Melody The Story of a Child

looking as pretty as a picture, so it's a pleas

th a certain unpleasant twang in it. She spoke to Melody, who

answered the child; an

ame man who had watched Melody over the wall of the old burying-ground, and heard her sing. He had never heard her sing since, save for that little s

glad to see him, I'm sure, for he's your best friend, dearie, and he does love you so; it would be q

a glance of exasperation, and the woman shook her fist at the child

man as he is, too, anybody would tell you! Why, I've seen girls with voices as they thought the wonder of the world, and their friends with them, and Mr. Anderson would no more listen to them than the dirt under his feet; no, indeed, he wouldn't. And you that he thinks so much of! why, it makes me feel real bad to see you not take that comf

ite of herself, and the man

ar," he continued, addressing the child, "you know that you will nev

make his fortune. He was no fool, this man. He had some knowledge, more ambition. He had been unsuccessful on the whole, had been disappointed in several ventures; now he had found a treasure, a veritable gold-mine, and-he could not work it! Could anything be more exasperating? This child, whose voice could rouse a whole city-a city! could rouse the world to raptur

her; his hands fairly itched to get hold of the obstinate little piece of humanity, who, in her child

st charming role that he had laid out for himself. Anderson the benefactor, Anderson the discoverer, the adopted father of the prodigy, the patron of music. Crowds hailing him with rapturous gratitude; the wonder-child kneeling and presenting him with a laurel crown, which had been thrown to her, but which she rightly felt to be his due, who had given her all, and brought her from darkness into light! Instead of this, what part was this he was really playing? Anderson the kidnapp

day, if you like. But here I will never sing. It would not be possible fo

l, is it?" rep

ean to be unkind,-Mrs. Brown says you do not; but then

you are for the world, the great world of wealth and fashion and power. If you were not either a fool or-or-I don't know what, you would see the matter as it really is. Mrs. Brown is right: most girls would giv

d much, for Anderson turned red,

tell you!" he cried again. "

in my voice; and I know that I please the brook, and all who hear me,-little beasts, and flowers that nod on their stems to hear, and trees that bend down to touch me, and tell me by their touch that they are well pleased. And children love to hear me sing, and I can fill their little hearts with joy. I sing to sick people, and they are easier of their pain, and

he woman threw her apron over her head and began to cry. The man moistened his lips twice or thrice, trying to speak, but no words came. At length he made a sign of despair to his accomplice; moved back from that questioning,

to-day that she should die. Not that she was deserted, not that God had forgotten,-oh, no; but that He did not need her any longer here, that she had not been worthy of the work she had thought to be hers, and that now she was to be taken elsewhere to some other task. She was only a child; h

er, more distinct, at every moment. She saw (as blind people see) the face of Rejoice Dale, beaming with joy and peace; she felt the strong clasp of Miss Vesta's hand. She smelt the lilacs, the white lilacs beneath which she loved to sit and sing. She heard-o

led this cou

the next

at good quart

me to Rosin

have held my hands and lifted me up, lest I dash my foot against a stone! A welcome,-oh, on

*

before her employer, flushed an

. When she heard that fiddle, the child dropped on her knees as if she had been shot, and I thought she was going to faint. But

face, for she had run barehead

ot till I have taken my child away. I bid you be still!' Mr. Anderson, sir, I had no power! I stood still, and they went away. They seemed to melt away together,-he with his arm round her waist, holding her up like; and she with her face turned up to his, and a look like heaven, if I ever hope to see heaven. The next minute they was gone, and still I hadn't never moved. And now I've come to tell you, sir," cried Mrs. Brown, smoothing down her ruffled hair in great agitation; "and to tell you something else too, as I would burst if I didn't. I am glad he has got her! If I was to lose my place fifty times over, as you'

aking her hand violently, and telling her that she was a good woman, a very good woman indeed, a