The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-14
The Little Tamborine Girl.

Karl and Bettine were playing before
one of the houses i'll Eaton Square.
Karl's hand-organ was very old-fash-
Toned one, which his father had brought
from Germany and in the front OF it
there were grotesque little figures that
moved on wires. A pert little lady, In a
red skirt and blue bodice, danced a horn
pipe with dashing young soldier, i'll a
scarlet uniform, with white cockade on
his hat and prim- looking old lady sat
in her armchair, constantly taking
pinches of snuff from painted box i'll
her hand. Then there was a sprightly
little dairy maid, who tripped up and
down, with pail of milk poised on her
head, and basket of eggs on her arm;
and an old grenadier, in blue coat and
yellow brooches, who came nimbly up,
and held out his cooked hat to passers-
by for pennies.
II was very pretty sight to see them
moving all together, and whenever Karl
and Bettine stopped to play, crowd Of
children were sure to collect around
them. But they put very few pennies
into the old grenadier's hat, and when
Karl and Bettine counted their money at
night, they rarely found enough to get
their supper, without thinking of having
any breakfast or dinner next day, except
what some kind person at whose house
they played might give them. Then,
every week they had to put aside money
to pay the rent for the little, dark, cheer
less bit of room, they had in the dirtiest
part of the city, and they were so afraid
of being turned out of that that they
very often went without their supper,
when they had gained very little money
in day, to save that little for their land
lord.
Now, for more than week, Karl had
been IL; this was the first day he had
been ont, and they had been obliged to
spend all the money they had for food,
and the rent was due on the next day,
and not a penny to pay it with Poor
little Bettine's heart was almost bursting
with grief as she looked at Karl, so pale
and thin, and thought what would be-
come of him when they were turned out
of their miserable little room with no
shelter, and with no one to care for them
in all the great city.
They had always been poor; but be-
fore their father and mother died the
poverty had not been so hard to bear,
for they did not feel so lonely and desc
late then, and their father had been so
hopeful and courageous, cheering them
always with predictions of happier
times.
All at once Karl began to play "Home,
Sweet Home" The organ was very old
and out of tune; but for all that the air
was very sweet and touching, and,
though Bettine had heard it SO often,
the great tears began to roll down her
cheeks, and blinded her eyes so she
could not see her tambourine nor the
group of childish faces that surround
ed her. She had no recollection
of any home, save the dreary
little attic where they stayed ut night
she could not remember the "Vater-
land" for which her mother had wept
and pinned her life away but that tune
always made her sad-made her think
how terrible it was to have not even the
memory of home.
Suddenly the door of the great house
opened, and richly-dressed young lady
came out. She was evidently in haste,
for she did not even glance at the little
tambourine girl, nor at the figures IL
Karl's wonderful organ, but swept hur
riedly down the steps, to the elegant
carriage, with glittering trappings and
sleek bay horses, that awaited her.
But, as she passed, something fell
from her arm, Mt Bettine's feet, dropping
with metallic ring on the pavement
.Bettine stopped and picked it up-a golt
bracelet, set around with stones tha
glittered and flashed in the sunshine 81
that they almost blinded her eyes. Sh,
turned quickly TO look for the lady, bu
already the liveried coachman had sprllnt
to his seat, and the carriage was whirl
ing down the street far out of reach o
her voice.
Then she glanced at the group gather
ed around the organ. All the eyes wer
fixed intently on the moving figures, an,
no one had seen her pick 1t up. Her
was relief from all their troubles. Sh
knew the bracelet was valuable itwoul,
pay the rent, and buy for Karl poor
sick, patient Karl-the strengthenin,
food and medicine, and freedom iron
care, which he so much needed. For on
moment fierce temptation ragged in poo
Bettine's heart ; but she thought of he
mother, and put it proudly back. No
she could die of hunger-worse tina
that, could see Karl suffer for food an
shelter-but she could not keep wha
was not hers. Just then rosy cheeke
maid put her head out of basemen
window of the great house to see tn
hand-organ. Bettine stepped toward
her with q fast-beating heart.
"Will you please tell me the name c
that lady who just went away from here
and where she ivesl" she asked, tin
idly.
The girl stared at her in astonishmen
"That is General Faulkner's daughter
and she lives out at Norwood. But whf
would the likes o. you be afther, askil
about herr" she said.
Bettine didn't stop TO answer her, bu
ran back to Karl, who had collected a
the pennies he could, and was strappin
his organ again to his back.
"What were you asking about tn