180 Tom Seven Years Old.

shoes and stockings at once, and go and fetch
something for your dinner.”

They said good-bye, and went away.

“Poor little girl!” cried Tom, as soon as
they were outside; “she works and never
plays—only fancy, mamma! And often has
no dinner at all! Why, I found it hard
enough to do without butter fora week! But
they're happy to-night, aren’t they ?”

“Yes,” answered she; “we must go and
see them again soon.”

When ‘Tom reached home, he found his
own tea laid ready in the dining-room. He
could not. help thinking of the cupboard in
the poor little girl’s house, with only half-a-
loaf of bread in it. Here was not only bread,
but butter, and jam, and milk, and sugar, and
tea, and as much as he liked to take of them!
So many things, and she had so few! So
when he had shut his eyes, and given thanks
before beginning, he added ina whisper to
God—

“And please let everybody have as good a
tea as me!”