The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-25
AMRR1CANIZ1NG WILLIE.
It Caused Much Glee for the
Older Chineae with Whom
He Lived.

wrote with pardonable pride and some
difficulty. For Celestial, he wrote
well, read easily, and creased his law
ender trousers with fine effect. His
dress was that of the most up-to-date e
American, and he raised his hat with,
graceful polteness. Nevertheless he
was laundryman, although obviously
htted to adorn higher sphere. His
English was fluent and far less intelli-
gibIe than that of the old Chinaman
who sometimes came for the clothes in
his place. Willie insisted on talking a
all seasons. and was apparently not in
the least disconnected at the blankness
Of his listeners face. Willie was
Sunday school product, OF course, says
the New York Tribune.
For a long time the old man had been
coming for laundry, and the man of the
house, who liked Chinese. was moved
to ask what had become of II hat DASH
ing young gentleman.
Gone" said the old man. He was
merry old so,I@always smoking piacid-
ly, and never did Celestial countenance
show a keener sense of humor.
Gone where?"
Canton" was the laconic reply.
Then the old fellow was so seized with
a sense of the fun of the thing that he
vatlantly went on: "Willie bad boy"
He pointed to his queue. "A!lee gone.
Bad boy. Too muchee Mclean. No
can go back, no"--he pointed to his
queue again.
"You mean he cut off his hair and
now he is afraid to so back to China?"
"No 'frad. Buy it."
Bought pigtail from somebody?"
The o.d man nodded, convuIsed with
merriment. "Too muchee money" he
calculated. "Muchee money have pay.
Bad boy"
Before the family had ceased to en-
JOY the idea Of Anne ricarized and laven-
der trousered Willie reckiessly bribing
someone to furnish the once despised
queue, that gentleman was again on
hand. He was no less American han
ever. The friend of the Chinese cons
graduated him On his safe return. and
offered him glass of port wine. Willie
drank it with gusto.
"ion like it," inquired the man OF
the house.
"Muehee," said Willie. With an in
expreSsibly sanctmonious face the
Sunday schoo! scholar added, in explain
alton: "AlHee same communion" lie
took his depart nre with the conviction
that he had made d deep impression ON
his fellow Christian. And So. indeed
he had.
A few weeks aftcr he proudly an
Eounceh bis marriage to an American
girl. His cup Of happiness was over
flowing. lie was evidently lowering on
The border Of a belief that nobody
could tell him from an American. and
it was reasonable to suppose that the
new wife would give linn he final push
and land him squareiy in it. But
shade Of depression was shortly noted
ON his yellow conference.-the one
thing about him which refused to be-
come Americaniled.
In four months the old man, still |
still apparently enjoying
suppressed smokes, took his place,
"Where's Willie" was again asked.
Run Chop-chop. Hurry" said he.
his little eyes Almost twinkiing out Of
his head.
And where's his wife"
"Wife stay. Too murhee beatee.">
"Willie beat his wife"
The comic old head shook, partly
With denial, partly with mirth.
"Wife beatee Willie. Call Willie no
good Chink. Wife likee Chinaman alice
same me. Chinaman beatee Willie
wife beatee Willie. Willie run chop
hop"
Sand his wife has gone with real
He nodded. "Wife Mclean. Willie
ink Mclean. No Mclean Wife no
ikee. Bad boy, Willie"
And he walked away a living cmbodi-
nent Of a sense Of humor.