The Project Gutenberg EBook of Alone In London, by Hesba Stretton

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Alone In London

Author: Hesba Stretton

Release Date: April 27, 2004 [EBook #12172]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALONE IN LONDON ***

Produced by Joel Erickson, Tom Harris, Dave Morgan, Mary Meehan and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

Alone in London

By Hesba Stretton

Author of "Jessica's First Prayer," "Little Meg's Children," etc.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. NOT ALONE

II. WAIFS AND STRAYS

III. A LITTLE PEACEMAKER

IV. OLD OLIVER'S MASTER

V. FORSAKEN AGAIN

VI. THE GRASSHOPPER A BURDEN

VII. THE PRINCE OF LIFE

VIII. NO PIPE FOR OLD OLIVER

IX. A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING

X. HIGHLY RESPECTABLE

XI. AMONG THIEVES

XII. TONY'S WELCOME

XIII. NEW BOOTS

XIV. IN HOSPITAL

XV. TONY'S FUTURE PROSPECTS

XVI. A BUD FADING

XVII. A VERY DARK SHADOW

XVIII. NO ROOM FOR DOLLY

XIX. THE GOLDEN CITY

XX. A FRESH DAY DAWNS

XXI. POLLY

CHAPTER I.

NOT ALONE.

It had been a close and sultry day--one of the hottest of the
dog-days--even out in the open country, where the dusky green leaves had
never stirred upon their stems since the sunrise, and where the birds had
found themselves too languid for any songs beyond a faint chirp now and
then. All day long the sun had shone down steadily upon the streets of
London, with a fierce glare and glowing heat, until the barefooted
children had felt the dusty pavement burn under their tread almost as
painfully as the icy pavement had frozen their naked feet in the winter.
In the parks, and in every open space, especially about the cool splash
of the fountains at Charing Cross, the people, who had escaped from the
crowded and unventilated back streets, basked in the sunshine, or sought
every corner where a shadow could be found. But in the alleys and slums
the air was heavy with heat and dust, and thick vapours floated up and
down, charged with sickening smells from th