asked John , laughing . ' I had some peanuts , and two sucks of Joe 's orange ; but it war n't very fillin ' , ' he said , gravely . ' I should think not . Here ! one stew ; and be quick , please , ' cried John , as we sat down in a warm corner of the confectioner 's opposite . While little Jack shovelled in the hot oysters , with his eyes shutting up now and then in spite of himself , we looked at him and thought again of little Rosy-face at home safe in his warm nest , with mother-love watching over him . Nodding towards the ragged , grimy , forlorn , little creature , dropping asleep over his supper like a tired baby , I said , -- ` Can you imagine our Freddy out alone at this hour , trying to ` work off ' his papers , because afraid to go home till he has ? ' ` I 'd rather not try , ' answered brother John , winking hard , as he stroked the little head beside him , which , by the bye , looked very like a ragged , yellow door-mat . I think brother John winked hard , but I ca n't be sure , for I know I did ; and for a minute there seemed to be a dozen little newsboys dancing before my eyes . ` There goes our car ; and it 's the last , ' said John , looking at me . ` Let it go , but do n't leave the boy ; ' and I frowned at John for hinting at such a thing . ` Here is his car . Now , my lad , bolt your last oyster , and come on . ' ` Good-night , ma'am ! thankee , sir ! ' croaked the grateful little voice , as the child was caught up in John 's strong hands and set down on the car-step . With a word to the conductor , and a small business transaction , we left Jack coiled up in a corner to finish his nap as tranquilly as if it was n't midnight , and a ` knocking-round ' might not await him at his journey 's end . We did n't mind the storm much as we plodded home ; and when I told the story to Rosy-face , next day , his interest quite reconciled me to the sniffs and sneezes of a bad cold . ` If I saw that poor little boy , Aunt Jo , I 'd love him lots ! ' said Freddy , with a world of pity in his beautiful child 's eyes .
And , believing that others also would be kind to little XXXXX , and such as he , I tell the story .
Jack Jo Joe Rosy-face car-step door-mat knocking-round newsboys thankee war