Nodding towards the ragged , grimy , forlorn , little creature , dropping asleep over his supper like a tired baby , I said , -- ` Can you imagine our Freddy out alone at this hour , trying to ` work off ' his papers , because afraid to go home till he has ? ' ` I 'd rather not try , ' answered brother John , winking hard , as he stroked the little head beside him , which , by the bye , looked very like a ragged , yellow door-mat . I think brother John winked hard , but I ca n't be sure , for I know I did ; and for a minute there seemed to be a dozen little newsboys dancing before my eyes . ` There goes our car ; and it 's the last , ' said John , looking at me . ` Let it go , but do n't leave the boy ; ' and I frowned at John for hinting at such a thing . ` Here is his car . Now , my lad , bolt your last oyster , and come on . ' ` Good-night , ma'am ! thankee , sir ! ' croaked the grateful little voice , as the child was caught up in John 's strong hands and set down on the car-step . With a word to the conductor , and a small business transaction , we left Jack coiled up in a corner to finish his nap as tranquilly as if it was n't midnight , and a ` knocking-round ' might not await him at his journey 's end . We did n't mind the storm much as we plodded home ; and when I told the story to Rosy-face , next day , his interest quite reconciled me to the sniffs and sneezes of a bad cold . ` If I saw that poor little boy , Aunt Jo , I 'd love him lots ! ' said Freddy , with a world of pity in his beautiful child 's eyes . And , believing that others also would be kind to little Jack , and such as he , I tell the story . When busy fathers hurry home at night , I hope they 'll buy their papers of the small boys , who get ` shoved back ; ' the feeble ones , who grow hoarse , and ca n't ` sing out ; ' the shabby ones , who evidently have only forgetful Sams to care for them ; and the hungry-looking ones , who do n't get what is ` fillin ' . ' For love of the little sons and daughters safe at home , say a kind word , buy a paper , even if you do n't want it ; and never pass by , leaving them to sleep forgotten in the streets at midnight , with no pillow but a stone , no coverlet but the pitiless snow , and not even a tender-hearted robin to drop leaves over them . PATTY 'S PATCHWORK . ' I perfectly hate it ! and something dreadful ought to be done to the woman who invented it , ' said Patty , in a pet , sending a shower of gay pieces flying over the carpet as if a small whirlwind and a rainbow had got into a quarrel .
Puss did not agree with Patty , for , after a surprised hop when the flurry came , she calmly laid herself down on a red square , purring comfortably and XXXXX her yellow eyes , as if she thanked the little girl for the bright bed that set off her white fur so prettily .
believing finish goes got hurry leave ma'am set sing winking