I haven't much
faith in them."
"How about the diamonds?"
"Don't mention them. I shall never try my hand at those again; and you,
if you are wise, will be contented to let Nature remain her own chemist.
Adieu. A very merry Christmas to you."
"The same to you," echoed Leo, but Paz was already muffled in his furs
and running rapidly away.
PHIL'S FAIRIES
CHAPTER I
THE WIND HARP
"Oh, Lisa, how many stars there are to-night! and how long it takes to
count just a few!" said a weak voice from a little bed in a garret room.
"You will tire yourself, dear, if you try to do that; just shut your
eyes up tight, and try to sleep."
"Will you put my harp in the window? there may be a breeze after a
while, and I want to know very much if there is any music in those
strings."
"Where did you get them, my darling,"
"From Joe."
"Joe, the fiddler?"
"Yes; he brought me a handful of old catgut; he says he does not play
any more at dances; he is so old and lame that they like a younger
darkey who knows more fancy figures, and can be livelier. He _is_ very
black, Lisa, and I am almost afraid of him; but he is so kind, and he
tells me stories about his young days, and all the gay people he used to
see. Hark! that is my harp; oh, Lisa, is it not heavenly?"
"I don't know," said poor, tired Lisa, half asleep, after her long day's
work of standing in a shop.
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