east more
excusable than those who, themselves abounding in wealth and luxury,
grind down, so far as they can, the poor hirelings who may be in their
power.

Since then Nelly had faithfully followed the poor Italian, whom, at
his own desire, she called "_padre_." It did not to her mean the same
as "father," nor would she have given to any one else the name sacred
to her own unforgotten father. But she was to the poor man as a
daughter; and her brown face, though still thin, had lost the pining,
wistful look which had been previously habitual to it. Lucy observed
the glow of pleasure that lighted up her face when she heard again the
familiar sound of the organ in the distance. The _padre_ was very good
to her, she said, and though they often had long weary rounds, with a
scant allowance of pennies, they always had enough to eat; and
hitherto it had been very pleasant, and she had no hard scrubbing or
washing to do.

"I'd have died soon, Miss Lucy, if I'd stayed at Mrs. Williams'. Was
it wrong to come away?"

Lucy could not say it was, in spite of the irregularity of the
precedent.

"But the _padre_ won't be able to go about in the winter time, Miss
Lucy, for he has such a cough and pain in his breast whenever he gets
wet or cold; and some days he's hardly able to play his organ, and
then I don't know what he'll do. What could I do, Miss Lucy, to help
him?"

Lucy promised to consider the matter. She had obtained leave to give
the organ-grinder and Nelly a good substantial meal in the kitchen,
which was greatly relished by both. She took down the name of the
street in which they lived, and got a minute description of the house,
promising soon to visit them. The man was evidently far from strong,
and his bright, hollow eye and haggard face, sometimes unnaturally
flushed, betokened too surely incipient disease.

"And why did you never come to see me, Nelly? You knew where I was,"
said Lucy, as they were going away.

"Oh, Miss Lucy," exclaimed Nelly eagerly, "but I did, three times, but
you weren't in; I was ashamed to come any more. The last times they
said you were away in the country."

"But why didn't you leave word where you were living, and I would have
found you out?"

"Oh, Miss Lucy, I couldn't think you'd be at the trouble of coming to
see me!"

"Well, I will come, though, now I know where you live," said Lucy as
she bade them good-bye.

Little Amy had been very much interested in the history of Nell