Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-07-03

ZI n5s and fell like a
- ~ savage incanta-
tion, disturbing tho peaceful sunset
Air.paags Hasa a q sgsS ;s.- sss.Q1 >sss
1t was the song of All Lee. He lay
dat upon his back, stretched ut full
length upon the floor. a grain sack
beneath his smooth head, his bare
brown feet keeping time to the harsh
chanting. In his rough sunburnt
hands he held a Chinese song-book, a
soiled thin pamphlet OFFICE paper, and
over him through the open door
poured the full golden food OF q
california sunset.
1t had been hot, toilsome day for
All Lee. Since early morning he had
patiently plodded hour alter hour,
behind the old bay mare with the cul-
tivator in the great vineyard on the
,alope OF the dusty hill. Not a cloud
in the brilliant blue Of the sky all the
day through, had fora moment soft
ened the SUMS steady glare upon his
faded black hat and STOPPING shout
ders. Though u thoroughbred hen.
then, he was heartily glad thatit was
Saturday night, and "tomollow Sun
day, no workee."
He had eaten his frugal supper of
rice and dried fish, drank his tea,
and with rice. bowl and chop-sticks
still OH the floor beside him he was
taking his ease, the week hard work
,well ended.
Out by the low, struggling white
wished stables were the ranchmen,
smoking and talking socially. Fore
most OF the group stood Murphy, the
sOverseer. fiourishing big snake
whip aimlessly. But All Lee never
thought OF joining them. They were
mo comrades of his. He was a sort
OF ranch Ishmaelite, rather vicious it
the truth must be told, and by na-
ture ugly, mentally and physically.
The only Chinaman on the place, he
was looked down upon with mingled
hatred and contempt by the other
men and he in turn cordially detested
them all, particularly Murphy. the
foreman. The latter had tried his
best to drive All Lee. away from the
ranch, to which he had come with
.other extra hands during the rush of
the the vintage season the autumn
before. But DR.. Morgan, the pro-
prietor. though like his foreman,
strongly anti-Chinese. had taken q
fancy to surly All Lee, and refused to
discharge him.
Absorbed in his song the singer
paid no heed to his audience of one,
a 6-year old, fiaxen-haired, blue
eyed boy standing in the doorway,
and evidently slightly awe-stricken
as he stared into the little room.
Only when the fast-waning light
caused him to turn his head did All
Lee notice the chubby face OF his tim
i'd visitor.
Slowly rising to his feet he said,
with friendly grin:
"Hul!o. boy! You likee me sing?"
The child pushed back his little
blue-ribboned Straw hat, and with q
shrug advanced a few steps.
30 yes," he replied, returning All
Lees smile, you know you sing SO
funny. But dad says he will lick me
good'n hard y l come in here to see
you. Sabbe?'
"Yeher, me sabe. He no good.
You likee come, you come" OBJ
served All Lee, graciously. 1t
was Murphy's boy Tommie, and
because of that fact he sometimes
glanced at the urchin with an evil
hook. But because of the trusting
blue eyes, the bright innocent face,
ibnt moro than all because of the
plninly shown liking of the boy
for ugly All Lee, the Chinaman
being also human, frequently
forgot it was Murphy's boy
to whom he gave SO many Curl
.ous sweetmeats, peculiar to the far
of fiowery kingdom. just now he
realized only the pleasing fact that
the needless Tommie had ventured
into the hut at the risk ofu whipping.
So he came forward with n beam
ing smile, his long pig-tail reaching
NEARLY to his bare heels.
"You likee come. you come, ollie
.same,N hstsaid, placing a brown, toll
hardened hand on TONNES silvery
young head.
At the same instant a quick, heavy
step crunched the gravel outside and
the burIy black whiskered Murphy,
whip in hand, filed the low doorway.
s'Come out o. that, Tommie!' COM
lmhnded the father angriIy. Didn't
i ten yes ter keep away from this dir