Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-03-14
@ADAGs30B,
THE LITTLE FRENCH SINGER.

1.-THE LITTLE FkENCh NlNGEk,
| A little girl sat in a garden in
Paris. Her hands were folded
idly in her lap. Her hair shone
like gold in the sunlight. Her
dress was plain and neat, while a
small diamond pin, which held
the fine cambria handkerchief
carelesly thrown around her neck
to protect it from the morning
air, revealed that her position in
life was one of ease and affluence.
1t was in October. A few flow
ers yet bloomed among the bor-
ders of lockwood; a few bunches
of grapes purpied out of reach on
the trellises; while the falling
leaves were twirled here and there
by the breeze. The little girl
watched a whirling leaf for awhile,
then patted the head of the house
dog, that sat beside her looking
wistfully into her face-a gruff,
grim, faithful sentinel, in his shag-
gy coat.
"Well, old Carlo" she said, still
patting him, show do You do, any
how? ! want somebody to talk
to. There is nobody at the house
this morning but old Mother Con-
nout, and she is as grum as an
ogress and as Grabbed as griffin.
She won't talk, nor romp, nor
nothing. She is good old soul,
though, I must say. Don't you
think so, Carlo? Many a dainty
bit she set aside for you--at least
a dog would call such bits dainty.
But 1 forgot. Connout will not
talk, and you cannot-though l
believe you would if you could"
Carlo rubbed his Lose affection
ately against the little girls knees,
and wagged his tail, scattering
the pebbles in the walk. The lit
tie girl took up few of the peb-
bles, and while she tossed them
in her hands she sang a verse of a
song. Oh, it was delicious! like
the trill of a bird-clear, distinct,
rapturous. aat
Just then man jumped over
a low place in the garden wall,
and came toward the little singer.
The dog growled threateningly.
''Be quiet, Carlo, said she.
"Down with your
The intruder was a little man,
with gold spectacles, and o mass
i've gold watch chain. His face
was full, kind, genial. His broad
chin was smoothly shaven, his eyes
twinkled merrily, and, he had an
odd trick of Struggling up his shoul-
ders. ~
"Good morning, miss" said the
old gentleman. e o.. 90
The little girl did not know
what to say, SO she nodded pleas
antly.
"You will excuse me-" he said:
"What for p asked she.
"For jumping over the wall.
90! other folks do come in /
through the gate, since 1 think of
it. That is what gates are for"
said the little girl. ss ~
''My name is Cruvelli--Profess-
or Cruvelli," said the old man, a
little pompously. 90 p T-< -
"And mine is Madaline,' said
she, 81 live here" .:a
so / thought" said the profess
or, taking a pinch of snuff. '.Per-
haps you do not know me. am
a musician-a great violinist-a
composer. / make people laugh
and cry. They risk suffocation
to hear me; they. cry 'bravo' and
sencore.'s l don't mind them. /
draw my bow, I play my arias,
and grow rich--yery rich.- am
trying to talk now so you can un-
derstand me. / heard you sing.
Your voice is sweet and clear; it 4
leaps the octaves; it cuts the air
like a lark in the mornings i
have Just composed a precious
little morceau. You shall learn it. |
You shall sing it at the theatre"
"No, Ishall not" said Madallne
bluntly. i
81 will give you one hundred
francs fT 01tsjs |
1No.n - 80 .S.as ssk
Give hundred"
"No."