A Peep Behind the Scenes

Manikin left her. There was a rap at the

he said, 'ho

eeping quietly, To

e, but I was afraid of d

her all night; I didn't

Ros

ou that fetched lit

to master; and once I had a fever, and Mother Manikin nursed

little thing!

great kind heart inside it. But, Miss Rosie, I wanted to tel

t what will m

me on the stage when she was so ill. They told him it was a sin and a shame the way he treated her, taking less care of her than if she were one of his old horses (not that he's over and above good to them neither). Well, master didn't like it, Miss Rosie,

elt the poor woman's pulse, and asked Rosalie several questions about her cough, which from time to time was so distressing. Then they went out together, and little Ros

had left; and Rosalie crept up to him,

ore questions. And then he sat down beside the bed for about half an hour, and looked more softened than Ros

and, above all, the hard-hearted way in which he had made her come on the stage the night before, when she was almost too ill to stand. All these things crowded in upon his memory, and a short fit of remorse seized him. It was this which led him, contrary to his custom, to come into the caravan and sit by her side. But his meditations became so unpleasant at length, that he could bear them no longer; he could not sit there and face the accusations of his conscience; so he jumped up hastily, and went out without saying a word to his child,

im to spare her, he said, and to fill up both her place and her mother's also. Rosalie begged him most earnestly to e

r woman in her absence. The other dwarfs rather grumbled at this arrangement; but Mother Manikin shook her little fist at them, and called them hard-hearted c

aid Rosalie; 'and you h

nting me when there's that poor dear thing so ill out there. Bless me, my dears!' said the old woman, turning to the dwarfs, 'what should you want with an ugly little thing like me? It'

oman who had come for Mot

the little old woman, jumping on

took her quickly in the direction of th

in a most motherly fashion. When the child was ready, she stood looking sorrowfully at her mother's pale face. But as she wa

ered, 'I feel better to-nigh

mother's face, and her long dark

king care of

s she will sit with you all the time I'm out. I didn't want to leave yo

ther. 'I feel a little better to-n

quickest little body Rosalie had ever seen; yet she was so quiet th

e's mother, as the dwarf climbe

ing her wise little head; 'give me a cup of tea, and I do

heard a great deal you said before, though I could not s

ly. 'To think of that, Rosalie! Why, she heard us ta

d,' said the poor woman;

he put me in her prayer, bless

eping peacefully, with kind Mother Manikin sitting by her side. And when the child returned late at night, there she was sitting still. And she insisted on Rosalie's undressing and creeping into b

a little, and was able to take a little food, a

ck to me which our old nurse taught me; I haven't thought of i

mammie dear?'

d every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid

me you said something

just like me, darling-I've gone astray, oh, so far astray! "And have turned every one to his own way;" that's me a

end of the ver

Him the iniquity of us a

ins on Him when He

ur sins on Jesu

ll" must take me in, Rosalie; at least I hope so. I have been asking Him to let it take me in

ef-tea which Mother Manikin had made for her, and which was simmering on the stove. The go

t; and as he did not think there was much more to be done in Lesborough, he determined to start at once. So, the moment that the last person had left the t

knocking down, and packing up, and when

were several other fairs drawing near, at which the show-people had

it longer, to give missis a little more rest. He and the other men are going off at once, to get the theatre set up and everything

ved just yet,' said Rosalie; 'the shak

told Rosalie that they might stay two days longer; but on Saturday morn

e, not for the world. It's a large seaside place, and I hope

rembling voice, 'can you stay fiv

, 'perhaps I might spare five minutes; but

her mother, 'leave me

nd her, and stood watching her father's men, who were yoking the horses in the w

r mother laid her hand on h

two things I want to

shortly, crossing his legs a

ad. Don't take her about from fair to fair; she will have no mother to tak

l right if I'm here; and I'm not going to let the child go, just when

t tell the secret hope

ry somewhere, who would take care of her for very little money, and wo

! Why, half the people come to see the lovely little actress, as they call her; I know better than to spoil her for acting by pu

g else I wanted to

at is it?

world worth having, except to know that your soul is safe. I've led a wicked life, Augustus; I've often been disagree

id her husband, p

d to ask you something

think of that,' said h

ce as he said it, which showed that the answ

w how long there may be,' sa

so short, we must get all

life, Augustus-the lo

he lighted his pipe at the stove; and, wishing his wife a pleasant

sband, and it had been of no avail. She was so spent and exhausted that, had it not been for Mother Mani

ast, the theatre party set off on their journe