an' went out, an'
I've not been able to find 'im since."

"Well, take comfort, Molly," said the city missionary, for such he was;
"I've just seen him taken up by the police and carried to the station as
drunk and incapable. That, you know, will not bring him to very great
trouble, and I have good reason to believe it will be the means of
saving him from much worse."

He glanced at the little girl as he spoke.

"Tottie, dear," said Mrs Bones, "you go out for a minute or two; I want
to speak with Mr Sterling."

"Yes, mother, and I'll run round to the bank; I've got twopence more to
put in," said Tottie as she went out.

"Your lesson has not been lost, sir," said the poor woman, with a faint
smile; "Tottie has a good bit o' money in the penny savings-bank now.
She draws some of it out every time Abel brings us to the last gasp, but
we don't let 'im know w'ere it comes from. To be sure, 'e don't much
care. She's a dear child is Tottie."

"Thank the Lord for _that_, Molly. He is already answering our
prayers," said Mr Sterling. "Just trust Him, keep up heart, and
persevere; we're _sure_ to win at last."

When Tottie Bones left the dark and dirty den that was the only home she
had ever known, she ran lightly out into the neighbouring street, and,
threading her way among people and vehicles, entered an alley, ascended
a stair, and found herself in a room which bore some resemblance to an
empty schoolroom. At one corner there was a desk, at which stood a
young man at work on a business-looking book. Before him were several
children of various ages and sizes, but all having one characteristic in
common--the aspect of extreme poverty. The young man was a gratuitous
servant of the public, and the place was, for the hour at least, a penny
savings-bank.

It was one of those admirable institutions, which are now numerous in
our land, and which derive their authority from Him who said, "Gather up
the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." Noble work was being
done there, not so much because of the mere pence which were saved from
the grog and tobacco shops, as because of the habits of thrift which
were being formed, as well as the encouragement of that spirit of
thoughtful economy, which, like the spirit of temperance, is one of the
hand-maids of religion.

"Please, sir," said Tottie to the penny banker, "I wants to pay in
tuppence."

She handed over her bank-book with the money. Receiving the former
bac