e wont live, and God will
take her away--she was so steady and good. Yes, I am thankful to those
ladies for what they are teaching her. She never had no chance before.
God bless ye, gintlemen!'

"We climbed again one of these rookeries. It is a back garret. A
dark-eyed, passionate-looking woman is sitting over the little stove,
and one of our little scholars is standing by--one of the prettiest and
brightest children in the school. One of those faces you see in the West
of Ireland, perhaps with some Spanish blood in them; a little oval face,
with soft brown complexion, quick, dark eyes and harsh, black hair. The
mother looked like a woman who had seen much of the worst of life. 'No,
sir, I never did send 'em to school. I know it, they ought to learn, but
I couldn't. I try to shame him sometimes--it's my husband, sir--but he
drinks, and then bates me. Look at that bruise!' and she pointed to her
cheek; 'and I tell him to see what's comin' to his children. There's
Peggy, goes sellin' fruit every night to those cellars in Water Street,
and they're _hells,_ sir. She's learnin' all sorts of bad words there,
and don't get back till eleven or twelve o'clock.' She spoke of a sister
of the little girl, about thirteen years old, and the picture of that
sweet, dark-eyed little thing, getting her education, unconsciously,
every night in those vile cellars of dancing prostitutes, came up to my
mind. I asked why she sent her there, and spoke of the dangers. 'I must,
sir; he makes nothing for me, and if it wasn't for this school, and the
help there, and her earning of a shilling or two shilling in them
places, I should starve. Oh, I wish they was out of this city! Yes, it's
the truth, I would rather have them dead than on the street, but I can't
help it.' I told her of some good families in the country, where we
could place the children. 'Would they git schoolin', sir?' 'Certainly,
that is the first condition. We always look especially to that.' The
little dark eyes sparkled, and she '_should_ like to take care of a baby
so!' The sister now came in, and we talked with her. 'Oh! no, she didn't
like to go to those places; but they only buy there at nights'--and she
seemed equally glad to get a place. So it was arranged that they were to
come up to the office next day, and then get a home in the country. The
little girl now wrapped her thin shawl about her head, and ran along
before us, through the storm, to some of the other children. Th