A FRIEND IN NEED The two boys were awake early next for business begins early in Covent Garden, and they soon had to leave the shelter of their barrel, for barrels had to be used for other purposes than to serve as bedrooms for little boys. Besides, Bob felt that he had no time now that he had Willie to provide for. "Come, Willie," he said, "we must have a wash the fust thing, and then we must earn some money to buy our breakfast with." "Why, where can we wash?" asked Willie. "Oh, I know a fust-rate place," answered Rob. "I think it was just made for boys like you and me wot ain't got no 'ome." Willie placed his hand in his brother's, and off the two boys ran, until they reached Trafalgar Square. Willie shouted with glee at the sight of so much water. Never had he enjoyed himself so much as he did that morning as he splashed about in the water, and never had he felt so clean as he did when he had finished. "Now," said Bob, "jist you run up and down 'ere as fast as you can; yer'll soon dry." Willie did as he was told, and soon felt dry and quite hungry; but he was a thoughtful little fellow, and determined to wait bravely until Bob could get something for him to eat. "Are yer dry, Willie?" asked Bob. "Should jist think I am," replied Willie; "feel me." "Come on, then; let's go and see if we can find some work. Ain't yer 'ungry?" "Little." said Willie briefly. Dame Fortune was kind to these poor little waifs this morning, for they had not gone far on their travels when Willie's sharp eye spied something on the ground. Eagerly he ran forward, and picked up a small silver coin, which he held up with high glee for his brother to see. "Why, Willie," exclaimed Bob, "you are lucky! That's a real silver sixpence. Now you shall have a jolly good breakfast." "Oh, yes," said Willie, "I am 'ungry. Ain't yer Bob?" With light hearts the two boys went on, talking eagerly as to how the sixpence should be spent. To these two poor little street arabs it seemed almost unlimited wealth, for never in their short lives had they had so much money to spend. Bob was determined to give Willie a treat, so, without saying where they were going, he led the way to St. James's Park, where they found a man in charge of a stall, with a cow standing near by. With a very important air Bob marched up to the man, and asked for two glasses of milk. The man looked at them rather suspiciously. In their ragged clothes they looked very different from most of the people who came to buy milk. "Have you any money?" he asked. "'Course we 'ave," answered Bob proudly. "Show 'im, Willie." Willie held up his hand and showed the man the shining coin. "Why, where, did you get that?" asked the man. That's a lot of money for a little chap like you to have." "I found it," said Willie, "and now we're goin' to 'ave some breakfast, ain't we, Bob?" The children ate their meal ravenously, the man watching them meanwhile.