y wiped his eyes, for until
that moment, he imagined that he had been alone; he had been praying on
account of his loneliness--he looked up, and he was not alone, but there
was one by his side who pitied him, without knowing wherefore; he felt
relieved by the sight. They both regained their feet at the same time,
and Joe went up to the little girl, and, taking her by the hand, said,
"Thank you."

"Why do you cry?" said the little girl.

"Because I am unhappy; I have no home," replied Joey.

"No home!" said the little girl; "it is boys who are in rags and
starving, who have no home, not young gentlemen dressed as you are."

"But I have left my home," replied Joey.

"Then go back again--how glad they will be to see you!"

"Yes, indeed they would," replied Joey, "but I must not."

"You have not done anything wrong, have you? No, I'm sure you have
not--you must have been [be] a good boy, or you would not have prayed."

"No, I have done nothing wrong, but I must not tell you any more."

Indeed, Joey was much more communicative with the little girl than he
would have been with anybody else; but he had been surprised into it,
and, moreover, he had no fear of being betrayed by such innocence. He
now recollected himself, and changed the conversation.

"And where are you going to?" inquired he.

"I am going to school at Gravesend. I go there every morning, and stay
till the evening. This is my dinner in my basket. Are you hungry?"

"No, not particularly."

"Are you going to Gravesend?"

"Yes," replied Joey. "What is your name?"

"Emma Phillips."

"Have you a father and mother?"

"I have no father; he was killed fighting, a little while after I was
born."

"And your mother--"

"Lives with grandmother, at that house you see there through the large
trees. And what are you going to do with yourself? Will you come home
with me? and I'll tell my mother all you have told me, and she is very
kind, and will write to your friends."

"No, no; you must not do that; I am going to seek for employment."

"Why, what can you do?"

"I hardly know," replied Joey; "but I can work, and am willing to work,
so I hope I shall not starve."

With such conversation they continued their way, until the little girl
said, "There is my school, so now I must wish you good-bye."

"Good-bye; I shall not forget you," replied Joey, "although we may never
meet again." Tears stood in the eyes of our hero, as they reluctantly
un