The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-06-01

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tied into a more or less bulky bundle
and started shutting down the orchard
road leading westward.
At the confines of the oliver ranch
on the west there runs rambling road
which twists great deal among the
adjacent ranches as though never quite
decided whether to proceed to Los
Gatos or to strike boldly into the foot
hills. Bung paused in a somewhat
similar state ofindecision, He vague
ly remembered a cousin named Mok
who lived in Los Gatos, and there
he might apply for entertainment when
the scant provisions in his kit gave out.
On the other hand, he might turn west
ward, cross the mountain, and obtain a
view of the ocean, which he had not
seen for years Bung decided to go,
west.
Now, there is in every Chinaman
the same instructive love of place that
makes a cat return to the alley where
she has been starved and stoned
since kittenhood. For over twenty
years Bung had slept in the same bunk
on the Oliver ranch 1t was not easy
for him to depart lightly, even for a,
week. Scarcely had his unwilling feet
advanced a dozen steps down the road
than he found himself signing and look
ing back toward those dear loved acres.
What if something should happen to
the divers during his absence? Sure
ly, they could not meet any great emer-i
gency without the guidance and coun-,
sci Of the Indispensable Bung! A week,
in fact, was a long time He might 80
a great distance, anything might oc
cur It was evident that Bung was
feeling homesick before leaving home.
Less than a city block down the
road Bung encountered a narrow fork
running westward hut his feet had
scarcely tested the dust of this mean
dcTing pike before he spied the LATEST,
most delightful little bridge spanning
a dry watercourse whose bed was
shady with a tengle of thorny locust
and chaparral hanging canopy-like
from the low banks. This retreat look
ed good to him. 1t was a place Of rest,
and it was comfortably near home
& 90 ~d linn he 81, -
sign, Bung slid through the barbed
wire fence that separated the ravine
from the road A moment later his
feet gave way, and Bung shot meteor
like through the thorny underbrush in
to the soft, dry sand eight or nine
feet below.
scarcely scratched by this drop into
Paradise, Bung picked himself IN, smil-
ing like row of Buddhas. Nothing
could more directly appeal to an idle
mood than this warm, leafy subway.
Bung deposited his bundle on the
sandy bed and removed his shoes, then
he stretched himself full length and
pillowed his head on his kit of travel
ing necessities. A tiny yellow bird
performed acrobatic marvels on a
sprig of locust and squeaked insults at
the restful intruder. Something stir.
red the sand at his feet. Bung jump
ed-these sandy holIows were likely to
harbor tarantulas as well as birds. But
only timid, whip-tailed lizard scuttled
up the trestle and stood upside down,
his pulsing throat indicating the palpi.
| tation of his Heart.
Scattered among the pebbles on the
opposite side of the riverbed were
several mounds of charred sticks sur
rounded by litter of empty cans and
broken bottles. Here and there a
cryptic sign, scratched and chalked up
on the timbers, indicated the spot
where errant hoboes had paused, camp
ed, and inscribed, for the benefit of
trade at large, and estimate Of the
surrounding country's possibilities for
graft
Bung smiled and closed his single
eye, His happiness, was perfect. One
solid week with positively nothing to
do! No one to call him servant, no
responsibilities, no regular hours! Sew
en- days of green thoughts in green
glades! What was the most good for
nothing thing he could do in the cir.
cumstances? His mind naturally turn
ed to poetry. There was rather a
neat thing his grandfather had taught
him in the days of youth. How did II
go?
The philosopher Ng Dong
Learned the languages of snakes and
bees and cats.
To these he spoke
! With considerable intelligence.
How did he acquire this wisdom?
BY application and industry!
The philosopher Ng Dong
Learned
The contemplation of Ng Dong's eX-