The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-15
A CHINESE HlAWATHA.


the other the droning of the children
repeating the multiplication table.
Through the window the teacher could
see the orange groves stretching away
under the quivering sunlight of the
California sun. Out of the stiffness
came the pop of shotguns and the
cries Of the guardians of the rice be-
low in the marRhes. ..
"By the shores of Gitche Gumi,
By the shining big sea water
the class in literature was reciting
now. The teacher moved the bottle OF
wilted flowers to one side and saw that
All Hop was not studying. He was
sitting still and wistfully gazing
straight before him. The teacher
knew what he was looking at. On a
pedestal, above the zone of chalk dust,
sat the plaster cast of Longfellow, the
Children's Poet. Some teacher had
left it long ago for an inspiration.
"Ah Hop" called the teacher.
He shuffled up, abashed, hands busy
with his belt.
you've tried hard for the part" she
said, pushing aside her book. why
don't you want to be Hiawatha? What
made you change your mind?"
He darted a swift look at her and
then gazed down, silent.
They were giving play made from
the story of Hiawatha to raise money
for the Junior Red Cross, whose acts
of service for children friendless or in
need had taken all the money out of
their treasury. Of all the children in
the school All Hop had but one rival
for the leading part. This was All
Pau. They were both bright little Chi
nese boys and both good actors, and
they both wanted to be Hiawatha. But
they were the most listless in the
schoolroom and the most mischievOus
on the school ground, so as a reward
for good conduct the teacher had said
the one who tried hardest to live the
part of Hiawatha for week could
play it for one evening. All Hop tried
much the hardest.
Il think the costume will fit," said
the teacher. She had made it hoping
that All Hop would be the one to wear
it.
He made no answer, but his black
eyes filled with tears, and he looked
out of the sun-lit window. Again
through the silence came the crack of
the guns and the long shrill cries of
the guardians of the rice.
"Hiawatha, him too good" he said
at last.
"Why?" asked the teacher.
HE never hurt birds. I have to
hurt birds so that the rice crop will
| not be eaten up. They tell me to
shoot, and l shoot"
Never mind, All Hop" said the
teacher, you didn't want to hurt
them" She had not expected that he
| would take the part in the little play
so seriously.
Next day his downcast face ap'
peared at the teachers desk. All
| Hops eyes were sullen. His shirt was
torn and black with mud. 1t was clear
that he had been beaten by the rice
| field guards. His sentences were short
and uncomfortable.
NO can be Hiawatha."
The teacher put the stopper in the
| ink bottle. "Why not?'
| Il sWore."
| "Oh, All Hop"
She was very sorry for this little
Chinese boy, who was trying to be
good and to know how to become an
American.
| "Hiawatha never sWOre. The guard
| ian of the rice told me to shoot the
birds that were carrying away the
| grain. l told him it was wrong to Kill
| blackbirds. He struck me. I swore al
| him.
The teacher suddenly had an inspi
ration. Anything was swearing with
the foreign children.
What did you say, All Hop"
| He turned and looked at the bust o.
Longfellow and sobbed, Il said, 'Bea
| it,"
| The teacher did not laugh. The
| earnestness Of this one little boy 81
seriously started on the way to becom
| ing an American must not be made {
| joke. So she comforted him, and a:
he turned to go back to his seat hi
carried under his arm the Hiawaths
| costume