The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-03-08
CHEESAI w LILLE SAN.
By CAPTAIN Musgrove Davis tChares o. Shepard),
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
~ HEESAI, In japanese, signi-
2 fies small or little, and san Is

He was about thirteen years OF ag'
when the explosion OF high-pressur'
boiler Of the steamer City OF Yeddt
made him fatherlcss. His mother ant
one small sister made up the remand
er Of the family, and poor indeed they
were. The worthy woman struggled
bravely, and turned her hands TO any
thing that presented itself She tried
washing, but the heather Chlnee'
soon demonstrated the impossiblity OF
getting a living in that field. DO what
she might, a hollow-eyed deficit al
ways started her in the face. Even my
granite heart demanded that ] now
and then make 10 her deficiency ap-
proprlations" Callous as ! had be
come through long exposure to the
solicitations of stranded Americans,
the mute appeal Of facts softened my
heart where begging word would
have failed.
On many a Sunday morning the fol
lowing conversatlon-in Japanese
took place between my faithful, ten
der-hearted major domo and me:
"Have you seen the mother" He
soon came TO know who "thc mother
was.
mo, master; not yet"
"You must go; go soon"
"Yes, Will as you say"
Returning half an hour afterward.
Master, | went. They have little
TO eat. am so sorry
eco call lit lie Mr.. Willie here"
And little Mr.. Willie always went
home full of breakfast tears and
gratitude. with hamper loaded, and
few coins besides.
was, ex oflicio, he guardian of
every under-aged American orphan,
and Chcesai Willie San was, therefore,
constantly on my mind. Early and
late met the lite chap with his Jolly,
eager face, always doing something
to earn an ltzibu. Sometimes ! was
able to recommend him to American
travellers as n guide TO the japanese
shops, and his familiarity with the
English and Japanese languages made
him exceedingly useful TO the purchas-
er and no mean breadwinner 10 his
mother
1t so happened that Yokohama
abounded ln bachelors, species of hu.
man being whose right TO exist ia
sometimes called in question. Willle's
mother, how one day discovered
that the Yokohama questionables at
least had n real, practical reason fol
being, namely: 10 furnish darning and
mendng fof needy American widows
a discovery which she followed up
with excellent results 10 all concerned.
Thus for a year or two there were no
holes in unmarried stockings. and no
deficits In a certain family treasury.
Early one Monday morning Willie's
bright face appeared beside my desk.
We'll, what is 1t now, my little
manT ! inquired.
That's just IT, Mr.. Consul" he re.
piled. Its because | am almost u
man that | want TO do a mans work
Haven't you got something in the con
sulate. slri"
What do you want to do, Willie
SAM
Anything. sir, anything"
How much do you want for doing
itY
Anything, sir"
On the instant brilliant plan oc
CURED TO me, so | said: well, Willie
have you plenty Of courageW
"Yes, sir was the prompt answer
"The"e is something | want done
Willie, but any one who begins mus
go all the way through with IL. Ar,
you sure Of yourselfT
"Yes, sir"
"Can you spellT
"Yes, sir, SOS can understand It
but maybe you wouldn't"
THAT doesn't matter so much. VII
lie, for the work will teach you jus
how TO spell. When will you start :?
"Now, sir"
i ordered table 10 be placed In on
corner of my office and. providing per
ink and about n ream of paper, direct
ed Willie to sit down. then put be-
fore him Worcester's Dictionary
simply remarking, Il want an exaC
copy made Of that" and resumed IN
work without even q look ut him.
i Ignored my new employe as lon
rs possible, but curiosity soon prove
TOO strong for me, and stole glare
out OF the corner OF my eye, only I
find him working away utterly oil
nvlous OF everything but his task.
When four o'clock came announce
that that was the usual hour of stoI
ping work. Willie piled up his boo
and papers neatly, and with n respec
full bow and n sayonara (good-day). d,
parted.
The second day was like the frs
and so on until Monday came agait
and with IL my little clerk. bright an
brave as ever AS the second wee
wore on / began to be uneasy and
ask myself whether !. had not caugl
Tartar. Pride kept me 60 the ba
gain, however. until the end of Il
third week. when / had paid out
The little chap the sum Of nine rios
about nine dollars.
A fourth week went by and the co
of my fun had mounted up To- twel'
rios without the least sign Of discou
agement-on Willie's part.
Calling the little hero to my side,
asked.
willie San, are you satisfied wi
your work.