Willie the Waif | Page 8

to
you. She wouldn't have looked after you so well if He had not put the
thoughts into her head."
So, little by little, the minds of the children began to open, and they
understood something of the way in which Jesus loved them.
In spite of the new clothes that Bob's careful saving up had procured
for him, little Willie seemed to feel the cold very keenly, and Bob often
felt very anxious about him. He caught cold, and that left him with a
bad cough. Several times Bob had to leave him at home while he went
to his crossing alone. But these were miserable days for the elder boy.
He always declared that people took no notice of him when Willie was
not there, and it was very little he could earn. Had it not been for Mrs.
Blair, the children would often have had to spend the night out of
doors.
One very wet evening in December Bob turned into the mission-room
alone. Willie had been too ill to go out with him in the morning, and he
wanted to go straight home; he thought Willie would be so lonely.
But Willie would not hear of it. "No, Bob," he said; "go an' see my
pretty lady, so's yer can tell me wot she says when yer come 'ome."
Miss. Elton saw him come in at the door, and quickly missed her little

favourite.
"Why, Bob," she said, "where's Willie?"
"Please'm," he answered, "'e ain't well. 'E couldn't come out with me
to-day."
"Poor little chap!" said the lady kindly. "I hope he isn't very bad. I must
come and see him. Do you think he would like me to?"
"I should jist think 'e would," answered Bob.
"Very well, then, you must tell me the way, and I will come
to-morrow."
Bob did so as clearly as he could, then went to his seat. But it was very
little that he heard of the address that evening, for his head was so full
of the visit that was to be paid that he couldn't take in anything else.
Directly the meeting was over he flew off as fast as his legs could carry
him.
"Willie, Willie!" he burst out, as soon as he got into the room. "Guess
wot I've got to tell yer!
"Can't," said Willie. "Do tell me, Bob."
"Some one's comin' to see yer to-morrer."
"To see me!" repeated Willie. "Who, Bob?"
"Who should it be," said Bob, "but yer lady!"
"Truth, Bob? Do yer mean it?" for it seemed almost too good to be true.
"My pretty lady!"
"Yes," said Bob. "Ain't it prime? I know'd yer'd be glad."
Mrs. Blair was almost as excited as the children themselves, at the idea

of the visitor, and she declared she would have to be up an hour earlier,
in order to be ready for the lady.
The next morning Willie very much wanted his brother to stay at home
with him to see the lady, but Bob knew he must not do that.
"It won't do to lose a day now, Willie," he said. "I must go an' earn
some money, else wot'll we do?" And with a brave face he shouldered
his broom and marched off.
True to her promise, Miss Elton found her way that morning to Mrs.
Blair's. She had some difficulty in following Bob's directions, for they
were not very clear. But she arrived there at lasts and found Willie
eagerly watching for her at the window.
"Why, Willie, my little man," she said, "you didn't come to see me last
night."
"No," said Willie, with glistening eyes. "I 'ain't been well; but---but,"
hesitatingly, "I'm glad you've come to see me."
[Miss Elton sat down, and drew the boy to her side.] She thought what
a frail little fellow he looked, with his flushed cheeks and shining eyes.
She talked to him for some time about himself and his brother, and then
she said---"Now, Willie, I want you to make haste and get well. Do you
know why?"
Willie shook his head.
"Well," she said, "Christmas will be here in two weeks' time. Do you
know what Christmas is?"
"No," said Willie, "I 'ain't ever see'd one."
Miss Elton smiled.
"You know who Jesus is?" she asked.
"Yes" said Willie. "We talks to 'im every mornin' an' night, Bob an' me;

an' we're tryin' to be good."
"That's right," said Miss Elton. "Well, Jesus used to live down here on
the earth once, and we called the day He came Christmas Day. So
Christmas Day was His birthday. You know how He loves little
children, and wants them to be happy, and we want to make them
happy too. So what do you think we are going to do?"
"Dunno," said