The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-12-16

tickles 'em jest as much to get presents,
and me to give 'em. And you re Jest
the same, John. You know you be"
well, / don't know but what be,
Maria, acknowledged the captain, and
they went on to tell of their queer ex-
periences while "Christmasin" in out of
tho way Chinese and African ports with
chuckles and peals of laughter that set
Pedro grinning by force of example.
though he couldn't understand word.
"And speakin Of that, Mr.. b." said
Mrs. Hale, II thought maybe I could
make 1t little more like Christmas to
you and them other young men here
away from their own folks, 80 / made
you this" And with that she extracted
from her basket the very grandfather of
all Christmas plum puddings--the first
one had seen for three years. Maybe
'tain't jest what you'd get at home,"
she said, holding it out with both hands
while the captain lowered beside her.
six feet Of genuine delight at my sur
prise, cause didn't have Just the
right flxin's, but guess it'll go down
pretty well. There, take It and don't
bother to say one word. " And / knew
the kind old soul saw that for the mo-
ment l could as easily have flown as
uttered the thanks / felt.
"Trust the old lady to know what
boys like, said the captain. 1--WE had
boy once ourselves. He be Jest about
your age now," he added in q lower
tone, glancing at his wife.
We've got him now, John, as I've
always said and always WILL" said
Mrs. Hale quietly, rearranging her bas-
ket
The captain went ON in answer to my
wondering look: "You see, our boy run
off when he want more'n 10. He'd
been kind Of wild, as boys be, and I'm
afraid was little harsh to him Any.
way he went off without word, and
we amt never heard Of him since. /
feel pretty sure he's dead. but mother
here sticks to it he amt"
And I'm goin to stick to II, John,
till I know for sure" And then with q
CHEEKY smile Mt me- "It kind Of does me
good to keep lookin forward to seein
Rufe again some day. Now, come along,
John; it's gettin late.
l slipped on my jacket, whereupon
Pedro vanished, and accompanied the
worthy couple down to the door of the
building. On the stairs Mrs. Hale turn
ed and Whispered to me: John talks
as II he didn't care much about Rufe's
goin of, but now he really does, Mr..
B. II he could find our boy, 'twould
take ten years off his age and mine too, "
did not doubt it, and refrained
from saying that I thought it would
probably add ten years to Rufe's If he
could realize the sort Of mother and fa-
ther he had left 30 many years ago.
So bade them good night, promising
to see them in the morning and with
hearty thanks for their thoughtful kind
ness, and watched them as they trudged
away toward the native quarters, their
sturdy figures towering above the mot
ley crowd of natives and Cinnamon
who thronged the narrow street and
filled the air with their uncouth gabble
sent my groom home with the pre-
cious pudding, and. mounting my pony,
threaded my way around to the English
club. There I found McGregor. the old
Scotch doctor, standing in the doorway
and amusing himself by tossing coppers
one at time to crowd Of lame, halt
and blind beggars, who as each coin fell
instantly became an appalling tangle OF
skinny arms and legs.
"Hello!" said he as drew up. 81
was just coming round after you "Su-
luv' (get away to tho beggars, who
were plucking at various portions Of his
raiment, and, like metamorphosed Oil
yer Twists, asking for more. Aren't
you acting American consul just now?"
he inquired.
During the temporary absence Of the
consul I had undertaken his not very
arduous duties, being the only other
American resident in the place.
"Well," continued the "medico,'
II have fellow countryman OF yours
very bad with fever down in Malacanan
(native quarter), q sailorman, only just
out of the Spanish Jail for humping
guardia (policeman) last year. l have
my doubts of his lasting long, and you'd
better come down if you will"
OF course would come, consul or
not. In these hidden corners OF the
world any one in trouble, vagabond
sailor, "beach comber" or unlucky clerk
out of employment, is as sure of help
from more fortunate fellow countrymen
as if he were in his native land-surer
perhaps, unless he happen to be Chi
naman, in which case his friends let
him die unmolested and then pay the
expenses of burying him in China, u
baokhanded sort of philanthropy, very
| characteristic in John Chinaman.
SO the doctor jumped into public
carriage and ratified away toward Ma
lacanan, while I followed on my pony,
leaving the beggars to philosophically
squat down around the club doorway
and resume their everlasting wall OF
CHARITY, for love of heaven, charity !.
Poor old McGregor's story was sad
one. Long years before, as young man.
he had come to the Philippines ON
pleasure trip with his wife, and here
she died suddenly of cholera, that ter
| .oo,roa nf tba aoc which then was