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The Missing Link by Edward Dyson
page 26 of 167 (15%)
"Dear lydie, would you kindly assist a pore decayed gent, what's got a
bedridden wife an' nine starvin' children, all twins? Just a copper,
lydie. The bailiffs is in, lydie, an' if I don't take 'orne nine-pence
for the rent they'll seize ther kerosene case, an' ther flour-sack, and
ther rest iv ther drorin-room furniture, kind lydie."

A gay vivandiere led Nickie to a portly Henry VIII. "Sire," she said,
"this poor man claims king's bounty for his three sets of triplets. I
humbly commend him to your majesty."

"Just a trifle to assist a poor man, kind gent," whined Nickie the Kid.
"Not a morsel iv turkey's passed me lips for seven days. Just a few
pence, sir, to buy champagne fer me widders and orphans. I don't care
about meself, kind sir."

King Henry promptly dropped half-a-crown into Nickie's hat. Two, or three
laughing guests standing about contributed silver. There was an
impression in the ballroom that the sum of the quaint tramp's collection
would go to a charity. None but Nickie himself knew the charitable object
to which the money was to be devoted.

Nickie danced with all sorts and conditions of women. Romeo slapped him
on the back.

"Splendid, deah boy!" he said. "We been thrown together, you know. Ran'
into you at the gate--what? By gad, you're doin it well. But I say, who
the devil are you?"

"I'm Willie' the Waster, kind young gentleman, and I'm residin' under No.
3 wharf, fifth plank from the corner. Would yer give er trifle towards me
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