Queer Stories for Boys and Girls

could have sustained her family if she had had a machine. But fingers are not worth much against iron wheels. And so, while ot

lly. He had but one eye, and he turned his head round in a curious way to look at you out of it. That dreadful one eye always seemed to be going to shoot.

ether; but the wolf stood always at the door. Sewing by hand did not bring in quite money enough to buy bread and clothes for four well children, and pay the expenses of poor little Harry

rn, it was with a trembling heart. She watched the hard man, who didn't mean to be so hard, but who couldn't tell the difference between a good face and a counte

sounded for all the world as if he

ed and white in turns. Mr. Lampeer, who was on the lookout for any s

?" This was spoken

ed the widow, for her vo

hildren hav

with their ages, telling him of little Ha

e boy to run errands about the livery stable. I'll send you some provisions and coal to-day; but you must let the children go. I'll come to your house in a few days. Don't object; I won't hear a word. If you're as poor as

e of her girl in such a place? And then to send George, who had to wait on Harry-to send him away forever was to shut out all hope of ever being in

od was eaten for breakfast, and Widow Martin sat down to wait. Her mind was in a horrible state of doubt. To starve to death together, or to give up her children! That was the question which many a poor mother's heart has had to decide. Mrs. Martin soon became so nervous she could not sew. She could not keep back the tears, and when Susie and George put their arms about her

in vain that the widow told him that if she lost them she could do no work for her own support, and must be forever a pauper. Lampeer had an idea tha

as a nurse and errand-girl for the tavern-keeper's wife, and your boy will have plenty to eat and get to

ave medicine and food, or Harry wil

lds out of them impatiently, in a way that seemed to say, "You

s going on, cried bitterly. Mrs. Martin took the pen and was about to sign. But it was necessary to

he pen. She thought of Abraham with the knife in his hand. She hoped that an angel would call o

so weak that she let the pen fall, and sank into a chair. Lampeer, who stood near

llie Blake and