Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-25
CHAPTER THREE.

ford Me he sat all the afternoon IN
the parlor He selected 4 dark corner
where there was Il rug ana 4 SOFA, ana
crossing his feet in front OF MN IN
Oriental fashion. and drawing them up
under him. sat as still as 4 statue
from three o'clock till supper was
ready in the kitchen. Now and then
Betty went in TO look at him. or to
speak to HIM. but never once DID ne
answer save for graceful inclination
Of the head. and sometimes he simply
stared at her with his big black vel
vety eyes, They took in everything in
the room. They wandered from one
antique article of furniture TO another.
His chubby little hands Were folded
under the sleeves of his green jacket.
He Watched with interest while his
two big trunks were taken into the
front hall and up the stairs 10 the room
that had been his mothers IN the old
days.
Al last when Betty had finished the
preparations for supper joel came in
from the barn and took peep az the
still little figure on the sofa in the
front room.
He has not moved once this after
noon" said Betty.
ready. Here is your high Chair"
The little Oriental slipped eff the
sofa and came softly or into the
kitchen. lie looked ut the chair and
then at his little olive hands, and
Betty pointed at the sink where was
basin for washing the hands and face.
IL was placed on chair and he care
fully scrubbed his hands and wiped
them in European fashion On towel,
Then he sat up in the chair, With
good deal OF cmbana ssment and SIR
vcyed the supper dishes. The first
course was . heapinc plate Of New
England baked beans, with Il thick
syrup Of Juice ard mclasses, brown
and rich.
Betty and joel had begun to cat and
still Fun Ting hesitatcd. He looked At
the silver spoon at the side c: his plate.
and then al the tiny knife and fork.
souvenirs Of other children who had sat
1T that table. The old people We're
watching him furtiyrlv while appear
ing to pay Il great deal OF attention t.
their supper.
He was slowly growing red under his
veilow. pink skin. At last ne de!iber
atelv reached into tho bosom Of his
ample Jacket ard produced a roll Of
wrapped two tiny wooden chopsticks
ana taking them dextarousiE in his
hands began - eat the beans and pork
in = rapid manner. after the fashion
that his father and other Cinnamon
nal taught him.
Betty was aghast, She looked ut
Joel VINO Yves staring with an EXPIRES
sion Of tremendous surprise and
curiosity at his odd little grandson.
Their eyes met and both broke into a
1aurh they could not restrain. Fun
Ting looked up. caught the amused look
in his granGfather's eyes, and laid
down his choreticlls with . confused
ana injured expression. Instantly
both the Old people were sorry.
Don't mind. dear, please" said
Betty. we never say a Cninaman be
fore ana we never sa" one cat, Of
course. We win not laugh again"
There were tears of resentment in Fun
Ting'a eyes. and Betty ran round toe
table to kiss them away. she poured
q glass Of mill: for him. ana then scolG-
~ Jool roundly for laughing.
Modified but still speeches. he be
gan tn eat tn" beans Hwl;Wartily With
2 spoon Eut when it came to the
bread ana apple pudding he again
took up his sticks ana despatched it
With an al2crity that aatoniShed the
two New EnSlandcrs. But thev
talked about the farm work and did
not appear to notice him.
When the supper table was cleared
away Joel produced & corn pepper and
dozen red apples and proceeded to
stir W the Goals On the hearth in Il
mysterious manner, fcr though it was
mountains. Warmed by the meal. and
with his enbarra ssinent partly worn
If the little fellow followed Joel soft
~ into the sitting room ana climbed
into one of the big rockers in front Of
the hearth and watched with wide open
eyes while the old man shelled the corn
INTO the pepper ana placed the apples
IN the hearth to bake. 1t was appar-
"nt that he had never seen apples
baked before an open fire. He had
never seen an open fire. No, and had
not the fantest idea what the corn
was to be when popped. Hut when it
began to snap and crack as Joel shook
II cheerily over the Goals Fun Ting's
eyes glistcned and his white teeth be
gan to show Il moon-likc smile. He
had seen popcorn in the store windows.
but never dreamed how it was made.
And when the pepper was empted
upon the table and tho corn looked like
great pile of snow. he slid ont of the
chair and standing beside the table be
San 10 eat it. Joel was delighted aud
showed him how. with his hand on the
end Of a long stick, to turn the apples
sizzling on the bricks without burning
his hands or his green Jacket.
And in that way the long summer
evening slipped away and bed time
came. Fun Ting's head began to ned
and his cyelashcs to droop. Petty saw
and taking him by the hand started up
the stairs. But H. held back and going
to his grandfather hold up his round
hard check for Il kiss. Then bowling
profoundly. like subject before the
throne of a mandarin, he.l followed Up
the stairs.
Betty waS fumhlinE with the locks
of the two rreHt trunks when Fun
Ting got there ard banded her Iittle
bunch Of keys from his bosom.
What q remarkable Child" was
Betty's mental eYclama ton as he TN
locked the trunks.