Willie the Waif | Page 5

insisted on their lying down in a
corner of her room, instead of going into the common kitchen.
"And you must come every night," she said. "I've been thinking to-day
that if I had a little boy of my own I should like one with a face like
Willie's. Bless him!" And the kind woman kissed the child tenderly.

"That was nice," said the child. "Nobody ever did that afore."
So the two children were always sure of a shelter for the night.
Sometimes they were gone in the morning before Mrs. Blair was about,
but if not, she always put fresh water into her tea or coffee-pot and gave
them a hot drink. She was a very poor woman herself and it was as
much as she could do for the little ones. But she did it gladly.
CHAPTER III
THE MISSION SCHOOL
The children were not always so successful as on the day when Willie
first began to sell his matches. Sometimes, indeed, they took scarcely
anything, and poor little Willie would get tired and faint through having
to go all day with nothing eat.
One day Bob saw a gentleman jump off his horse and look for some
one to hold it while he went into a shops. He darted up to him and
asked to be allowed to do it.
"You don't look very big, my lad," said the gentleman; "but you may
try. Don't let him run away."
Bob found it hard work, for the gentleman was a long time, and the
pony was restive, but he was a plucky little chap and would not give in.
The gentleman had been keeping his eye on him through the
shop-window, and when he came out he said--"Well done, my boy!
You'll make a fine man some day," and he thrust a shilling into the
boy's hand.
Bob was overjoyed with his good fortune as he showed it to Willie.
"See 'ere, Willie," he said. "We'll 'ave a tuck-in to-night." And on the
way to Mrs. Blair's they stood some time before a pastrycook's, trying
to make up their minds which of the good things they should buy. First
they thought they would like one thing and then another, but at last
decided upon some meat pies, which, nicely arranged in the window,
looked very tempting to the hungry boys.

Mrs. Blair was delighted to hear of their success. Handing her the
change, Bob said---
"Please'm, will yer mind this money for me?" He had long before paid
her the remaining three-pence that he owed.
"'Course I will," she said. "Are you saving up?"
"Yes'm; you see it's gettin' cold now, and Willie's clothes is awful thin.
I want to git 'im some more."
"So they are," she answered. "Yours too, I think."
"Oh, them don't matter," he replied. "But Willie's on'y a little chap; I
must take care on 'im."
Mrs. Blair was often touched when she noticed this boy's devotion to
his little brother. He never seemed to care what hardships he went
through himself, but Willie must be shielded at all costs.
It took a long time to save up the required sum, but at length Bob
managed it, and one night the boy came in with an old coat and a pair
of shoes tucked under his arm. Of course the coat was not a very good
fit, and the shoes were too large: but Bob had picked up the two at an
old clothes-shop for two shillings, and they were the best he could do.
At any rate, they were whole, and they would keep Willie warm.
It was a miserably foggy evening in November. The roads were
frightfully dirty, and Bob worked with all his might to keep the
crossing clean; but the people all seemed in too much of a hurry to take
any notice of the little sweeper, and Willie fared no better with his
matches. Fairly worn out and tired, the little fellow began to cry.
"Let's go 'ome, Bob," he sobbed. "I'm so cold."
"All right," returned the other. "Seems no use to stop 'ere. Folks ain't
got nothin' for us to-night."
Bob shouldered his broom, and they turned off down a side street. They

had not gone far when Willie suddenly stopped.
"'Ark, Bob! Wot's that?" he whispered.
"Sounds like as if some one was a-singin'," was he answer. "P'raps we
shall come to 'em in a minute. Come on!"
Buoyed up by this suggestion Willie quickened his footsteps, and
presently they came to a small hall, which was brilliantly lighted. [The
children stopped, and Bob peeped in at the door.] The place seemed to
be almost full of children, some of whom were quite as ragged as
himself. They were all singing lustily, and the two boys could