gurgle. The child's mother
now came down from the cart. and gaZed
amiably at Sam; and when he gave her
offspring cake, she also smiled and said
something Sam did not understand.
Then the baby and he had game of
bopeep: and after that the acquaintance
went on, until they became quite intimate.
Sam was allowed to 90 from the ship with
some one nearly every day tor a week to
play Tor an hour or two with his little
friend. His name was quite unprO-
nounceable to an American mouth; so he
was christened the Khan of Tartary by
Capt. Hollister. Finally Sam wished to
give the khan ride in his precious wagon
sure that not only the baby, but all their
spectators would be struck by the novelty
OF its construction.
You see, father. they do not have any
such things. Look at their wheels. They
are nothing but pieces of wood. But when
they see my cart and the way the wheels
turn round-oh! father" and Sam gazed
fixedly at him, as if he were thinking OF
the way the Tartars would be struck by
its fine mechanism.
Capt. HOLSTER smiled and looked lit
tie mischievous. II believe YOU think
you will revOlutionize the whole system
OF machinery in the Tartar nation. and in
troduce modern wheels among Them"
Sam looked little blank, as he always
did when his father talked above his level
but adhered to his leading idea. His
father began another kind OF argument
''Do you think Annie would like this
yellow-fac Khan of Tartary to ride in
her cart ~
Yes" said sam, stout!y. The Khan
looks like little boy she used to play
with when | was not there
"Oh. OH said the captain. What
magnanimity Well. we will take the
cart. Ii will be rs convenient to carry
as an elephant or Il powder - he said
halt-veXed and half-amused, rs they
handed it over the ships side. and it
slipped. and then caught in Il rope, and
came near falling overheard. However,
they got it ashore safely; and sam drew
it proudly after him through the streets,
where il attracted some attention from the
natives and Il great deal from the dogs
who seemed to consider ii as an insult es-
pcciallv intended for their race They
barked and growled and Jumped at it, and
Capt. IiOllister had more difficulty than
usual in keeping them Off Finally a free
use OF his cane persuaded them to retire :;
and they hurried to the place where the
caravan was camped.
The Khan was rs delighted to see the
cart rs sam could have wished. He went
all over it with his fingers and felt of it :;
turned it upon the side and spun the
wheels round. with shrieks of iov at the
way they whirled: tried to pick it up,
tripped and fell on it !; and stoutlv refused to
cry. although he got bang on the head
from the fall. Then Sam persuaded him
to get in and ride. This was JOY beyond
any capacity Tor the youthful mind to ex-
pres. He sat with mouth wide open. his
little black eyes nearly shut up. two fat
hands graspng the sides; but made no
sound a. sam ratified past the paternal
cart. in all its c,umsineSs. and down the
nearest street. at last trot. the little
wagon. with its shining wheels and vel
low spokeS. showing well in the sun,
and the men and women of the caravan
looking after them with admrng glances.
But. rs they nea,ed the corner of the first
cross-street. Il sound OF baying and the
patter of Il thousand feet broke on their
ears and in another moment round the
corner surged melee of dogs-nearly
every one in the town. as if the advent oi
the cart had been an insult which they
must all help wipe out-a growing. snarl-
my. Ttu-tnTodieu, DTislllnH. dangerous
looking crowd. Sam knew the danger,
and threw himself upon the Khan. face
downward. striking out valiantly with his
hands and stout pair of boots, that came
we'll mp on his legs. Every man and wo-
man of the unlocking Tartar camp. with
Capt. Iollister at the head bore down for
their defense and when they met the dogs
the screaming and bowling was that of
10000 fiends. At first there were 50 MANY
dogs all anxious to be foremost that the
impetus OF their rush and the pressure OF
those behind carried them on, and no dog
had a fair chance for good bite at the
children: and two minutes later there was
the Tartar crowd with sticks and slaves.
each one good Tor two or three dogs,
however strong and fierce the animals
might be. There was a terrific fight OF
ipll five minutes. and then the dogs began
to thin out 4 little. and the noise died down
somewhat: and the Tartars and the Cap
tain. shouting .'lIurrah - in Yankee and
Tartar. swung their sticks still more Wig
orously. and in Il few seconds more drove
the last of them securing down the street.
while dozen at least lay dead aud dy-
ing on the ground. sam and the Khan
realized the victory when they found them
selves uuitedv hu.ged by "A Tartar man