For Our Boys Girls

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 452, 8 March 1890, Page 6

For Our Boys Girls

EDITED BY MRS FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT. [COPYRIGHT.] [All Rights Reserved.] Santa Lucia.

Bv John J. a’ Becket.

(Copyrighted 1839 by the author.)

Mrs Harden gave a glance at the small alarm clock which stood on the mantel-tree, and sighed. She did not interrupt her work in order to do this, but plied her needle with a flying, automatic Sort of quickness. The white pieces she was sewing together would be a shirt when she completed her work. In a basket by her side wore several more of the white pieces waiting to be turned into the same useful garments. But if she goo the one she was at work on done before it got too dark to sew any more on that early December day, she would be satisfied. ‘ I hope he will not be late and have to hurry his supper,’ she murmured, with another look at the clock.

‘ He’was Tom, her twelve-year-old son, who helped to eke out thehouseholdexpenes by singing in Trinity Church as a choir-boy on Sundays and festival days and by selling papers in the afternoon. This precious ■ talent of Tom’s was a great help. Make as many shirts asshe could, the expenses of the little family were hard to meet by Mrs Harden. Tom and his sister Bessie had such healthy appetites, and wore out their clothes so fast, and the coal for the winter had just been bought, and all these things ate up the poor little income which came from shirtmaking, choir-singing and the vending of papers. Tom and Bessie were as unlike as possible. He was a pretty boy, his hair curling around his fair forehead in a beautiful way and looking neat and attractive even when it hadn’t been combed. He was-oquiet, too. He would practise his songs at home, and hang his hat up whenever he came in, and move about softly without disturbing bis mother. Bub Bessie! She was a year younger than her brother, with bright black eyes, a small nose that turned up at the end, and red hair. Her auburn locks used to stand out in a frowzy way ten minutes after they had been drenched with water and laboriously smoothed down with a brush by patient Mrs Harden. Then she was always slipping around like a globule of mercury. She could not keep still. She attended Miss Hood’s school, and would come home, her cheeks glowing the rosiest red from playing so hard with the other girls. When she came into the house it was like a small cyclone. Both the children had beautiful voices, which Mr Harden, who was dead a year, had carefully trained. He was a musician who used to [day a violin in one of the big orchestras. The children inherited their musical taste from him. Bessie’s voice was even sweeter and fresher than Tom’s, but, alas ! she could nob use it in Trinity choir as he did and get 812 a month for his singing. She was ‘ only a girl.’ However, she used to pick up the songs which Tom would practise and she sang them at home. It vexed Tom a little bib bo see how quickly she could learn a tune from simply hearing him sing it a few times. For a month he had been practising hard the two songs he was to sing aba concert to be given in Steinway Hall this evening on which Mrs Harden sighed for him to come. He used to conic out before his mother and make a bow, as he would have t 3 do on the stage, and then sing his songs.

One was a Neapolitan folk song, ‘ Santa Lucia,’ and the other was the mournful aria by Handel, 4 Lascia qu’ io pianza.’ Bessie could them both now as well as Tom himself. Tom had gone to see Dr. Herkimer down at Trinity, and he should be back by this time to get his supper and dress himself in the neat suit of dark-blue flannel which his mother had made fot his slender little figure, and which he was to wear at the concert for the first time that night. Bessie was far more excited than her mother. Tom had brought home two tickets- for his mother and herself that they might go to the concert and hear him sing. So the little girl was very eager to have the time come. She felt a passionate desire for Tom’s success. Mrs Harden at last, unable to see any longer, put by her sewing, with the shirt not quite done, and laid the cloth for fnpper. She had a porcelain* sfewpan on the stove and the perfume of stewed prunes was spread about the poor rooms on Second Avenue where she lived. They were going to have a nice supper that night in honour of the event. Poor Mrs Harden’s thoughts were as much on the §2O Tom was to get for singing the two songs as they were on his success and the glory of the thing. The bills of the month could not be met withoufc this money that Tom was going to earn.

Everything was ready, and the table looked pretty and neat under the glow of the lamp which was placed on it. If Tom would only come ! What cculd be keeping him ? A clear, sweet voice ivas heard at this moment. Somebody was coining up the stairs singing : onie si move. La luna piena, 11 mare ride, : L’aria csorona. Ah ! che mai fate, In fra la via? Santa Lucia. . Santa Lucia. How bright and fresh the words rang out, clearer and cleareras the singerclimbed the stairs. But it was not Tom. Mrs Harden knew that. It was Bessie, who had run down stairs to take a look up the street and Bee-if her brother was in sight. She had been as fidgety as a young colt all day. She could hardly contain herself with the excitement and had been singing the two songs all the while she was at home. Tom had told her what the Neapolitan folk song meant. She had asked him.

