The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-22
THE SONG THE TEA.KETTLE SANG.

that sounded like this, and started Nora,
who was halfasleep by the fire:
Puff, puff, puff, steam, steam, steam!
Wake, little maiden, out of your dream,
There's beggar at the door;
Steam, steam, steam, puf, puff, puff!
On the table there's supper enough
For one little maiden more.
"Dear mer said she to herself, 81 did
not hear anyone at the door What a fun
ny tay-kettle! l believe, after all, it's tell
ing story"
But no; for, sure enough, when she
opened the door there sat forlorn little
being on the step, with white hair that
looked like thistle-down, and so long and
tangled that it hid her face entirely. All
that Nora could see of her was her head
and bit of old cloak, and as she re-
marked afterward; 1.-THE white reminded
her, for all the world, of tall thistle
stalk in the autumn, that had caught and
was clinging to bit Nv rags"
Come in and warm yourself, won't
you 81 said she, half afraid of the weird
little object
The child arose without word and fol
lowed her into the room. Nora placed
her a seat by the fire, and she spread out
her tiny purple hands to catch the heat
with an air of great satisfaction.
Il wonder if the taykettle conjured her
up, sure" thought Nora. "She might be
steam sprite, if there be any such, but
indade | niver heard of the like
She was the posscssor of learned vol
ume which went very deeply into fairy
lore; but it did not mention anything of
the kind.
"Where do you live, sure? Did ye get
lost, poor little thing?" she questioned
the child.
Il live down by the wharf and didn't
get lost, only dog stole my basket with
all had for the day in it, and l don't
dare to go home. Aunty whips me when
l don't carry anything home, and she'd
kill me for losing the basket" said the
mite, in precise, piping little tongue.
"What's yer name, thin?" said Nora,
her rosy Irish face all ashine with SYM
pathy.
"Mamma used to call me Tina" said
she, "but aunt calls me Mary"
"And where is the mother, that ye live
with the aunt?"
"She said she was going to heaven,
but they took her away in box. l sup.
pose they carried her there, though they
didn't 60 up when saw them. She was
sick, oh, such long time! and wanted
her to 60 because she said she shouldn't
be sick any more, but be happy with pa
pa" said the little thing, solemnly.
"And the aunt is cruel thafe of a
woman and sends we out a-begging, with
your poor bits of toes to the ground, in
weather like thisl Bad cess to an aunt
like that! I'd lave her to herself, entirely
You shall stay with me tonight, anyway
We're poor enough ourselves, me mother
and I. Me mother lives out in hotel
She use to be cook and made lots o. money
but then she got sick, being over the fire
so much, and now she only helps the
cook and does little odd jobs, and little
wages she gets. l worruk, too. I'm cash
girl at Haberly's, and, with what we beth
earrun, we get along. Me mother sleeps
with me nights, and tonight, COZ It's Sat
urday night, she's coming to supper. It's
her I'm kaping the table for"
viii she like to have me here?' said
the child, looking anxiously toward the
door.
"Sure she will Me mother has the
kind heart Don't you fear, me dear
How could anybody shut their doors on
the like o. you? You'll look like Bit
of fairy"
Just then the door opened, and woman
with kind face, very like Nora's, entered
the room.
"Here's me mother" said Nora, spring
ing up gladly. Mother, see what nice
little company I've got"
"Nice indade," said Mrs. Murphy, pat
ting the corn-silk head. "And who might
she be, me dear?''
Her names Tina, and she lives with
her aunt, and her aunt is cruel and hates
her; and, mother, Pm going to kape hel
with me-for while, at least. She's lost
her basket, and doesn't dare to go home
and the weather is cowldr' said honest
Nora, all in one breath.
"Well, well, we'll see about it, me dear
but now let us take bit o. something tc
eat if the tay's all ready"
Tina seemed pleased with the little
lowered plate Nora placed for her. He1
eyes were as bright and wide as stars, ano
she seemed more than content with hel
surroundings, but she could not eat.
MAYBE you had your dinner late?
said Nora, anxiously
II don't have dinners" piped Tina; ~
only has breakfasts and suppers."
"Pm afraid the child's going to bt
sick. Her cheeks are SO flushed like
and her eyes is too bright, said Mrs. Muir
ply. :.
But Tina said she wasn't sick, and sht
liked to look at the pretty room, and tn
| red flowers on the paper,