The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-01
Ell CHANG AND THE CUR.
The Prominent Part They Played
in a Domestic Drama.

Locality-a valley in the interior of Cali
fornia, described in real estate prospectus
as the "lOveliest of earth's favored spots.
where mere existence is perpetual de
light" but presenting to the unapprcciativc
eye the appearance of a very thinly popu-
lated, treeess and grassless region.
A farmhouse stands some distance back
from the public road. The chief advantages
of its situation seems to be eXclusivencss
and open air. A Gisorderly picl1ct-fence
surrounds front garden, in which Nature
blooms unrcstrainedin thistle and tar weed
Enter through the gate rotund China
man with very long cue. a small terrier
dog, apparently in transitional state be-
tween the blue blooded Skye and the blind
alley cur, follows, per force of string at
tachCd to his collar. The dog as he ap-
proaches the house, walls dolorously and
tugs at the cord.
The Chinaman darts side-glance at him,
and shakes chubby finger, saying; you
look ow now; you go back"
A middle-aged female person rushes out
of front door, grasps the dog and infolds
him in ecstatic embrace
She cries out, "And you are here again,
are you?-my jewel, my blessed onem
Hi Chang, serenely smiling-"Yes, me
Gomez
Response in excited, slightly HibernisA
tOnes-"You think it's you that Pm a-talk-
ing to-you, indeed. and you're an ignorant
heather. What is it you're meaning, to
keep the dog, knowing all the country was
being searched for him! May be it's starved
he is-Waggy- own poor dogw
Waggy walls af1irmatively.
Hi Chang, tranquilly-"Me dive him
way; he no go; me bling him you this time,
next time he come, he dbye you" Hor-
ribly significant wink of left eye.
Female party, frantically wrought up
You are not daring to mean you'll kill
him?'
Pagan, oracularly-"Velly bad dog, no can
all time live. He come my boss place, kill
him one day the chickee, bleak him leg one
duck, and not for eat, for play! You think
my boss buy chicllee make play for YOUR
dog?"
Volcanic emotion on female visage.
Hi Chang continues, with solemnly warn
ing voicc-"My boss say come gain he
house, may be so not come any more"
Female, with air of an avenging goddess
'Its a God-forsaken man that would take
the life of a mite of a senseless beast that's
the sole protection of two lonely women.
Wen set the law on him."
Hi Chang, placid triumph shining out of
his eye-slits-"My boss Itch man, do all
same he lille''
The other party, in naughty scoim-''Rich,
and cares so much about chicken or 50!
Wen pay for his precious chickens"
Hi Chang, with equally lofty scorn-''Hc
no care chickee, got plenty money buy
chickec. He care how'll Dog come make
big noise; my boss say: Kill blank beast.
Nnvt tima'I-o inn,
see gain. Goodbye" Turns away.
Female, with pursuing Shrek of expostu-
lation-'Here you Chinaman! We'll pay
any thing, tell your boss.n
Chinaman, with three unrelenting shakes
of head-"No can pay for howlr' Closes
gate, and trips away, while Odelia makes
fierce gestures at his disappearing cue.
Languid voice from interior of house
''Odelia, what is all the talking and noise?,
Odelia, rushing in direction of voice-s'It's
our own Waggy that Pm just after taking
from the clutches of a murderous- hearted
pagan"
Voice within, full of keenest anxiety
40. tell me, tell me, is he entirely safe!'
Odelia, in choking voice-"For this time,
yes; but for the next time he goes he's the
same as dead. All because of few chick
ems" And she crouches in Niobe pose on
the porch near window.
Voice through blinds-"But Odelia, we
will pay for any wretched chickens Wagner
may kill"
Odelia, espairingly-"And wasn't tell
ing the sinner just that2 And don't he ans
wer me that its the howl his Turk of a mas
ter makes "a murderous talk about. What's
a little noise!''
Sigh from within-'The poor man may be
nervous, may have trouble on his mind
most of us have. But, Odelia, if Wagner
'cH go there and make noise, what can we
do9"
Odelia, emphatically- ave can make haste
to get out of this pagan country, all alive
with devils walking around in pigtails."
Voice within, querulously-"We can not
Odelia we can not. You know that only in
a far-off, hidden place like this do l find
peace of mind. Bring me Wagner; he I'M
derstands."
Waggy at that moment struggles for the
freedom of this place, and has to be com
pellcd into the arms of his sympathy
ing mistress.
A farm house, painted into glazing fresh