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Show ,j7yADRECITA-60 a child ot few lJ rtfirt WM caUc(L -8 is not known exactly; nor In IWttrUln ml&erablo beings, bom In Ext W"1 brou,?ht up ln novorLy' ,s 11 HMtMltl? B'rl m,sut 1)0 5 yCarS ' and M; 'cbt to S or moro; as tho npota upon' SB'C?r? could not bo counted, nor the MB h them, eo tho hours of pain, of 'KL( and of misery, could not bo num- MWlh gre thrco years, moro or loss, ln WKtit of a child of tho street? A fow IBLsuiiis upd tho sou1, " rcvv iulver" VMu core through tho body, and some M.rti of tho heart, moro or less paln- SK mtIe pirl did not seem pretty. Pov- 2WF few times turn3 out Grook stal- rnh day, beautiful thlng3 oro fash-w fash-w It has to pass through tho fire. 1aKibianuro anA clay, adobes ure M7izl that is something rWmlo girl was not pretty, wo say '"rl did not appear to be: m to tho SKf lt any one try and find It out ln -sKrSwV washing her face, giving aRffnr a few scratches to heal, comb-TmtJ-t the tangled locks, laving-' the eyes KdMJJnc them well Uor after all nel-aKltfflto' nel-aKltfflto' Itself is bluo If winds and KUm i do not clear it of clouds) a prot- fflfjitlo head wou,d to tho rc"fKt: b?1 MR'i : i do not know because neither ln BiL'iiana!KS. nor in tho Canallllo, nor JVfco public fountains, was the expcrl- tfffnro' thTexperiments are mado with fcfcw!y of this earth. SWtt ire agreed, then, temporarily, upon 'rKt" 0,31 thc chl,d was d!rty Qnd al" ijRv-took care of her. or rather there -MrWicd her for asklnrr alms, una mu-Vfctl mu-Vfctl o( ', Ill-faced, and ln addition lazy Kpfcrrcd before tiring hor arms i'mVrx kind of work, to tire the little .-K, itrs of tho child, making her run jiKc Kntlcmen and ladles, with tho lm-iKiate lm-iKiate complainings of tho borrowed Kai:er of the beggar. crier to complete the biography of :fWL ftrolne we will only say that her 5cewas not known; other urchins and belonging to other women begcara YiKTubbtd her vlth the nlcknamo of la EtKlta, for the reason that tho little showed great tenderness for children VKT -j- than herself, and even for little imtp. She took them In her armB. tho pcjiHrs or the dogs, covered them HHri a itrip of her tatters. rocked them ijKfJy and even tried to sing them some jjBfcr karned in the gutter, which resulted ,'Wix'M airruys as to tho words, although 'tMbiat melodious through tho sweetness Iwi voice JAM because of that, in her circle of -Mtrat boys and street girls, beggars and JtBzunt, thoy all called her la Madreclta. JByxice what contrasts there arc: sho tad nccr known a mother camo to S&t little Mother! IJBjJbd every morning, on going out to ply w trade, the stout, ill-faced woman mid lBj tsr, while she was drinking somo :jBtut of brandy . "If you do not bring ifc today at least twenty perras gordos. 'rd billing v.-Ul be waitlhg for la Mn- iBiid out to the street, and up and down it:daTOlks 'Ifa il changed that, on going out to .k-b. mujerona and thc child tliey got Iw th; ntrccts of a new suburb of cle-wl cle-wl t-JS 3. and as the old woman han-t-rf to mret with a friend as ill-faced JfcJkrr-Jf .mil h invited hor to take a Stzt they derided to go off together, (fc before going she said to la Madreclta: Siyli,'rc and wo It for me, I'll be back jSntlllil- wMl . st tiny one comes along, him until h" gives you somethlnp. rMMkzst un p rro chico. Speak plain, and fWifprgot v.hit ou are to say to him: pnrHiunor lr ijos, I haven't any falh-fctsr falh-fctsr nv, moth, r is dying, and we arc wii rcpny you; look you, my gwllttls mother ciui do no more.' And Kjwbive to cr, tip sure you do It well. jMJjl-itthcy do not suspect It to be put Kit31' ou arc Rolng to cry truly, 'p2 b r t v.ay would bo for you to be '",il"ns ln fest. for In that way any "B,S7,?J nS I tears; that will show if 1 on your dlrtv face." tsjsuitlr the action to tho words, .so Kf ?bl,(i's Prtrf should have rdl tho ,nn that modern art might