Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/114

 we look at smooth water in a streamlet. Once the doll was disobedient and the child set it for punishment on the rail of the balcony and the doll fell down below. The little girl cried, but before it expected it, Karla had run out of the neighbouring house, lifted the doll up to the balcony and giving it to the little girl changed her weeping into smiles.

The child remembered it well, but Karla was vexed because the doll in its fall had spoilt its face and hair. Karla scarcely slept for several days. She saved kreuzer after kreuzer from her alms, and after one or two Sundays had bought so pretty a doll that she almost fell in love with it herself. This puppet slept with her several nights until the little girl once more showed herself on the balcony. The little girl seemed to notice her and Karla observed her descend the stairs. She went quickly to the child and placed in its hands a beautiful doll which sparkled up to its blue eyes. The old doll was thrown aside and Karla was filled with delight to see that the little girl only played with this new gift.

Once Karla was again in the neighbouring house and the little girl played on the balcony with its new toy. She was now accustomed to look out for Karla and observed her. Quickly running into the room to father she called out, “There”, and pointed with her baby finger toward the neighbouring court-yard. The father did not understand his child’s excitement and did not at once pay attention to her. And before he turned to look in Karla’s direction she had vanished. Tears of pleasure fell on her hands at the thought that the little girl valued her present and to see how happy Havel was in his family.

Here was a floweret in her deserted hours, which filled her with delight. Any one accustomed to promenade in gardens would not have paid any attention to it but Karla at sight of it not only forgot that her path lay through a desert but even dreamt she was in a rich and pleasant garden. These moments were such a precious possession that nothing in her previous life could at all compare with them. She felt in them the bliss of the fond father and mother. She felt the child’s bliss, and being a mother deprived, alas! of her own infant, she still exalted herself so high that her heart united itself with theirs in the purest sentiment of love.

Karla under her present circumstance soon lost the freshness of personal charms, but her soul regained its elasticity and her eye was endued with that kindling light which is the sign of a