Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-23

y
crushed down in the SNOW Yes, it was
cold indeed, yet they fddled and sang
untirinGly. while the rich people aight-
ed and passed up the grand entrance,
after CHANGING cOntemptuously 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.
81 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 a day.
Yes," said libby, "but [ does feel
SO hungry, and [ sang so loud, and l
tried so hard, and"
libby slightly sobbed and silently
used small piece of her shawl to wipe
away q large tear.
"Don't cry" said Tosey, TREMENDOUSLY;
"let's move on, and perhaps we'll find
little somethin'. Oh, if we only had
a few pennies y
Tosey took Tibby'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.
eyes," 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 unnoticed if Tosey had not ex-
| claimed:
ooh, libby, there's a 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.
Wont we have hot potato,
thought said Tosey.
"And a big roll, and some butter, and
some meat, and just a 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.
cor fell from the SKYE
"Guess not" said Tosey, obviously
cor been fiunged?"
e
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, a thin bundle of rags
slowly crept, and steadily shuffied up to
them. Out of the dirt and rags peered
a thin face and glistening eyes, and the
hands of the small bundle YEARLY 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
for 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. ,..-... ..s
" 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, I dunno It's all
for us,-if there's any left"
"But they didn't G i've us any when l
sang" said libby.
LOrs, no - said the thin bundle;
"they thinks beggars don't need nothin.'
They has folk as hunts up poor folks
when they has time, and sews flannels
when they hasn't. Yes, they says they
does all this for us, but" The bundle
shook It's head as if it were doubtful,
and continued
q I stood over yonder thinking some
body would give me somethin'; but
they all looked mad at me, and | went
back inter the shadder and watched 'em.
1t was a big sight, but Pm jest as hun
cry" The hands stopped rubbing, and
the eyes looked wet, as the bundle
added: g My mother is very, very sick.
Oh, We's poor,-so poor p
Tosey looked at his little sister as the
rags began to shuttle away.
" libby" says he, docs we feel so
awful hungry"
libby hesitated. She looked at the
silver, and then at the slowly retreating
figure, and then she looked up into
Tosey's gentle, looking face.
" No, Tosey, dunno as [ does"
Tosey turned around, and running
after the departing figure, handed her
the piece of money.
"There," says he, take it; you need
it more than we does
The bundle looked in surprise as she
took the niece and tears fell down tho