Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-12
A Queer Little Singer,

| jess twin friends AT noon receSSeS
| they ate their dinners together under
the laurel bush-Jess ate Barbara's
cookies and Barbara ate the cup
cakes that came out of Jess's basket.
They enjoyed doing everything to-
| gether, and that was why Jess was
grieved when Barbara told her she
had been to concert the night be-
fore. 1t was the first time their little
paths had separated.
"The singing was beautiful" Bar.
bara said, enthusiastically, not MOTTO
ing the sober little face beside her.
"It was lik5 this, 'Tra-la-la-la-la-a-a,
going way up high as the sky! The
woman who did it had on a traily pink
dress, but | couldn't see her face. She
sang the baby to sleep"
why, Barbra Bennett, the idea of
taking a baby to a concert"
There wasn't any baby there, Of
course! l never said any such thing
obi"
Barbara laughed till her clear little
voice echoed back to them from the
big schoolhouse.
81 meant she sang, oh, hush-a-
bye-low, hush-a-bye-low,' and rocked
her arms same as if the baby had
been in them she explained. "Only
our baby would have fallen out, l
know"
The next day at noon recess it was
Jess's turn to say something surpris-
ing. Her eyes were dancing with de-
light.
Il went to concert last night my
own self" she said. calmly. I'm 60
ing again tonight, too. | guess | shall
keep on going right along"
She waited for Barbara's "On!" 1t
was quite while in coming.
oh" at last said Barbara, with a
little gasp of astonishment.
Yes, it was a beautiful concert. I
wish you could have heard it, Barbra
Bennett. The singing was the best
it was all singing | couldn't see the
the one who did it, but | know she
had on soft gray dress-all furry
and shiny like silk, She sang the
baby to Sleep"
Jess Kinsey, what baby?"
Our baby-the Kinsey baby"
laughed Jess. "He went TO the con-
cert, too. Mamma wanted him to
go"
Then followed Barbara's quick. half
scornful questions.
Didn't the baby talk out loud, right
in the middle of the concert?"
HMv uac-1ilyo avor1rt Than
next thing he knew he was sung to
sleep"
Did her dress trail way out behind
like my womans that sung?" Bar
bara's face was unbelieving. The
pink dress had trailed wa-ay out be-
hind, splendidly.
Jess burst into a gay little laugh.
81 couldn't see it trailing, but it did
it did! You can ask my mother.
Then. of course, sometimes the-the
enc who sang let it kind of curl up
beside her"
Course. Mine did, too-just as
GRACEFUL" interposed Barbara, has
tily. Then. both little girls hurried to
their feet at the sound of the school
bell.
The next day, and the next, Jess
told the same wonderful story, with
the same little twinkles in her eyes.
She had been to the same concert
again, she and the Kinsey baby.
The merry little mystery clung
about Jess and invested her with a
little halo of Importance among all
the girls. Nobody had heard of the
''to-be-continued" concert, but nobody
thought of doubling Jess's word. OF
course it was kind of a joke, but
nobody could guess it.
One morning Jess looked rather
sober. Barbara caught her around
her waist and whirled her under the
laurel bush.
"Weil, she laughed, 81 s'pose you
went to that concert last night, Jess
Kinsey?"
mo, I didn't" Jess said, gravely.
There wasn't any"
Wasn't any concerto"
mo, there wasn't There was an
awful accident happened"
"Jess Kinsey, tell me quick!"
"Well, the-the one who sings got
caught in a trap-so there?"
Barbara uttered little shrill
scream of delight, and the other girls
came hurrying up.
'I've found it out-a mouse! a
mouse!" cried Barbara.
"a mouse!"
yes" murmured Jess, sorrowfuHy,
"a dear little singing mouse in the
wall, and do miss her so! She had
such sweet, cunning little voice!
Seemed as if it filled the whole room
with a little soft music."-Youth's
Companion.