El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-13


fpgs in his room, peculiar to tropical
buildings. he saw crowd Of native men
and boys in front of his dwelling. Hur-
rying to discover the cause of the WISH
he was amazed to find himself the pros
pective owner of a hundred or more
boys. whom the Filipino fathers were
eagerly Offering TO him to be ms
''muchacho' or boy of all work. ne
selected one understood lad of II. whose
wistful expression. born of many un-
fulfilled wishes to escape the cruel
treatment he had received. appealed TO
his sympathetic nature, and, dismissing
the disappointed candidates, he returned
TO his letters.
The little "muchacho" seated himself
on the floor and directed an intent ana
penetrating gaze upon the handsome
blond young man, who was too an
sorbed to notice him. and as he looked
some dormant trait inherited from some
ancestral hidalgo awoke, and an ambl-
ton to be like the American fired ms
soul.
Some DAYS later the teacher said
''Youngster, we are ordered to Gina
tuan. miles and miles away. Do you
want to go?'
Did he want to go Why, his whole
being was suffused with love for the
master" and. true TO his Filipino ma
ture his likes were Is enduring as
his dislikes. The next few days were
spent in preparation and, to the intense
amusement of Mr.. Robert, in sincere
imitation of himself even the carefully
parted hair upon which the boy spent
all his spare time endeavoring to con-
ouer its obstinacy incessant applica-
lions of water assisting the plastering
down process. The achievement Of this
feat in hairdressing, so Jock. as the
master" had nicknamed him. firmly
believed would be his passport 70 the
road which led TO ''U. s. as he always
called that wonderful country which
had sent Mr. Robert to him.
When the day arrived for the start,
Jock was missing, much to the
schoolmaster's disappointment, as he
had grown fond of the boy, but at the
last moment through the date palms
and the magnificent fire trees. came the
lad. staggering under the weight OF
huge mysterious box. He approached
the house with all the dignity possible
in The situation. deposited his burden
silently and dramatically, then turned
to the master" for the appreciation for
which his soul yearned- There on the
floor was Jocks" masterpiece. The
visible expression of all his hopes and
ambitions to be American, like his
L
the uncomprehending in its rude con-
struction. but faithful copy of the
Masters" so far as was possible TO
make ii So On one end were the iden-
teal letters that were on Mr. Roberts,
but the 'U. s." were larger than all the
rest Did they not represent that great
goal toward which the little much
acho" was striving and the gigantic
strides he hal made this day?
Il
can with a travelling trunk, Let me
see If it's properly packed" and open
ing the lid Mr.. Robert found what he
had expected. a mass of tropical vege-
tation cunningly concealed by the rev
poor clothes Jack possessed. The mas
ter's trunk was full; Jocks must be
also.
.T tell you. boy you'll make CAPT
tai American. You've learned the great
national game of bluff The much-
acho" did not quite understand, but the
teachers voice and smile were APPROX
ing and his little heart was satisfied
The tourney TO Ginatuan was accom-
plished and a year sped by, in when
Jock continued his system of imitation
and responded in a remarkable man
ner TO the instruction of Mr. ROBERT
With his better knowledge OF Engllsh
he learned of the customs and tradl-
tions of the States. and away down IN
his heart was the hope that MI Ropeft
would take him TO ~ = When ne re-
turned. but the seeming audacity OF the
expectation scared him so that ne KEPT
II pretty well buried. What would the
"arraat American" swant of him, a little
Ignorant Filipino? But his heart was
heavy at the very thought of that re-
turn. If he might only do something
for the master some great big thlns.
60 that the master would always want
him. But what could he do, just the
little muchacho? To be sure he had
watched over him night and day that
no harm might come, but that seemed
only simple duty. and his great love
burned for some great expression
shout disturbed his revery.
Christmas box. Jock. a Christmas box
from L. S." and the masters voice
trembIed with emotion and teas rolled
down his cheeks, great strong nan that
he was The home folks had remem-
bered him in his voluntary exile. "We'el
have a regular L. s. Christmas, JOCK.
but not one peek until the right time
1t was the week before Yuletide and
Mr.. Robert had accepted an invitation
to spend a few days with his only COM
patriot within a hundred miles ra-
dius, while making the inspection or
MS districts. before starting on his
journey of % miles he told Jock that
on Christmas morning he might re-
move the top boards from the box so
that no time would be lost enjoying its
contents Immediately upon his return,
then babe him goodbye and set out
For hours at time Jock studied that
box. tracing on his map the cities
Through which it had passed and
every moment his respect for 1t IN
creased until he viewed it with rever-
ent awe What wonderful things there
must be in it, Had they not come from
''U. s."
Those letters. gu s. had always
aroused great expectations and so far
they had never disappointed him.
The dawn of Christmas morning found
the box open. exposing TO view some
pretty coIored paper. but Jock was
faithful to his trust-he looked no fur
ther but prepared for the masters
return. How he lOnged for his coming.
He had not been away from him be-
fore, and his whole being was alive
to greet him and see the CHEEKY smile
that always warmed him The mas
ter was late Perhaps something was
wrong He trembled with fear; but.
no. there he was in the distance. He