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I dont know wot hever you mean, replied Faith; how could we put our little Roy into a place when we dont know wherever he is? We dont want to put our little Roy anywhere, only jest to bring him home.
The ragged girl laughed. Yer rare and innercent, she said; I didnt mean no place by the Hue and Cry; I meant a paper. You should ha said what kind o looking child he wor what wor the colour of his eyes, and his hair, and how big he wor, and what clothes e ad hon all that ud be printed and pasted up for folks to read; not that the talk about the clothes ud do much good, fur in course theyd be made away wid first thing.
His clothes ud be stole! exclaimed Faith. No, I dont believe that; I dont believe that any one ud be so dreadful wicked as to steal away little Roys clothes.
Then you dont believe as nobody ha stole him away. Why, Faith, in course ef he wor not picked up and carried off by some one hed be brought back afore now by the perleece why in course yer little baby Roy is stole away.
Oh! exclaimed Faith. She gazed hard at the girl by her side, every vestige of colour leaving her face, as the dreadful idea became clear to her. Presently a hand touched her rather softly.
Look here, Im a willin to help yer, I am, indeed; dont ee go on so, Faithy dont ee now my names Meg, and Im a willing to help ye.
Oh, please, Meg, answered little Faith, putting her hand into the older girls.
Its a bargain, then, said Meg, squeezing the little hand very hard.
Ill never, never go home again till I find Roy, said Faith solemnly.
I call that plucky; and ha yer any money?
No, answered Faith.
Thats rayther blue! exclaimed Meg, indulging in a long whistle; fur I hant none nether; but never mind, well get along somehow. Now lets set down on the grass and make up our plans you dont mind if I speak a bit plain, Faithy?
No, answered Faith; I dont mind nothink but to find Roy again.
Well, its right as you should know that little un ha bin stole. Many and many a body as I could tell on, steals the well-dressed babies; they does it fur the clothes and the reward offered. My mother she ha stole two or three.
Oh, how dreadful wicked she must be! said Faith. I hope, Meg, as we hant got to live wid yer mother while were looking fur Roy?
No, answered Meg, shaking her head gravely; I parted wid mother yesterday we greed as it wor bout time fur me to purwide fur my own self. I maynt never see mother agen it all comes natral. Im real glad as were parted, for now I wont be wallopped no more.
I never, never thought as mothers wor like that, said Faith; she must be most desprate wicked.
Oh, no, shes not so werry; I ha seen far worse nor mother.
But to steal the babies! said Faith.
Bless us, Faith, heaps and heaps on em does that. They most times gives the young uns back again. They jest watches for the Hue and Cry and the rewards put
up by the perlice stations, and then they brings em back and purtends as they ha found em. Mother tuk all back but one, he
Yes, said Faith eagerly.
Well, continued Meg, speaking with a slight shade of hesitation; that ere little un there wornt no reward offered. Mother waited and waited, and I coaxed her ter take him back, but she got hangered, and she wouldnt she ud never hall I could do take that ere little child back home again.
Oh, Meg! and ha she got him still? Meg indulged in a short, rather hard laugh. Bless yer, Faithy, not a bit o it; that ere little un tuk the fever and he died. I tuk on most bitter after he died, as I did care fur him; yer little Roy put me in mind o his purty ways! but hes hall right now, hes with Jesus now it wor arter he died as I went to Sunday-school and larned bout Jesus. Little Charlies safe in the arms of Jesus this long time past now.
Do you think, asked Faith, as Jesus wot loves the little children, ud help us to find our little Roy again?
Meg looked very grave for half a minute, then she said, her face brightening, Thats a good thought, Faithy; well jest tell Him all about little Roy.
Faith sprang to her feet, Then lets go to Him at once, she said, lets find out His address and go to Him; well ask Him to lose no time in finding that werry wicked woman who has stole little Roy.
But we can say it all here, said Meg. I dont know wot hever you mean by going to Him; we neednt go a step away from here, we can say it here.
But Jesus aint here, said Faith.
Well, yes, He is, and He isnt; I dont know how to explain wot do you mean, Faith?
I mean, said Faith, as I thought as Jesus lived somewhere, in London maybe, and that we might go to Him and tell Him bout our little Roy. I wor told as He wornt dead I mean that He did die, but He woke up again. Ef Hes alive, why shouldnt He live in the place where the most babies ere, Meg?
Oh, dear! answered Meg, aint you a queer un! Youre a deal better dressed than me, and youre so clean that there aint a speck nowhere, and you look as ef you allers had yer fill o vickles. You hant never a rag nowhere, but fur hall that I never did meet a more hignorant gal where was yer riz, Faith?