Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-02-25

ney street, and then from one saloon to the O.
ther, until at last they found them at the s'Bel-
la Union,' surrounded by crowd of persons,
eagerly listening to the song the tambourine
girl was singing.
ssMother, am fatgued tonight, let US go to
our room,'' said the girl.
:sMy good woman,'' interposed one of the
clerks, addressing her, s'there are few gen.
tlemen at a store close by, who would like to
hear your music if you will accompany US,
we will pay You well for your trouble.''
'.Not tonight, mother,'' said the girl.
eyes, tonight replied the old woman
''nothing like the present. We viii so with
you.''
She followed them to the store. The warm
fire contrasted rather 1avorably with the chill
ling atmosphere without, and the old woman
and girl laid off their heavy, wet coal,s and ap-
preached the stove. AS they did so, they re-
cognized their friend, Walter, who had assist
ed them upon the two occasions spoken of, and
bid him q good evening, which he polite
ly returned; by the dim light the rising blush
of rich blood that mounted to the girls very
temples was family seen. Warming them
selves for a few moments, they resumed their
instruments and commenced their music. At
ter few tunes had been played upon the organ,
accompanied by the tambourine, the girl struck
up a wild Spanish air, that thrilled to the
hearts of her listeners. At times the song was
wild and full of eagerness, and then it would
fall to a low cadence, drawing sghs from her
hearers, as 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.
e'Is she not pretty ?'' whispered Walter. 81
never saw a sweeter face"
SPY jove she is beautiful said compan-
ion who sat near him; 'sand what delightful
expression there is upon her features
The song was finished, and Walter politely
offered them seat near the stove.
ssYou are Germans 9' he said inquiringly as
he resumed his seat.
ayes, l ana German," replied the woman, in
broken English.
e.Have you travelled much ~ he again in
quired.
sob, yes, all over,'' she replied; 'sfromGer-
many l went to France, from France to South
America, land have been in every city there.''
elias your daughter been with you all the
time ~
ssNo, SIR the girl replied, 81 was born far
from where mother lived"
e.Nhy how came that ?''
ssMy story is easily told. was born beneath
the beautiful skies of Italy, not far from the
village of Lausanne, and as l have often tho't
of that spot since left it, will describe it.
My uncle's house stood within, a very pretty
valley at the foot of the Alpine range; there
my mother took refuge after the death of my
father, and there | was born. IL is lovely
spot; the luxuriant flowers bloom the year
round, and the luscious fruits ripen at all sea-
sons, while its scenery is unsurpassed and as
1 gazed upon the towering Alps from my win
dow can bring back every feature to memo
ry; their outline of snow, as one giant raised
above another until all were crowned by Mount
Blanc's frozen peak the clear sky, the genial
sun, the moonlight nights. and starry canopy
above
eYou talk too much,'' interrupted the wo-
man.
ssOh, no; 20 on,'' said Walter, as her story
interes ted him.
ssMy mother died in Italy ,and my uncle took
passage for Callao, and I accompanied him
but shortly after our arrival be died, and | was
left among strangers, in a strange land A
woman who kept boarding house employed
me TO help about the table. l sang, occasion
ally, and the borders praised me, and some
times rewarded me with a rial. This so much
encouraged me that at last 1 took it up as
vocation, and shortly after met mother, and we
have been journeying together ever since"
'.Why, where did you learn to speak English
so well ?'' inquired one of the clerks.
ssAt Callao.' she replied.
ssYou said your father died before you was
born," said her interrogator, inquisitively.
ssYes, my mother always believed so,'' she
replied-and at the memory of her parent tear
hung dropping upon her eye-lashes.
ga somewhat eventful history" said the
clerk ssand as the subject has had so serious
a turn, sing US one of your lively airs to pnt
us in a good humor 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 the song was concluded,
he looked into her face with a long stare, as
though he would fix indellibly her features up
on his memory. Each contributed liberally-
none more so than the proprietor-aDdth the mu-
sicians were about departing, when the girl
turned and said:
GAS you have been so kind to us, will sing
YOU my favorite song before we CO."