nd blew shrill from o'er the hili,
And shook his scanty rags;
Whilst cold and sleet benumbed his feet,
As plodding o'er the flags.

The night drew on with thick'ning gloom,--
He hailed each passer by,
For help to save, but nought they gave,--
Then he sat down to cry.

It was a noble portico,
'Neath which the beggar stept,
And none would guess, one in distress
There shiv'ring sat and wept.

But soon the door was open thrown,--
The Dean, a goodly man;
Who lived within, had heard a moan,
And came the cause to scan.

"Ah, little boy, what want you here,
On such a bitter night?
Run home at once, you little dunce,
Or you'll be frozen quite."

The boy looked at his cheery face,
Yet hid his own in dread;
"I meant no harm, the place was warm,
And I am begging bread;

"And if you can a morsel spare,
I'll thank you, oh! so much,
For all day long I've begged and sung,
And never had a touch."

"Step in," then said the kindly man,
"And stand here in the hall,
You shall have bread, poor starving child,
I promise you you shall."

And off he went, and soon returned
With a thin, tempting slice,
And little Jemmy dapt his hands
And cried, "Oh, Sir, that's nice!"

"And what's your name, come tell me that?"
"My name is Jimmy Pool."
"And do you always beg all day
Instead of going to school?

"And can you read, and can you write?"
Poor Jimmy shook his head,
"No, sir, I have to beg all day,
At night I go to bed.

"My mother lays me on the floor,
Upon a little rug;
And I ne'er think of nothing more,
When I'm so warm and snug.

"Sometimes I wake, and when I do,
Unless it's almost day,
She's always there, upon her chair,
Working the night away.

"It isn't much that she can make,--
Sometimes I think she'd die,
But for her little Jimmy's sake,--
There's only her and I."

"And do you ever pray, my boy?"
"No, sir, I never tried,
I never heard a praying word
Since my poor Daddy died."

"Then let me teach you, little boy,
Just come now, let me see,--
I know you'll manage if you try,--
Now say it after me.

"Our Father,"--"Our Father,"--"right,"
"That art in heaven," "go on!"
Jimmy repeated every word,
Until the prayer was done.

Then turning up his hazel eyes,
Which questioning light shone through,
He said, "that prayer sounds very nice,--
Is He your Father too?"

"Yes, He is mine as well as your