1907-01-05 — Page 9

JOHN JAMESON'S JOSS.

IWRITTEN FOR THE "HONG KONG DAILY PRESS"

BY C. J. HALCOMME.}

Kneeling upon the baro stono pavemant api devoutly kogtowing before a sery ugly and wobaic idol in the great Buddhist temple of Tung Tzo, was a dainty litt to Chinese maiden: the only worshipper there ave a fatherly) fooking old priest who fitted silently about in the performance of his time-honoured caties,

ерен,

t

of a

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 5rn, 1907.

mistress of the bungalow, over the domestic affairs of which she presided wih becoming thrift and decorum, curtailing expenses, sooing that the Chinese boys did their duty during the absones of their maater of the Haikwan House, and above all, watching that they did not follow unmercifully, or, in other words, making uudes the

popular Celestial costem of queering" perquisitas at his expanse.

When bedtime came, Mrs. Hall took her up to her own room and pointing to a child's-cot stand ing in a corner, began androssing herself. So Loo-foh did the same; and vaguely wondering, yet not liking to ask, what had become of Jamo ROD, she erept into her ams bod and, boing weary, soon went to sleep,

of the table, while the company followed their example. But no one appeared to notice that dowdy little figure.

her

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apoll-bound, her face growing deathly pale and The child atood for a moment as though her small work worn hands folding and unfold. ing themselves in the intensity of her agitation. Next morning she awoke early, for-like There she stood, with ber large black eyes fixed most of her country people-aËL

But was an Wenderingly and appealingly" opon him. Bat the long peaceful evenings were her early ritor; but knowing that she was in he never looked hor way. special delights. For then the light of her another person's house she did not like to Then

she turned and with head suddenly life would sit with her in a shady nook in the act independently. So fastivaly pooping from bored in grist and humiliation too deep for gorden--and, white regaling neef with beneath the binnkets, she watched the form in words went quietly back into the kitobex and The charming little lady in quration whose

brandics and endas, playfully fendle the other bed name was Loo-fat, was possessed of large dreemur and listen to the wonderful old stories shu and drossed, she did likewise and then followed asked why she did not go and eat of the and directly Mrs Hall got up began washing plates. The girl working there dark and desp-izzled, and a wealth offered to tell-thean beautiful mystical legends her downstairs to the kitchen. Fesling uncaer wedding breakfast. But Loofah could not black hair which was elaborately dressed in which are interwoven with the lives of her an not knowing what to do, she stood with her reply +

The smiled butterfly style

of Far Noochow and people and having been a part of their very hands mookly folded in front of her.

mournfully, and slowly shook decorated

her head; and as the plates came down, she with a orencuat of white Afek roligion for countless years, are blossoms, Sho

solemnly

The fire snapped Mrs. Hall, darting a patiently washed them one by one and put them She was attired in the simple yat roverod and helieved. And because be wan all pistureaque costumie of her country, consisting the world to her, she strove to acquires to vindictive glance at her and pointing to a brokonane, sho slipped and of the house and want in their places, Then, when her work know-bundle of fire wood lying near the fire place, WAS loose jacket of light blus braceded ledge of his own language and was so apt

Loo-fab merbanically picked up two or three way will long bell-shaped sleeves, and a divided shizi papil, yet he never troubled to teach her any

vat home. embroidered at the edges; and her foal which thing beyond the proverbial pidgin nglish," sticks and stood looking about bor in a She knew that she stood alone in the world bewildered manner. For in China they Yet she would not baliera that Jumeson was to

now, and that her life's missina wes te naturally all and for werder not and tris she soon learned. They were intoniy small earthen stoves for burning charcoal.me- No, it was afi the fault of that faithless endel,

golden-lily puttero-wore encased in the tiniest which were faw enongh bat which were tired bead_ween the best souks, and those employed joss of his Perbape sun was right, However | cramped after the hideous though fashionable the happy halcyon days of her brief life: days and whees imaginable; and her own small fingers her with all the cost of tender, traslful youth--

by Europeans, so as ether. youth which was strangely blended with all the and proceeded to light the fire herself; while have anddenly grown wiser-tok her that he

The woman worked the gold-threaded flowers on the.

