cried out a kindly child 's voice as Tessa held up the old cap , with beseeching eyes . Up the wide stone steps went the street musicians , and the whole flock came running down to give a handful of silver , and ask all sorts of questions . Tessa felt so grateful that , without waiting for Tommo , she sang her sweetest little song all alone . It was about a lost lamb , and her heart was in the song ; therefore she sang it well , so well that a pretty young lady came down to listen , and stood watching the bright-eyed girl , who looked about her as she sang , evidently enjoying the light and warmth of the fine hall , and the sight of the lovely children with their gay dresses , shining hair , and dainty little shoes . ` You have a charming voice , child . Who taught you to sing ? ' asked the young lady kindly . ` My mother . She is dead now ; but I do not forget , ' answered Tessa , in her pretty broken English . ' I wish she could sing at our tree , since Bella is ill , ' cried one of the children peeping through the banisters . ` She is not fair enough for the angel , and too large to go up in the tree . But she sings sweetly , and looks as if she would like to see a tree , ' said the young lady . ` Oh , so much ! ' exclaimed Tessa ; adding eagerly , ` my sister Ranza is small and pretty as a baby-angel . She could sit up in the fine tree , and I could sing for her from under the table . ' ` Sit down and warm yourself , and tell me about Ranza , ' said the kind elder sister , who liked the confiding little girl , in spite of her shabby clothes . So Tessa sat down and dried the big boots over the furnace , and told her story , while Tommo stood modestly in the background , and the children listened with faces full of interest . ' O Rose ! let us see the little girl ; and if she will do , let us have her , and Tessa can learn our song , and it will be splendid ! ' cried the biggest boy , who sat astride of a chair , and stared at the harp with round eyes .
` I 'll ask mamma , ' said Rose ; and away she XXXXX into the dining-room close by .
Sit adding dried felt sang stared stood told waiting went