A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING.
The morning was a fine soft, sunny December day, such as comes
sometimes after a long season of rain and fog, and Tony proposed
taking Dolly out for a walk through the streets, to which Oliver
gladly consented, as it would give to him exactly the undisturbed
leisure he needed for writing his letter to Charlotte. But Dolly was
not in her usual spirits; on the contrary, she was grave and sober,
and at length Tony, thinking she was tired, sat down on a door-step,
and took her upon his knee, to tell her his dream of the wonderful
broom which swept beautifully all by itself. Dolly grew more and
more pensive after hearing this, and sat silent for a long time, with
her small head resting thoughtfully upon her hand, as she looked up
and down the street.
"Dolly 'ud like to buy a boom," she said, at last, "a great, big
boom; and granpa 'ill smoke his pipe again to-night. Dolly's growing
a big girl; and me must be a good girl till mammy comes back. Let us
go and buy a big boom, Tony."
For a few minutes Tony tried to shake her resolution, and persuade
her to change her mind. He even tempted her with the sight of a doll
in a shop-window; but she remained stedfast, and he was not sorry to
give in at last. Since the idea had entered his head that the money
had been given to him for the purpose of buying a broom, he had
rather regretted parting with it, and he felt some anxiety lest he
should not be allowed a second chance. Dolly's light-heartedness had
returned, and she trotted cheerfully by his side as they walked on in
search of a shop where they could make their purchase. It was some
time before they found one, and they had already left behind them the
busier thoroughfares, and had reached a knot of quieter streets where
there were more foot-passengers, for the fine morning had tempted
many people out for pleasure as well as business. Tony was
particular in his choice of a broom, but once bought, he carried it
over his shoulder, and went on his way with Dolly in triumph.
They were passing along chattering busily, when Tony's eyes fell upon
a child about as old as Dolly, standing on the kerb-stone with a
lady, who looked anxiously across to the other side of the broad and
very dirty road, for the day before had been rainy. They were both
finely dressed, and the little girl had on new boots of shining
leather, which it was evident she was very much afraid of soiling.
For a minute Tony only looked on at their perplexity, but then he
went up to them, holding Dolly by the hand.
[Illustration: A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING.]
"If you'll take care of my little girl," he said, "I'll carry your
little girl across the road. I'm wery clean for a street-boy, all
but my feet, 'cos I've got this little girl to take care of; and I'll
do it wery gentle."
Both the lady and the child looked very searchingly into Tony's face.
It was pale and meagre; but there was a pleasant smile upon it, and
his eyes shone down upon the two children with a very loving light in
them. The lady took Dolly's hand in hers, nodding permission for him
to carry her little child over to the other side, and she waited for
him to come back to his own charge. Then she took out her purse, and
put two-pence into his hand.
"Thank ye, my lady," said Tony; "but I didn't do it for that. I'm
only looking out for a crossing. Me and Dolly have bought this
broom, and I'm looking out for a place to make a good crossing in."
"Why not make one here?" asked the lady.
It seemed a good place to try one in; there were four roads meeting,
and a cab-stand close by. Plenty of people were passing to and fro,
and the middle of the road was very muddy. Tony begged a wisp of
straw from a cabman, to make a seat for Dolly in the sunshine under a
blank bit of wall, while he set to work with a will, feeling rather
pleased than not that the broom would not sweep of itself. A
crossing was speedily made, and for two or three hours Tony kept it
well swept. By that time it was twelve o'clock, and Dolly's dinner
would be ready for her before they could reach home, if old Oliver
had not forgotten it. It seemed a great pity to leave his new post
so early. Most passers-by, certainly, had appeared not to see him at
all; but he had already received fivepence halfpenny, chiefly in
halfpence, from ladies who were out for their morning's walk; and
Dolly was enjoying herself very much in the sunshine, receiving all
the attention which he could spare from his crossing. However a
beginning was made. The broom and the crossing were his property;
and Tony's heart beat fast with pride and gladness as he carried the
weary little Dolly all the way home again. He resolved to put by
half of his morning's earnings towards replacing the fourpenny-piece
she had given back to him; or perhaps he would buy her a beautiful
doll, dressed like a real lady.