New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-22

The Ta1nbourine Girl.
4 TALE SAN FRANCISCO.


past the slight structures as though it would root
them, from their foundations, and send the slight
board tenements wreck into the streets, deep with
mud. Every spot that could shelter person was oc
cupied every drinking saloon, sleeping house and
gambling table that was available was crowded to ex-
cess and those that found dry spot to sleep on in
their stores considered themselves Fortunate for the
unexpected rains of l840 found many with elated
hopes but to plunge them into the slough of despond
ency at the dismal prospects before them held out by
the winter weather. Mercantile business, however,
did not flag on account of the rain but when the
weather was fair, the goods needed no shelter when
it was foul repairing could hardly be DONE for no one
seemed to care ABOUT earning few ounces by job
| in the rain. D4s
Midway between Montgomery and Kearnev streets
on Clay, was large store full Of goods owned by an
Italian and every effort to secure the aid of me-
chanic to roof over the tenement proved Intellectual,
and if not repaired very soon it seemed az if the
heavy rains would wash store, goods and all from
their location. On the morning in question, the pro-
pretor, his two clerks and porter went at the lob in
good earnest, and when night threw its veil over the
heavy atmosphere the roof was finished, and dry
goods store was insured against the weathers in
clemency. The store was closed for the night, and
warm stove sent out its genial heat, while savory
smell tingled the nostrils and awOke the appetite,
although the repast had disappeared. The proprietor
leaned back upon box his feet raised in an elevated
position to keep them from off the damp ground floor
while huge volumes of smoke came rolling from his
mouth as he dreamlly smoked on. The clerks, the
statesmen and the porter also making themselves
comfortable as best they could.
"Well, boys,'' said the proprietor, " we can keep
dry after this, let it rain as it may and think we
have done good days work, independent of the
sales ne have made.'
To describe the speaker would be to have him too
readily recognized and to be the hero of this sketch
would not perhaps, meet with his appreciation as he
has not been consulted in regard to it.
Yes, replied the porter, 1 will bet that some of
our neighbors wish they rs we'll protected as we
are; board house with a tight roof is poor enough
but q canvas house-oh. how delightfully."- miserabe -
and the thought of wet blankets and wet bed made
his teeth chatter, and the idea was so ludicrousy
conveyed, that all joinedin laugh.
"Walter, what about that tanbourne girl ~ in
qured one Of the clerks: -" they say you played
quite the gallant with her on two OCCASIONS :
What is that Walt has been doing?" inquired the
proprietor.
ooh, nothing serious only making love to tam.
BOURNE girl he replied. An old woman came in
town few days ago. bearing on her back old fash
Toned, gothic handorgan, accompanied by tambour-
inc girl 1t seems that Walt was at the " Tontine y
passing, and big ubtery fellow tried to kiss the
girl, and he knocked him down again, the old wo-
man got stuck in the mud, and Walt helped her out,
and then returns, lifts the tambourne girl in his
and carries her across the street. losing one Of his
boots for his pains: Dear work, that!-boots are
worth one hundred dolars'
Yes, rather dear I should Think said the
salesman. is she pretty"
"Walt. is very good Judge, I should say, for when
was OF his age was equally as gallant to ladies, "
said the proprietor.
Pretty by the gods, know she isl" said Wal.
Or seventeen, rather delicate in FORM yet erlimbs are
full and round, and she is Of that medium height that
so well becomes a woman her hair is dark as jet
and the two sparkling eyes that are finely shaded
beneath heavy eyelashes equal her hair in their ebony
light, and
"Stop" interrupted the clerk, "or will swear YOU
have whole chapter of love nonsense by heart Let
us see if we can find the beauty that Walt has been
SO avishly praising,' he continued turning to the
others we will find them about some of the saloons
and we do, we will have them here, and then
We can all Judge for ourselves
So saying they sailed forth into the storm pushing
their way through the mud to Kearny street; they
found them at the bella Union" surrounded by q
crowd of persons, eagerly listening TO the song the
tamDoullle grl was singing.
Mother, am fatigued tonight: let us go to ou1
room. said the girl
My good woman" interposed one of the clerks
addressing her, there are few gentlemen at
store close by, who would like to hear your musc il
trouble
- Not tonight, mother" said the girl
i, -, YES tonight replied the old woman; nothing
- like the present. We will 60 with you.'
% She followed them to the store. The warm fir,
l. contrased rather avoaby with the chilling atmos
| phere without. and the old woman and girl laid of
~ their heavy, wet coaks and approached the stove Al
they did SO, they recognized their friend Walter who
had assisted them upon the two occasions spoken of
! and bidding him good evening, which he politely
y returned by the dim light the rising blush Of ricl
u blood that mounted to the girls very temples was
# family seen Warming themselves for a few moments
they resumed their instruments and commenced theil
4 music. Afera few tunes had been played upon the
/ organ accompanied by the tambourne, the girl
. struck up wild Spanish air, that thrilled to the
y hearts OF her listeners. At times the song was wild
and full OF eagerness, and then it would fall to low
I cadence, drawing signs from her hearers though
some peril that beset them had passed, while the
singers face would light up with an enthusiasm
plainly telling how well she kept pace with the song
and partook of its spirit.
" Is she not pretty?' whispered Walter % never
n saw a sWeeter face"
''By Jove! she is beautiful saida companion who
sat near him; and what a delightful expression
q there is upon her features
. The song was finished and Walter politely offered
!, them seat near the stove.
You are Germans" he said, inquringly, as he
resumed his seat.
Eyes, am German" replied the woman in broken
!. English.
y " Have you Travelled much ?" he again iuquired
!, "Oh yes, all over she replied "from Germany
went to France, from France to South America, and
| have been in every city there.n
81 Has your daughter been with you all the time 2?
' g No. sir" the girl replied; l was born far from
! where mother lived.n
: "Why, how came that?'
my story is easily told. I was born beneath the
beautiful skies of Italy, not far from the village OF
Lausanne, and as have often thought of that spot
since left it, l will describe it. My unce's house
stood within very pretty valley at the foot of the
Alpine range there my mother took refuge after the
l death of my father, and there was born. It is
lovely spot the luxuriant flowers bloom the year
round, and the luscious fruits ripen at all seasons
while its scenery is unsurpassed and as gazed upon
the towering Alps from my window, | can bring
back every feature to memory; their outlines of snow
giant raised above another until all were crown
ed by Mont Blanc's frozen peak the clear sky the
genial sun, the moonlight nights and starry canopy
! above
"You talk too much,' interrupted the woman.
> " Oh, no; go on" said Walter, as her story inter-
, ested him.
My mother died in Italy, and my uncle took pas
sage for Callao and accompanied him but shortly
after arrival he died. and was left among stran
. gers in 4 strange land. A woman who kept board
ing house employed me to help about the table.
sang occasionally, and the hoarders praised me- and
sometimes rewarded me with rial. This so much
encouraged me that at last took it up vocation
and shortly after me mother, and we have been jour
neying together ever since''
"Why, where did you learn to speak English SC
well?' inquired one of the clerks.
=" At Caao,' she replied.
" You said your father died before you were born, "
said the interrogation, nquisitiyely.
Yes, my mother always believed so, she replied
and at the memory Of her parent tear hung droop
i ing upon her eye-lashcs.
:" A somewhat cventful history said the clerk
and as the subject has had serious turn sing II:
y one of your lively airs to put in good humol
! again
She commenced an Italian song, and ere the first
verse was finished the proprietor came forward eager
to catch every sound that fell from her lips. When