"By and by the boy was on his feet again, his face shining, and as clean as soap and water could make it. His eyes had done smarting long before this, and twinkled like two stars. His hair, which had been in one solid mat of tangled curls, was nicely combed, and lay, not smooth indeed, but in fine ringlets all over his head.
"Mrs. Varney was much pleased, and she stooped down and gave him a hearty kiss.
"'There, Billy,' she exclaimed, in a triumphant tone, again holding the mirror before him, 'look there, and tell me who that is, if you can; I guess you never see that boy afore.'
"Billy's eyes opened wider and wider. He looked at the clean white face and sparkling orbs with delight; but he did not feel at all acquainted with those features. Then he gazed down on his new jacket and laughed.
"Mrs. Varney laughed, too; but she knew by this time Miss Allen would be expecting her scholar; so she said, 'Come, I'll show you the way.'"
[CHAPTER VII.]
BILLY'S CLEAN FACE.
I CAN'T tell you how surprised Miss Allen was, when she found this was really Billy. She seated him among the scholars, by her side, and then gave him his second lesson.
"This was the story of the Saviour's love to little children. Billy sat with parted lips, and listened as if for his life.
"But I must hasten to tell you how the poor boy, after school was dismissed, found himself near his own home. He lived in what is called a tenement house, and in the one entry where he lodged there were, only think of it, ninety persons!