"And I think I might take it hard," said Maggie. "Trying to fright me with the police, too! I can tell you, Mister, the police around here all knows me; and you wouldn't get one of them to touch me, 'cause they all knows I sweep fair and never throw any dirty water over the walk, but just keeps it as clear as I can. And I've got lots of gentlemen that always comes to my crossing every mornin' reg'lar, and always has their pennies, and a kind good-mornin' for me. They all knows I work fair. police, indeed!" and she tossed her head scornfully. The Poor Maggie! It was not the first time that day that she had been called hard names; and standing ankle-deep in the freezing water, with the bitter wind cutting through her tattered clothes, and her numb fingers scarcely able to hold the old broom, it was no great wonder that her temper gave way under this new assault. Perhaps the gentleman thought that there was some excuse for her, for the lines of his hard face softened, and he smiled as he said,— "You certainly know how to stand up for your rights." "And it takes one to know how to stand up for their rights," returned Maggie, rather more peaceably, "when one has five children to take care of, and But here one of the five children from her corner in the doorway sobbed out, "O Maggie, it's so bitter, bitter cold; please do take Amy home." In a moment the gentleman stood alone, and his fierce little antagonist was kneeling on the cold stone, beside the small figure crouching in the corner. He watched her curiously, as, taking the child's numb fingers in her own, she put them to her mouth and blew upon them with her warm breath, and then, as the little one still sobbed and cried, opened her shawl and laid them upon her own bare neck, and covered them again with the shawl, talking the while playfully and cheerily. 66 'Come, come, Amy, you must be a good girl. We'll |