" Aunt Corinne faced about and saw a
tiny creature, waxen-faced and with small white hands, and feet in
bits of slippers, standing in a dirty spangled dress which was made
to fluff out from her and give her an airy look. Her long brown curls
hung about her shoulders. But her black eyes were surrounded with
brownish rings which gave her a look of singing in her sleep, or in a
half-conscious state. She was a delicate little being, and as she
sung before the staring people, her chin creased and the corners of
her mouth quivered as if she would break into sobs if she only dared.
Her song was accompanied by a hand-organ ground behind the scenes;
and when she had finished and run behind the curtain, she was pushed
out again in response to the hand-clapping.
Robert Day hung entranced on this performance. But when Fairy Carrie
had sung her second song and disappeared, he took hold of his aunt's
ear and whispered cautiously therein:
"I know the pig-headed man stole that little girl."
Aunt Corinne looked at him with solemn assent. Then there were signs
of the pig-headed man's returning to the gaze of the public. Aunt
Corinne at once grasped her nephew's elbow and pushed him from the
sight.
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