oward saving little Tommy.

Mr. Trueman now put the child into Miss Fantom's apron, saying, "Did
not I tell you, my dear, that every body could be of use at a fire?"
He then desired her to carry the child home, and ordered the poor
woman to follow her; saying, he would return himself as soon as he
had seen all safe in the cottage.

When the fire was quite out, and Mr. Trueman could be of no further
use, he went back to Mr. Fantom's. The instant he opened the parlor
door he eagerly cried out, "Where is the poor woman, Mr. Fantom?"
"Not in my house, I assure you," answered the philosopher. "Give me
leave to tell you, it was a very romantic thing to send her and her
child to me; you should have provided for them at once, like a
prudent man." "I thought I had done so," replied Trueman, "by
sending them to the nearest and best house in the parish, as the
poor woman seemed to stand in need of immediate assistance." "So
immediate," said Fantom, "that I would not let her come into my
house, for fear of what might happen. So I packed her off, with her
child in her arms, to the workhouse; with orders to the overseers
not to let her want for any thing."

"And what right have you, Mr. Fantom," cried Trueman in a high tone,
"to expect that the overseers will be more humane than yourself! But
is it possible you can have sent that helpless creature, not only to
walk, but to carry a naked child at such a time of night, to a place
so distant, so ill provided, and in such a condition? I hope at
least you have furnished them with clothes; for all their own little
stores were burnt." "Not I, indeed;" said Fantom. "What is the use
of parish officers, but to look after these petty things?"

It was Mr. Trueman's way, when he began to feel very angry, not to
allow himself to speak, "because," he used to say, "if I give vent
to my feelings, I am sure, by some hasty word, to cut myself out
work for repentance." So without making any answer, or even changing
his clothes, which were very wet and dirty from having worked so
hard at the fire, he walked out again, having first inquired the
road the woman had taken. At the door he met Mrs. Fantom returning
from her visit. He told her his tale; which she had no sooner heard,
than she kindly resolved to accompany him in search of Jenkins's
wife. She had a wide common to walk over before she could reach
either the workhouse or the nearest cottage. She had crawled along
with her baby as far as she wa