e
safely."

"Well," said Miss Elton, "he looks much better than when I first saw him.
You are better, are you not, Willie?" turning to the child.

"Yes, please'm," answered Willie, with sparkling eyes. "I'm comin' to the
treat. Bob's comin' 'ome early to take me."

There was great excitement at Mrs. Blair's that afternoon. Bob arrived
home in good time, and Mrs. Blair provided the boys with soap and water
with which they rubbed their faces until they shone. Then she produced a
needle and thread, and much to Bob's delight did what she could towards
drawing his rags together. It was an almost hopeless task, and they really
did not look much better when they were done; but Bob was as proud of the
stitches which prevented the wind blowing through the holes on to his
little bare legs as a young prince would have been of a new suit of
clothes, and it was with beaming, happy faces that the two children set off
hand-in-hand to take their share of the good things provided for them.

But when they entered the hall they almost thought they had come to the
wrong place, for the room was completely changed. Two long tables went
down the length of the room, covered with clean white cloths, and loaded
with heaped-up plates of bread-and-butter and cake. Steaming urns of tea
stood at each end, surrounded by cups and saucers. The walls had been
prettily decorated with holly and evergreens, and the red berries glistened
in the gaslight. The platform at the end of the room had been taken away,
and in its place stood an enormous tree covered with toys and parcels.
Several of the children were standing round it in groups, for the most part
in silence, as though overawed with the unusual sight. Some of the bolder
ones ventured nearer and proceeded to examine the articles hanging upon the
tree.

Willie's eyes, however, were fixed upon one object in the middle of the
room. A little girl, beautifully dressed in white, with a broad, blue
sash, looking exactly like a fairy, was holding Miss Elton by the hand.
Willie had caught sight of her directly he entered the room, and stood
looking as though fascinated.

"Look, Bob," he whispered; "is she a angel?"

"Dunno," said Bob. "Should think she looks like one."

Just then Miss Elton turned her head and saw the two boys. Keeping hold of
the little girl's hand, she came towards them.

["See, Gladys," she said; "this is my little boy Willie."]

"G'adys' 'ickle boy too," said the ch