Little Miss Joy

cross the row to her own door, Mrs

he windows, blinds were drawn up, doors opened, and

nd sweeping, and about half-past six she called a boy from one of th

her sad face, and asked, "

ng to spread the news that he had ru

but said to himself, "Something i

ience asked, under her br

ouse, for he did not wis

erved, and it is just likely that the boy is aboard one. Don't you think me unfeeling now

ar it?" Patience said, in a voice that filled the honest hea

here was bad for all parties. T

-because she hated him. Oh, I can

ep of the very narrow staircase which led into the st

in a voice of repressed emotion. "He never came h

urn up. I never knew one in my life that was lost. Mark

nckney: you'll excuse me for saying so," said Mr

please to take yourself off now, for I've no time to spend in gossip;" and Miss Pinckney began her operations by flappi

er, who was listening to the few words of comfort George had to bestow. "Look here!" she exclaimed; "look here! The secret's o

ok one step into t

it? He is the last boy I

a good boy! I only wish he had never

yourself, and let us have a loo

drawer in my key basket. I always locked it-always. He got the key and o

ter Amelia." Poor Patience was calm now. "It is impossible," she c

indeed. He stole the money, and

then he had sat with his books till supper; and then came the uproar with his aunt, and he had rushed away-straight out of the house. He

n his face deep sympathy, and al

on-fit against you-but I believe him to be innocent. You had better leave things as you found them, and I'll call in a policem

ds-came at George Paterson's bidding, and looked with a profes

y of box fastened to it by a string

N

up and takes down

e, and," said Miss Pinckney with emph

n gave a pro

to examine the l

's the

r the last thing, and lock the shop-door

now it-I

he policeman said, twisting the key of

. He and I had quarrelled a bit, for he was the most impudent and trying young vagab

t try to track the youngster, find out what ship he sailed in; and w

ted, saying to George, who shouldered his tools and f

t boy lived," was the rejoinder,