Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 21, 1907, Page 11

Shout aloud, ye children, pray, For Christ was born on Christmas day. The Christmas of Ah Oi A Tale of Chinatown. By ETHEL POWERS. Ah Oi sat on the steps in the hall of @ tenement house in Chinatown wait- ing for Choy Come and Ah Yeung, who attended the mission school. The children always told her of the day’s happenings in the outside world of which she got but glimpses from her window or the open hall door. Choy Come and Ah Yeung were her neigh- bor’s children, and she was in the habit of waylaying them in the hall! and with presents of nuts and ginger coaxing them to tell her of the day’s doings at the mission and of the peo- ple on the street, or, in fact, any little piece of news or gossip the children ; might pick up on their way to and} from school. Ah Oi would listen with childlike curiosity. | Choy Come was the first to enter the hall, and when she saw the figure | of Ah Oi move she drew back with a frightened cry. “Oh, elder brother,” lisped Choy | Come in her native tongue, “there is an evil spirit on the stairs and we haye no crackers or symbols to fright- en it away.” Are you sure it is an evil spirit asked Ah Yeung, trying to pierce the o” gioom with his little beadlike eyes. | “if I see anything we will hasten and | get some incense at the shop of the| friend of our father and burn it here eo that the evil spirit will depart.” Foolish ones, it is I,” said the voice Ar Oi. “Why should you be soi htened? Have you not found me here before?” Ah Oi, why did you not call out when we entered as you were wont?” The day has shadows,” said Choy 1e, “and besides the enemy of our thy father died yesterday and we m make many offerings to our household gods lest his spirit returns to haunt our dwelling.” “You were long in coming from the temple of the foreign devil. What did she of the blue eyes tell you to-day?” “We have heard of a great feast that that is coming,” answered Ah Yeung, “in which presents are exchanged. In foreign devil's tongue it is called Clis’mas.. In truth it is the feast of their god called ‘Jesus Clist,’” re- marked Choy Come solemnly. “The foreign devils have only one god, while we worship many,” said Ah Oi proudly. “But there are other gods of the foreign devils, and she of the blue eyes told us not the truth,” declared Ah Yeung. “Even yesterday there came in the mission a boy of the street who took the pictures at ate of the sweets which she of the blue eyes offered, but listened not to her dis- course. She said he was of the clan called ‘Ilish,’ who are wild and hard to change. When Choy Come and I Co > Frage Pomers, The Worthy Mother of Choy Come Ah Yeung, were going home, this Ilish foreisn devil said he would show us a temple more beautiful by far than the one we left. We wandered some little distance to a large temple with a sym- bol of wood on the roof made in this manner,” continued Ah Yeung, cross- tng his fingers in shape of a cross. “Inside there were lights before the, shrines of many gods. ‘This,’ said the lish foreign devil, ‘is the true temple of my fathers.’ “All that we had seen and heard. puzzled us bery much, for she of the blue eyes told us the foreign devils had but one god.” “When we reached our home,” re marked Choy Come, “we told to our illustrious father of the temple and the strange gods. He said it was not of a necessity that we should under- stand the ways of the foreign devils’ gods, and that we should learn the language as he had commanded, and let their devils gods take care of them- selves. Still, he thought it was meet that we should listen even with polite ness to all the discourse of she of the blue eyes and attend the feasts.” “Will she of the blue eyes give you many gifts at the coming feast?” asked Ah Oi. _ “We know not how many we will receive,” answered Ah Yeung. “We write of what gifts we wish on paper in the foreign devils’ tongue, of which we have a knowledge, and give the paper to her of the blue eyes.” “It is a feast much like unto our Feast of the Moon,” mused Ah Oi, “and you should be very careful how you ask for gifts lest you be treated as the goddess of the moon served che old lady.” “Tell us the story, Ah Oi,” cried Choy Come, clopping her hands. | “Yes, tell us,” urged Ah Yeung, “of the goddess of the moon; you, who have learned