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Updated: May 6, 2025
'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.
Whenever she entered the house, the expression of her face indicated the liveliest sympathy for me; and moving towards the place where I lay, with one arm slightly elevated in a gesture of pity, and her large glistening eyes gazing intently into mine, she would murmur plaintively, “Awha! awha! Tommo,” and seat herself mournfully beside me.
Then they went away, and the pretty children called after them, 'Come again, Tessa! come again, Tommo! Now the rain didn't seem dismal, the wind cold, nor the way long, as they bought their gifts and hurried home, for kind words and the sweet magic of charity had changed all the world to them.
Quick! quick! cried Tommo, twanging away with all his might, and showing his white teeth, as he smiled back at the little gentle-folk. Bless us! How Tessa did tune up at that! She chirped away like a real bird, forgetting all about the tears on her cheeks, the ache in her hands, and the heaviness at her heart. The children laughed, and clapped their hands, and cried 'More! more!
'I do not mind cold and wet, and cross people, if I can get the pennies, answered Tessa, feeling very brave with such a friend to help her. She thanked Tommo, and ran away to get ready, for she felt sure her father would not refuse her anything.
Tessa clapped her hands for joy, she didn't mind the chilblains now, and Tommo played a lively march, he was so pleased. 'Will you come, too, and bring your harp? You shall be paid, and shall have something from the tree, likewise, said the motherly lady, who liked what Tessa gratefully told about his kindness to her.
But Tommo shook his curly head, and answered, soberly, 'Yes, I took you there first, for they love music, and are of our country; but up among the great houses we shall not always do well. The people there are busy or hard or idle, and care nothing for harps and songs. Do not skip and laugh too soon; for the day is long, and we have but twelve pennies yet.
'Tommo will like to have me go with him and sing, while he plays his harp in the streets. I know many songs, and may get money if I am not frightened; for people throw pennies to other little girls who only play the tambourine. Yes, I will try; and then, if I do well, the little ones shall have a Merry Christmas.
The other days were very much like this; sometimes they made more, sometimes less, but Tommo always 'went halves; and Tessa kept on, in spite of cold and weariness, for her plans grew as her earnings increased, and now she hoped to get useful things, instead of candy and toys alone. On the day before Christmas she made herself as tidy as she could, for she hoped to earn a good deal.
Slowly they made their way up to the great squares where the big houses were, with fine ladies and pretty children at the windows. Here Tessa sung all her best songs, and Tommo played as fast as his fingers could fly; but it was too cold to have the windows open, so the pretty children could not listen long, and the ladies tossed out a little money, and soon went back to their own affairs.
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