A Peep Behind the Scenes

etching everything she needed; her large necklace of pearl beads, the wreath of white lilies for her hair, and the bracelets, rings, and other articles of mock jewellery with w

o ill and careworn, so weary and sad. As soon as she was ready,

osalie, 'I'm sure you are

Come and sit beside me, darling, and let me do your hair for

y steadily. There was such a sad expression in her mother's face, that, in the midst of

y!' said her mother; 'what is

I don't want you

want you to promise me that, if ever you can escape from this life of misery, you will do so; it's not good for you, darling, all

you'll come with me,

r shook her he

ng; and here I shall have to die. But you didn't choose it, child; and I pray every day that God may

-where we had the

house which I sen

th a pretty garden, and a lady an

s my sister L

was it, mammie dear? And was

name. Lucy married a Mr. Leslie; and it was just like her to read to those people in

lly seen her?'

letter to her, dear, and I've hid it away in that box, inside the case where the locket is. And if ever you can go to your Aunt Lucy, give her that letter; you will, won't

you come with m

heatre. But before you go, just read those verses about your picture once

ce more the parabl

ed, 'there are four words in that story which I've had

they, ma

if some one had said them to me. "Until He find it-until He find it. He goeth after that which is lost until He find it." It seems He doesn't give up at once, He goes on looking until He find it. And then it seemed to me, Ros

voice, at the door of the cara

an steps and went into the theatre. There were still a few minutes before the performance commenced; and Rosalie

f rough though kindly sympathy. Rosalie looked earnestly in their faces, and read there that they d

in her face, which went to the child's heart. Her mother repeated the words of the play as if they were extremely distasteful to her, and as if she could hardly bear the sound of her own voice. In her eyes there was a wistful yearning, as if she were looking at and longing for something far, far away f

yet she shivered from head to foot as they wen

ie, in a whisper, 'you ought

other shook her

er mother, who was standing at the opposite side of the stage in a tragical position. All the colour had gone from her face, and it seemed to Rosalie that each moment her face was growing whiter and more deathlike. She quite forgot the

he theatre became deafening. But she was stopped on the stairs by her father, who blamed her most cruelly for breaking down in her p

. It was filled with a terrible, sickening dread. What had become of her mother? Who was with her? Were they taking care of her? And then a horrible fear came over her lest her mother

ace, begged him to allow her to leave the theatre and to go to her mother. But he told her angrily that s

etween the performances, she gazed earnestly in the direction of her mother's cara

ce less to say it. Each time that the Town Hall clock struck, she counted the hours before the theatre would close. And yet, when al

r hiding it from her till her part was

Rosalie could see her mother lying on the bed. She was very pale, and her eyes were tightly close

ght that her mother was alone, but a small hoa

; 'it's only me. Toby told me about your mothe

ox by the bed she found a little creature about t

you?' sai

the old woman. 'There are four of us there,

oing on to-nigh

but I'm old and ugly, you see, so I can be better spared than the others.

care of my mother,' said Rosal

ch up near to her mouth to listen; but you see I'm only three feet high, so I couldn't quite manage it. I t

be it; we had been reading about she

caravan, and Augustus entered. He went up to

et her have a good slee

ali

dwarf, and then left the

an when he had gone, 'I'll stop

d little Rosalie; '

r all those long, dark hours alo

nly you must go and tell them in our

it?' sai

some stalls still lighted up, and the flaring naphtha showed Rosalie an immense picture hanging over the tent, representing a number o

ling at the canvas in different places, but all to no purpose. Then she heard voices within, laughing an

've brought a message from th

clinking and chinking of money; then a piece of the canv

are, and let us hear w

h the canvas, and stepped

tumes, and far above over their heads there towered a tall and very thin giant. Not one of the tiny dwarfs came up to his elbow. On the

said the giant loftil

ought a message from the little

d one of the dwarfs,

the giant, and the two other dwa

she's taking care of her; and she's going

said the gian

all right,' echoed th

d her to sit down and have supper with them. But Rosalie stead

giant, in a superior voi

uite right,' repeated

to the door of the show, an

to come home in dayligh

sappearing thr

e three dwarfs; '

?' said

said the gian

seeing the show,' repeated the dwarfs;

child,' sai

child,' sai

er 'child' in that superior manner. But she hastened back to the caravan, and after telling Mother M

nd considerate, so thoughtful and clever, and she always seemed to know exac

everything that had to be done. She was evidently accustomed to a sickroom and knew the best way of making those she nursed comfortable. She climbed on a chair and arranged the pillows, so that the sick wom

t presently the recollection of the night before came back to her. There was her mother sleeping quietly on the bed, and there was little Mother Manikin sittin

wn from the bed and throwing her arms round th

ke your mother; she's sleeping so peacef

lie. 'Do you think she w

iki

t now. Tell me what that picture is about u

all over, and at last he has found it, and is carrying it home on his shoulder; and

said the little old woman. 'I can't r

ch was lost. There is joy in the presence of the

mean, child?' sa

the shepherd, and He i

akes Him so glad

dded her hea

story says He will look for us until He finds us. Shall I read it to y

ack Testament, and then, sitting at Mother Manikin's

er Manikin?' she said,

st afraid she had vexed her, and did not like to say anything more. But a long time afterwards-so long that Rosal

; He hasn'

, dear Mother Mani

id the little dwarf. 'I'll begin no

tool, and, kneeling on the floo

looking for mammie and m

ut her on your shoulder a

other Manikin, in

she had come to take Mother Manikin home before the business of the market-place commenced. Some men were already passing by to their work; so the woman wrapped Mother Manikin in a shawl, and carried her home like a