She had come running from some place in the neighborhood. Consequently, though she was very light, she was out of breath, and could not speak at first, as she stood panting and wiping her arms. "O, here's Charley!" said the boy. The child he was nursing stretched forward its arms and cried out to be taken by Charley. The little girl took it, in a womanly sort of manner belonging to the apron and the bonnet, and stood looking at us over the burden that clung to her most affectionately. "Is it possible," whispered my guardian, as he put a chair for the little creature, and got her to sit down with her load, the boy holding to her apron, "that this child works for the rest? "Charley, Charley!" he questioned. "How old are you?" "Over thirteen, sir," replied the child. "O, what a great age!" said my guardian. "And do you live here alone with these babies, Charley?" "Yes, sir," returned the child, looking up into his face with perfect confidence, "since father died." "And how do you live, Charley," said my guardian, "how do you live?" "Since father died, sir, I've gone out to work. I'm out washing to-day." "God help you, Charley!" said my guardian. "You're not tall enough to reach the tub!" "In pattens I am, sir," she said quickly. "I've got a high pair as belonged to mother. Mother died just after Emma was born," said the child, glancing at the face upon her bosom. "Then father said I was to be as good a mother to her as I could. And so I tried. And so I worked at home, and did cleaning, and nursing, and washing, for a long time before I began to go out. And that's how I know how, don't you see, sir?" "And do you often go out?" "As often as I can, sir," said Charley, opening her eyes and smiling, "because of earning sixpences and shillings!" "And do you always lock the babies up when you go out?" "To keep 'em safe, sir, don't you see?" said Charley. "Mrs. Blinder comes up now and then, and Mr. Gridley comes up sometimes, and perhaps I can run in sometimes, and they can play you know, and Tom ain't afraid of being locked up, are you, Tom?" "No--o," said Tom stoutly. "When it comes on dark, the lamps are lighted down in the courts, and they show up here quite bright--almost quite bright. Don't they, Tom?" "Yes, Charley," said Tom, "almost quite bright." "Then he's as good as gold," said the little creature, oh, in such a motherly, womanly way. "And when Emma's tired, he puts her to bed. And when he's tired he goes to bed himself. And when I come home and light the candle, and has a bit of supper, he sits up again and has it with me. Don't you, Tom?" "O yes, Charley!" said Tom. "That I do!" and either in this glimpse of the great pleasure of his life, or in gratitude and love for Charley, he laid his face among the scanty folds of her frock, and passed from laughing into crying.