A Girl of the People

er to her surprise, saw that her father did not object to doing the thing respectably for his dead wife. She and the little boys and Granger himself, who

inly man, with eyes closely set in his head, and a hat

, Dent," s

rned to hi

u, Bet? You might ha' the mann

d swollen, for she had

" she said; "but I ain't in no mo

er ready for Dent and me-we'll be looking in presently;" and Bet,

ll childish chatter. Presently she hailed a passing tramcar, and delighted her little brothers by taking them for a ride outside. The three got down at the nearest point to Sparrow Street, which was the name of Bet's old address. They reached the house and went upstairs. The one room where they had a

two little fellows into the room, "you ha' got t

w her little brothers in front of her. They lo

ng in his eager, quick, bird-like w

and across the ea

o into that by-and-bye. Now we have a deal to do, and very little ti

himself up to his full tiny height, "I don't mind, no

little speak

th all my heart. There, boys, don't strangle me," for they both fell upon her

promise, and we'll keep our words. We'd die afore we broke 'em!" concluded

es, mother's with God. He's keeping her comfortable now, and she have forgot us all. Mother's no good

ubdued now. Their thin little faces grew a shade whiter. The two pairs of eyes gave a rapid

oys, I'm going to take you away from father. And the only thing you ha' got to obey me in is when I say 'hide!' you are to

y. "We promise, we promise true. Hurr

ack. We must be out of t

s. It took far less than ten minutes to make a bundle of the poor possessions. At the last moment Bet went over to the bed

then, slinging the bundle across her shoulder, s

se she met her landlord, a

e you off to?" he said, in

an tell my father-he'll be in presently-as I ain't a-coming

surprised answer, but his rude lau

archway that any one could approach Paradise Row, This charming and most suitably-named place of residence consisted of twenty houses at one side of the street and twenty at the other. The houses were high, and the street between was not more than ten feet across. There were no pathways, and no apparent drains of any sort. The houses got closer together as they approached the sky, so that it would not be impo

t the little blue-eyed captain was silent, drawing himself up

paused at a do

g before a wash-tub. Her arms were bare to the elbows, and covered with suds. Her blue winsey petticoat was tucked up above her ankles; her large feet were destitute of shoes and stockings. She had a broad face, a snub nose, and two twinkling good-humored eyes. Notwithstanding her dirt-and she was very dirty-the first glance into her face gave o

is one is Cap'n, and this one is Gen'ral. They're rare 'uns for fighting, po

eed, it's the truth I'm telling you, love, when I say that not a purtier or nicer little room could be found

rying her bundle, and the boys followed in the rear. The stairs were slipper

ook a fancy to you, honey; and that's as true as my name is Molly O'Flaherty. 'Tis the Irish you have about you here, love-'tis them as is thrue to the backbone as is your neighbors, dear. Fight for you! honey,-oh, yes, we'll fight. Them boys, why they're Mother Bunch's b

nstairs; and Bet, her eyes bright, and a spot of intens

l face Mother Bunch? Yes, laddies, the room is small and close, and horrid and dirty; and I hate it, but I won't give way, and I won't cry. I've

window, was illuminated by brave, handsome Bet's presence, and by the comforting knowledge that the wretched man who called himself their