anataled the sticks from her that, because ber heart-which seemed

she had served him faithfully and was glad of

Loo-fol,

make auenda, tried to seemed to be wrong. However, aha kept ber

process; but everything she did would think of that some day in the years to eyes open and being quick at learning did not have to be

bese "weet thoughts of consolation erose told again Frem she rese early and lighted the fireann prepared

to her as she went and seated herself that timo forth

in har favourite bower among the weeds in tha small breakfast and did all ber hands found to do.

back yard. For here she had spent the few But sometimes her heart would yearn for the

hours of her leisure; and hate she had summer clime of her native land which she

dreamed

ronny bright dreams and built

many never could hops to see again; and then sky

for castles. And when Mrs. Hail returned in would steal upstairs to bor bedroom, and, keel. the evening she found her sitting in that ruds Watson's ing in front of her tall frank, pray earnestly arbour under the laburnum, with the golden trunk-something she would not desera o by

Summer twilight playing among her glosy for there was something very precious in that removing until she could find a fitting place for its rocation rocaption

toex

Ik

noblor qualities of womanhood.

The evening, after she had been pandering assist in the to

upon religious matters and silently wond-ring as to whom Joba Jameson worshipped-sues she had heard vague rumours that the foreigner believed only in the Tien Wasg or Prison of Heater, abs sidled closer to Jameson and locked wistfully into his face.

"Who belong your joes?" She asked a little diffidently.

As she knelt there in the din umber light of that ancient phoo, surrounded by great gnome-like dois, she made a decidedly unge picture; and appareatly the old priest thought so tan for be passed in the shadow of a broad pillar and regarded her with a smile of paternal solicitude. Ho had known Loo-fah a long while ngl was deeply attached to the child for she was only

child after all: a child in looks and a chil a child in kore, though a wondrous little woman ia my ways.

Poor little Loo-fal, bar lol was not altogether au enviable one, although she always med happy and contented; for the only relative shows bad in the world was an old and crotchets step mother, and between them they eked out a menger livelihood by making bamboo baskets With serious conviction in look and gesture, and lantern frames. But their humble abode fake clasp-d her bands together ant rising for a rested among bright Nowors and spreading moment bowed thrice before the bottle. Then foliage in which birds warbled morrity all the reseating herself she regarded it with question- day and booth which as Loo-fab seriously log are. He approvingly patted her on the believed an infinito variety of elves and shoulder, being highly amazed. brownies disported themselves on the mossy turf during the long silent bours of this summer nights,

Sho bad jus lighter sheaf of joss-sticks, the smoke of which differed a sweet perfume of sandalwood, and was rising to place this Taring upon the altar in front of the idol, when this sil-uce was rudely broken by the loud and irreverent stops of someone entering the build ing. She gained her four, and looking round in surprise, saw & young man in European drew standing

within the entrano and proring about him with unabashed curiosity.

fio was an

With grim irony he pointed with the sten of his pipe towards a bottle of brandy which sford before him and from which he had been

usual, mizing himself liberal potations, was not far wrong.

That balong my jous,” he answered ; and he

If that was John Jameson's jean, then it should be les also. For was boot her legs lord and lover and part of her very being And was so not his lawful spouse and the little Loo-fnl! And pride and joy of his heart? This mused

poor next morning, when Jameson bad gone to insaness, she took the precious bottle-which was now empty-and went up to the temple for the purpose of install- ing it there in an honourable place among the other josses.

B-TY0

dome.

Jair.

She was drewed in her best

*

to

beautiful though fuded gown she had worn on that silly morning in the old temple of for fiagrouts of John Jameson's faithrions-jose.--

Jameson grow stronger, and after a time he Tung Tze; and at her feet lay the shattered

to

corner of tha ard and tud

bair and a suspicion and, in spite of red time, though he had heard all shout her cherished possessing, and that was nothing

ruddy m plexion, he might to wo a cont

conventional idiom-hars "passed muster inn crowd" of his own country. men. But to ansophisticated Loo-fuh, he appeared simply divino. Nevertheless she was aftail of him for in spite of the fact that years far beyond the kin of her memory had passed since & foreigner had visited that out-of-the way place on the Yangtze river, she kud strange

and turrible stories of the fierce fun-ai from the remote larria of the west. So su in stinctively shrunk back to where the priest was strading 164 though for protection, and the old man laid his hand reassuringly up her stood together regarding the

shoulder, and curiosity,

The old priest had not see her for as she untered the building, bis kindly bevri was touched and he went forward and greeted hor How is it with you, my poor child?" be said gently for ho had not the heart to reprove her. I hear that you have left your step mother and have gone to live with the foreigner of the Huikwan.

