San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-02-06
All CHING F0'S WILL.

ALI Ching Fo was his name, as any on,
might have read on the door of his laun
dry-if any one happened to know Chi
nese. OF course he was called John. Th
American dubs every Chinaman John
just as the stout old gentleman call
every pretty girl "my dear"
| If you chanced to walk south on Mot
street four years ago l have no doub
you saw Johns laundry. 1t was in tn,
basement of a big tenement house
Through the open windows one nigh
have seen John at work, sprinkling til,
clothes through his teeth--a la mod,
Chinoise-or, perhaps, polishing n re
fractory shirt front. At all events, ther,
he stood for ten good hours every day
with that smile of bland idiocy that
among strangers, the Chinaman wear
like mask.
Above stairs in the tenement dwelt al
sorts and conditions of people. Their,
were broken down gamblers, Irish labor
ers, Jew peddlers and few "swell'
negroes given to flaring scarfs and mucl
cheap hair oil. 1t was in two dingy
rooms at the back and up three pairs o.
stairs that old Otto Won Haeckel and hi.
pretty daughter Lischen lived. Herr vor
Haeckel earned few dollars every weel
by playing the violin in Bowery "the
atre of varieties" Now, be it under
stood that a Bowery theatre of varie
ties" is very unsavory place, and tht
Lose said about IL tba hnttar
Lischen. like good little housewife
of fifteen, stayed at home and scrubbed
the bare floor till it shone and darneC
stockings till they were good as new
better in fact-and was desperately un
happy. For Lischen, like Caesar and Q
great many worse folk, was ambitious.
"You have voice like bird, dearest
child" her father would say; sit is gold
liebes kind, but it needs refining ant
minting."
So Lischen, knowing what need there
was for minted gold, practiced the exer
cises her father set her, and hoped. And
the poor old man saved every penny
few enough they were-and tried tc
make himself fancy that some day he
would take his nightingale to Milano.
For Herr Won Haeckel believes that one
cannot learn singing outside of Italy.
But in spite of Lischen's hopes and the
old mans boarded pennies, Milano was
very far away indeed; it seemed as
though it moved few leagues farther
away each day.
John, in the basement among the shirts
and collars, had sharp ear for the stair
case. Whenever he heard Lischens lit
tie feet tripping down he was sure to be
at the window to see her pass. Lischen
fell into the habit of glancing down at
him; soon the glance grew into smile;
the smile grew into nod.
One day as she was coming home John
Chinaman met her in the hall. After
much mysterious fumbling he produced
a large packet from some hidden cave
in his blouse. He thrust it into Lischen's
hands and vanished. Cinnamon have
the art of vanishing-Chu Fong did.
Lischen carried the packet to her room
and opened it. 1t contained a large
papier mache dragon and this was filled
with salty Chinese bonbons of wonder
full taste. When the old violinist came
home that afternoon from the Bowery
theatre of varieties she showed him the
dragon, and laughingly told him how she
had been presented with it.
Him, gut-ja!" said her father, and
wrapped it up and took it down to the
Chinaman.
"My daughter cannot take this" he
"she is much obliged to you.
Do you understand"
"Golong way" returned John placid
y, "n'lot mine-go'long way"
Herr Won Haeckel tried again with no
better success than before. At last he
was fain to go back, dragon and all, as
ne came.
After that mysterious parcels would
,ome sailing through the transom; long
iilk scarfs and gay colored handkerchiefs
visited under the door like snakes-and
of their own volition.
One afternoon Lischen was startled by
sharp knock. She opened the door
md there stood John Chinaman. He
wore a long blue silk blouse, howered
Yellow silk smalls were
wrapped about his thin legs, and white
ilk shoes adorned his feet. His pigtaI
lung to the floor and his face was
yreathed in a smile blander than new
utter. In one hand he carried a lighted
wax candle. This he deposited on the
able. Then he drew up chair and sat
own.
"Plitty day." be said. "wnl you
lally meg'
"Whatg- exclaimed Lischen-
'Mally me, please" All Ching 70 re-
eated, and pointing TO the candle be
ave her 10 understand that while il
grned she could ponder over her de-
sion.
Half laughing and half frightened, she
Imped up and blew out the candle. An
hing 70 sighe,l. shook his bead sadly,
1d went away.
or counse the Chinaman knew-hOw
Juld he help knouinz' Every one in I
.e Tenement had heard of Lischen'sam-
tiou ard the cd rioliuist's savings
When tbe Cd man came home b tea {
az afferu0cu UliaD0 seemed very far !
say iudfs-z. joan Chinz-nan-knOun 4
tie wise - Al Ching F0-sioTT,ed him !
tire halsaV and sp5ke 70 him {