‘-Oh,’ he told her, patronisingly, ‘they say it’s.a good night ’nd the moon’s full, and a good breeze, ’nd why don’t the folks in the street come out there ’nd sail. Then it says Naples is the best place. Butl don’tbelieve that,’ continued Tom, sceptically, and with a touch of patriotism. ‘ ’Tisn’t as good a 9 New York, I'll bet.’ •Tom, you never were in Naples,’said Bessie, thoughtfully. ‘•Well, what if I wasn’t ?’ Tom answered, contemptuously, as if that had nothing to do with’the point in fpiost'ion.

As Mrs Harden was giving a brush to Tom’s new clothes and Bessie was fluttering about, flattening her small nose against the window-pane every two or three minutes, they both heard a waggon drive up to the door. They listened attentively. In a moment the footsteps of some men were heard coming up the stairs. They walked slowly and heavily, as if they were carrying something. Mrs Harden stopped what she was doing and listened apprehensively, while Bessie looked up into her face, quieted for a moment herself. The men had reached the landing, and then there was a pause for awhile and the sound of whispers. One man started along the passage after this consultation, and the next minuoe there was a low knock at the door.

Mrs Harden turned very pale as she hastened to open it. Bessie pushed up at her side and twined the fingers of her little red hand in her mother’s. A man was standing there with a good honest face. He took off his hat and held it with both hands as he said : ‘Please, ma’am, your little boy lias been hurt.’ Then, as he saw the look of dreadful anguish sweep over Mrs Harden’s worn face, he hurried to add : ‘ Oh, it ain’t nothin’ very bad. He fell down and a light express waggon ran over his leg. There wasn’t anything broken, only he got pale and faint. They tied up the place with a bandage and some liniment, and he’ll be all right, the apothecary says, when he’s rested. Only he can’t stand on his feet very well now.’ ‘ Where is he'/’ cried Mrs Harden tremulously, stepping out into the passageway, with Bessie still clinging to her. ‘ Bring him right in and lay him on the bed. please.’ ‘ Yes’m. Don’t be frightened, you and the little girl,’ said the young fellow comfortingly. ‘ We’ll bring him in.’ He started down bo where his companion was waiting till Mrs Harden should have been prepared, and the two came back bringing Tom very tenderly. Mrs Harden had caught up the new suit which was lying spread out on the bed ready for Tom to pub on as soon as he could finish his supper. They laid him carefully on the bed, his face very pale. lie trie Ito open his eyes and smile at his mother. * I ain’t hurt much, mother,’ he said, in a weak voice, ‘ only I feel sleepy, I want to go to sleep.’ Mrs Harden threw the bed-clothes over him and then came softly into the other room, where the men were, ‘Good-evening, ma’am,’ they said, when she came out. ‘ The little chap ’ll be all right pretty quick.’ ■ I am so much obliged to you,’ said Mrs Harden, * for bringing him home. I wish I could give you something besides thanks, bub we are very poor.’ ‘ Oh, Bill and me don’t want nothing for doing what was right,’ said the young fellow, who had come to the dcor. Mrs Harden extended her thin hand and shook theirs, warmly repeating her thanks. When they had shulHed down the stairs she came back and stealing into the room book a look at Tom. He was sound asleep and breathing a little heavily. His mother came noiselessly back into the room and sat down in a rocking-chair. She thought for a few moments. Tom could nob poss'bly sing the songs, and there was the 820 gone that she had counted on so much for weeks. She sighed heavily in the way Bessie hated to hear. Then the tears came to her eyes as she rocked slowly to and fro.

Bessie came and put her elbows in her lap and leaned forward, looking up into her mother’s face with childish sympathy. ‘ Don’t feel so bad, mamma,’ slie said, taking hold of her hands. ‘ They said Tom wasn’t hurt so very badly.’ ‘Oh, but, Bessie,’ said Mrs Harden, looking at her tearfully, ‘ he can’t sing to-night, and you don’t know what a help to me the money would have been.’ Bessie looked forlornly at her mother's sad face. She didn’t know what to say. Suddenly an idea came into her head and she said impulsively : ‘ Mamma, why couldn’t j sing in Tom’s place ? I know the songs just as well as he does.’ Mrs Harden seemed perfectly astonished at first by the very idea. She couldn’t say anything for a moment, it seemed so bold. That Bessie could sing the songs just as well as Tom she didn’t doubt in the least. But how could she get the opportunity ? It was time now almost to start for the concert hall.

