* * * * *

Charley was a little boy, but he knew very well how to pity the poor,
because he had a kind heart; and he knew very well that the poor
laborers he saw in the streets were not bad because they were meanly
dressed and worked hard: he knew they were men, and had hearts like his
father and mother, and when they were dressed their appearance was very
respectable, and at church no people were more devout or better
mannered.

One morning--it was winter--the sun shone down from the sky, and melted
the snow and ice in the street and on the tops of the houses, so that it
came tumbling down upon the sidewalks, and the streets were overflowing
with the great flood. Charley was looking out of the window to see it
fall, and the people dodge and scamper along to save themselves from the
great slides that would have been very dangerous if they had hit any one
on the head. He was thinking too of the poor little ragged boys, as they
went by, some with matches, some with newspapers, and some with their
hats in their hands begging, and he wished in his heart that he could do
something to help them all; but he was but a little boy, and scarcely
knew how to take care of himself. As he continued to watch the
passers-by, there came along a poor chimney-sweep, with his soot-bag
and brush; his feet were very red, and looked as if they were bitten
with the frost, for his shoes only half-covered his poor swollen feet,
and he had no stockings on. His blanket that hung over his shoulders was
black as the chimney, and his face looked like soot.

[Illustration: CHIMNEY-SWEEP]

Charley was watching him as he went along crying, "Sweep, ho! sweep!"
when down came one of these great slides right upon his head. He fell
flat in a moment, and there he lay as one dead, covered all over with
the cold snow and ice. Charley rushed into the street in a moment, and
screamed for help, but before he could reach the sweep a good man had
raised him up, and was kindly brushing his clothes. He was not much
hurt, but severely stunned. Charley took him by the hand and led him
into the house, and gave him some dry clothes, and put some stockings
and shoes upon his feet, and set before him a warm breakfast besides.

The poor chimney-sweep wept--for so much kindness had touched his heart,
and he sobbed out his thanks as well as he could, and took his leave
after receiving some small pieces of silver, which. Charley's mother