so many stories in the River Tchin-Houai and land of our most respected parents, the country of the dragon.” “Often have I heard when I was a little girl in my own land that the moon is inhabited by a goddess of im- posing beauty and great splendor cf K i “Foolish Oncs, It Is I,” Said the Voice of Ah Oi. costume,” related Ah Oi seriously, while Choy Come and Ab Yeung listen- ed; their eyes wide with interest. “She is dear to poets and lovers, who cel- ebrate her feast in the autumn season with its profusion of chrysanthemums and wealth of sweet-smelling flowers. At midnight on a certain night in au- tumn she leaves her celestial home in the moon and comes down to earth to grant favors to mortals. “One night she appeared to an old lady and told her she would grant any favor she might ask. So bright and dazzling was the vision of the goddess that the old lady was speechless. Finally she summoned up enough courage to place her hand to her mouth, meaning she would like enough to eat for the rest of her life. The next morning, when the old lady awake, she found she had a gigantic beard. The goddess had misunder- stood her gesture, and instead of fur- nishing her with enough to eat for the rest of her life she caused a beard ta grow on her chin. So you see,” con- tinued Ah Oi, “you must take great care how you ask for gifts. Now you must go, for it is not meet that I should talk to you so long. The other day your mother called you when she found you with me,” added Ah Oi, sad- ly. “tis true she warned us not to have too much speech with you,” ven- tured Ah Yeung, with childish frank- ness. When we asked the reason,” re- marked Choy Come, “she said you were from Canton, where the women have no manners.” “I come from the district of Sou- moon is never sad,” announced Ah. Oi proudly. “There, as a little girl, I liv- ed near the Lake of Flowers and by the Pathway of Pleasant Odors. In the evenings I watched the illuminat- ed boats and heard laughter and song, from all sides. There every one had smiling faces and were happy.” “Then why, if you were so happy in the Land of the Dragon, did you come to this country of the foreign devil?” asked Choy Come. : “I came with Yan Lee, who bought me from my honored father, who was old and very poor, else he would not have suffered me to go so far away from my home, near the beautiful Riv- er Tchinn-Houai.” “And will you never go back again where you were so happy?” asked Choy Come, affected by the sadness in Ah Oi’s voice. “T shall never go back to the land of my delight unless Lu Chan, my best beloved, comes across the sea, as he promised, and buys me. He was only! a poor student when Yan Lee took me from my father. Thrice did he make a vow at the full of the moon and made offerings to the God of Love that he would not rest until he took his literary degree and became a man- darin. Then he would seek me in the country of the foreign devil. Every day have I not asked you to describe the strangers you meet in the streets, hoping I should hear some news of Lu Chan?” “Is there not yet time for him to come?” inquired Ah Yeung, encourag- ingly. “Long have I passed the term-of my servitude, and still Lu Chan does not come,” said Ah Oi, mournfully. ‘ “Now Yan Lee threatens to sell me, because all day.long I forget my manners and look sad.” : “Ah Oi,” exclaimed Choy Come, “be: cause you have told us many wonder- ful tales and have given us sweets, we will write on the paper so that she of the blue eyes will send to you gifts on the coming feast.” “Could we not take Ah Oi, who is always so sad, to see the wonderful Ah Yeung and Choy Come. tree loaded with sweets and lit by many candles?” suggested Ah Yuen. “Qh!” cried Ah Oi, “I dare not go out Yan Lee has forbidden me. But I should so like to see the wonderful tree of many lights.” Just then a door opened and a stern voice called, “Ah Oj! Is it thus you sit lending an idle ear to children’s talk? Come hither and find a more suitable occupation than listening to tales of the foreign devils’ gods.” When she reached the door Yan Lee pushed her roughly inside. There was a sprinkling of snow on the ground and the cold wind blew in the chubby faces of Choy Come and Ah Yeung, who, in padded tunics and muffied up in silken scarfs, were hur- rying home from the afternoon’s Christmas celebration at the mission. Choy