Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-15
CHAPTER NINE.

sun poured down upon his pare led,
now. for he was asleep on the side OF
a hay cock His brown hands still
.rrasped the smooth ash handle Of the
rake. but his thoughts were far ava!
in the city of his babyhood. To hin
New York was glorified. He remem'
bered il as he had seen it in his baby
hood. Mott street with its narrowncss
seemed very wide. The windows OF
the little dingy Chinese groceries ans
fancy goods stores were bright ano
large. as he remembered them.
His bare feet were deep brown aho
every minute that the hot sun kissed
them they grew hotter and hotter
His broad straw hat had fallen OF and
rolled away. \ field mouse whose
nest had been torn up by his rake now
approached the hat and inspected II
looking fearfully ut the sleeping boy
A humble bee hummed loudly over
the single head of red clover that the
ruthless scythe had left. The arr was
heavy with the perfume of new made
hay. To Fun Ting this odor was al
most Intoxicating, for he was chic
of full senses, robust and healthy
Now that he was asleep he thought
that it was the burning prayer sticks
in the joss houses in New York )
Chinatown Suddenly the wind caught
the top of dry clover and rolled IL
down across his face. and he aWoke
Sitting up to look around he was con-
SCiouS that it was very hot. ana ms
ear caught the ding dong of the bell on
the neck of Old Bess, the COW. over IN
the pasture by the ravine. How cool
it must be over there.
He rose and leaving his hat and rake
crossed the field and was soon walking
over the soft cool moss in the woods
near the brook. Finding the smooth
rock where his friend the frog gem
orally sportcd half in and half out OF
the water. he threw himself down on
the bank and began to battle ms
hands in the crystal water. An odd
many legged bug was struggling Il
reach the top of Il leaf that fioated
in the stream. Ting watched it for a
minute and then got a straw and
helped the creature to the top OF II.
The bug was probably greatful but did
not make any sign.
once it was in the boat the boy be
gan to study the odd, queer little
creature. The bug ran all around the
leaf to find a way off. Fun Ting saw
the predicamcnt that the little fellow
was still in. and blew the leaf ashore
The bug laboriously crawled off and
the boy watched it disappear i'll the
crevices of a pine stump.
Well" said a quiet, girlish voice
from the other side of the brook why
didn't YOU kill that horrid bug
Fun Ting was startled. but he did
not show it. He looked quickly
around but could see nothing at first
There was "a hearty laugh and again
the voice said. You cannot see me. can
YOU"
No" said Ting. where are YOU
Look up young man. look up and
YOU will see more than ever you will
by staring at the ground. Ting ling
Ting, ting, tina dangling. You see
know you. Fun Ting. Fun Ting, the
Chinaman,"
The boy looked up at the trees with
a flush upon his face. What he saw
was very pretty picture. a black
eyed. black haired girl in the first
bloom Of her teens, sitting in the com
Portable hollow of a branch of the
great old beach tree. The knot of red
red at her throat gave color to her calico
dress and was reflected in the brook
below. Her plain but good-to-sec face
was ripping all over with. merriment
at the boys perplcxty. He wondered
where she came from. She was six
years older than he. to judge by her
hut 1n fn1t ,l.,,-
ment OH that account. He was angry
because she had called him a China
man as though it was not honorable to
be one. She had also made fun of his
name in singing the tinglng song.
why didn't you kill that bug" she
asked again.
Because it is wicked to kill bugs.
he promptly answered.
The girl laughed. Don't you kill
potato bugs" she asked
mo, Grandpa does that
why is it wicked" she asked
roguishly.
Because it hurts them" answered
Ting stoutly.
The girls face sOftened. "Oh," she
said, and slipped down from the tree.
Don't you know me-" she asked,
laughing.
No said Ting.
She laughed again. caught her
skirts in her hands and ninsing her
slim person into n skirt dance that
she must have originated herself from
pictures in the ten cent magazines be-
gan to sing:
The Bowery. the Eowery. They do such
things. and they say such things
On the Rowery. I'll never 80 there any
more
Fun Ting snorted in disgust. You
are the girl at Grandma's party" he
SAID. "rhc girl that sang that silly
song. They don't know that song on
the Bowcry."
Yes they do" said She They sing
II all the time there. I'm going there
some time"
ohe sat down on the moss and
showed him a sketch she was making
Oh the brook. He was interested at