Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-05-29
H0 LING,
n PESSiMIST

Without doubt" croaked Ho Lins
dismally, this matter Of living is
most evil arrangement"
Had the guest who was at that me
ment with him in the back room o
Eo laundry been other than tina
tat, jolly, old glutton, Ye Loo. n
doubt Ho would have been answered
with a wall tuned, out Of politepess
to the same doleful key. But Ye hat
Just come from a good meal at hi
own abode, and was at that very mo
ment finding excellent picking among
Hos melon seeds and preserved gin
ger, and he was in no mood for aver
q sympathetic wall.
"Haai, no, honorable man." returned
Ye sturdfly. "Of what use complain
VIE with a little care life can be
made SO full of good food?"
IA mighty bill for the coal I have
used In the laundry is about to be pre-.
sented to me, and / shall be without
means of satisfying it for an odd
week.
Truly that need not keep you from
nibbling a little," retorted Ye. Eat,
b~eneficent one" n he pushed the
round box, divided into compartments
containing different sweetmeats.
across the table.
Il cannot; / am a person of misfor-
tune. I had In mind to buy a lottery
ticket today. and that triumphant adj
dlepate, Ye Sc, who pedd!es them,
chose the most unlucky moment of the
day to enter my abode. He came
aaar1u dirrin y fhn hour IF tho anQ
when he knew that the hour of the
dog Was my fortunate period. Ai-ya, I
am ever a weakened scoundrel, SO I
purchased one. But as usual nothing
will come of it."
Old Ye went on with his endeavors
to cheer his host.
."This mighty BILL" Ye continued,
"astonish me by naming the sum, be-
nehcent man."
"Tw~enty-four yen," said Ho Ling,
with becoming gravity, land only an
odd month ago I cleared away a SINH
lar one. Ai-ya, this miserable profes-
sion Of clothes washing"
"Haaf! And all that for coal con-
sumed In the laundry! Without doubt
you are doing a mighty business"
ut is too much for my wretched
back. Presently l shall be compelled
to hire a laborer, and all such are
very fends for wasting"
Ye, still under the jovial spell Of his
good dinner at home, and the box of
sweetmeats before him, continued to
strive to impart some of his own con-
tentment to his friend.
Never begin to be a person OF
grief he cried. That matter of the
bill is of no such Importance. l had
hoped to supply you with the neces-
say yen until you could secure it, but
] have not SO great a sum Of silver in
devil who sells the coal will be easily
appeased by such a mighty patron as
yourself. Eat f~earlessly. honorable
man.
Ho Ling s%orrowfully wagged his
head.
Il have no stomach" he returned,
sadly. II shall have none until that
matter of the bill shall be settled.
Without doubt 1t will be long waiting
for an appetite, honorable man"
"Ai-ya.'' ~sauealed Ye, this time deep.
ly sympathetic. Never think such a
thing Of terror. See, mighty suffer,
er. ] go at once. and shall presently
make a triumphant return with the
necessary yen."
Such mighty pity!" nurmured He
Ling, wriggling about on his stool.
Such friendship! I cannot bear it,"
Prepare food for yourself" ans
weredfYe Loo, as he shdfled out,
Your stomach soon shall be returned
to you"
When the friendly old glutton had
gone, Ho Ling settled down upon his
stool to enjoy his melancholy humor.
Only q short time had elapsed when
the door opened and he caught the
sound Of Yes returning feet. The
blouse sleeve of the honorable fat
man gave forth no sound of tinkling
ven. but his round face wore such a.
cried out:
What great fortune, honorable per-
son? Begin upon 1t at Ice and drag
from my misery"
"The lottery!" exclaimed Ye Loo.
Prepare a mighty feast. But an odd
door below here the b~eneficent We Sc
came upon me with the news that
your fortunate ticket had secured the
mighty prize of forty ven. The coal
devil a now be satisfied. and. more,
your stomach Is returned to you"
For a single instant q Joyous grin
across the face Of Ho Ling.
and was gone again.
"Ai-yai" he croaked, II am indeed
q person OF i'll fortune"
Then let me be one also"
sBut think, honorable man, how
much might be done with the forty
yen il there was no foreign devil to be
satisfied. The circumstances have
taken awayImy stomach forever"
81 begin to go" said Ye Loo, sharp
", turning to the door. Il am hungry
from much cxertion. Some honorable
persons do not deserve to possess q
stomach. You : q fool, Ho Ling, in
spite Of your forty yen"
Increase Of Widows.
Why does the proportional number
81 widows increase steadily? asks
Swiss journal, and gives In reply sew
reasonable men are engaged IN