eight years
old, and alone in the world.

She loved to watch for the coming of the old man who lit the street-lamp
in front of the house where she lived; to see his bright torch flicker
in the wind; and then when he so quickly ran up his ladder, lit the
lamp, and made the place cheerful, a gleam of joy was shed on a little
desolate heart, to which gladness was a stranger; and though he had
never seemed to see, and had never spoken to her, she felt, as she
watched for the old lamplighter, as if he were a friend.

"Gerty," exclaimed a harsh voice within, "have you been for the milk?"

The child made no answer, but gliding off the door-step, ran quickly
round the corner of the house, and hid a little out of sight. "What's
become of that child?" said the woman who spoke, and who now showed
herself at the door.

A boy who was passing, and had seen Gerty run, and who looked upon her
as a spirit of evil, laughed aloud, pointed to the corner which
concealed her, and walking off with his head over his shoulders, to see
what would happen next, said to himself, "She'll catch it!"

Gerty was dragged from her hiding-place, and with one blow for her
ugliness and another for her impudence (for she was making faces at Nan
Grant), was despatched down a neighbouring alley for the milk.

She ran fast, fearing the lamplighter would come and go in her absence,
and was rejoiced, on her return, to catch a sight of him just going up
his ladder. She stood at the foot of it, and was so engaged in watching
the bright flame, that she did not observe the descent of the man; and,
as she was directly in his way, he struck against her, and she fell upon
the pavement. "Hallo, my little one!" exclaimed he, "how's this?" as he
stooped to lift her up. She was on her feet in an instant; for she was
used to hard knocks, and did not mind a few bruises. But the milk was
all spilt.

"Well! now, I declare!" said the man, "that's too bad!--what'll mammy
say?" and looking into Gerty's face, he exclaimed, "My, what an
odd-faced child!--looks like a witch!" Then, seeing that she looked
sadly at the spilt milk, he kindly said, "She won't be hard on such a
mite as you are, will she? Cheer up, my ducky! never mind if she does
scold you a little. I'll bring you something to-morrow that you'll like;
you're such a lonely-looking thing. And if the old woman makes a row,
tell her I did it.--But didn't I hurt you? What were you doing with my
ladder?"

"I was seei