Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-10-23

les, SAID Kitty, but they are hor-
rid beggars." The Cold Night was sill
ent. and Kitty was afraid she might
have said something wrong, SO She
added: And common street tiddlers."
But the Cold Night said nothing.
They both watched the little duo.
Tosey and libby, the Cold Night said,
and drew nearer to hear what they
would say. People, rich with money
and in charity, carefully passed them
by, for they were ragged beggars, and
fddled and sang. 1t was cold, very
cold; and Tosey played very slowly.
while the breath of Tibby's quivering
plant disappeared despairinglv in the
frosty air. The wheels of the carriages
seemed to creak in sympathy, as they
crushed down in the snow. Yes, it was
cold indeed, yet they fiddled and sang
untlringly, while the rich people alight-
ed and passed up the grand entrance,
after glancing contemporary at the
poor little duo. who fiddled and sang as
the brilliant dresses disappeared in the
distant doorway, but finally stopped as
the last carriage drove away.
" l suppose We looks too awful" said
Tosey, wetting his lips and feeling
vacantly in the small pocket, which
God knows, had not seen so much as a
dime for many and many day.
" Ies," said libby, "but does feel
so hungry, and l sang so loud, and
tried so hard, and
libby slightly sobbed and silently
used small piece of her shawl to wipe
away large tear.
" Don't cry, said Tosey, TREMENDOUSLY;
lets move on, and perhaps we'll find
a little somethin'. Oh, if we only had
few pennies !"
Tosey took Tibbv's hand and they
started to move away.
ooh, Mr.. Cold Night" exclaimed Kit
ty, sorrowfully, "let me give them
something-poor little things!'
But they are beggars," answered the
Cold Night.
Kitty looked ashamed. She could
feel herself blush, even though she was
cold and shivering. The Cold Night
handed her silver piece.
"Yes," said he; drop it, even if it's
wasted. See what they will do"
Kitty took it quickly and dropped it
before them. Right at Tibby's foot fell
the money, which she would have
passed urnoticed if Tosey had not ex-
claimed:
ooh, libby. there's dime" and
picked it up.
libby clasped her hands in delight,
danced up and down and then looked
into his hand, to be sure that it was
really there. 1t was, surely.
won't we have hot potato,
thought" said Tosey.
"And a big roll, and some butter, and
some meat, and just very little piece
of pie.
libby named each one of them on
the ends of her fingers, but stopped
when she got to her thumb; for the
money was all gone by that time. and
the thumb was quite large.
But how did it come there" asked
Tosey.
could it have growed?' suggested
libby.
"No," said Tosey.
"Or fell from the sky?'
"Guess not" said Tosey, obviously.
"Or been hunged?"
ooh, no of course not" Tosey an
swered, emphatically.
They both looked hungrily at the piece
Of money, and began to count together
what lots of things they could buy; and
their faces grew bright, indeed, as they
thought of it.
From the shade of the opposite side
of the entrance, thin bundle of rags
slowly crept, and steadily shuffled up to
them. Out of the dirt and rags peered
a thin face and glistening eyes, and the
HANDS of the small bundle WEAKLY rub
bed themselves together, to try and stir
up the blood which was not there.
"This is charity ball." said the thin
bundle. "These folks dances for the
poor" The glistening eyes looked
eagerly at Tosey and libby, and fire.
quently glanced at the money in their
hands. 1--WE is poor, and they dances
Tor us me and mother, who is sick abed
they dances to give us the bread which
we seldom has"
Tosey looked in surprise at the thin
bundle, rubbing its hands.
| "And does they dress in nice closes
for us, and ride IN carriages, and give
lots of money, and all for us ?"
The thin bundle rubbed faster and
faster.
Yes. if there's any more than as
pays for the dancin' and the dressin'
and the dancin' costs ten dollars apiece
and the dressin'-oh, | dunno It's al
for us,-if there's any left
But they didn't give us any when
sang" said libby.
"Lors, no ~ said the thin bundle
"they thinks beggars don't need nothin.
They has folk as hunts up poor folks