Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-23

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nore." she said, doubtfully.
"Very WE'LL" Vandergrift replied
"You may come. There is my ad
Dress" he continued, handing her q
card. Don't disappoint me-"
He fingered a moment to watcf
the birds, then nodded to the little
girl, and was gone. Marietta looked
after him wistfully till sharp rap on
her shoulder made her start back.
"You are loosing customers" the
bird.trainer growled. ATTEND tC
your business"
1t was dreary work for her standing
there all day long, uttering her mon
otonous appeal. She was tired, and
she hated it. Pietro was not kind &c
to her, and she was very lonely.
"Ahw she sighed in her inmost
heart, 81 am glad Beppo was never
found l felt very wretched when ]
lost him in the street that day, and
thought should never see him again
but perhaps some kind lady took him
in, or the dear God Himself! Pietro
would have beaten hint is better
So"
They went home early, for it prov.
ed dull day, and the bird-trainer
was not pleased with the result. He
was cross and Marietta trembled
when he spoke.
"Where did you put that gentle
mans address ?" he asked, suddenly,
his rough voice making even the soft
Italian syllables sound harsh. Mari
eta felt in the bosom of her dress
the card was gone
IL have lost it !" she exclaimed in
abjact terror. "Ob, Pietro, did not
mean to. Pietro, oh, dear Pietro,
please don't beat me ~
He answered her with an oath, and
seizing her rudely by the arm. put his
rattan to the basest use he could upon
her frail body, growing out curses
OH the child who wished to rob him OF
the chance to obtain dollar without
working.
Poor Marietta She sunk away
to her wretched pallet, that night,
sore and fearful. Pietro drank him
self into insensibility, and, when
morning dawned, it was comfort to
find him snoring stupidity. She stole
away without her break fast, to search
for the card, as he had hidden her, or
the pain of another beating.
There could hardly have been a
more fruitless quest than hunting for
a gentleman's visiting card in the
streets Of great city. Marietta
could not find it, yet she dared not 60
home. She fingered about the spot
where she had met Vandergr lift on
the previous morning till the day wore
on and night approached. She had
not had mouthfnl to eat, and had
begun to cry softly to herself, when it
suddenly occurred to her that she
might earn a few pennies to buy
bread and a nights lodging. She
could sing.
Presently, sweet voice drifted
family over the hustle and noise of
the street, as Marietta tried the effect
of a little Italian song. 1t was a
lullaby she used to sing to Beppo
when he was baby, long before their
dear parents died of cholera and left
them alone in Milan. Pietro had
brought them over to America, prom
Using to care for them like his own
children-and to think how he had
treated them!
Marietta sang on, with one slender
hand extended. No pennies had been
dropped in it yet but suddenly there
was parting in the crowd, and a
gentleman, with a handsome boy of
six or seven dressed in black velvet,
paused near her.
There! !" cried the boy, excitedly.
Uncle Horace, there !"
Halo" exclaimed Vandergrift,
looking at Marietta in surprise.
Aren't you the little girl who was
here yesterday with the birds a? Why
didn't you come this morning? Raft
aello was very much disappointed"
ooh, SIR" cried Marietta, eagerly,
81 lost your card and-and we couldn't
Pietro was so angry-he beat me, and
She paused suddenly, her eyes fixed
upon the child whom Mr.. Vandergrift
held by the hand.
"Beppo! J" she cried, throwing her
arms about the boy. "Beppo, don't
you know your Marietta ?"
eyes, yes" the little fellow answer
ed. 81 knew you when you sang
'Dorme pure! Uncle Horace, it is
my sister,"
"Oh, Beppo" she continued, hug
ging him ecstatically. l hunted for
you everywhere! Why did you run
away from me, that day of the parade p