OUR BOYS & GIRLS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 860, 24 August 1888, Page 5

OUR BOYS & GIRLS.

LITTLE ROSALIE. By Harriet Prescott Spoeeobd. (St. Nicholas. ) (Concluded.) It is a terrible sound in a crowded building. It makes the heart stop beating for a second. It made Aunt Lydia’s heart stop beating for that second, and then she began to cry in spite of Aunt Nan’s calm uoice, and to huddle the children to rush for th e ooor. But it came upon Maidie in that moment that if everybody rushed to the door at once, nobody could get there. Those in front, she saw at once, would be crowded on and knocked down by others piling upon them and all buried under one another, stiffed and killed, so the fire itself could do no more. As the thought, lightning-swift, ran through her mind, she saw people rising excitedly in the front, and she knew there would be a panic the next moment, a rush, a jam, and fearful tiouble. Oh, why was there nobody to prevent it ? If Papa were but there! Oh, thank Heaven, thank Heaven, he was not, if there was no escape ! Could nobody hinder? If she herself were only of some use 1 And these countless children here whose mothers would be broken-hearted j and the mothers, who would never see their homes again—homes that would be desolate 1 This was all realised in two breaths. And in a third breath the drop scene was pulled aside a trifle, some of the orchestra took up the music that had stopped for only a few beats, and out bounded Little Rosalie with, her long scarf and basket, spinning and pirouetting half way across the stage, and pausing in the middle of the prettiest attitude of the ‘Great Bonbon Act,’ while out of the charming basket on her aim she caught and whirled hundreds of bonbons as far as her hand could throw them among the babies in the audience. It was done in far leßß time than it takes me to tell of it. But as one of these very bonbons fell into the box, the thought rushed into Maidie’s mind that the 3tage people were afraid of the panic and the crush and so had sent Little Rosalie out with the bonbons, to dance as if nothing were th 6 matter, hoping thus to distract the attention of at lea3t enough, of the audience to Drevent the sudden attempt of so many to get out at once—whereby a number would certainly be killed iu the panic —by making them think it must be a false alarm if tho play could still go on and this child dance so composedly, and that in the mean time they themselves were trying to put out the fire. For Maidie herself had seen the fire. And she knew it was actually in there, spurting and spouting and climbing higher and higher ; and she could hear from where Bhe was, the breathless movements of those behind the urfcain who were trying to smother it.

But something else rushed over Maidie, too for tl >ught Is wondrous quick and full. It was th :t if Little Rosalie stayed there another m inent she would herself be burned alive, anil then what would become of the mother an l the grandmother and the twins, and all the rest who had nobody but Rosalie in the whole wide world! And before Maidie fairly knew what Bhe was doing, and while poor Aunt Lydia was still clucking and callin: to the family, she sprung up and from the box—it wa3 but a single step—and had run across the stage, before all the “ e ‘ wildered people and had clasped Little Rosalie, crying quickly and softly, as she dropped her arms, ‘Oh, run; run, Little Rosalie, ran! Save yourself! For I really saw the fire ! And,’ as Rosalie did not ran ‘ what will they do at home without von', if you are killed here ? And there are bo many of us at home that nobody will miss me very much ! I will stay instead of you! Poor Maidie! As if her staying would have been of the least use 1 But she never thought of that. She only thought that if some child must stay it would bo better she than Rosa'ie. And even while she pleaded up went the great drop-scene, rolling to the top, and oat flooked all the players of the scene, and a few of ths orchestra, who had not at first had courage to remain, slipped back and swelled the music; and a motley throng surrounded Rosalie and Maidie, and whirled them back and out of sight, and from the front there came a perfect storm of clapping hands that was almost terrifio. And then a group of the strangest looking people were caressing Maidie, and Little Rosalie herself was hanging on her neck one moment, and somebody took her by the hand aho was now pretty thoroughly frightened and had a vague idea that ahe was to be car- - ried out to the * sea-cave,’ after all—and led her round by some baok way to the box again. Here Aunt Lydia was just resuming her seat and smoothing her ruffled feathers but was still qnite determined to go out and take the children with her, as soon as this could be done without attracting too much attention. The children were quite as determined not to go. And indeed, their pleadings finally oarrisd the day. But that night Maldie’s father came into the room where she lay in her little bed. much too excited to sleep. *lt was one of the bravest things I ever heard of—Little Rosalie’s act,’ said he. _ ‘ Such a child as that must not be wasted. And a subscription is to be taken up that will bring a sufficient sum to complete her education in whatever way is thought best.’ ‘ Ob, you don’t mean so, Papa !’ came a chorus from all the beds. 4 Oh, how glad I am! And to take care of all her folks at home, too, Papa V •But as for you, my little darling,’ continued herfathei to Maidie, ‘how could you possibly think you were of so little use at home as to be willing to break our hearts by risking the loss of your life ? What if I had come home to-night and found no Maidie to meet me 2’ And Maidie started up and threw hor arms about her father, touched to the heart by her sudden feeling of what his grief might have been. ‘I want jou never to forget, little daughter,’ he went on in a husky voice, ‘ that you are of great and important use in the family. Does not your mother rely on you as her first aid ? Are you not my little comforter ? How are all these children to grow up without the example and the care of their eldest sister ? Our duties all begin at home. Heroic actions are great and admirable. But there are other actions jnßt as admirable. Among these are the daily acts of duty done, with which you make life pleasant and easy for your mother and me, for Tom. for Kitten, and for all of ns. When I remember that I never saw my Maidie out of temper in my life ’ , ‘Nor heard her speak rudely to any one,’ interrupted the listening Bessy. * Nor knew of her telling anything but the truth,’ cried Tom from the other room. ‘Nor heard her say 1 can’t when you ask her to tie your ribbons, or to do your sum, or to find your needle,’ added Fanny. * Nor knew her to do anything but to try to make every about her happy, and keep her own aweet soul white in the eyes of heaven,’ continued her father. ‘ When I remember this of Maidie, I think all this daily service is of as much worth as the one heroic deed that risks life to save the lives of others.’ ‘ I don’t,’ said Johnny. 4 1 think it's splendid to save folk’s Jives. I’m not going to do anythiug else when I grow up. Are you, jo e? Only, I wish I’d thought before Maidie did, and had begun by trying to save Little Rosalie !’

(ike end.)