` Mother , I really think my bird is a fairy bird , and all these splendid things come from him , ' said Tilly , laughing and crying with joy . It really did seem so , for as she spoke , the robin flew to the table , hopped to the nosegay , and perching among the roses , began to chirp with all his little might . The sun streamed in on flowers , bird , and happy child , and no one saw a shadow glide away from the window ; no one ever knew that Mr. King had seen and heard the little girls the night before , or dreamed that the rich neighbour had learned a lesson from the poor neighbour . And Tilly 's bird was a fairy bird ; for by her love and tenderness to the helpless thing , she brought good gifts to herself , happiness to the unknown giver of them , and a faithful little friend who did not fly away , but stayed with her till the snow was gone , making summer for her in the winter-time . MY LITTLE GENTLEMAN . No one would have thought of calling him so , this ragged , barefooted , freckle-faced Jack , who spent his days carrying market-baskets for the butcher , or clean clothes for Mrs. Quinn , selling chips , or grubbing in the ash-heaps for cinders . But he was honestly earning his living , doing his duty as well as he knew how , and serving those poorer and more helpless than himself , and that is being a gentleman in the best sense of that fine old word . He had no home but Mrs. Quinn 's garret ; and for this he paid by carrying the bundles and getting the cinders for her fire . Food and clothes he picked up as he could ; and his only friend was little Nanny . Her mother had been kind to him when the death of his father left him all alone in the world ; and when she , too , passed away , the boy tried to show his gratitude by comforting the little girl , who thought there was no one in the world like her Jack . Old Mrs. Quinn took care of her , waiting till she was strong enough to work for herself ; but Nanny had been sick , and still sat about , a pale , little shadow of her former self , with a white film slowly coming over her pretty blue eyes . This was Jack 's great trouble , and he could n't whistle it away as he did his own worries ; for he was a cheery lad , and when the baskets were heavy , the way long , the weather bitter cold , his poor clothes in rags , or his stomach empty , he just whistled , and somehow things seemed to get right . But the day he carried Nanny the first dandelions , and she felt of them , instead of looking at them , as she said , with such pathetic patience in her little face , ' I do n't see 'em ; but I know they 're pretty , and I like 'em lots , ' Jack felt as if the blithe spring sunshine was all spoiled ; and when he tried to cheer himself up with a good whistle , his lips trembled so they would n't pucker . ` The poor dear 's eyes could be cured , I ai n't a doubt ; but it would take a sight of money , and who 's agoing to pay it ? ' said Mrs. Quinn , scrubbing away at her tub . ` How much money ? ' asked Jack . ' A hundred dollars , I dare say . Dr. Wilkinson 's cook told me once that he done something to a lady 's eyes , and asked a thousand dollars for it . ' Jack sighed a long , hopeless sigh , and went away to fill the water-pails ; but he remembered the doctor 's name , and began to wonder how many years it would take to earn a hundred dollars .
XXXXX was very patient ; but , by and by , Mrs. Quinn began to talk about sending her to some almshouse , for she was too poor to be burdened with a helpless child .
Jack King Nanny Quinn Tilly Wilkinson before dandelions market-baskets right