“Nail them up again quickly,” she comment. “Then go to roof and sweep
out chimbley.”
I elevated myself to loftly position and stood poking smok-tracks from
chimbley. Just then she holla,
“Come down 1st floor, please, and ade me in removing tables upstairs.”
I do so wishing I was a bird and could fly up and down with less
feetsteps.
By that time Hon. Sun were setting and I feel like doing the same. So
I choose soft chair in back yard and soothe myself by flopping to it.
There I reposed amidst rags, rugs, brooms, portraits, paints and other
cleanly dirt.
“Why you set there so worklessly?” she require, seeing me with eagle
expression.
“I have moved so much that I am now moveless,” I reply with great
pathos.
She make her eyes look kind and charity.
“Maybe you tired!” she collapse with considerable gentleness.
“Ah no, Mrs Madam,” I contuse chivalrously. “I not tired--I merely
exhausted.”
“Servants should be cherished as well as masters,” she say
scientifically. “I acknowledge my carelessness. In enthusiasm of
housecleaning I forgot you was as apt to get fatigued as any other
horse. I permit you to feel weary, because you are Japanese and not
strong like a Irish labour. I forgive this fault in you.”
“O thank you so many for that gentle heart!” I report back, enjoying
slight tear-drop from gratitude.
“No, Togo, you may rest,” she say. “But while you are resting, would
you please go out to back yard and beat a few Brussels carpets?”
Excuse me, Mr Editor, for acting so unobliged to a lady. But I could
not do furthermore. My arms walk out on strike when I attempt to make
them work. So I go to kitchen and arrive back with satchel grip and
derby hat.
“Sweethearted Mrs Madam,” I report, “I realise how my mind is too
lightweight for your serious employment. Therefore I quit. How much
you estimate I owe you for damage, breakage & crackage I done to-day?”
“1230.50 would cover everything,” she suppose.
“At my present wage-pay of $5 per weekly,” I snuggest, “I should be
very elderly Japanese before last instalment was pay off. Therefore I
shall not encumber you by waiting so long.”
“But what shall I do about that bill?” she require nervely.
“Ah, Mrs Madam, you are honest lady,” I bounce back. “I are sure I can
trust you to keep that bill more better than anybody else.”
“You done my household considerable injury,” she sum up.
“I are willing to forgive that also,” I repartee. “Therefore, if you
will present me with 50c out of what I owe you, I shall retreat by
trolley and leave your home safe from me.”
She contribute 25c from purse, because she say she can’t get no more
change until her husband get back. That gentleman are in Arabia
collecting rugs, so I decide it was too long to wait for 25c.
When nextly seen I was standing on depot-station in New England R. R.
asking Hon. Ticket Merchant if he would sell me fare to some city
where folks never clean house except when scolded by Brd of Health.
Hoping you are the same
Yours truly
_Hashimura Togo_.