Come carried a small branch of Christmas tree trimmed elaborately in tinsel. As they turned the corner the wind blew a sudden blast and tore from Choy Come’s arms the tinsel- trimmed branch, blowing it swiftly down the slightly inclined street. “Oh, elder brother,” cried Choy Come, in excitement, “the wind has taken the gift for Ah Oi.” They both chased the branch down the street, calling to the pedestrians, “Oh, please some one save the gift for Ah Oi.” “Little ones,” said one of their coun- trymen, who had rescued from the middle of the street the precious branch, “tell unto me who Ah Oi is and you may have your branch.” “Honored sir,” implored Ah Yeung, “please give us the gift for Ah Oi! She belongs to Yan Lee, and is very sad. Even now she awaits on the steps for us.” The stranger’s countenance under- went a change, and he was saying softly to himself, as though unaware of the children’s presence, “Yan Lee, Ah Oi; at last I have found her whom I have long sought.” He looked down on Choy Come and: Ah Yeung. “Little ones,” he said, with joy in his tones, “surely the god of luck to whom even this morning I made offerings, has sent you my way. I, Lu Chan, have come from across the seas and wandered in many cities of the foreign devil seeking one Ah Ot. All my seeking has been in vain until to-day. Now children so favored by the gods lead me to Ah Oi, who waits on the steps. It shall be the gift you bring to her this day.” Pes So Choy Come and Ah Yeung brought to Ah Oi on that Christmas day her best beloved Lu Chan, who bought her from Yan Lee and took her back to the land of her delight, where flows the beautiful River Tchinn- Houai, near the Lake of Flowers and the Pathway of Pleasant Odors. a waere te -A rhyme, and a light and lithe one, That sways like a supple vine; t A song, and a pbftight and blithe one, A-flood with the Christmas shine. A stave, and a gay That shall make Be the beat of the The lith and the And the trill from the throat of a linnet That dies to a rapture deep. Then it’s cheer, my masters merry, And cheer, my bonny maids, O! Our song’s for the Our kiss for the A catch, and a clear and glad one, Like the brook note in the spring; <S and mad one the rafters ring. dancers in it, laughing leap, holly berry, mistletoe. PEPE SOP F EFOSC OSOOOOO OOD ~ A Christmas Tree in a Big Forest + + A long, long time ago, before this great country was inhabited from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and when ex- tensive forests stretched over great tracts of land, through which the foot of white man had not left its print, the frontiersman living in “the outer settlements” had small chance to cele- brate the Yuletide season. He, with his family, composed a small world, which was too seldom entered by an outsider. Neighbors were at great distances apart, and their time was all occupied in clearing the land which was to become the fine, rich fields from which their children and grand- children should reap such rich har- vests. In the early forties a sturdy farmer —or frontiersman, as those “pathfind- ers” were called—moved from the outer borders of what was termed civ- ilization to a new country, where as yet the woodman’s ax had not been heard or the curl of smoke from the log cabin been seen by the red man, lurking about on the watch for the in- truding paleface. Into the depths of a shadowy forest the frontiersman, ac- companied by his family of wife and two sturdy sons, went, hunting a suit- able location for a camp. After many days of weary travel | they halted near a_ beautiful spring | that came from a rocky cliff overhang: | ing a stream that promised to be full | of fish. Here the father and sons cut; hill,” declared Tom. “Let’s go cau- tiously, for you can never tell what kind of an Indian surprise is awaiting you.” Like two Indians, the boys stole round the hill, which was almost bare of timber. They crept on their stom- achs, making no noise. When they rounded the obstructing point there came into view several covered wag- ons and a newly built cabin, with two or more in course of construction. A number of stalwart men and boys were busy at the building and a num- ber of women .and half-grown girls were preparing food over the camp- fire, the completed cabin evidently not yet having been supplied with a fire- place. Tom looked at Sam, and Sam