"Oh! two burglars!" cried the child in delight. "And may I reform him,
too?"
"I think you'd better begin with me," said Samuel.
"Will he go away, do you think?"
"Yes--I think he's gone now."
"But you--you won't go yet, will you?" asked the child anxiously.
"You'll stay and talk to me?"
"If you wish"--gasped the boy.
"You aren't afraid of me?" she asked.
"Not of you," said he. "But if some one else should waken."
"No, you needn't think of that. Mamma and grandma both lock their
doors at night. And papa's away."
"Who sleeps there?" asked Samuel, pointing to the door he had been
watching.
"That's papa's room," said the child; and the other gave a great gasp
of relief.
"Come," said the little girl; and she seated herself in one of the big
leather armchairs. "Now," she continued, "tell me how you came to be a
burglar."
"I had no money," said Samuel, "and no work."
"Oh!" exclaimed the child; and then, "What is your work?"
"I lived on a farm all my life," said he. "My father died and then I
wanted to go to the city. I was robbed of all my money, and I was here
without any friends and I couldn't find anything to do at all. I was
nearly starving."
"Why, how dreadful!" cried the other. "Why didn't you come to see
papa?"
Your father?" said he. "I didn't want to beg--"
"It wouldn't have been begging. He'd have been glad to help you.
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