seven o'clock in the
morning
She had been praying her morning prayer near the open window , begging for strength to bear her sorrows , and for as many as might be to be taken from her , when Betty 's voice quavered right up to her window . She looked down , and there was the small singer 's curly brown head . She looked longer , and saw Betty clasp a bare foot in one hand and stand on one foot , drop the foot from her hand and reverse the action . It was merely a habit of Betty 's , but the woman found in it a sign that the child was worn and weary -- worn and weary before seven o'clock in the morning . She drew her dressing-gown around her , searched her dress pocket for her purse , and leaning out dropped sixpence upon the pavement close to the little singer . Betty stopped at once and looked around her , down the street and around the corner ; at the shop shutters and door , but never once so high as the windows . The woman smiled to herself .