The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-04-23


ing about the house, informing every one
that it was her birthday, and uncle Hen
ry had promised to take her to town to
see new ballet, in which the infant
prodigy, ola Petite Xara," was to ap-
pear Grace was almost crazy with de-
light, and a new white dregs, trimmed
with blue, was donned with hands trem-
bling with eagerness.
Ready, mamma 20 cried the little
girl, knocking at her mothers door. I"
am all ready
"Come in, Grace" said her mother
Z" You arc an hour too early, but come in,
and | will tell you about the little girl
you are going to see tonight. La Petite
Zara," she continued, as trace placed
herself at ler feet, :" is French child,
who began to dance in Paris long before
she was as old as you are, when, indeed,
she was in her fifth year. Poor little
girl, she is i'll treated, / suppose; most of
these child dancers are but she is very
beautiful"
Have you ever seen her, mamma =
/" No, dear, but papa has Now, little
ono, you are so inpatient that you lad
better 60 and walk in the garden until the
carriage comes
Away flew Grace, and did not return
until she came to announce that the long
expected carriage was at the door, and in
Il few moments the party, cen 'isting Of
Lord Granville, Rctta and Grace, were on
the London road.
Another scene was ACQUIRING in London
at the same time, in small house in
narrow court The little parlor of the
house occupied by two persons--a woman
and little girl. The woman was tall
splendid-l looking brunette, of rare beauty,
dressed in the costume of fisherman's
wife. A handkerchief of brilliant colors
was tied loosely over her head, making
her black halr look yet darker by CON
trast with its gaudy hues. Her dress.
though of coarse materials, was very rich
in color and suited well her beauty, tho
her naughty air and queenly gait were
not in harmony with the mean garments.
She was occupied in dressing beautiful
little girl who stood before her, patiently
allowing her to deck her graceful form in
the exquisite white robes which lay beside
her.
- Mamma chere mamma" said the
little one, laying her head caressingl ly on
the dark Scautys zap, &C. you are sick.--
Your hands burn, and your eyes glitter as
they never do unless you are sick or
angry with cara, are you mammal"
angry my dear child no. but ! am
anxious Remember, this is your first APP
pearenco in London, Zara. Suppose you
fail in pleasing the English critics-what
then 7"
"What then! Why we will return to
Paris, where shall | receive this ;" and
she intimatcd applause with her tiny
hands; but / shall not fail; l mean to
dance my very best. See" And with
a quick, graceful movement she began to
dance We leave her here, to follow,
Lord Granville to the theatre
The farce and overture, are over and
the curtain rises for the ballet of the
q Ocean Nymph" The first scene repre-
sents a fisherman seated by the ocean
his nets Suddenly large shell
appears floating on the waters; and stand
ing in a graceful attitude in this shell
IS cara, the star of the evening. wish
here to describe her -
la Petite Zara is only thirteen years of
nge, and her slight but beautifully mould
ID form is the perfection of childish sym
netry Her glossy chestnut hair falls in ma
tural curls below her waist, and in its rings
IRE fastened small seed pearls, which look
ike drops of water Her features are del
cate beauty; her exquisite complexion
needs no artificial cOloring; and her tiny
feet are not injured by dancing. Her
dress is Of white illusion, that looks like
a soft sea foam thrown gracefully around
her, leaving her beautiful arms and neck
exposed, and pearls here and there ap-
pear among the soft lace folds. The pu-
rity of her dress is unbroken by any or
nament. Slowly, and gracefully, the shell
ylides over the water, while thunders OF
applause greet the lovely vision, until,
ipringing lightly upon the stage the
q Ocean Nymph," with low courtesy,
acknowledges her graceful reception
This over, she executes a pas suet called
on the play bills the /" fascination dance"
and truly it is So She commences with
slow, irresolute step, dancing round the
bewildered fisherman, and ever and anon
inviting him to join her. Faster and
faster the music sounds, and wilder grow
the intricats mazes of the dance, until the
fisherman starting up, tries to entrap the
lovely vision, but, with merry archness,
she resist his attemps, gliding under
his arms, or spripging lightly over the
he throws in her way to detain
her.
At lenght he throws his net over her
and then followed the dance of the even
ing, famous on account Of the difficulty
Of Zara's dancing with net over her
shoulders and arms While this dance
is still in progress, the mother of the
fisherman enters and tries to persuade
hi in, that tho vision ha COOS ;s eviI