Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-10-22
THE STREET SINGER.
az an ue days that's In ths we.k.
deary ose bat ons day.
Ani thsl : ths dag that CONES betsirt
A Safurlsy an1 naadAy.


to sing.
He looked tircd and worried a. II the
harmony of the day had jangle,i all out
of tune All az once he. too. heard the
voice. and now 10 was Singing
Tis then dr~-- 40 In my ts-s,
Ani uAn oslt slth my sally.
She !. ths dAfiinE - my h.Art.
AMI shs lives dSsn N car alley
The grayeproiessor sccmcd suddenly
10 forget hi. hurry. lie stopped stock
still
"By jove, What voioel- he ejacu.
lated. n the tone sank Ia a plaintivc.
vibrating minor that thrilled through
the murky atmosphere like burst ~
sunshine. And then be- went In pursuit
II the voice.
In two wheeled huckster's cart.
which had b.cn disabled and deserted.
stood little girl about 9years old. She
hal on a rcd calico drcss. II was pretty
dirty. bat apparently the little girl
thought she was dressed up.
She hal washed her face back a. far
A. her ears. - that be- could seo that she
vas very pretty. Her skin vas a clear
olive. Her eyes were hig and bright and
brown. Her hair VA. almost the color
% mahogany and hung In thick. tangled
curls down below her waist
She wore NO stockings. bat on her
fcct was a pair of blue satin boots. with
tasscls at the top. aud little pointed heels,
such a. the chorus girls Ina the opera
wear
She was standing with her head
thrown hack. her little hands clasped
tightly acrss her chest, singing with all
her might. Around her we're grouped
about a dozen little ganins ~ the alley.
who. II no, apprcciative listeners, were
very enthusiastic ones.
When the professor appeared the en-.
tcrtainment stopped and che llitlr singer
lookcd a. shy and a. coufu.''d az N she
had t.cu caught doing something
naughty.
hut the professor dill no, notice her
confusion. lie pushed his way right
through the dirty. sticky little group
and up to the side of the cart
"What your namcf he asked eager
". "ani where 10 you live
shyly twisting her finger, into the
folds ~ her rcd skirt. the little girl an
sWervl. ia "a CONFUSED way;
My name l. Alice Flynn. and | live
down thcrc." nodding her head towArda a
basement near
"who taught you TO sing
"Nohuly. always knowed how"
answered the little one. with side look
at her companions.
Whom DO you live withr was the pro
fossor's next question.
"Gmn'ma. answered Alice.
"Will you take me 10 see your grand.
mothery' asked the professor. suddenly.
Instead u answering him Alice looked
at her audience and giggled. Professor
Hale cyiIcntly knew how to gain his
point. for. taking a silver coin from his
pocket. be- said:
"Ill give you this II you'll take me 10
your grandmother. VIII YOU 30 nowr'
"oh, won't |. JUST" exclaimed Alice,
aud she scrambled over the wheel oi the
cart. Come right this way"
The professor gingerly picked his way
down the dirty steps into the dingy
cellar which Alice called home. Sitting
In an old rocking chair. smoking rank.
smelling pipe. was a very old woman.
She was ~ nearly blind that she didn't
notice az first that Alice hal company.
She heard the footsteps, and began;
II think is time ye was a-gcttin
home. YOU goo'l.for.no,hin' little trollop.
An II ye amt brought the price o a sup
o ,Ay and bit o bacon IL will BE- th
worse for ye."
I've brought gentleman with me.
said Alice. "iie wanted 20 come and
49, you. and here's u quarter for your tea
and bacon. lie give II 20 me for bring.
In him"
The old woman lifted her shaking
head and looked at the professor with
watery. bloodshot eyes. The professor
didn't waste any words.
Madam. he aid. "this little girl has
a wonderful voice. want 20 take her
home and teach her 10 sing. Are you
willing that she should goy'
And what would be doin' widoui
herr whined the old woman. "And me
wi the rheumatic that bad | can't H.
putin me foot % the fioor."
well" said the professor. "here's =
g. bill that III give you. And Ill send
you that amount each week N you will
let me have the little girl
The old woman hesitated little AZ
first. thinking shat perhaps the profes-
sor would increase his offer. But when
she saw that be had no such Intention
she accepted eagerly enough. And then
the gentleman took Alice by the hand
and led her away, while the grandmother
at mumbling over the crisp new green.
back. without - much as giving her a
word of farewell.
Alice began TO be frightened. She
commenced To cry and kept on crying.
even when the car stopped and the pro-
fessor led her up 90 the front Of a beau
tiful house looking right of on the park.
She still cried and begged him 10 LET
her 40 hack 20 her miserable alley and
her wretched old grandmother. She
didn't feel any better when she got In.
side of the hall and stood on the soft
carpet among the pretty hghtsome flow.
ers. You sen she wasn't used 10 IL.
The professor stepped TO the foot OF the
stairs and called;
Come down here. Kitty. want you. :
And Kitty came. q beautiful little yellow
haired fairy, all In ribbons and lace. who
cried. as sLe ran downstairs
"oh. Papa, where did you set that
little girly'
IL found her down In our alley" an.
swered the professor, with twinkle In
his eye.
"IIow do youdo. little girl" said Kitty.
"What pretty hair you've got; and, oh
my what lovely bootsl Where did you
get themy'
Alice was all right now. She wasn't
afraid any more and she answered very
promptly and conhdentially.
III bought 'em Of the ragman for a
cent, and | got this dress from the rag
man. too Amt Il daisyY'
In very few minutes the little girls
were chatting away a. II they had
known each other always And then
Professor Hale told his daughter to 20
and call her nurse. When she appeared
he said;
MARY, you may take this little girl
upstairs and give her a bath. and dres'