The Dickinson press., 1892-11-26


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had just eaten 1t hearty dinner. lie
had disposed OF the great load OF
wood which he brought from Stony
Brook and would start forhome in an
hour or so; meanwhile he would take
a stroll down Main street.
Will was pleasant-looking fellow
OF 20 years, with curly brown hair.
honest. laughing eyes, and q very de-
cided mouth and chin. He had glow
upon his sun.burned cheek and a
breadth OF shoulder and length ofimb
good to see.
1t was a balmy spri"g day; every
one seemed to be in the best possible
humor.
Will sauntered along, studying the
different specimens OF human nature
he met and making mental comments
which would have surprised most OF
the obj cts thereof, who saw in nv
hero only n stalwart countryman.
ruddy-faced and brown. listed.
Presently, as he came to an openino
between buildings, he stopped sudden.
~ look OF amusement aud tender.
ness making him almost handsome.
In the shadow of tall brick block
sat little girl, with black curls snarl.
ed all about wee gypsy face with
great black eyes. By her side lay an
old brown hat and a small violin and
bow.
The child's dress was dirty and tat.
tered, and her poor little toes peeped
rom gaping holes in her shoes, which
were much too large for her. But she
looked as happy as queen, and was
talking and laughing softly to herself
and singing little snatches of songs as
she stuck some big gdandelion blossoms
into little mould of dirt.
Will saw, with great throb of pity,
that she was one of the minstrels
who wander about the city streets in
the summer; she was so young-not-
more than z or 8. And while he stood
there looking ut her she glanced up
and saw him.
The happy careless look vanished,
the tdandelions were scattered, and
she splang to her feet, violin in hand,
and stood before him.
"Museek, IN 'seer?" she said, with an
unmistakable French accent.
Before he could answer she broke
into q light song, accompanying her
self upon her instrument and ending
with quaint courtesy us she held out
small, dirty hand.
Will, feeling in his pockets for some
pennies, inquired:
"What is your name, chicken?"
"Titf. m'seer."
"Oui, m'seer; Tiphane-'Hif."
Seeing the smile in his eyes the mid
get laug he'd, showing IL double row of
small white teeth, and began another
French song, striking into fantastic
dance at the same time, always keep
ing the small face, with its big laugh
ing eyes aud gittering teeth, turned
toward him.
"You're a little monkey" he said,
laughing heartily, as he tossed her q
silver dime, which she caught throwing
him O kiss from the tips OF her dirty
little fingers, turned away and was
quickly lost to sight among the shift.
ing crowds.
The sun was sinking behind the
western hills when Will drew up his
team in the doorway Of the old
fashioned, comfortable cottage
Further on, half q mile or so, was the
village, with the vanes on it's two
white church steeples glittering in the
SUMS last rays.
The shull piping OF the frogs came
up from the meadow brook behind
the house and q whip.poor-will fled
sobbing through the woodland.
This was Willis house and his eyes
frightened Us little, tidy old lady in
neatcapcame to the door to welcome
him.
But as he sprang to the ground there
scrambled from beneath the high
wagon seat a queer little object-Tiff.
She swung herself lightly to the ground
and running forward, clung to the
skirt OF Willis coat.
"Don't send me back, m'seer. They
are SO cruel. You were kind to me to
day. saw you riding from the city
and remembered. sprang up behind
and am here to live with YOU al.
ways"
"What does this mean, William?"
said mother Tabor, in astonshment.
Then Will told his mother how Tiff
played to him in the street. He had
never expected to see her again, how
ever, and her sudden appearance had
been as much OF q surprise to him as
to his mother.
"Of course we shall have to keep her
with us tonight, mother, and in the
morning she can GO back to the city
with me-"
SO little Tiff was taken in and treat
ed to bath and delicious supper
of brown bread and milk and was
finally put to bed in q tiny attic cham.
ts,r, clad in clean cotton nightdress
which Will had worn in years before.
The next morning little Tiff was
very ill-too ill to sit up. The great
eyes were unnaturally bright and the
little cheeks were scarlet. Her mind
wandered at times but she knew Will
and smiled at him us he approached
the bed. And when he asked her
where she lived she told him:
"With old Kanitf on Mechanic street.
But have come to live with you now,
seer"
Will went to the city, leaving Tiff in
charge OF his mother. He found old
Kanff up three flights of stairs in
filthy tenement house. He was q
Misunderstanding Frenchman, and
woman and two boys, evidently his
wife and two sons, were with him.
When Will spoke OF little Tiff he
snarled viciously.
"Shc Won lazy leetle rat. She do
nozzing all day but play in ze dirt and
tring home no pennies. Mine! No,