look, his eyes had such a dreamy expression, and at times he smiled to
himself as he moved along. But people did not stop long, for who in a
large, busy city has time to enquire into the life and means of living
of a little match seller. All day long, he trudged his weary way, and
towards night-fall he found himself nearer the suburbs than he had ever
been before. He passes a house which is brilliantly lighted, and strains
of gay music reach his ear. Moving to the window, which was open, he
gazes with open-eyed wonder at the scene within. It is evidently a
children's party for little fairy forms are flitting about in a merry
dance, and all is light, warmth and happiness, while outside with his
face pressed close to the window stands little Ned. His flaxen hair is
blown by the wind, his blue eyes open to their widest extent as he looks
at the gay scene, of which he forms no part. Inside, all is happiness,
outside is the gloom of night, and the desolate figure of little Ned. He
turns away with a sigh, turns away from the happiness he has never
known, into the darkness with which he is so familiar. He has grown
very hungry, having eaten nothing since noon. Seeing a woman before a
handsome carriage, he tells his story, but it falls on stony ground, the
woman has nothing to give, and leaves him standing there, while she
dries away. "O, the rarity of Christian charity!" Such are the women
whose names very often head the list of subscriptions for Christian
missions, but who turn a deaf ear to the sorrows of people at their own
door; but if they give to the poor in secret no one will know it, while
if they head a list with a large sum, they will be called good Christian
women.

Little Ned starts again, trudging bravely on, foot-sore and hungry, and
now he is in a strange part of the city, a place entirely new to him. A
large building attracts his attention, and the sounds of voices reach
his ear. Going to the door he sees a clergyman--a young man--talking