THE LAST PENNY. 15

 

laid her upon the little bed that was al-
ways ready for her, and once more resumed
his work.

Claire’s mind had been awakened from
its usual leaden quiet. The wants of his
failing child aroused it into disturbed acti-
vity. Thought beat, for a while, like a caged
bird, against the bars of necessity, and then
fluttered back into panting imbecility.

At last the boots were done, and with
his thoughts now more occupied with the
supply of tobacco he was to obtain than
with any thing else, Claire started to take
them home. As he walked along he passed
a fruit-shop, and the thought of Lizzy came
into his mind.

“If we could afford her some of these
nice things!” he said to himself. ‘“ They
would be food and medicine both, to the
dear child. But,” he added, with a sigh,
“we are poor!—we are poor! Such dainties
are not for the children of poverty.”

He passed along, until he came to the
alehouse where he intended to get his pen-

xI.—B