Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/80

80THE HALLIG.

  "But the shouts of laughter which these words
called forth, terrified the poor girl, a deep flush of
shame mounted to her cheeks, and, like a hunted roe,
she flew down the street.
  "The servant picked up the dollar and hurried with
it to the har-room. But the company after this inter-
lude begged the accomplished singer for an air from
'Robert the Devil.'
  "Then thought I, * They are condemned already.'
  "This house was too close for me, and I set out to
walk through the village. Near one of the last houses,
I heard a scolding voice — 'You vagrant, do you never
come into my sight again ! and an angry old peasant
woman pushed the little wanderer from the door.
  "She seated herself upon a stone and wept bitterly.
I went to her and tried to comfort her, and asked her
whether her parents had taught her the song she had
begun to repeat.
¨'My parents,' said she, and looked at me with sur-
prise ; 'my mother always scolds me. I learned it by
listening at the door of a blind neighbor who sings it
every evening.'
  "'Indeed ! then will you promise me to repeat to
yourself one verse of this hymn every day until you are
grown up ?' She promised willingly and wept no more.
'Here is the dollar which you were to have from the
people at the window, for your song.'
  "The little one grasped it eagerly. 'Thank you,
thank you !' said she ; 'now I can buy mother a bed-
spread.' Then I learned that her mother was very sick,
and had sent the child to beg a warm bed cover from
her grandmother.