looked at Tom, smiles of happiness coming on their faces in spite of their trying to withhold any show of pleasure. Then they rose and timidly approach- ed the new settlers. When within a few rods of the builders their ap- proach was noted, and it turned out that they were as much of a surprise ! to the strangers as the strangers had been to them. It was not long before Tom and Sam found themselves seated at the forest board, enjoying a share of the plentiful meal of their cordial hosts and hostesses. Conversation did not drag, and Tom and Sam regretted to have to bid their new friends adieu and continue on their hunt. They promised to come the next day and bring their parents; also extending a cordial and homely invitation to’ the ewcomers to visit their cabin, some two miles distant, toward the river. When the boys arrived home that down trees and built a cabin. | evening, carrying a number of fine One evening, as the family sat) rabbits, squirrels and a fat opossum, around the cheerful fire of logs, chat-| they approached their mother with ting of the past, present and future,! beaming faces. “We've got neigh- the mother quickly said: ‘Well, I de. | bors!” Sam cried. And then he and cleare, Christmas is almost here, and; his brother told the good news, re- I'd forgot to think about it.” | peating everything which had been “Yes, so it is,” agreed the father.' said by the new-found friends over the “Just three days off.” hill, | The two sons, aged, respectively,| And the next day, faithful to prom- fourteen and sixteen, were not yet too | ise, Sam and Tom took their parents old to enjoy the excitement and pleas-| to call on the new neighbors, who AS THEY CREPT ON THEIR STOMACHS, MAKING NO NOISE. ure attending the holiday season, al- though they had had small opportuni- ty to do so since they were in their teens, for their father was a man who was ever looking toward the setting | sun, following it farther and farther | as the settlements grew and prospered and dangers became less about him. “Well, I'd like to be back at Berton- ville,” declared Samuel, the elder son. “There'll be great times there, I’ll war- rant. Neighbor Higgins’ girls will have a Christmas tree and a taffy- pull.” “Ah, yes,” sighed Thomas Peter, the younger son. “And over at Neighbor Van Smith’s there'll be a big wild turkey dinner and a lot of the friends will have an invite there. Do you mind last Christmas, mother?” Yes, the mother “minded,” and it sent a pang through her good, tender heart to recall the pleasant and socia- ble times they had enjoyed while liv- ing on the outskirts of the little vil- lage. The nexi#®Hay Sam and Tom went with their guns to hunt for game, the only kind of meat the family had for their table in this wild part of the world. As they trudged along Sam said: “I wish we could give mother some little surprise on Christmas. But I reckon it’s out of the question.” “Father never cares about such things,” said Tom. “He’s a mighty smart and brave man and has no mind for foolish things. But I am like moth- er—I enjoy friends and a sociable time. Wish there were some neigh- bors near——” “Look!” interrupted Sam, pointing to a eurl of blue smoke to be seen ris- ing te the sky through the leafless trees. “That’s not an Indian camp fire. White people are where that smoke comes from.” “It must come from around that proved to be quite numerous, for six families had come together to fell the forest and build up a town, to which others would soon come. The day passed in work and sociable inter- course, and, as Sam and Tom walked home beside their mother, their father going ahead to keep a close look-out for their safety, the good woman, with a happy face, said: “What do you think, sons, we’re going to have a Christmas tree after all. The new neighbor womer have agreed to come over and help me all day Christmas. We'll exchange little trinkets and small articles of clothing and hang them on the tree for our sons and daughters. Then we'll have a taffy- pull in the yard in the evening by the light of a campfire. They have a keg of fine molasses, and they'll bring a good supply over for the taffy.” Neither Sam nor Tom could speak for a minute; their hearts were too full for utterance. Then Sam said: “What kind of a tree will you use, mother?” “I thought that pretty sapling by the door would answer,” she