The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-01

and preparations were being made in all
the Chinese quarter for a happy celebra-
tion. Big paper lanterns had been hung
across the streets, and sticks OF incense
were all ready to light IN front of the
idols IN the josshouses. The Chinese ladies'
were busy sewing new embroidery upon
their trousers, and the gentlemen were
having their shirts cleaned and pressed
and were combing out their pigtails. But
nothing pleased little Ling Lee. for every
thing-even the wheels Of the elevated
street trains seemed to repeat those
melancholy words-'bing bong chung"
One morning Ling Lees father looked
very grave. ''Teng Moy heap big sick;
think go de- he said balancing three
yards of Chinese spaghetti on a piece Of
ginger. Oh! how unhappy little Ling Lee
felt then. He crept to the door and looked
across the street. A big procession was
marching down, headed By three men
beating a brass drum and changing Gym
balls. A number OF others followed. all
making a dreadful noise with castanets
and other instruments. In the center of
the procession marched an old gentleman
with long, white moustache. green pig
tail, spectacIes and black velvet button
on the top Of his head. He was the doc
tor. and overhead was a demons face
cut out Of q big pumpkin on the top Of
pole. This was to scare away the devils
who had caught hold of little Teng Moy.
and the beating of the drum and cymbas
was to frighten them out of her and all
the way back to China
'"Teng Moy biug bong chung" said the
wise doctor. standing at her bedside and
noting how she tossed from side to side
feverishly IN her sleep. It was all he
could say, poor old gentleman, because he
did not know himself what was the mat
ter with her So he lifted his spectacles
from his nose and wiped them clean and
then he gave IN order, and immediately
the Instruments set up such racket that
little Teng MOy started up with a scream.
PLAY, play! Keep It upi' shouted the
old doctor, leaping about the room until
he tripped over the end of his pigtaIl and
fell down What capers he cut and how
queer he looked, jumping between the
cymbals and over the big drum. The noise
was frightful, and the louder Teng Moy
screamed the louder they beat the instru-
ments- You see, all this was IN order to
frighten away the devils. and it was not
cruelty to little Teng Moy.
.'Tung, tung!" shouted the neighbors,
running out with pOkers and tongs and
beating them vigorously. Ling Lees
father was SO excited that he lost his
head while he was balancing three oys-
ters upon q jar Of picked oranges, and
dropped them down Mrs. Lees neck.
Tong, longi" shouted Mr.. Lee running
twining his pigtail Into a hoop and leap
ing through 1t four times backward.
Tong tong!" shouted Mrs. Lee, running
after Mr.. Lees head. which he had LOST,
as mentioned above.
'Tung tung!" sighed little Ling Lee.
The noise had stopped suddenly, and
Teng Moy lay quite still upon her bed.
The old physician was mixing her some
medicine. 1t was composed Of chopped
up spinach and onions, the brains OF a
cabbage head, beaten IN milk. and two
clammy CLAIMS taken from a plate OF
clam chowder. When it was mixed to-
gether it made a draft clearer than
water and sweeter than honey. It had