WILL FOSTER OF THE FERRY. A Story AGNES GIBERNE. 35. SENT TO COVENTRY; or, The Boys of Highbeech M. L. RIDLEY. 36. FROGGY'S LITTLE BROTHER. A Story BRENDA. 37. TWICE RESCUED. The Story of Tino N. CORNWALL. 38. IN THE SUNLIGHT. A Year of my Life's Story CATHARINE SHAW. 39. OLD CHICKWEED; or, The Story told E. A. BLAND. 40. THROUGH THE STORM; or, The Lord's Prisoners EMILY S. HOLT. 41. THE OLD HOUSE IN THE CITY; or, Not Forsaken AGNES GIBERNE. 42. KING'S SCHOLARS; or, Faithful unto Death M. L. RIDLEY. 43. JEAN LINDSAY, the Vicar's Daughter EMILY BRODIE. 44. SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. An Old Time Story M. L. SITWELL. 45. MOTHER-MEG. The Story of Dickie's Attic CATHARINE SHAW. =LONDON: JOHN F. SHAW & CO., 48, Paternoster Row, E.C.= =_And all Booksellers_=. 1806. [Illustration] CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. PITILESS 7 II. THE WEDDING-DAY 13 III. THE LOST BROOCH 22 IV. ROYAL CHILDREN 32 V. A FEW SHIRTS 41 VI. A LODGER 49 VII. THE EMPTY PAN 60 VIII. GONE 70 IX. MEG'S TEA-PARTY 84 X. TURNING A NEW LEAF 97 XI. A MIDNIGHT BARGAIN 108 XII. "INASMUCH" 117 XIII. DICKIE'S ATTIC 131 XIV. IN THE HOSPITAL 144 XV. THE EMPTY CRADLE 156 XVI. "THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE" 166 XVII. CHERRY'S APOLOGY 178 XVIII. MEG'S SAVINGS 188 XIX. LISTENING 200 XX. EARTH'S SONG AND HEAVEN'S ECHO 213 [Illustration] MOTHER-MEG: THE STORY OF DICKIE'S ATTIC. CHAPTER I. PITILESS. "Put 'im down, 'e can walk as well as anythink." It was a cold day in May, when the sun was hidden behind leaden clouds, and the wind swept along the streets as if determined to clear them of every loiterer who should venture to assure himself that it was not March, and could not be so cold. The few people who had ventured out in spring clothing bid fair to "repent it many a day," and those who were happy enough to have winter wraps drew them closer, and hurried along, the sooner to get into some shelter. The omnibus men dashed their arms across their breasts for warmth, and everybody, gentle or simple, looked nipped up with the strong east wind. "Put 'im down," said a hard-featured woman, who was walking slowly along by the side of the road; "it won't matter 'is walkin' now."