Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-03

By BRET HARTE.
rcopyrirh,. lsss. by ,he Au,hor.l

ttopyflHnt, itSst ny tlt Rutnot'1
don't suppose that his progenitors
ever gave him that name-or indeed
that Il was y name at all-but IL WAS
currently believed that--as pronounced
See Up-it meant that lifting Of the
outer angle Of the eye common to the
Mongolian. On the other hand. had
been told that there was an old Chinese
custom Of aiiixing some motto or legend
-or even sentence from Confncius-
as sign above their shops, and that
two or more words, which might be
merely equivalent to "Virtue is its own
reward" or Riches are deceitful,"
was believed by the simple Californian
miner to he the name of the occupant
himself. Howbeit. See Yup accepted
IL with the smiling patience OF his race
and never went by any other II one OF
the tunnel men aways addressed him as
"brigadier general. Judge" or ICON.
modore." IL was understood to he only
the American fondness for ironic title.
and was never used except in personal
conversation, In appearance he looked
like any other Cbinaman, wore the or
dinary blue cotton blouse and white
drawers Of the Sampan cody, aud. in
spite Of the apparent cleanliness and
freshness Of these garments. always eS.
hailed that singular medicated odor-
half opium, half ginger which we rcc.
h., J.. 'hinas. s,nntt ~
Our first interview was characteristic
OF his patient quality. He bad done my
washing for several months. but bad
never yet seen him. A meeting ut last
had become necessary to correct his
impressions regarding buttons
which he had seemed u consider as
mere excrescepces, To be removed like
superfiuOus dirt from soiled linen. |
had expected him To call at my lodg
ings. but he had not yet made his mp
pearance. one day, during the nountide
recess Of the little frontier school over
which / presided. returned rnthei
early. Two or three Of the smaller boys.
who Were lettering about the school
yard, disappeared with certain guilty
precipitation that suspected for the
moment. but which / presently dismiss
ed from my mind. I passed through
the empty schoolroom To my desk, sat
down and began TO prepare the coming
lessons. Presently heard faint sigh.
Looking up TO my intense concern
discovered q solitary Chinaman whom
had overlooked sitting in rigid atti-
tude on bench with his back to the
window. He caught my eye and smiled
radly. but without moving.
What are you doing here?" l asked
sternly.
"Me washee shifts, me talkee but.
tons "
"oh. you're See Yup, are you'"
"Allee same John"
"Well, come here"
continued my work, but he did not
move.
"Come here, hang It'll Don't you un-
derstandS"
"Me sbabbee, 'comme yea But me
no shabbee Mellikan boy, who catchee
me. alice same. You CONNIE yea, you
shabbee;"
Indignant, but believing that the nm
fortunate man was still in fear Of per-
secution from these mischievous urchins
whom had evidently just interrupted,
put down my pen and went over to
him. Here discovered to my surprise
and modification that his long pigtail
was held hard and fast hy the closed
window behind him, which the young
rascals had shut down upon IL after
having first noiselessly fished it outside
with q hook and line. l apologized.
opened the window and released him.
He did not complain, although he must