Page:Scribner's Monthly, Volume 12 (May–October 1876).djvu/742

736 and absolutely free from every trammel and fetter, saving only from those imposed by the individual Christian conviction of the truth as it is in Jesus; let her press—for she already is beginning to have her press, most brave and powerful—ever be as independent of a purely partisan religious patronage, as it is, when the emergency arises, defiant of a purely partisan religious terrorism.

CALIFORNIA HOUSEKEEPERS AND CHINESE SERVANTS.

from Illinois, dining with us a few days since, said suddenly:

"I see that you employ Chinese. My wife writes me, 'Oh! how I wish you could bring me back a Chinaman!'"

So it struck us that a little of our experience might not be uninteresting to some yearning housekeeper. Wherefore, this paper.

Yes, we employ Chinese. And so do many of our friends and acquaintances. But, if any housekeeper east of the Rocky Mountains, groaning under the dispensation of "Biddie," looks for the millennium to be ushered in by "John," let us hasten to spread some facts on record, and let her read and ponder. John has his good points to be sure, but John, after all, is not a saint, and to change from Irish to Chinese is not to pass from purgatory to paradise. It is simply to refresh the chafed housewifely spirit, by exchanging a set of Christian faults for a set of heathen faults. No more. Some California housekeepers thus systematically rest themselves, by taking doses of Erin and the Flowery Land in alternation. Others never for a moment look at a Chinaman in the character of house-servant, but employ "girls" exclusively; others employ Chinese exclusively; and still others commingle the two, and thus endeavor to solve the hitherto insoluble servant problem.

Never shall we forget the first Chinaman whom we employed as a house-servant. The excellent and trusted Bridget who had lived with us so long was to be married, and, after her, we felt indeed, that "no Irish need apply." She remained beyond her time that we might fill her place, but each aspirant to the culinary domain seemed worse than the preceding, and finally we asked our Chinese laundry-man if he could send us "a China-boy," as they are called. Biddie protested.

"Och! I can't bear to think of ye's having a Chinaman! They will stale all there is in the house, and ye's won't know where it goes."

But we made due allowance for Biddie's prejudices, engaged "a boy," and he came at the time appointed.

A neat, rather handsome fellow, he was, and as he disappeared into his room, bundle in hand, we were conscious of a great drawing of the spirit toward him. In five minutes he emerged, clad in the daintiest of white blouses and aprons, his pigtail girded around his head as meaning business, and with the quietest step and mien he sought us out in the parlor, and "came and stood before us," his head slightly bowed, his hands folded, perfectly silent, awaiting orders. There was a submissiveness in his attitude, his expression, his whole aspect, which suggested the Old Testament and the "Arabian Nights" in turn. Our heart leaped up, as Wordsworth's to a rainbow. Here was a new régime, indeed! How promising! How delightful!

He went to work in a way which showed perfect acquaintance with his duties, and we mentally planned to teach him (was he not a heathen?), to make much of him, and to keep him a long time. It was nice to have such a distingué-looking creature around, and how deftly he waited on door and table! About the middle of the afternoon, another Chinaman appeared on the scene, and the two had much cackle together. No. 1 showed No. 2 his kitchen, laundry, and closet; and we concluded that he was pleased with his conveniences, and was receiving congratulations thereupon. By five o'clock he again "came and stood before us."

"My fliend heap-good boy; he stay you; I catch-um place, San Flancisco."

And China-boy No. 1 summarily departed, leaving behind him quite an inferior substitute. And with him went, as we learned that evening, all the cracked-wheat which we chanced to have in the flour-closet.

So we found that Biddie's generous concern was not all prejudice. Wonderfully keen, observant, and bright, in an hour the "China- boy" will take in the situation of everything