can't gammon _me_: I 've heard too many such
yarns."

My private opinion is, that that policeman was a crusty old bachelor,
with not a chick nor child,--not even a little sister to his name.

With her feelings a good deal hurt, and her feet benumbed with cold,
poor Bessie tottered on, she knew not whither. Happily, at the very
next corner, she encountered another policeman,--a cheery, kindly,
family-looking man. To him Bessie sobbed out her piteous story; and
he, having a little girl of his own at home, was touched by her
distress, and, looking into the clear depths of her innocent blue eyes,
believed her. Immediately calling a cab he put her in, and got in
himself, and taking off his warm blue overcoat, wrapped her in it,
which was the street guardian-angel's way of brooding; and so they went
away up town, to a large brown-stone house on Madison Avenue,--Bessie's
home,--where they found everybody in great distress. Papa and mamma
were almost wild with anxiety, for Bessie had been gone four long
hours, and a dozen police officers were already searching for her, and
street-criers were tramping up and down, ringing bells, and shouting
dismally, "A child l-o-s-t!"

Mr. and Mrs. Raeburn with difficulty recognized their daughter in her
ragged disguise. They were shocked by her appearance, fearing she
might be made ill by the exposure. They were pained and indignant at
hearing all she had suffered, but they both said it would prove a good
experience, if it should teach her to be less rash, venturesome, and
self-assured. They hoped, they said, it would cure her of forming
secret schemes, even of benevolence, and of an unchildlike ambition to
act in matters of importance independent of the aid and advice of her
parents. It did all this, I believe; and if you care to hear, I will
tell you, by and by, what other good thing came out of that Christmas
adventure.

That night, Bessie Raeburn added to her usual prayer these words: "O
Father in Heaven, I thank thee more than ever for my warm bed, and
everything so comfortable. Forgive me for running off, and giving dear
papa and mamma so much trouble. Make those wicked people sorry for
what they have done, and then forgive _them_. And please put it into
Mrs. Magee's heart to send home my muff, if she keeps all the other
things. And bless my good policeman, and pity and help poor Molly
Magee. Amen."

CHAPTER II.

Little Bessie Raeburn never got back her darling