Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-11-10

lHgGlSSI aSVUa three long and |
..t!YYss,Agji@5 p talkative Chinese
vi lsElgA carpenters were
" N1Ik f.EHd3 puttingup apunka,
s-tNSAIEE!aI or big fan which
EE9fa swings overhead
..S'.e tS ag novelty for me,
) y sn-ssS as L h no t
needed one in the old Office.
At last the incessant, quavering
gabble of the three carpinteros, COM
bined with their marked odor of
opium, sandal-wood and warm hui
manity, drove me outside until the
work should be finished.
I found at the door crowd of
natives beside my clerks, who, it
seemed, were candidates for the posi-
tion of punkero, or coolie, whose duty
it is to keep the fan swinging during
business hours. Considering the
narrowing monotony of the work, his
pay is very low. They were all boys in
various stages of dirt and nakedness,
except one, whose appearance attracted
my attention.
He was tall, old man, neatly
dressed in snowy shirt and trousers,
with fine, intelligent face. His hair
was nearly white, which indicated n
pretty ripe age, for Filipino's head
seldom shows signs of grayness before
he is fifty, and l never saw one in the
least bald.
docs that viejo-old fellow-want
to be a punkero?" 1 asked Jose, the
chief clerk.
Isl, senor," answered Jose, with
grin like an open piano, che says he
does"
"He doesn't look like it," said I.
"Mira-look here-vieio, canst thou
not find better work."
"No, senor," he answered, respect
fully. 81 have wife and crippled
son to support, senor, and hope 1
may be allowed to serve your grace. ;"
The old mans Spanish was pure
and good, and his replies to the few
questions asked betrayed an educa-
tion far superior to that of the ordinary
native. I was puzzled to know why
he should be an applicant for a posi-.
tion generally considered beneath the
dignity of any one but half-grown
boy from the wilderness; but he was
very reticent in respectful way, and
lodged my questions most diplomatic
ally.
At last l decided to try him, partly
as a curiosity, for no other office in the
place was ornamented by q punkero Of
such yer cradle and dignifed appear
ance.
So l told the others to su-lu-clear
out-and ordered Jose, much to that
worthy's amazement at my choice, to
install Miguel, as he called himself,
III his position as soon rs things were
ready. Furthermore, L told Jose,
with emphasis, to see that the other
clerks attempted no "sliylarEing" with
the old man.
When returned 1 found the punka
in place, and Miguel maintaining his
dignity wonderfully on a three legged
stool, with the cord in his hand, which
he began te pull ms [ entered, filling
the room with refreshing whirlwind.
Thus old Miguel became n fixture
in my office, and performed his lowly
task faithfully and well. He WAS
always at his post when 1 arrived in
/ the morning to greet me with "Buenos
dlas, senorl" He tugged patiently at
MS cord till | donned my jacket and
riding-boots at five o'clock, the signal
for "Buenos noches, senior" and his
departure.
The old mans one drawback-and
that only at frst-was a persistent
tendency to so to sleep at his post. l
tried to cure him of the habit by saw
ing off one leg Of the stool. This kept
him awake an honr or two, but he soon
found that by propping one edge OF
the stool against the wall, he could