Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-10-16

pennies 4,
Stop. Billy said I, brushing the
hair from his forehead, and detainlng
him for a moment; "what little girl Ii
i / your sister with-has she her bonner
on?n
"Yes IN, a sort ola bonnet re-
piled Billy, tuggiug to get away, "as
funny az she is, and she's a'cfat fun
uyl-most as good as monkey, but
no, quite. She can sing and dance
and haiu't got any stockings on, but
some shoes Oh, mother, please let
me 60; rve told you everythingl'
Shall go too, Billy?" said /,
while Aunt >sbiDa actually dropped
: her kui ting and caught for breath.
eyes, do; hurry, mother, or it'll be
gone"
Putting on my hat, I followed the
sturdy little fellow to the door, where
the orgau-grinder, heralded byEall
the children in the neighborbood,
soon made bis appearance, and sta
tiouing himself at respectful dis,
tance, began to unwind the tunes and
set them floating through the air. |
had only time to observe that the
musician was a foreigner and, in ap-
pearanee, above the average of men
following that vocation, when Katie
my little fve-year-old, spraug to-
wards me, all excitement, and eS'
claimed:
"Ain't she a dear little thing,
manua-just see2'
There she stood, the "hund-organ
mans little girl, as the children ter
med her, with my Katie's hand in
hers, looking straight into my face.
Perhaps another would have laugh
ed at the child. for her appearance
was certainly ludicrous, but it was
of kind which. mother as | was,
touched my heart and caused my
eyes to fill with ears. She was an
odd little thing, with chiid's face,
pushed into an expression five years
too old. Out of gray eyes, frank and
honest looked her soul: over large
mouth. and larger smile, was pug
nose, and, above this, smooth Dor
derland, upon which the tow-lke hair
was tossed in every direction; an
apology for a bonnet she had pushed
back from her head, and 1t hung from
her neck, suspended By faded rib
bons: over her shruukon frame fell
wrapper hike garment, just reaching
to her bare, brown knees. There
she stood Before me, this little wait,
with Katie's question unanswered;
the children cr0wding round we're
waiting for my verdict, all but Billy,
who was ueguti ting with the or
ganist, endeavoring to procure three
tunes for q cent, or "seVeu for two!
"Of course she is, dear | replied
patting my girling on the head, and
STOPPING down to the quaint figure
before me.
Little QUE" said I, what is your
name?'
"Pepita," briefly.
Have you a mother?'
Yes no" and the little child
shriVered; "she's gone away-dead,
b'le've: | wisht she'd come backH
Glancing over 10 the Organist mo-
ment after. she added: I've got
father: he's him. and she nodded |
her head and exchanged fond looks
with the man.
"Here, Pepita,' exclaimed Billy,
my little rush-about, | want to see
you dance some more; I'll give you a
penny if you will"
Pepita laughed, showed some very |
pretty teeth, dropped US all a courte-
sy, and trod the notes Of Money |
Musk" under her feet iu the most
lively, aud certainly the most originaI
manner.
CATER ALL" said Billy, admiringly, |
"you are as good as a monkey, every
bit; come on into the house and get
something to eat
| thought Billy was having things
very much his own way; but in feed
iug the hungry be knew that he had
license at all times, and it pleased
me to see the child so thoughtful.
With short sentence to the man
in a dialect could not comprehend,
Pepits followed Billy, while her faith
er, to rest meanwhile, threw himself
upon the grass which grew along the
walk.
Don't bring the little vagabond
near mew screamed Aunt Satina.
which remark drew we into the house
at once, while the village children
lciterad around the door, waiting for
the show to begin again.
"She isn't a vagabond at all | ex-
claimed: "she's a little motberless
child, tired and hungry, I'll warrant
but Christian enough to smile through
it all, and willing to contribute all IN
her power for the am musement of 9th
ers! Nora, prepare these children
some sandwiches, said |, as my maid
of-all-work entered the room.
PePita," said Billy, do you see
what grand house live in? See
how high the walls are, and look at
these pretty pictures
Yes said Pepita, opening her
eyes very wide, aud staring around
in ali directions. "Yes, l see,' said
she, and her face grew sober, |
thought; moment or two after,
bright flush illumined it, and she ex-
claimed eagerly, and little bcastful-
ly:
mines higber'n this, and pi'-
lures is new er'ry day. shaking her