The Washington times., 1935-06-06


Dee-dee, little brother of all
the hong, had just walked from
his nap and was demanding i'm
periouSly Of his amah that she
ride him piggy-back up the long
stairs to find his Aunt Hester.
When he found her domain
empty, he demanded that amah
take him down the flights of
the back gallery. He brought
her to a halt at the back en-
trance. Arnah looked wistfuIy
out. Just two short streets to
the little hut she called home.
It was a fine afternoon. The
temple was on the way, another
prayer for a son. A sudden idea
leave among the clay images
given by other women desiring
sons that little image in Dee
dee's hands. doll" he called it
an image with light hair, blue
eyes.
"Aa sac tin, hurry-gee-ap."
Amah on her bound feet broke
into a jog-trot going down the
street. The candymaker COM
ing along the way, beating his
gong, crying, Sugar blown by
my breath into horses, into
men!" Decide reaching out mis-
hand.
Little brother of all the
hong, thou shalt have one!
Only give me the little image
in thy hand"
That night, summers hot
ghost stole back into the city.
Stephen had just managed to
get to sleep, when he heard a
child's sharp terrified scream.
He was only just dropping off
to sleep again, when there was
a knock on his door.
Say Chase, I hate to disturb
you, but the boys aWfully
sick" It was Burnham's voice.
"Elsie's frantic, and I don't
know what to do
It was a long time since it
had been necessary for Stephen
to care for the sick. At first, as
he leaned over the crib he
thought it was collie, then his
heart stood still. That little
writhing figure growing momen-
tarily thinner before their eyes.
He had seen that too often in
the streets of the city this sum-
mer not to know. Cholera!
j Durham, we've got to have
@ doctor immediately"
j ANSWER, answer" Burnham
called frantically into the tele-
phone, trying this doctor, that.
Were all of them out this night?
at last one, but across the city
coming as fast as chair bear
ers could bring him. The hong
was reused now, the cooks heat
ing water, the coolies toiling up
. the stairs with full pals, the
boys under foot trying to help.
Hester begging to come in, but
denied admittance by Stephen.
mo use risking yourself for
nothing, Hester" But careless
himself. It was Stephen who
handled the moaning child
Decide seemed to cry less
under his dexterous touch. It
was Stephen who did the things
a servant would do. Amah was
no help, kneeling by the crib,
chattering, Decide, amah cal
lie YOU"
Another Victim
Burnham looking on, too, not
resenting Stephens command
this time. How def and gentle
he is, thought the father crate.
fully, as he watched Stephen
lift the sick baby from his crib,
slipping a fresh sheet under
him. Elsie, white and deter
mined, moved about helping
Stephen.
where's amah?" she asked
once. Call her"
But amah had gone, stopping
in the kitchen only long enough
to get one of the little red lamps
burning there. Then out of the
back gate into the dark city she
went, looking for the fair spirit
Of Dee-dee. She held the lamp
high, peering into every corner.
In the still night, it's flame, in
closed in the beautiful glass
holder, burned brightly. Better
far than candle.
"Lai, lai, come, come, little
spirit, back to your pretty self.
Don't you see this fine light.
Follow it. All yah, I hear the
little white spirit" "Gee-ap, 40
sao!" Surely she heard it.
But, no, she could not find it.