demand, iBl?v? r a fcw euffs on tho ear. call-Cf,,1811'' call-Cf,,1811'' dlrly anJ stupid, and got so un tnal ho -"aw every reason for iBSi ,5 tnc cnUJ' coiivlnccd herself of mtiftt:, ot 80 olne. and, lifting up MfTi -,8, tne Pretended mother gavo -r.Jtr).u one of those whippings that mf, it i 0 ,k3n nl1 b,nck and ulue- CrV1"- lrcna nau to say to nor: "Jrt fnaR--mUjeP' Sh's cryln6 1111 rlehl i-'tJl!11' 'ct hnr keep on so," said la mu-l'"'ln mu-l'"'ln the child, but looking V)tv 7' Utile while to dart a glance fcrt anser at the poor 1,u,c crca" !lai'a'V"ec.lta remained on the sidewalk, i'STilL . e'es' sobbing passionately : ; i-moa breathless. :5fSp,n? c1'00 regular. Tho littlo 'kT (i,. iavcd' 1,10 8onf' wcro now audible Itei 'aft'r th"othcrn'nS UWn hr chcelco' ife iS.Ud.,ha'1 Cfaen. 8 wo have said, ''iUifl: B'dewolk. beneath a window on ttiiVi Jlwr Pf a ver' elegant house, 'i-,!.1"0. window there had been ob-T ob-T "ule drama-llttlo for the Wcf lcauso of tho hurt a littlo lM nf V1 10 ycars oW. who had a love-I& love-I& v,!arfft'J!lzc ln hor arms. ,CSiM child of a beggar, sob-ior- , 0 "'?hor un leaning out of the 'uii.?LS?,Btocrat,c 1,1110 S'rl. loolt-ner loolt-ner with moist and compasslonato 'traht?v ith03(" two 8maU 80ul8 tnoro ,-BrMi.bcon tabllshcd, by means of fciili xinu mpathy. something liko a At .tftecraph. tithwin. dla,loBuc In a very low voice, K" ,,0" 1" this wise: Elfrar ' 1UUe Blrl, why did thoy -whip I1! v, y.0Ur mother?" I'll shvi any nether." 'Hsrt5.yo!!r Grandma?" f'raa!' 13 : cvery ono caJls ,,cr llfe.n.Vou much?" iF'TwFi 11 8llI aches." Ira,1. silly, don't cry." SI'S)11 yourself." IH her 8l,d ln- Madreclta. ralu-PJir ralu-PJir nil toward tho HtUo girl In tho Fri cv tuas tno cn'ing had cleanoel mtF wcro found to b0 bluo Bl'lUle Irno",11"'0 yourself happy," Raid fcV.'ell intocrat. Bmlllng. . rnlmi:tIadrcSlta- What nm I for. (B? c'ver'body?" and she began Mv wiu,w,rp,Ica?' telegraph, betweoif pft'rraa nnd 1110 window, infantile K'33 S, rao ilalroclta." KopiV 1 a 9-ilnl." W-!1 h't in''?.,1'" otJ 1,0 a sal"t!" ion' t l uio calendar." Kd haw?lV,: bl,t 1 Madreclta am." that iyw0U children?" L?i! toU'1"!1'''" Bald the child, bo-Sftt. bo-Sftt. SiunllanPy- And rlHlim: to a roSh nc u" 10 tno window, long-PRnff,?ut long-PRnff,?ut he,r little arm. und r SmaU Ungcr at tho doll, eh i -added, enviously, almost angrily: "You have." "Yes, It Is my little daughtor." "1 haven't any littlo daughter: I haven't anything but a grandma," and sho began to cry again. Tho littlo girl at tho window loaned out oven farther, her heart beat aB it doos when It prompts ono to do a noblo action, and ln a very low voice she asked tho poor child, at tho samo tlmo holding tho doll up to tho light so that tho whole of It could bo seen: "Look at it; do you like it?" "Ah, don't I. though!" said la Madreclta, Madre-clta, holding up both arms, as the devout toward tho angels and the Virgin. "Would you like to havo It?" "To give it u kiss?" "No, for yours." "For mcr "For yours, alwavs." "But how?" ".Look, don't cry, be contented, and tako It; I give It to you for your very own," and sho held down tho doll, which la Ma-drecita Ma-drecita took in hor outstretched arms. Afterward tho ono above, laughing and almost crying, withdrew from tho window. win-dow. La Mndreclta. remained standing on the sidewalk, with eyes shining, looking up to thc empty window and hugging tight thc doll In hor arms. She neither realized the whole situation nor knew what was going on around her. The blows did not hurt her now. Tho big tears were dried cn her dirty cheek3, hor eyes were gazing, not up to heaven, but up to the background of tho window which was for la Madreclta another heaven, heav-en, brigther than that above, and hor little lit-tle heart beat violently. All this tlmo sho wus holding tho doll tight against her thin littlo breast. At last s'.:e became suro that tho doll was hers, gave ono shout