plans; for her father left things to her a good deal, and she had no
friends but Tommo, the harp-boy upstairs, and the lively cricket who
lived in the chimney. To-night her face was very sober, and her pretty
brown eyes very thoughtful as she stared at the fire and knit her brows,
as if perplexed. She was not thinking of her old shoes, nor the empty
closet, nor the boys' ragged clothes just then. No; she had a fine plan
in her good little head, and was trying to discover how she could carry
it out.

You see, Christmas was coming in a week; and she had set her heart on
putting something in the children's stockings, as the mother used to do,
for while she lived things were comfortable. Now Tessa had not a penny
in the world, and didn't know how to get one, for all the father's
earnings had to go for food, fire, and rent.

'If there were only fairies, ah! how heavenly that would be; for then I
should tell them all I wish, and, pop! behold the fine things in my
lap!' said Tessa to herself. 'I must earn the money; there is no one to
give it to me, and I cannot beg. But what can I do, so small and stupid
and shy as I am? I _must_ find some way to give the little ones a nice
Christmas. I _must_! I _must_!' and Tessa pulled her long hair, as if
that would help her think.

But it didn't, and her heart got heavier and heavier; for it did seem
hard that in a great city full of fine things, there should be none for
poor Nono, Sep, and little Speranza. Just as Tessa's tears began to
tumble off her eyelashes on to her brown cheeks, the cricket began to
chirp. Of course, he didn't say a word; but it really did seem as if he
had answered her question almost as well as a fairy; for, before he had
piped a dozen shrill notes, an idea popped into Tessa's head--such a
truly splendid idea that she clapped her hands and burst out laughing.
'I'll do it! I'll do it! if father will let me,' she said to herself,
smiling and nodding at the fire. '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.'

So full of her plan was Tessa that she ran upstairs at once, and asked
Tommo if he would take her with him on the morrow. Her friend was
delighted, for he thought Tessa's songs very sweet, an