The little girl was for a moment shocked, then she felt a tender pity for the poor boy.
"O Jimmy, don't you know who God is?" she gently asked.
He shook his head; so she went on—
"God is our Father in heaven," and she pointed upwards. "He made these sweet flowers, and us also, and He sent His dear Son to die for us, so that all our sins should be taken away. And when Jesus (that is the name of God's dear Son) was here on earth, He gave sight to the blind, healed the sick, and was for ever doing good; but now He is in heaven, and still He loves us, oh, so dearly, and wishes us all to come to Him."
"Does He want me?" asked the outcast doubtfully; "He don't know me."
"Oh yes, He knows you, Jimmy, and loves you too; once Jesus blessed little children like you and me, and said, 'Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'"
"The kingdom of heaven!" repeated poor benighted Jimmy musingly—it was the first time he had ever heard those blessed words—"where be that, Polly?"
"It is where God lives, and where we shall go when we die if we believe in the Saviour and love and pray to God."
"How do you pray?" he asked, fixing his keen eyes upon her, as though hungering for the bread of life.
But before she could reply, a loud, harsh voice was heard uttering frightful oaths, and a lumbering tread came stumbling up the cellar stairs. The poor boy knew full well who was coming, and with a terrified look started up and hobbled off, supported by his clumsy crutches, round the corner of the house, whilst Pollie, who went in terror of the drunken woman, ran hastily up the dirty staircase, which served for all the inmates of the crowded house.