"  I  want  papa,"  sobbed  Nelly,  as  she  took
the  cake  from  Bertie's  chubby  hand,  who  looked
longingly  at  it  for  a  minute,  and  then  let  Alice
lead  him  down-stairs.  (l/^

"  He  will  come  very  soon  to  his  little  girl,
but  Nelly  must  try  and  remember  poor  papa
has  been  out  working  so  hard  all  day,  seeing
such  a  number  of  poor  sick  people,  and  walking
a  long,  long  way.  And  oh  !  what  do  you  think,
Nelly,  as  I  was  coming  out  of  the  baker's  shop,
I  met  such  a  poor  little  girl,  scarcely  older  than
you,  and  she  looked  so  wretched  and  miserable,
with  only  an  old  sack  to  cover  her,  and  such  a
hungry  look  in  her  eyes.  She  told  me  she  had
a  poor  sick  brother,  whom  I  shall  ask  papa  to
go  and  see,  and  I  daresay  he  has  no  nice  bed
like  this  to  sleep  in,  and  nobody  to  take  care  of
him.  Aren't  you  very  sorry  for  him,  Nelly  ?  "

''Yes,"  said  Nelly,  for  the  time  forgetting
her  own  pain  and  weakness  in  the  interest  of
the  story;  and  Margaret  went  on  lengthening


The  Battle  of  Life.  23

out  her  tale  until  the  sponge  cake  was  eaten,
and  Alice  returned  and  set  her  at  liberty  to  go
down  to  her  tea.
