dkercher, and there he is.'

'Thank you so much, dear Jack,' said Poppy gratefully. 'But however did
you get it?'

'Why it was old Sellers, the greengrocer, gave him to me,' said
Jack,--'him as has a shop in Newcastle Street; he called me in and he
says, "Do you want a job, my lad?" and when I told him "Yes, I do," he
set me to clean out his apple-room, where he stores his apples in
winter. So he took me in, and it _was_ a sight--such a sight as _you_
never saw, Poppy! Scores of 'em all rotten and smelling. Ay, they _were_
horrid!' said Jack, making a face, 'all but half a dozen that were quite
good. Well, I picked 'em out, Poppy, and took 'em to old Sellers, and he
gave me half of 'em: so I ate one myself, and I gave one to Sally, and I
kept the biggest of 'em all for you.'

'It _was_ good of you, Jack,' said Poppy.

'Well, eat it then,' said the boy--'they're very nice--as good as can
be,' and he smacked his lips at the recollection.

But Poppy had rolled her apple up in her pinafore, and did not seem
inclined to begin to eat it.

'Whatever are you keeping it for?' said Jack, in rather a disappointed
voice.

'Jack,' said Poppy, stopping short, and looking up in his face, 'is it
for my very own?'

'Why, yes, Poppy--of course.'

'To do just whatever I like with it?'

'Why, yes, of course,' said Jack again.

'Then I shall give it to my grandmother,' said Poppy; 'she's come
to-day, and she's ever so good to us; and God sent her, and she's
cleaned the house beautiful. I shall give it to my grandmother, Jack.'

'All right,' he said; 'only I'd like you to have just one bite yourself,
Poppy, to see how good it is.'

He was quite satisfied when Poppy promised to ask her grandmother to
give her the last bite; and the little girl hastened home, feeling very
happy, and picturing out to herself what a great treat that big apple
would be to the old woman.

'Here,' she said, holding it out to her, 'it's all for you,
grandmother--only Jack wants me _just_ to have the last bite.'

'All for me,' repeated the old woman, as she looked up from the work she
had in her hand--a little old torn frock of Poppy's, which she was
mending.

'Yes,' said the child, 'all for you.'

'Well, it's a beauty, I'm sure!' said grandmother, turning it over in
her hand; 'but you see, my dear, many's the long day since I've eat an
apple. Why, my little lass, what can an old body with only two teeth
do?'

'Do try, granny,' said Poppy, ho