Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-16
The Little Tambouriue Girl.

that moved on wires a pert little lady, in
red skirt and blue bodice, danced horn
pipe with a dashing young soldier in a scar
let uniform, with white cockade in his hat
and prim-ooking old lady sat in her arm
chair, constantly taking pinches Of snuff
from painted box in her hand. Then
there was a sprightly little dairyinaid, who
tripped up and down with a pail of milk
poised on her head, and basket OF eggs on
her arm aud an old grenadier in n 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 sec them
moving all together, and when Karl and Bet
tine stopped 10 play, a crowd of children
were sure to collect around them. But they
put very few pennies into the 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 the 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 thu little, dark, cherries 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 landlord.
Now, for more than week, Karl had been
i'll ; this was the first day he had 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 al
most bursting with grief, as she looked at
Karl, so pale and thin and thought what
would become 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 before
their father and neither had died the poy-
erty had not been so hard to bear, for they
did not feel so lonely and desolate then, and
their father had been so hopeful and coura-
geous cheering them always with predic-
tions 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 Bet
tine had heard it so often, the great tears
began TO roll down her cheeks and blinded
her eyes so that she could not see her tam.
BOURNE nor the group of childish faces that
surrounded her. She had no recollection OF
any home, save the dreary little attic where
they stayed at night she could not remenl-
Der the " Vaterand 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 a home.
Suddenly the door of the great house
opened, and a 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 hurriedly down the steps
to the elegant carriage, with elegant trap
pings and sleek bay horses, that awaited her.
But as she passed, something fell from
her arm, at Bettine's feet, dropping with a
metallic ring on the pavement. Bettine
stopped and picked it up--a gold bracelet,
set around with stones that glittered and
flashed in the sunshine so that thsy almost
blinded her eyes. She turned quickly to
lock for the lady, but already the lveried
| coachman had sprung TO his seat and the
carriage was whirling down the street, far
out of reach of her voice.
Then she glanced at the group gathered
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 brace
let was valuable it would pay the rent, and
buy for karl-poor, sick, patient karl-the
Strengthening food and medicine, aud free
dom 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 shelter
but she could not keep what was not hers
just then rosy-cheeked maid put her head
out of basement window of the great house
to see the handorgan. Bettine stepped
towards her with fast-beating heart.
"Will you please tell me the name of that
lady who just went away from here, aud
where She lives ?" she asked, timidly.
The girl stared at her in establishment.
That is General Falkner's daughter. and
she lives cut at Norwood But what would
the likes o you be after askin' about her
for p she said
Bettine didn't stop to answer her, but ran
back to Karl, who had collected all the pen.
MES he could, aud was strapping his organ
| again TO his back.
"What were you asking about this lady
for 2" he said, as she walked along by his
side.
81 found her bracelet, Karl, she answered ;
and she took tho bracelet from her pocket,
and showed it to him.
lie uttered quick exclamation of sur.
prise and a flush lighted up his salow cheek
Bettne, these are diamonds r' he said.
"They are worth a mint of money. We can
pay the rent, and have enough for food aud
clothes. You need never be hungry again,
my poor little Bettine."
But it isn't ours, Karl" said Bettine.
Yes, it is ours" he answered, stoutly.
Nobody saw you pick it up, and what is it
to those rich people Only an ornament,
whose loss they will forget in an hour, while
to us it is life itself"
"What would mother have said, Karl 2"
said Bettine, reproaohfully.
The flush faded away from his cheek. and
he was silent for a moment.
But you don't know where the lady
lives" he said, hesitatingly, at last.
She lives at Norwood, the girl told me.
You know where that is, for we have often
been there; and when we get there we can
inquire where Gen. Falkner lives"
"Well, perhaps your are right At any
rate, we might as well starve frst.as last /;
there's nothing else for us, said Karl,
gloomily.
Sobs almost choked Bettines utterance,
but she crushed them bravey back, and
said, hopefully Perhaps the lady will be
kind TO us, Karl perhaps she will give us
something
" Give us something" muttered Karl.
It's much more likely that she will accuse
us OF having stolen the bracelet"
Well, whatever happens, we shall he sure
we have done right And do let us hurry,
Karl; for If we don't, am afraid can't
help keeping it, when see you Sc i'll, and
pale, aud discouraged"
And Bettine threw her arms around his
neck, and her tears wet his pale cheeks.
In a short time they were out of the town,
walking along the open country, towards
Norwood, and the very first person of whom
they inquired told them readily where Gen.
eral Falkner lived. II was very nice
house, with winding carriage-way, and
graceful serpentino walks leading up to it /;
and in front of the house were beds of gay.
colored tulips, and broad, green lawn, with
a fountain in the middle, sending up mist.
like spray.
As they stood on the steps, Bettne wait
ing Tor courage 10 ring the bell, servant
came out