‘You couldn’t, Bessie,’ she said at lengtli, mournfully. ‘ You are only a little girl. They don’t want little girls to sing.’ ‘ This ain’t church,’ said Bessie, promptly. She pressed closer against her mother’s knees. She was full of the notion now. If she could only sing the songs and get the money she, a little girl ! Her mother answered, ‘ You have not anything you could wear, my deal'. Your clothes are not good enough for such a grand place as that hall and those line people.’ Bessie looked taken aback. She hadn’t thought of clothes. Suddenly her quick young mind conceived a brilliant solution to the difficulty. ‘I can wear Tom's new suit. They wou’d not know I was a - girl.’ ‘ Oh, Bessie, aren’t you ashamed to want to wear boy’s clothes?' said Mrs Harden. ‘They would be too large for you,’ she said slowly, after a moment’s thought. Bessie was quick to catch that slow note of vacillation which argues that one would like to be convinced if possible, and shows one’s mind slightly at variance with one’s words.

‘ Let me put ’em on and see, mamma,’ she said eagerly. 4 Well, you can try them on here,’ said Mrs Harden. ‘lt would be such a blessing to get the §2O !’ Bessie took the knickerboekersand jacket from the bureau and hastily got into them after taking oil her little frock. Then she stood before her mother red and smiling, the cutest little boy in the world. * But, Bessie, you don’t knoiv that they would take you, or give you the money. Besides, they might not like to take a little girl in her brother’s clothes to sing on the stage.’ 4 Let me go to the hall and ask ’em. They’ll give me §lO, perhaps. They needn’t know I am a girl at all, or any relation to Tom. All they want is a singer. s 4 1 will see Mrs Brother ton and ask if she could take you up there and let you see. I know' you could sing the piece just as well as Tom, if you didn’t get too frightened,’ said Mrs Harden. She took a look into the room where Tom lay with his brow' knitted, but sound asleep. Then she ran across to her neighbour’s rcom, a good, motherly creature, to whom she often had recourse. Mrs Brotherton came across to Mrs Harden’s room. 4 Why, who is that pretty little boy, my dear?’ she said, as she saw Bessie in her dark blue knickerbockers, her white collar and the frowsy hair, which didn’t, look so badly as a boy. ‘lt’s Bessie. Oh, Mrs Brotherton, she thinksshecouldsing in Tom’s place to-night. Tom,’ and Mrs" Harden nearly broke down again, 4 was brought home run over and he can’t go.’ 4 Why, of course, she could sing, if she knows the songs. Haven’t I heard her coming up the stairs singing like a little angel s ? What is she in those boys’ clothes for ?’

* She hasn’t any fit to wear of her own, and they mightn’t like a little girl to sing. What would you do, Mrs Brotherton V I can’t go up to Stein way Hall with her. I can’t leave Tom. Do you think it would-be right for her? . ' " ‘ I’ll take her up to the hall, if that’s all. Why, what harm if she takes her brother’s place for once ? Isn’t she the nice-looking little boy though !’ exclaimed the stout good-natured lady. Bessie coloured all over her face, She wasn’t used to compliments.

It was finally decided that Mrs Brotherton should take Bessie up to the hall, see Dr. Herkimer, tell him that the son of her friend, Mr Harden, was hurt, but that she had thought ‘ this child ’ might do, as she knew the songs perfectly well. She could explain about her clothes, and the great need the Hardens had of the money. ‘ You’ll have to go right away as soon as I can get Bessie’s hair rubbed down,’ said Mrs Harden. ‘ Run over and put on your things. I don’t see what harm there is iir trying.’ An hour later Mrs Brotherton and liefisie, whose small face was red and her eyes sparkling, were in the room at Steinway Hall, where Dr. Herkimer was. He was very much put out when he heard about Tom, and in great doubt about Bessie * I don’t know anything about this child’s voice,’ said he. ‘Do you know the*e two songs ?’ he said to Bessie. ‘ Yes. Tom learned them to me,’ said Bessie. ‘ Oh, then, you can’t road music, eh ?’ said Dr. Herkimer, and while Bessie hung her head and looked confused, he went on : ‘ You must sing them for me that I may see how you will do.’ Bessie walked gravely out before the doctor and made a bow, as she had seen Tom do. Then she sang * Santa Lucia,’ and the ‘ Lascia ch’ io Pianza,’ of Handel. She was nob a bit afraid. The doctor looked approvingly, and nodded every now and then, so she felt encouraged, and sang with all her strength. ‘ You will do first-rate,’ said the doctor, looking at Bessie with great satisfaction over his gold-bowed spectacles. ‘lt is very fortunate that we had any one to take Tom Harden’s place so well. If you do not get frightened you will do very well, my little dear. Are you used to singing in public at all ?’ ‘ No, sir,’ said the little dear. ‘ Well, you wait here with your mother till it is time for you to go on.’ ‘Please, sir,’ said Mrs Brotherton boldly, ‘ if the little thing sings the songs will it be for the same price that Tom Harden would have ?’

