Dilly heard her father and began to cry, but presently she went close to him, put her arms around his neck and laid her warm cheek against his.
If Dilly had been taught as you have, my little reader, she could have whispered words of comfort in his ear. She could have told him that God would take care of them, that he watches the sparrows, and gives the young ravens their food, and surely he will not forget the creatures he has made to love and serve him.
But though our little rag picker was a warm-hearted, loving child, she knew nothing about God, nor about the dear Saviour, who came into the world. So she only put her arms round him and said, "I love ye, daddy, I do."
Even this made the man feel much better. His face grew soft as he gazed at her, and his breast heaved as he said—
"After all, Dilly, I'd be worse off without ye; and now as we can't do any more here to-day, we will go home."
Leaving Pat to watch by their rags and coal till the carts came round, they walked briskly on, for the man had determined to take advantage of the opportunity and go through a street where a partly-burned house was being pulled down, in hope of getting some half-burned sticks of wood.
The gentleman who owned the place happened to be there, and seeing that Bill was sober and looked extremely destitute, he told him he might carry away as much wood as he could until dark.
"Now we wont have to starve, will we, daddy?" cried Dilly, jumping up and down in her joy.
"No danger of that, I hope," said the gentleman.
Mr. Hogan put his hand quickly to his breast, and turned away suddenly without saying a word.