- PATSYS POND LILIES 



Patsy and Bob never had seen their father 

 since that memorable day, and Bob had man- 

 fully supported himself and clever little Patsy. 



One summer day he started out as usual from 

 the ell-room in which a neighbor allowed the 

 children to sleep. The pallor of the boy's face 

 and the increasing sharpness of his features told 

 the story of his unselfish love for the little 

 sister, to whom he tried to be both mother and 

 father. With his kit for blacking boots under 

 his arm and a big bundle of morning papers, 

 lie cheerily commenced his day's work. 



"Blamed if I wouldn't like to buy one of 

 those pretty dresses for Patsy and some of them 

 gay ribbons to tie up her hair. Then I could 

 get her into the kindergarten, sure 'nough, and 

 she could tell me all about it nights when it's 

 too hot to sleep," he wistfully planned. 



Turning from a hasty glance at the shop 

 window to cry his papers, Bob saw a young 

 girl on the opposite side of the street trying 

 to attract the attention of a gentleman whose 

 carriage had just driven to the curbstone. 

 From the other direction a heavily loaded beer 

 wagon was coming rapidly near, drawn by a 