of Joy, looked up for the last time, saying: "1'ou, yes. nro good; you. yes. are a madreclta; and may heaven reward you; may hen. von glvo you health." and all tho rigmarole that sho said when they gave her alms. But Jdie comprehended that, with tho accustomed formulas, sho could not find expression for all hor gratitude, and sho added, under her breath: "If God should wish that that little girl wore poor like me and that wo might go a-begging together, to-gether, how happy wo both would bo!" Afterward she seated herself ln a doorway, door-way, and remained contemplating ecstatically ecstat-ically tho precious doll. How big it was. almost a real child, and it could bend its arms and legs, and what a darling taco. nnd what shining eyes! And Its dreBS? Not even the ladles who rodo in coacnos woro dresses moro showy. Silks nnd laces, and cmbroldory, antl sweet blond hair like gold, and two shiny shoes that wero two littlo dears. Sho look one Bhoo t ff and tried to put it cn. nnd sho could not do it; she could Just about get It on her big toe. nnd It niado her laugh meiiily a long time. Afterward her admiration turned into tcndernesH How much she would love her dolly, how sho would care for it, how sho would feed it; for her doll's sake 3ho wculd rob la mujerona o? tho good things that selllsh old boast always resorvod for herself ! Evon though her dolly were very bad, Bho would never beat It, never. And she pressed her tightly against her breast and. pulling away her rags, sho put tho little porcelain head against her vory llcsh,.as if sho would llko to glvo suckle to her little daughter. Afterward sho decided that they should sloop together to-gether and go'' out together, and when alio had to beg they would beg together also. Ideas are expressed in many ways and are represented In many ways, and ln Madreoltn, was Ihlnklne all this ln tho form of. Images, and accompanied each Imago with little fluttering! of her heart and littlo hursts of laughter and littlo Jt'mps on the stone upon which sho was seated. However much la mujoroma would beat her she would never cry now. Mother-love, very tiny, but very lively, fdled her wholo being and overllowed In tenderness. What a darling, but what a darling her dolly was! She sat upon her knee and began to comb out the blond locks, when of a sudden sud-den a shadow fell ln front of her. She lifted her head and stopped short, filled with terror; it was la mujerona. who was come from tho tavern, drunk completely. Her face flushed, her neckerchief necker-chief stained with wine, her eyes- rolling, her withered ilesh ln rwdence, her mouth distorted with ac ruel smile. La mujerona, ma mujerona. and moro ugly, moro repulsive and moro cruel than over! "What aro you doing thoro?" she asked in a thick, groggy voice. The child did not answer, but looked at her In terror and hurgod tho doll. "What's that? Lei me see." "A young lady gave it -to me." "Lot mc look at it," repeated la mujerona. mu-jerona. And. taking tho doll, sho kept looking at u a. wiiiio. "Caroclos! It I& very lovely and very now. and worth a good deal; four dollars dol-lars they will glvo mc for It at tho iQ'jUul cupidity cleared away tho drunkenness drunk-enness somewhat. "That's so, four dollars at least; I know whoro thoy' 11 buy it of me. for I may let it fall, and como along with mo," "What for?" tho child questioned, with unaccustomed courage, shutting hor lips tight and pressing tho doll against hor rea8t- . "To sell that plaything. Waves of anger and thrills of Indignation Indigna-tion swept over la Madreclta, and in a hoarse voice sho said, rising to her feot: "I won't; il's mine." La mujerona stood dumfounded; then 'ho caught hold of la Madreclta by hor hair, shook her brutally and llunc her against the wali. ... , Somo drops of blood ran down tho forehead of tho child and on the doll; It wns baptized now. "Now, you got up nnd como along, said la