Yes, it is true," she gel with childish raptura, taking his hand and holding up the battle for his inspection. This is my lord

Jameson'a joss."

John

The priest ridently did not think there why anything extraordinary about that, though be bad ever seen its like before. Taking the bottle in both hands, he examined it with critical solemnity,

This is on az 8-operly the label.

jess, my child," be at length observed, sage y squinting down the nack as if looking through

Lelescope

found employment and was absent from the hence during the day. But in the evening he would sometimes sit wit Lon-fah, and that cheered her heart and she miways went to the front window and watched for his home-coming and ran down the street to meet him.

At the back of

of the house there was a small wred-grown yard containing cu solitary

free And labaruum

when the days lengthened into Sammer Lon-fah made a little lower beneath the tree, and her brort

www joyful when SLA bandiwork. Then she constructed a sent there streged her cut of some old boxes and placed before it a small table shu

broken among found. sums lumber in olented and mended. Having tone this, she her box sad tok from it a most more nor less than John Jameson's jou which she had removed from the old temple just in pisans of silk and linen. Unwrapping the befors leating Teng Tze, and hud preserved

on which her loved one bad given her on the bottle and placing in is the faded wreck of the day when first they met, the stood it on a sus! wooden altar inside her bower and dock it with the last weeds she could find; for no powers set in that back yard. On Sunday Mrs Hall tad gone in eveninga whoa with Lon-fah in her favourite retreat; and would sametimes go and sit chapel Jantes she noticed that he seemed brighter, happier aust more affectionate when he brought with *", " him his "joss," and drank from it the amber liquid it contained the nectar of the gods, as to fed her. So she prayed to his joss all the more, But she was Tauchi alone, and her beart was often hardened with secret for, as tima ent en, for a hird

Jamoser broama often spent his evenings ar y from home,

indiferent to bar and

find retired to rest. And when Loo-fah asked generally returning after she and his Birter the woman where he was, she would invariably star honge. Still, Log-fat unvor complainvil priat 1ho row and say that

only wordnied, being far to logar to

intrader with

John Jameson, for such was the Englishman's me, thrust his bouts deep into the peckels of ading with his legs wide ned, danding apart, whistled softly and returned the ir gaze

They then went legelber and placed uper with aggressivo solemnity. Then carefully a small altar in front of Tinbow, the Goddess romving a white rose from kis burton hole, he of Mercy and after barning incense stepped forward and offered it to Loofsh. And

In a Aultor of embarrassment, she looked up fah went and ferebra some pluta-blossoms prayerfully outowing before it 100 muta zppeal to her venerable protector. Fe, for decorative purposes, and crowned her up

courteens compleancy, nodded his trend idol with the rose which lay withering there 20 148 zarda a der bleisanes and accepted the with the agered memento of that first memorable

meeting

ing in the temple.

Alan On her way back to the bungalow, she was mot bry Why told her that Jameson had by s returned from the Haikwaa and had gone to bed, being very ill with fever. Forgetful of all ele, the hurried beme to his relief.

in

with

Cons

florer..

Then, with an ardost smile, the stranger turned គង his heel, and looking exploringly around, gristly beat's

& retreat by the way he had When

en he was gone, Loofab blushingly Buried her nos among the petals of the case end, after rapturously inhaling its perfum Plao-d-it in her hair and with artless coquer posal for which was of itself a bendiction, the sick mun.

