THE LAST PENNY. 19

 

of his tobacco for the sake of his little Lizzy .
was an act of self-denial entirely out of the
ordinary course, and it brought with it its
own sweet reward.

When Claire got back to his home, Lizzy
was lying at the bottom of the stairs, wait-
ing for his return. He lifted her, as usual,
in his arms, and carried her up to his shop.
After placing her upon the rude couch he
had prepared for her, he sat down upon
his bench, and as he looked upon the white,
shrunken face of his dear child, and met
the fixed, sad gaze of her large earnest eye,
a more than usual tenderness came over
his feelings. Then, without a word, he took
the orange from his pocket, and gave it
into her hand.

Instantly there came over Lizzie’s face a
deep flush of surprise and pleasure. A smile
trembled around her wan lips, and an un-
usual light glittered in her eyes. Eagerly she
placed the fruit to her mouth and drank its
refreshing juice, while every part of her body
seemed quivering with a sense of delight,

X1--2 B2 eS