mujerona. pushing- hor roughly. And iw hBo still reelsted with childish fierceness, sho eolzed her by tho hand and hauled her along by force. What passed through the mind of that child? How difficult It Ih to tell! A pigmy that suddenly becomes a giant, a lamb that is changed to a hyena, an Immense sorrow that becomes llrmly rooted In a childish heart, bilo thai suddenly sud-denly turns to gall- And It did not matter that la Madi-c-cltu waa littlo; a viper Is smaller, and Its Btlug Is almost deadly. Qulcn saba! Perchance tho viper was good; thev snatched away from hor tho being sho loved, nnd tho pain wns ao groat that her blood distlllod tho poison thul kills. .. , , , , . La Madreclta followed la mujerona; but wilhln. what diabolical things were Insinuating Insin-uating themselves! If sho had known tho language, what maledictions, what tragic cries would sho have let lly! But 'in order to feel, In order to halo, words aro not needed: a fow tromons of tho nervous system are enough. In thin way they went nlons; la mujerona ln front, dragging la Madreclta, la Madreclta Madre-clta hugging tho doll, murmuring: She wants to sell it; she wants tp soil It. and It's mine; the wicked, wicked, wicked old thing'" By this tlmo they lenched a broad t-lroet and saw approaching at all speed an electric car. 1 a mujerona stopped almost next to tho rails. Thon what passed through the lu-art of '.a Madreclta? In a lesser dosreo aomuwhat idmllar to what Gusr-oian Gusr-oian ol Bueno must havo felt wbon ho llunrr tho -logger for them to kill bis nnn, or .what tho fatliw ot Virginia lolt upon killing I1I3 daughter to eive hor from dishonor. Thero aro great trcgcdles: but thcro aro also very small ones; tragedies for little girls and dolls. Strictly speaking, tho nubllmo is not limited by opaco, nor doos tho world of c-Iaeslcs have tho exclusive right to it. Neither moro nor less, and Juat us wo tell It did It happen: La Madroclta, without with-out bolnrr awaro of it, felt horuelf sublime sub-lime Perhaps down In hor heart she ox-pressed ox-pressed tho thought, ln proualo fashion, In theso words: "So, che'll burst with lege, la mujerona; she'll not havo a shanco to soil it " And oho quickly flung tho doll on thc car track. La mujsrona gavo a shriek, comprohendlng the child's intention, and m.ined to save tho doll. But at that moment tho car came along and, catching hor bodily, dragged her In a lump and ran over her. crushing her to bits; thero ended la mujerona, presenting a elckonlng spectacle. Much shouting, much running of people, peo-ple, tho stopping of tho car, and a crowd that gathored around tho mangled remains re-mains of tho beggar woman. La Madroclta was stunned somowhat; but oho soon recovered horsolf and worming worm-ing In botwoon tho legs of tho onlookers, sho reached tho gory remains of la mujo-rona; mujo-rona; from among hor disordered ralmont she quickly drew forth the doll and, holding1 hold-ing1 it tight with her two littlo arms, got out of tho throng and wont off on tho run. Uri sonor grave, who must havo boon a sage, or a philosopher, or a floclologlst, .vaid to another sencr who accompanied him: "Do you sco, do you see what that child has done; thcy'vo .nist killed hor mother and sho only tHlnka of saving ner doll, and thoy say thoro aro no born criminals!" A woman of tho populace said at tho samo moment: "Avo Maria Purisslma, what a young thing! Run, run, you'll bring up at the gallows soon." Una sonora do edad also followed her with her oyos. and crossing horself terrified, ter-rified, murmured: "God help us whon you grow up!" Observations, all of them vory wiso, wo do not deny; but tho world would bo ovor so much hotter If all wero madreoltas who, como what may, should hnston to save their dolls. Victor Hugo said: "To understand all, perchance would be tc pardon all." Translated for tho Arccnaut from tho Spanish of Jose Bcheparay by Harriot M. Guornesey. |