But it's been a hard
struggle! Do you wonder I was sorry when I found you weren't a real
angel, and heaven was still far away?"
Sara, her eyes filled with tears, was about to answer, when Nora Maloney
appeared at the door with her bundles.
"I've got 'em, mum!" she cried, and at sight of her bright face both
girls smiled again.
"That's my good girl!" was Sara's approving comment; "and here, didn't I
promise you something?"
"Yes'm," her eyes snapping, "an orange."
Sara opened a package, and took out two.
"What will you do with this, if I'll give it to you?" pointing to the
extra one.
"I'll hide 'em both till pa gets away, an' then I'll divvy up with Nan
and Jack, and Ma and baby," was the ready answer.
Sara handed over the two yellow globes.
"That's right! I'm glad you're such a generous little girl, and I am
much obliged to you for doing the errand. Good-by."
"Good-by'm; thankee mum!" was Nora's hearty answer, as she hurried home
to show her treasures, before it should be necessary to hide them from
the father whom drink had transformed into a brute; to be avoided if
possible, and if not, to be fed and cajoled, then, if still implacable,
fled from in terror as from any other ferocious, untamable beast.
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