Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-06-24
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
ENDEAvOR.
LITTLE TIFF"

always put up, and where ne hac
just eaten hearty dinner.
He had disposed of the great load
of wood which he had brought that
morning from Stony Brook, and
would start for home in an hour OIL
so meanwhile he would take a stroll
down Main street.
Will was a pleasant-looking fell
low of 20 years, with brown, curly
hair, honest laughing eyes, and a
very decided mouth and chin. He
had glow upon his sun-burned
cheek, and breadth of shoulders
and length of limb that were good
to see.
1t was balmy spring day every
one seemed to be in the best possible
humor.
Will sauntered along studying
the different specimens of human
nature which he met, and making
mental comments which would have
surprised most of the objects there
of, who saw in my hero only stall
wart country-man, ruddy-faced and
brown listed.
Presently, as he came to an open
ing between two buildings, he stop
ped suddenly, look of amusement
and tenderness making him almost
handsome.
In the shadow of a tall brick
block sat a little girl-a mite of
a creature-her black curls
snarled all about wee, gypsy face,
with great black eyes.
By her side lay an old brown
straw hat and small red violin and
bow.
The child's dress was miserable
and filthy in the extreme, and her
poor little toes peeped from gaping
holes in shoes, which were at least
two sizes too large for her.
But she looked as happy as a
queen, and was talking and laughing
softly to herself and singing little
snatches of songs as she stuck some
big dandelion blossoms into little
mound of dirt.
Will saw, with great throb of
pity, that she was one of the min
strels who wander about the city
streets in the summer (; she was so
young-not more than 7 or s.
And while he stood there looking
at her she glanced up and saw him.
The happy debonair look vanished
instantly, the dandelions were scat
tered and she sprang to her feet,
violin in hand, and she stood be-
fore him.
"Museek, seer?" she said, with
an unmistakeable French accent.
And then, before he could answer,
she broke into "a light swaying song,
accompanying herself upon her in
strument, and ending with quaint
little curtsy, held out one very small
and very dirty hand.
Will, feeling in his pockets for
some pennies, inquired :
"What is your name, chicken?"
Tiff, m'seer."
Tiff"
"Oui, m'seer Tiphane- Tiff"
And seeing the smile in his eyes
the midget laughed, showing a
double row Of small white teeth, and
began another French song, striking
into fantastic dance at the same
time, always keeping the small face,
with its big laughing eyes and gilt
tering teeth turned toward him.
You're little monkey" he said,
laughing heartily, as he tossed her
a silver dime, which she caught, and,
throwing him kiss from the tips
of her dirty little fingers, turned
away, and was soon lost to sight
among the shifting crowds.
The sun was just sinking behind
the western hills when Will drew
up his team in the doorway of the
old-fashioned, comfortable cottage.
Further on, half a mile or so, was
the village, with the vanes on its
two white church steeples glittcring
in the suns last rays.
The shrill piping of the frogs
came up from the meadow brook
behind the house, and whip-poor-
will fled sobbing through the wood
land.
This was Wills house, and his
eyes frightened as n little, tidy ole
woman in a neat cap came to the
door to welcome him.
But as he sprang to the ground
there scrambled from beneath the
high wagon-seat queer little OBJ.
iect-Tiff.
She swung herself lightly to the
ground, and, running forward, clune
to the skirt of Wills coat.