Woodcock sat for some minutes in sUence, and allowed
the paroxysm of the poor child to subside, and then said,
" Mary, gal, come here to your poor old father."

Mary looked up, and, through her tears, recognised a
look of thorough kindness bent upon her, which accorded
with the strangely sympathetic tone that had arrested her
attention. Instantly rising, she walked to her father's side,
when, taking hold of her, he tried to lift her to his knee.
The fatherly act was so unusual that the girl shrank from
his grasp, and stood away from him, to see what he meant.
" Oh, Mary, for God's sake don't !" exclaimed her fathei-.
" Come to me, and set with me, and forget all those old
ugly things that plague you so."

Mary was assured, "and was soon folded tenderly in the
rough arms of her father.
" I want to talk," said Woodcock, in a low tone, and with
his head bowed kindly down, " about one that's gone. Do
you remember your mother, Mary ?"

The little girl shook her head, and sat with her eyes fixed
upon the floor.
