se'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 hear the words---

"Suffer little children to come unto Me."

"Don't it sound prime, Willie?" said Bob. Shall we go in?"

"Yes, do; it'll be warm in there."

So Bob pushed open the door, and trying to make as little noise as
possible, so as not to attract attention, the two boys shuffled in.
In hi