Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22
THE TAMBOURINE GIRL.

gan was very oid-IashiOned one. which his
father had brought from Germany; and In the
front of il there were grotesque little figures
that moved on wires. A pert little lady. i'm
red skirt and blue bodice, danced a hornpipe
With dashing young soldier in a scarlet uni
form. with white cOckade i'm his hat and a
prlm-looking old lady sat in an arm chair,
constantly. taking pinehes of snuff from a
painted box in her hand. Then there was a
sprirhtly 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 bTeeches.
who came nlmbly up and held out his cooked
hat To passes-by for pennies.
III was very pretty sight To see them NOV
ing altogether; and, whenever Karl and Bet
tine stopped Ia play. a crowd of children were
sure To- collect around them. But they put a
very lew pennies into the old grenadiers hat
and when karl and Bettine counted their
money at night. they very 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 a little money to pay the
rent for the little dark. cherries bit of room
they had, in the very dirtieSt part of the city
and they were 50 afraid of being turned out of
that that they very often went without their
supper. when they had gained very little money
III the day to save that little for their landlord
Vow. Tor more than 4 week Karl had been
III; 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 next
day. anu not penny tn pay il with. Poor lit
Tie Bettine'S heart was almost bursting with
grief. as she looked at Karl, SO pale. and thin
anu feeble. and thought what would become
al him when they were turned out of their
miserable little room. with no shelter, and
with no one TO care for them i'm all the great
city.
They had always been poor but before their
father and mother died, the poverty had not
been 81 hard In bear, for they did not feel so
lonely and desolate then, and their father had
been 80 hopeful and coura geOuS, cheering them
always with predictions of happier times.
All at once Karl began Ia 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 Bettne had
heard il so often. the great tears began to roll
down her checks and blinded her eyes so that
group of childish faces that surrounded her.
She had no recollection of any home save the
dreaTy little attic where they stayed ut night,
She could not remember the "Eaterland," 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, Tor she did not
even glance at the little tambOurine girl, nor
at the figures in KaTl's wonderful organ, but
swept hurriedly down the steps to the elegant
carriage, with glittering trappngs 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 glittered and flashed in the sun
shine 81 that they almost blinded her eyes
She turned quickly To look for the lady, but
already the hveried coachman had sprung to
his seat and the carriage was whirling down
tie street lar out OF reach OF her voice.
Then she glanced at the group gathered
around the organ. All the eyes were fixed in
tentiy on the moving figures. and no one had
Gs kneW T ts relel from M a
valuable; 1t would pay the rent and buy for
karl-poor. sick patient karl-the strength
ening food and medicine and freedom from
care which he 50 much needed. For one mo-
ment a fierce temptation ragged in poor Bet
tines heart: but she thought OF her mother,
and put il proudly back. No, she could die of
than that. could see Karl Suf-
Ter for food and Shelter-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 to-
ward her with fast beating heart. VIII
You please tell me the name of that lady who
lust Went away from here, and where she
IlyeS? she asked, timidly.
The girl stared at her in establishment and
said;
she lives out At Norwood. But what would the
likes % you be afthcr aSkin' about her for?''
Bettine didn stop To answer her, but ran
back Ia Karl. who had collected all the pennies
he could, and was strapping his organ again to
his back.
What were you asking about this lady FORE
he said as She walked along by his side.
Il IOuliu ntT DTdCtltI. SHE answered..
and she took the bracelet from her pocket and
showed il to him.
He uttered quick exclamation of surprise,
and flush lighted up his salOw cOuntenance.
..Bettine. these are diamonds said he.
" They are worth mint OF money. We can
pay the rent and have enough for food and
clothes. You need neverbe hungry again, my
poor little Bettine.'
" But it isn't ours Karl said Bettine.
Yes. it is our" ne answered stOutly. :. No
body saw you pick it up, and what is it to those
they will forget in an hour, while to us it is life
ITSELF
What would mother have said, Karls"
asked Bettine, reprOachfully.
The flush faded from his cheek, and he was
silent for a moment.
I" 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 in
quire where General Faulkner lives"
we might as %e t starve rst as last a there's
nothing else for u.s." said Karl, glOOmily.
SObs almost chOked Bettine'S utterance, but
,h l, ehoked them braysS back ; and said hope
Karl: perhaps she will give us something"
Give us something muttered Karl; Its
much more likely she will accuse us Of having
stolen the bracelet"
We'll, whatever happens, We shall be sure
We have done right. And do let us hurry,
Karl: for if We don't I'm afraid can't help
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.
along the open country toward Nor
wood. Ii was May. and the apple trees i'm the
gardens and orchards by the roadside were
covered with pink and white blossoms. whose
Odor made the whole air sweet. The green
fields and the fresh country air were so pleas
ant after the crowded, stirling city. Bettnes
heart began to grow a little lighter, and her
step quicker and more elastic; but poor Karl
was not to be cOmfOrted. He walked silently
along with his head hanging dejectedly on his
breast and his eyes bent on the ground
Every now and then. after the noon sun grew
To he Oppressiyely warm. he would unStrap his
organ and throw himself down by the road
side and say:
Il can't go any further, Bettine; l am SO
weak can hardly stand
But Bettine would plead, only little
further, and you can rest a long time when we
get there"
And so he would get up again and go on,
leaning on Bettine, who made never a word of
complaint. though her feet which had broken
through the coarse, clumsy shoes she wore,
were bruised and sore. and not a mOrsel Of
food had passed her lips that day. But they
reached Norwood at last and the very first
person of whom they inquired told them
readily where General Faulkner lived. 1t was
a very nice house, with a winding carriage