The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-02-13
SELECTED STORY.
.s,.7s M d A Ii N e, H
s.. THE
LITTLE FRENCH SINGER.

n little g'fi sat IN garden IN Hars.-
Her hands were folded idly in her lap
Her hair sboue like gold 10 the sunlight.
Her dresa was PLAN and neat, while a
small diamond piu, Which held the fac
cambria handkerchief carelessly thrown
around her neck to protect it from the
morning air, revealed ths, her position 10
life was one Of case and aff1uence.
IL was in October. A few flower. yet
bloomed among the borders OF lockwood
a few buncbss Of grapes purpled out Of
reach on the trellises; while the falling
leaves were twiried here and there by the
breeze. Tho little g'rl watched a whirl
ing leaf for a while, then pstted the head
Of the house dog, tbs, sat beside her look
Ing wis,fuly into her face--a graff, grim,
faithful sentinel In bis shaggy coat
"Well, old Carlo" she said, still patti
ing him, show do you do, nyhowi I
want somebody 70 talk to There is no
body at the house this moving but old
Mother Counaut, and she Is a. rrum as
an egress and as crabid as griffin She
won't talk nor romp, nor nothing. She
is good old soul, though, must say
Don't you think SO, Carloi Many a
dainty bit she has Get aside for you-at
lesst dog would call such bits dainty
But forget. Conuaut will no, talk. and
you csuno,-though believe that you
would if you could"
Carlo rubbed his nose affectionately
against the little girls knees, and wagged
his tail, scattering the pebbles in the walk
The little girl took up a few ofthe pebbles,
and while she tossed them about in her
hands, she sang verse VI = song. Oh.
it was delicious like the thrill Of q bird
clear. di.tinc,, rspturous.
just then a man jumped over low
place in the garden wall, and came toward
the little singer The dog growIed threat.
eningly. ........
"Re quiet Carlo" said she. "Down
with your
The intruder was little, old man,
with gold spectaclss, and q massive gold
watch chain. His face was full, kind,
genial. His broad chin wss smoothly
shaven, his eyes twink,sd merrily, and he
had an odd trick OF Struggling up his
shoulders.
"Good morning. Miss" said the old
gentleman. .... ...............
The little girl did not ksow wha, 10
say. SO she nodded pleasantly.
"You will excuse me-" said he.
"Whst. for ~ asked she.
"For jumping over the WALL"
20! other folks do come in through
the gate, since | think OF it. Tbs, is
what gates are far, said the little girl.
any name is Cruvelli-P Professor Cru
,slli,". said the old man little pompous
ly. af-. s .
"And mine is Msdalire," said She
II live here"
so | thought" said the professor,
taking q pinch Of snuff. @Perhsps you
do not know me. I am amusician-a
great violinist--a composer. !make peo-
pie laugh and cry. They ri.k suffocs,ion
TO bea' me they crowd; they cry bravo
and 'encore.' I don't miad them. y
draw.my boz. play my Arias. and gro-
rich-very rich. lam trying to talk nov
40 that you can understand ne. I heard
you sing. Your voice is s~eet and clear
leaps the octavss; il cuts the air Ike q
lark 10 the morning. ! have just com
posed a precious little msrceau. You
shall learn il. You shall sing Il at The
theatre"
"No. sbsli not" said Madaline blunt.
ly.
81 wili give yoa one hundred frap,..'
"No." .'s',2 ..-7 ''a
"Fivs hundred."
- ANe." 'a8s. .4-ag q rr
fNe nuhafed Wsncs eveyy ume you
sing IT," - sEsa ~ Co.
"Please excuse me-" said Madsiins. {
"Why viii you no, sing III"
"Oh, I might coussn, to sing it, bu,
not 10 the theatre. That isa wicked
place. ], is wrong to be seen there. !,
is no place for ssiis,le girls."
"Wslt yoo may be right, Msdalius. :
and the professor took another pinch Of
snuff and csaamsd the boz into bio pock
ss in mannsr-which betrayed sba. b.
was sligh,ly vsxsd.
"You may BE tight, Isay. Ba. com.
20 my house and learn The aria, any how
Here Is my card" tsvr.g