In ma the kind o old I priest stroked her head and tehing her that she was a perfert rase-but, gently led her texards the outrance. Bat & don thenght struck her, and disengaging her hand she took the rose out of her hair nu! 'went and laid it reverently upon the altar where she had been worshipping Thon zeturning to the priest she accompanied him out into the bright sunshine, and he stood on the terrace which surrounded the temple and watched her as she ripped away down the steps and disappearod among a forest of snowy plum blossome.

that he

¿orrow.

renting day brought its regular hours of any suspiciou against him, and every humble tail to divert her wind and wean her away from harrowing thoughts.

certain. It rose, pure and iatiolall above Her lose would never change, that was tuil, sorrow, jury, neglect --n soul-redeeming sacrifice verily acceptul la tó Heaven. The evening after a busy day of "OF manner of dainties, which had been

nil

That was the end of Lee-fal's summer and nights of patient watching by the redside of the beginning of king- Lead. weary days and But she ver la bin and ever seemed weary of attending upon him and comforting him; and when, after works and months of constant anxiety and impoverishing that on the morrow there was going to be

the other hans

ther house" Mrs. Hall informed Loo-fu expenses, the doctor from Iclang ordered bis immediate return to England, the faithful lulla

grout feast there in honour of Jesus, D woman brought out the small hoard she had

that she was to go too and help in many ways. saved by her sony, and bravaly prepared expectation, and she could hardly sleep for

Loofah's lurt ha

a high with

home to forsak her people, and her country forvent hope that she right pat be able to

the thinking about this great event. preserve the life which was infinitely more

morning when Mrs. Hall gave her a clean precious to bar than her ovo.

while

wer at the banquet, bar pride was tonebed, and for ones in her life ske rebelled. As far as she could gather, it was going to be a great and joyful day for bor lord and lover, and she would not wear the badge of servitude. No, she would not-and she had her

Lato one bleak, foggy afternoon in November four-wheeler drove up to a mean-looking house in Islington; and from it alighted a mau wrapped in a thick overeal a man who koked ill and emaciated and a diminutive little woman plately dressed in some dark mat mot fit her dark hair, fair complexion and material and wearing a black straw hat which

As the reader has

apron. to

own way.

But pari

John Jameson and his sister left the bouse rather early in the day; bus before doing so, the latter gare Loo-fah full instructions as to

what she was to do, and cutioned Lar against

-appearing publicly in her native costume which

intended fo

to wear.

A small bungalow just built for the man in thurge of the new Haikwan Station at Tang Tze-peaped out from among the umbra- geous foliage which clothed the billside on the northern bank of the great Yangiaza xiver. The house stood in a beautiful garden, and commanded a view of surpassing graadeur

Fust

it, em besomed among clematis large deep-lashed ex no doubt guessed, these she had abuse pinin-blogs.ms,

the old world fano stood where Loo-fab was wont to

at to pray. But she had arrivals were none other than Lou-fah and not teen there lately, for fats had guided bar Jabe Jumeron. The sea brez a combined steps

tho way of the stranger.

with careful nursing, bad done much to restore the latter to health, though he was still very fo and in her band she held the small box of y feeble. Loo-fah looked pale and sexiona preserved ginger which her stepmother bad

her given

the day she left

iato bat burgaler was John Jameson's new bome, and the queen of that home was the dainty

little fairy he bad met in the unciat joss-lcusu yonter, beneath the shadow of which

had woved and won her to himself.

924

tine meeting haunts which surrounded woman whoso armg were brza to the elbows and makli

amidst the

The day was warm and boautiful-it amir.ded; Loo-fub of far Tung Tz and the old temelo and that first meeting. At eleven o'clock she started by herself for the "ether hous

She she had, and in order to relieve its severs was attired in a dowd's old serz-dress, the

best simplicity and shabbiness she had but a while fees It was a simple story. After a few claudes-

frill yount berneek. Hut ber luxuriant black Jameson knocked at the door, and it was hair was dressed in the quaint and pretty style tow twilight rambles answered by a gaunt-looking, sharp featured of old 3 ccfow and where the crescent of white Luc-fah's humble home brief courtship neked with soap-snde.

