"

"I'll tell you," said he, sitting down beside me in a dogged way, as if
he had read my thoughts, guessed at my suspicions, and was determined
to show that he feared neither--that he would use his own judgment, and
follow his own will, in spite of anybody. "Look here. I get three
shillings a week, which is about fivepence a day; out of that I eat
threepence--I'm a big, growing lad, and it's hard to be hungry.
There's twopence left to pay for lodging. I tried it once--twice--at
the decentest place I could find, but--" here an expression of
intolerable disgust came over the boy's face--"I don't intend to try
that again. I was never used to it. Better keep my own company and
the open air. Now you see."

"Oh, John!"

"Nay--there's no need to be sorry. You don't know how comfortable it
is to sleep out of doors; and so nice to wake in the middle of the
night and see the stars shining over your head."

"But isn't it very cold?"

"No--not often. I scoop out a snug little nest in the bark and curl up
in it like a dormouse, wrapped in this rug, which one of the men gave
me. Besides, every morning early I take a plunge and a swim in the
stream, and that makes me warm all day."

I shivered--I who feared the touch of cold water. Yet there with all
his hardships, he stood before me, the model of healthy boyhood. Alas!
I envied him.

But this trying life, which he made so light of, could not go on. "What
shall you do when winter comes?"

John looked grave. "I don't know: I suppose I shall manage
somehow--like the sparrows," he answered, perceiving not how apposite
his illustration was. For truly he seemed as destitute as the birds of
the air, whom ONE feedeth, when they cry to Him.

My question had evidently made him thoughtful; he remained silent a
good while.

At last I said: "John, do you remember the woman who spoke so sharply
to you in the alley that day?"

"Yes. I shall never forget anything which happened that day," he
answered, softly.

"She was my nurse once. She is not such a bad woman, though trouble
has sharpened her temper. Her biggest boy Bill, who is gone off for a
soldier, used to drive your cart, you know."

"Yes?" said John, interrogatively; for I was slow in putting forth my
plans--that is, as much of them as it was needful he should know.

"Sally is poor--not so very poor, though. Your twopence a night would
help her; and I dare say, if you'll let me speak to her, you might hav