Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-19
The Joss That Answered Prayer
By T. DUNCAN FERGUSON

TT HERE are three things whose inf1u-
 ence I have endeavored to keep wholly out of my life-a mouse, woman and lie.
 A strange notion this. perhaps. but who among us is without his or her ec- centricities?
 am not effeminate. but the presence of a mouse ever gives me creepy sen sation.
 A woman-believe me, mean no dis respect when say she probably has her particular place in the world, and may remove all offense when add that I have ever seemed totally unable to un- derstand them
 This may. mean a mental incapacity on my part, but 40 years of single soli- tude has confirmed opinions, whether good or evil. Being not altogether un- handsome. and withal. gentle to our rival sex, I sometimes marvel that am as l am. I can remember testimonies to my virtues in my younger days.
 Thirty-three, I think was, when my poetic dreams were extravagant, and my passionate. bubbAng youth sought some congenial soul to accept my devotion. l found her; she with the black tresses that battled with the breeze; she with the flashing eyes that demand your obedience and you stand seemingly firm, yet irresolute, and say within yourself: "I won't" and move at length to do her bidding; she with the rippling laugh that you'd know among million. the last thing you hear at night before you sleep, start from it in your dreams, and wake with 1t in your ears in the morn ing, feeling as though you have imbibed some subtle narcotic whose spell is sweet for a space, but leaves an awful void in its absence. ...,-....
 met her, say. and told her the whole story with an eloquence that would have moved murderer's jury to tears.
 At length she spoke. though foreign to the subject: Have you ever had much sorrow. MT. Brandon?" Not an unbearable amount" I replied; "why?" T was thinking of the proverb that sor- row has tendency to soften one, and questioned if you had not had goodly share"
 This tender reference to a virtue of which l was never cognizant won the day. pressed my suit. but she seemed to grow more foreign to me, and the matter ended in a manner inexplicable. From that day to this, have lived alone. beyond the constant companionship of a faithful though uncommunicatiye, Chinaman.
 Then as to the lie-well, moral phil osophy teaches that spontaneous false thought of ever being called peculiar.
 Wong was poor literary enthusiasts necessity. and be my personal wants small or great. never failed to pay that Chinaman his s20 month. have few visitors, and these only come for the all mighty quantity. Wong answered these calls. and being capable of grasping my uneny.able position. the sum total of the conversation OR his part was: Me no sabbe." How often from my room in the garret have heard that creature. intensely human. retire from my humble quarters. indulging in a vernacular not found in any ethical system with which l an familiar.
 Again. often becoming absorbed in my work. took my meals at unreasonable hours. and. strange to say. Wong never complained.
 With the coming of Wong. was forced to take another into my family, and herein lies my tale.
 l noted the fact that his worldly goods were limited to two pieces of luggage. cne being a large sack in which he car ried all his clothes. and the other huge something wrapped with the care of a mummy. the which he allowed no one 10 touch save himself. and he staggered un- der the load
 l was somwhat curious. since grave necessity demanded that We occupy the same room. With gentle touch he un- wrapped the bundle and stood the thing next to the cot in which he was to sleep. , One look was enough. l forbade the ! thing in my room. and to my ckagriL he informed me that he went with the ob- iect-
 1 I had seen them before. but when il i came to sleeping in the same room with that cross between totempole and an ! inebriate's dreams. the hideousness oi : it fully dawned upon me. To Wong il 7 seemed sacred. and I was forced to con ' sent to the increase in my family in or | der to retain the Chinsman- Once Of | twice during the first month awoke t1 | behold those hideous eyes starIns
 straight in my'face. and tfe effect va:
 rendered more frightful by the faia glow of the moon through the window | and settling on its form At length however. We became better friends: no on speaking terms. of course. but tla friendly indifference that brings neithe good nor evil
 Thirteen years that Cninaman serves
 me faithfully. and in that proverbia eax Aa Unk s.s celestial flight Thir