‘Oh, yes! That will be all right, my good woman,’ said the doctor, impatiently. It was a sight to sec Bessie Harden in Toni’s new clothe? go out before the footlights and face the sea of faces beyond them. She was a little frightened, but she was not going to break down and have Tom tell her she couldn’t sing in public. Bessie was tasting in anticipation some little joy in vindicating herself from Tom’s rather disdainful remarks in the past. She walked out before the glare of the footlights, overcoming her diffidence. Dr. Herkimer stood just out of sight of the audience and said : ‘ Don’t be afraid ; you will do all right. Sing out clear and strong !’ It pleased the ladies and the gentlemen, that modest boyish figure standing near the piano and looking bravely at them. The stiff little bow was made with a sort of touching endeavour to do a right thing to which the child was not accustomed.

Then the young man with the large spectacles struck a few soft chords and began the Neapolitan fisherman’s song. The rich tones acted on the musical soul of the child like a wonderful inspiration, and she hardly heard or needed Dr. Herkimer’s ‘Now, my dear child ! Courage !’ The pure childish voice as clear as a bell and with a rich dewy quality to the tones vibrated like a bird’s. A hush fell on the crowded house. The ladies stopped fanning themselves and leaned restfully back in theiv seats. Come si move La luna piena. II marc ride, L’aria e serena. Ah I che mai fate Infra la via, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia. Without a break Bessie sang the three verses. Then what clapping of hands to tell her she had done well! They would not stop bill Dr. Herkimer took the child by the hand and led her on to the stage. * Bow and come off," he said, and Be-sio made a nervous little inclination of her red head and ran impulsively from the stage; The mournful air of Handel excited even, greater delight. When she came off the stage her lips parted and her eyes flashed. Dr. Herkimer patted her on the head.. ‘ Bravo, little girl ! You sang the song better than Tom.’

The little girl blushed with pleasure, showing her small teeth in a smile. ‘Are you glad?’ cried Dr. Herkimer. 4 Why, are you a girl ?’ * Yes,’ said Bessie sobering down and becoming somewhat abashed. * Oh, mother wanted the twenty dollars so much, and I hadn’t any clothes good enough, and so she let me wear Tom’s new suit. It’s all my doing. I didn’t think a girl would be let sing, sir.' Dr. Herkimer patted her softly on the head, and his eyes were moist with delight, and, perhaps, something else. He put his hand in his pocket and drew' out a wad of bills. He counted out four, each with a figure five on it, and put them in Bessie’s hand. ‘ There, my dear child, give that to your mother and bell her Dr. Herkimer said five dollars of it w r as to get you a nice dress with. You have sung very beautifully, and I think you are a brave, good little girl.’ He stroked her cheek softly with his largo w'hite hand. The old doctor felt very much pleased indeed. He liked the little girl’s pluck and was enchanted with her voice. She appealed to him very strongly standing there before him in the new' suit of her brother, looking at him so innocently, with her snapping black eyes, and showing her small teeth in smiles. She had the artist’s delight in a recognition of her powers, she had done too well for Tom to say much against her being a girl and she was carrying back the money to her mother that was so necessary bo the family. It w'as a great night for Bessie. How proudly she told her mother the story when she went home. 4 They clapped, and I had to go out again!’ she said. Sirs Harden drew the frowsy little red head down to iler shoulder .and kissed her. 4 You are a good littlegirl, Bessie,’ she said, and Bessie liked the praise better than Dr. Herkimer’s.

And that wasn’t the best of it! An Italian gentleman, who was at the concert, was so taken with the Neapolitan song and thelittle boy who sang it,that he inquired of Dr. Herkimer who it was. When lie heard about the little girl coming to the rescue of her mother and brother in this way he was still more pleased. He came to Mrs Harden and offered to pay for a full musical tuition for Bessie. It was too favourable - a thing for the child to be refused, and now' Bessie is agreat prima donna with an Italian name, and provides for her mother in a queenly way. Tom has got over his jealousy. . It wasn’t such a bad thing that he slipped, and the express waggon ran over him after all, was it ? _ 1 ■ • . .