The Magician's Show Box, and Other Stories Part 6

LISA. How beautiful she is! I wonder if her little sister died. I would not if I had been her sister. I wish she would let me kiss her once.

EDITH, (_returning._) Here is some cake for you. The children called out to me, but I s.n.a.t.c.hed it from the table and flew off. Eat it all, and then you shall tell me who you are, and where you live.

LISA. I do not live any where; I go about all the time with mother and the gypsies.

EDITH. You are a little gypsy girl then. Was that your sister who came into the garden?

LISA. Was she there? She said she was going, but I peeped in and could not see her.

EDITH. And you wander about all over the world, seeing wonderful things?

LISA. O, yes, we walk about from one place to another, till I am so tired I can hardly stand. When I was small, mother used to carry me; but now I am too big. But at night she wraps her cloak round me, and holds me close in her arms, and sings me to sleep. I like the nights best. In the day she often goes off and leaves me waiting for her, somewhere, all alone.

EDITH. In the nights you sleep in your tents, and hear them flapping in the wind, and look out at the stars?

LISA. Most always we sleep in a barn. When we can't find one we sleep out doors, and have a fire when it is very cold. I am so sleepy I never look up at the stars, only sometimes. Last night we slept under a tree full of blossoms, and when I woke up, they were blowing over us like a snow storm. I wanted mother to see how pretty they were, but I knew she was tired, so I kissed her softly, and went to sleep again.

EDITH. What does she sing to you?

LISA _sings_.

We have wandered far through forest wild; We have climbed where craggy rocks are piled; Sleep in peace, my gypsy child; Mother watcheth o'er thee.

Night winds breathe a lulling sound; Gentle moonlight streams around; Shadows settle o'er the ground; Sweet visions fly before thee.

Sleep, my child; to-morrow, waking, To thee shall come no sad heart-aching; One is near--the ne'er-forsaking!

Mother watcheth o'er thee.

LISA. It makes the tears come into your eyes; does your mother sing it to you?

EDITH. O, no, my mother never sings to me. I sleep all alone, in a great, silent room, and they draw the heavy curtains all around, so that not even a star can peep in. I wish I could sleep under the sky as you do. Would it not be pleasant if we could change places a little while! I will be your mother's child, and you shall have all my fine things, and plenty to eat, and can play about all day.

LISA. O, yes, but I don't like to leave mother.

EDITH. It will be only for a day or two, and I know she will be willing. I will roam about with her, and see the world, and they will all be kind to you here; so let us change clothes. You shall have my fairy garments, and I will put on your brown dress.

LISA. And shall I wear these beautiful things all the time?

EDITH. To-morrow they will play fairy again; after that, my cousins will go away, and you will have to begin to study. Do you like to study?

LISA. What is study?

EDITH. Do you not even know your alphabet? How funny it will be to see Miss Magin sitting up like a forsaken owl, calling out A, and A you will softly say; then B, and C, and so on. If you had learned to read, you would have to pore over books all the time. Nothing but books! I could learn more, rambling about three days, than I could in books in half a century. When lessons are over, mother will come in and ask if you have been good, and as you will not have had any novels or poetry hidden away, Miss Magin will answer, "Yes, madam, she has been so."

Then mother will give you a tart and an orange, and say you may walk in the garden and gather pinks. You can go round the garden and look at the fountains, or into the grove, but not outside the wall, or you will have Miss Magin tagging after you, to see that nothing happens to you. After dinner, you will have to practise and sew, and in the evening play backgammon with mother, or talk to the visitors who come in.

LISA. But I cannot do all these things; I don't know how.

EDITH. Well, you will not have to. They will soon find out you are a gypsy girl, and cannot be tamed down into a young lady. But you must not let them find it out to-night, or they will immediately send you after me. Your voice is so much like mine they will not notice that, and you must stay in the shadow of the evergreens, and not venture into the moonlight. When they talk to you, you must not say much, but sing gypsy songs, always changing the word gypsy for fairy; and in a little while you can steal quietly off to bed.

LISA. But how shall I know where to go?

EDITH. I sleep now with my cousin f.a.n.n.y. She has a blue dress and silver wings; you must whisper to her and ask her to go with you; and then you can tell her the secret. She will not tell any one. Perhaps you had better leave the wreath here, and the wings, for many of the fairies have none, and they will not think it is I, without them. You cannot get on my shoes--can you?

LISA. I walk so much barefooted. What pretty gold shoes they are! I wish I could wear them.

EDITH. No, you will have to leave them here. Lay them on this flower bed with the wings. They look as if they might belong to little Amy--perhaps she will come for them to-night.

LISA. You seem so strange in my dress!

EDITH. I like to have it on. But it will hurt me to go barefooted.

Never mind--I wish to try how you live, in every way. How pleasant it will be to sleep in the free air to-night! But you will like my bed with the flowered curtains, and the pictures, and all the things.

LISA. O, yes; but you will give my love to mother.

EDITH. Not to-night. I am going to be her little girl to-night. But to-morrow I will. I will come back in a few days and give you a great many pretty presents before you go away. Good by. I hope you will have a pleasant time.

LISA. May I kiss you once?

EDITH. Why, yes, indeed. You are a dear child; you look like a real fairy in your new dress. Good night.

_LISA goes along the Garden Path. EDITH waits outside, and pulls her hat over her face as ELINOR approaches._

ELINOR. Come along. Lisa. Have you seen any thing of Julia? Here, take this bundle.

EDITH. How heavy it is!

ELINOR. Heavy, do you call it? It's I that have the burden to bear. I've had enough to do this day; we must be home pretty quick, I can tell you. But stop, child, you have had nothing to eat; here's some meat for you.

EDITH, I do not want it. A lady came and gave me some cake.

ELINOR. A lady! What kind of a lady, I wonder?

EDITH. She was all dressed in purple and gold, and we sat and ate it together. It was very nice cake.

ELINOR. A lady ate with a beggar! This is the first time I ever heard of such a thing. All in gold too.--(_Aside._) I must teach her the business--what a chance she had.

EDITH, (_aside._) What a frightful woman! Can it be Lisa's mother? I must ask some questions and find out. (_To Elinor._) Where do you think Julia is?

ELINOR. I know not, and care not. She's a real vagrant, that girl is. No manner of use. She may go her own ways; I wash my hands of her.

EDITH. Will you sing me to sleep to-night? I am very tired.

ELINOR. Sing you to sleep? Yes, darling! What makes you lag behind so? Take hold of my hand; I'll help you along. How your hand trembles. Sing a song and cheer up. We must walk fast.

EDITH _sings the song LISA sang._

We have wandered far through forests wild, &c.

ELINOR. She has a sweet voice; we might make something of that. But it's of no use--she can't be saved. I may as well begin now. Lisa, do you know what is in these bundles?