The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-01-13
The Little Tamborine Girl.

1N'e0'
The Little Tamborine Girl.
Karl and Bettine were playing before
one of the houses In 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 q
red skirt and blue bodice, danced horn
pipe with dashing young soldier, IN q
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 IN
her hand. Then there was sprightly
little dairy maid, who trirped 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 breeches, who came nimbly up,
and held out his cooked hat to passers-
by for pennies.
IT was very pretty sight to see them
moving all together, and whenever Kari
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
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
thew PLAYED might give them. Then,
f 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 dlrtlest
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 a day, to save that little for their land
lord.
Now. for more than week, Karl had
been Ill; this was the first day he had
E been out, 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 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 at night !;
she could not remember the 6 Water
land" for which her mother had wept
z 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 IN
Karl's wonderful organ, but swept bur-
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, at Bettine's feet, dropping
with metallic ring on the pavement.
-Bettine stopped and picked it up-a gold
bracelet, set around with stones that
sglittered and flashed In the sunshine SO
that they almost blinded her eyes. She
turned quickly TO look for the lady, but
already the liveried coachman had sprung
to his seat, and the carriage was whirl-
ing down the street far out of reach of
her voice.
Then she glanced at the group gather
ed around the organ. All the eyes were
fixed intently on the moving figures, and
no one had seen her pick it up. Here
was relief from all their troubles. She
knew the bracelet was valuable itwould
pay the rent, and buy for Karl poor,
sick, patient Karl-the Strengthening
food and medicine, and freedom from
care, which he so much needed. For one
moment fierce temptation ragged In poor
Bettine's heart but she thought of her
mother, and put it proudly back. No,
she could die of hunger-worse than
that, could see Karl suffer for food and
sshelter-but she could not keep what
was not hers. Just then rosy-cheeked
maid put her head out of a basement
window of the great house to see the
hand-organ. Bettine stepped towards
her with fast-beating heart.
CIVIL you please tell me the name of
that lady who just went away from here,
and where she lives 2" she asked, tim
idly.
The girl stared at her In astonishment.
ssThat is General Faulkners daughter,
and she lives out at Norwood. But what
would the likes o you be afther, askin'
about herr" she said.
Bettine didn't stop to answer her, but