Rogues and Vagabonds

in, and Gertie and the animals

which retirement from business is supposed to give. Towards the close of his illness, and just before he was allowed to go out, a vigorous playfulness had set in, which was very badly appreciated by the inhabitan

their legs, crouched in corners and behind

w better than that. But he swore fearfully, and that frightened Gertie worse than the boots and the pillo

'd be company,' he said. 'He didn't want to lie alone, with no end of horrible things dancing across his brain.' Gertie's little room was upstairs. She had slept the

r, with an open shop, was let to a gentleman in the old clothes line, who shut it

ould lie and curse to his heart's content, and

ng him. Sometimes Heckett would lose his temper and swear at the bird, then the bird would swear back at him, and a cursing match, not to be equalled in the Dials, would take place. Heckett would get so mad while he lay there helpless, that he would threaten the bird with summary vengean

d, but the sense of the parrot's m

reased in vigour, till a person, listening outside, would have believed that

ot more uncomfortable every day. The child had one of those sensitive nat

look upon them as her playmates. Into their ears she poured her troubles. It was her task to

dfather she expected it from, but that this wicked, deprav

tand. She blushed sometimes when she was alone with her pets to think t

ch modesty and good sense, amid such surroundings, was a m

old man was out. She came first with the police to look for a

n. So she found out when Gertie was alone, and came to see her. She was a good customer, for she bought canaries,

e was most likely to be alone, and she made various excuses to visi

tlines of the beautiful Christian faith, and under her fostering care the

rprised at first, but he had put it down to the contrariness of the female nature, and had not troubled himself to inquire further into the matter. Once when he was aske

slight mystery. What that mystery was the reader will learn in due course. Sh

oor child's life. When the day came round for Miss Adrian's visit, Gertie would wait anxiously for grandfathe

that she might come in. If Gertie was alone she would pass

tory, it will save the male writer much vexation of spirit. Ladies can tell you at a glance the colour of everybody's hair and eyes, the modelling of the chin, the expression of the lips, and the character of the nose. The present writer, if asked suddenly, when away from his domestic circle, the colour of his nearest female relative's eyes, would h

cts of the modern belle's dressing-table; a small, almost baby mouth, that seemed specially designed to spread a perpetual smile over the face; brown

hine out from the soft grey eyes, over the fair cheeks spread the glow of health and the smile of innocence, listen to the gentle words of sympathy with all God's creatures that fall so softly from the well-shaped lips; let the inner beauty of her noble, loving nature shine through and

beauty, and left upon her features that gentle look

een unworthy of her. She believed him to be an honourable Englis

with loving words and gentle pity. She bade him farewell, and buried her unhappy love in the innermost chamber of her heart. She bowed beneath the blow, a

en lived for a man to her suffering fellow-creatures. She had a hearty sympathy with the poor and op

acket-of -tea-dust-once-a-month, and tracts-once-a-week system of mission work she despised. She did not bribe people to be hypocrites, neither did she have holy names in her mouth in season

e beauties of the child's nature blossomed in the sunshine of her

ndfather; but she found out for a certainty that she would be forbidden the house, and so fo

Lion knew about them. She was beginning to write a little now, and she had a s

und and the spaniel and the bulldog always wagged their tails when Ruth c

hey were always being sold and going away and being replaced by other dogs before they had learned pro

Lion's neck and say her lessons over to him, and expla

al. Unfortunately, there was a member of the menageri

ieted with lumps of sugar. He rarely swore before her. Gertie was very thankful for that. The parro

Gertie that England was an island, surrounded by water, t

her mistress would look over it, and Ruth laughed

ltiplication table, and said, 'Twice one

Polly's vocabulary. Doubtless she selected the

gone Gertie would le

less you repent you'll go to the bad place. You must ha

ieked Polly,

nd nothing that's wicked can

' shriek

ed to Lion for comfort. He at least was g

mple he sets you,' exclaimed Gert

errupted the

ttle foot. 'He's a dear, kind, loving dog. But we forgive yo

rcely that Gertie seized Lion by the collar and led him out of the room, offering up a little pr

andoned, but from time to time Gertie had exchan

go out as usual, and Gertie was delighted to think she cou

l of his old habits, was fraught with consequences so serio