It blessone had

ano reposed, was a chain which was to her a little lifetime of soul- Ball, his widowed sist r

daise the only Bowera ale could get. This won one Mr. { of ‹

A strong odour of to be

On arriving at her destination, she found thrilling tappiness ever treasured in her washing parvaded the interior of the house, number of men, women and children balling

and to

Tim merely &

a which looked dismul and equslid. romantic mind,

ahout the door; and they greeted her appearados diverting and

opisode there cure & "Huile," she said to Jameson, by way of with load guffaws and cenatic remarks about day when he wont to the old stopmother greeting, eyeing his companion is not very her only people. and bargained for the child де would done kad he been buying a dog or a piece of

so you've brought the Chiness

With shine.fashed face ehe. burried woman with merchandise. And when at length the woman

after "Well, what could I do P" he sigued apolo her asked Loofah if she vibed to go and live with gotically she's my saree, you know. You'll the foreigner,

ahe hung her head shamefacedly had her usofal enough." for

then, with a look of Loofah looked up to her with a wistful uspeakable devotion,

went and and confidingly in

in bis; and..

and, as for my she was held out the precious box of preserved ginger for cancerged the Compact was sealed. For be bad her to

to take some. already stolen ber heart away and was the very No, thanks light and hope of her young life.

was the tart response. "I's no time bila in

for eating sweets." accordance with Chinese castom he was making the

the trussotion & bind- in

After the calman had deposited the luggage

the one

pastage, they adjourned to the back in silver by paying the equivalent of his fiai, cée parlour, and Mrs. Hall busied herself in proport

Have

friendly you ? "

a girl, who came out and conducted into the kitchen whores omonated savoury odour of rcast fowl and beat; and the little lady was soon bearing hot plates and steaming dishes up to the xcom where the

She and the

momost or two alsoad her small expression, and with simple courtesy timidly banquet was sprva had J put the finishing

Theary

went and

worldly belongings into a toy packed her few ing tea.

toy-like trunk and During the evening Jameson and his sister

attired herself in her best silken

She then returned to them and with mild he were engaged in otese conversation; and Loo

fah sat looking on and ruminating upon many

tanches to the table, when a rumbling of carriages was board, together with mob cheering and chattering from the crowd extride. 100-fah instinctively knew John Jameson WA coning and in a flutter of excitement she awaited him, inthe meantime nervonaly toying with the lace frill and running her Bogers over her hair to

see that It WEB not diarranged. due reverence

There was a rustling of dresses and'a paid her parting respecte to her stepmother who

to her stepmother who matters. Poor little women, it all seemed vary babel of voices and laughter, and in another gave her as a deney a ginger which bad come all the who of preserved strange and gloomy to her. She had always moment Jameson swept into the mom with

way from Canton beard that foreignere lived in fine bouses and tall handsome young women leaning on his and had been kept for some important occasion.

Then John Jameson took her hand and led that her John was stranger and that the long goodly company of guests.

bad many servants; still she felt fruly thankful arm; and behind him came Mrs. Hall and a her away down the hill; and a stalwart coolle journey was over Boste bravely and cheerfully brought up the rear with the toy-like trunk, determined to serve, honour and obey bias to be gently put her wide and led the lady be.

3.00-fab

sprang forward to groet him, but tucked onder his arm. So Los-fth was the the end, and prove herself worthy of his affection. was escorting to a seat beads his at the head

of

BURGOMASTER IN A FIX.

nard

Since the Keepenick affair, burgemasters on the Continent have been fighting very shy of orders transmitted by pursene in uniform, Owing to his fear of ridicule, the targemaster of a small village near Base, Switzerland, now finds bimeulf in ao ex Swiss troops, ! awkward predicant. A battalion of out on matomyrer, was to be quartered on the village, and officer called one morning on the chief civil functionary to

to apprise bin of the

exproted arris

arrivel of the poldiers that sume night. The worthy magistrate, scenting a bear, furiously demanded it!

if his interlocutor took him for the bargemaster of Koepe nok, adding that Switzerland WSR not; Germany: that he was net taking any non scuse, and finally threatening in kick him out of the house there and then;

whereupon the officer diferently withdrew. The bargo- the battalion arrived in due course. Nothing master's state of mind may be imagined when was ready for the tired troopers, and most of them them had to go without a meal until the next

had morning. Disciplinary punishment now awaits the unfortunate magistrate.

I may be recorded hers that the Odessa colleague that they have sent an addresst to the cobblers are an proud of their Koepenick

shormakers to join them in some form of homage Paris Figure calling un the French to tho pasudo-captain. The addrese ends with the words: Long live the cobblers! Down with. the bargomusters."

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