Little Pollie / Or a Bunch of Violets

a soft little voice, just outside the Bank of Englan

ard not that childish voice amidst the confused din of omnibus and cabs, and so

, clad in a black frock and a straw hat, well worn, it is true, but free from tatters, with a piece of crape neatly fastened around it, had any one amidst t

ular London arab, one who from her very cradle (if ever she possessed such a luxury) had battled through life heedless of all r

replied little Pol

her. "My eye! yer won't mak

to see me, not even h

to get on in the world, yer must make a noise somehow. Make the folks hear; nev

trying to appear as though merely out on pleasure, though they knew full wel

air, from which the net had fallen, following the example of the shawl; and as she reached the somewhat startled youths, who almost stumbled

s, this last bun

derstand Sally's logic, but she saw plainly that the sweet vi

eft. Why, ten more bunches! Come, give us two or three, I'll get rid of 'em f

f the dainty little bunches tied up so neatly by Pol

as watching her movements, she sold them, speedily returning with the money to li

pennies. My! ain't yer rich. Now I'm off to Covent Garding to the old 'oo

he crowd, leaving the child to manage for herself, and v

st attempt at selling flow

ming, sometimes running half-way up the lane to meet him, and he would perch her on his shoulder, where she felt, oh! so safe, and bring her home to mother. Or she would climb his knee as he sat by the fire, and watch dear mother get the nice supper; but father

lan of Pollie starting in business.

when some one touched her arm softly, and then she looked up into the sweet f

ets, my child?" she asked;

, ma

let me have t

hanking her, placed the money for them in the child's basket, and

e basket to see how many bunches were still left, she beheld a shilling shining amidst the dingy coppers. Eager to return the money to its rightful owner, little Pollie

quite out of breath, and at the same t

aimed the indignant footman, taking

ring her servant speak thus, and s

he matter?

," cried Pollie, hol

the violets y

d excitedly; "those flowers are but three-pence-a p

into the little girl's fl

not keep th

s not mine," w

e money was correct. You did not say

erentially, "and He would have been a

ked the lady softly, as she

" was th

estioned, perceiving for the firs

ther is so ill and weak," and the

lady compassionately. "What is your name?" she

the desired

oney for the violets; and take this shilling: it will buy somet

then stepping into the carriage was driven away, leaving Pollie in a

e home to mother, and I've two bunches of violets still