explain- ed. “I'll cover it over with a sheet after the presents have been hung on, and keep it from view till we are ready to hand off the gifts.” “And shall we have a dinner?” ask- ed Tom, eagerly, his eyes shining with happy anticipation. “Yes, we'll have it at our cabin, but the neighbors will bring a lot of nice things along. They have such fine flour and sugar and some potatoes. Til cook those fine rabbits and squir- rels you brought:in yesterday. Oh, we'll have a feast—out here in the forest.” ‘ “And, best of all, we'll haye a Christmas tree,” said Sam. And three happy hearts beat as they went through the forest homeward ‘A TERRIBLE CONDITION, Tortured by Sharp Twinges, Shooting Pains and Dizziness. Hiram Center, 618 South Oak Street, Lake City, Minn., says: “I was so bad with kidney trouble that I could not straighten up after stooping without sharp pains shooting through my back. I had dizzy spells, was nervous and my eye- sight was affected. The kidney secre- tions were irregular and too frequent. I was in a terrible condition, but Doan’s Kidney Pills cured me and I have en- joyed perfect health since.” Sold by all dealers. 50 cents a box. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Soft Boiled Shirts. She was a dear old lady, but she lived at Hardscrabble, and was a bit behind the times. She had been read- in gthe advertisements in a city newspaper chance had prought her way. “Father,” she asked her husband, “what is these here negligee shirts they talk about?” Father, being a man, was equal to the occasion. “Don’t know what they be,” he grinned. “Well, you are a back num- ber. Negligee shirts ain’t quite so stiff and choky as a D’iled shirt—I mean a reg’lar hard-b’iled shirt. A negligee shirt is something you might call a soft-b’iled shirt.” BLACK, ITCHING SPOTS ON FACE. Physician Called It Eczema in Worst Form—Patient Despaired of Cure— Cuticura Remedies Cured Her. “About four years ago I was afflicted with black splotches all over my face and a few covering my body, which produced a severe itching irritation, ‘and which caused me a great deal of suffering, to such an extent that I was forced to call in two of the leading physicians of . After a thorough examination of the dreaded complaint they announced it to be skin eczema in the worst form. Their treatment did me no good. Finally I became de- spondent and decided to discontinue their services. My husband purchased a single set of the Cuticura Remedies, which entirely stopped the breaking out. I continued the use of the Cuti- cura Remedies for six months, and after that ever splotch was entirely gone. I have not felt a symptom of the eczema since, which was three years ago. Mrs. Lizzie E. Sledge, 540 , Selma, Alaj, Oct. 28, 1905.” But He’s Thankful. “Now the poet goes his way, ped- dling poetry day by day.” “And,” adde the bar, “those of you who have trouble in isposing of gilt- ‘edged securities can imagine what the poor poet is up against.” Jones Av PATENTS. List of Patents Issued Last Week to Northwestern Inventors. Reported by Lothrop & Johnson, patent lawyers, 911 Pioneer Press building, St. Paul, Minn.: Albert J. Hughes, St. Anthony Park, Minn., en- velope; Abner Johnson, Strandquist, Minn., animal trap; John W. Nilsson, Balfour, *N. D., cultivator; Frank A. Roweckamp, Witaka, Minn., hay-baler; Knute S. Satre, Frost, Minn., shock- loader; William F. St. Clair, Owaton- na, Minn., display stand; Robert R. Tichenor, Feely, Minn., grain door. A Long Look Ahead. A Vermont justice of the peace, in deciding an importnt ejectment suit, recently rendered the following judg- ment: “That the plaintiff have pos- session of the premises, and may re- cover rent up to the day of judgment.” ONLY ONE “BROMO SS P That is LAXATIVE BROMO QUIN Loo! the signature of B. W. GROVE. Used the World over to Cure a Cold in One Day. 2c. The deed is the only indorsement of a good sentiment recognized by heay- en, : Feed on garbage and you soon lose your faith in good things. 2. | Positively cured by these Little Pills. They also relieve Dis tress {from Dyspepsia, In- digestion and Too Hearty Eating. A perfect rem- edy for Disztaess, Nau- sea, Drowsiness, Bad Taste in the Mouth, Coat ed Tongue, Pain in the Side, TORPID LIVER. They regulate the Bowels. Purely Vegetable. 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