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“They are very bad,” he said, turning round, and looking down at them with a pitiable expression on his young face.

“I know they are, and you must have something done for them immediately.”

“Let me go to the binder’s first.”

“Very well. Go to the binder’s. But be sure to come to my office as you return; I want to see you particularly.”

My words made the blood rush to the child’s pale face. Hope again was springing up in his bosom.

In about ten minutes he entered my office. His step was lighter, but I could see that each footfall gave him pain. The first thing I did was to examine his feet. They were in a shocking condition. One of them had cracked open in several places, and the wounds had become running sores; other parts were red and shining, and much swollen, I dressed them carefully. When I came to replace his shoes, I found them so dilapidated and out of shape, as to be no protection to his feet whatever, but rather tending to fret them, and liable to rub off the bandages I had put on. To remedy this, I sent my man out for a new pair, of soft leather. When these were put on, and he stood upon, his feet, he said that they did not hurt him at all. I needed not his declaration of the fact to convince me of this, for the whole expression of his face had changed. His eyes were no longer fixed and sad; nor were his brows drawn down, nor his lips compressed.

“I think you told me that your name was Miller?” I said to him, as he stood looking earnestly in my face after the dressing of his feet was completed.

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“And that your mother was dead?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I think you said that W—-was your uncle?”

“Yes, sir. Mother told me that he was my uncle.”

“Is your father living?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Did your mother ever speak to you about him?”

“No, sir.”

“Then you can’t tell whether he is living or not?”

“No, sir; but I suppose he is dead.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because I never saw him, nor heard mother speak of him.”

“You are sure your name is Miller?”

“Oh yes, sir.”

“And that Mr. W—-is your uncle?”

“My mother said he was.”

“Did you ever see him?”

“No, sir.”

“Why don’t you go, to see him, and tell him who you are?”

“I asked mother, one day, to let me do so, but she said I must never think of such a thing.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.”

“And so you never went to see him?”

“No, indeed; mother said I must not.” This was said with great artlessness.

“What became of your mother’s things after she died?”

“The woman we rented from took them all. Mother owed her, she said.”

“Indeed! Where did you live?”

“In Commerce street, three or four doors from Mr. Maxwell’s. Mother rented a room up-stairs.”

“Does the woman live there still?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you ever go to see her?”

“No, sir; she won’t let me come into the house.”

“Why not?”

“I cannot tell. She was going to send me to the poorhouse, when Mr. Maxwell took me in. I have often and often wanted to see the room where we lived in, and where mother died, but she wouldn’t let me go up. One day I begged and cried for her to let me go up–I wanted to, so bad; but she called me a dirty little brat, and told me to go about my business, or she would get Mr. Maxwell to give me a beating. I never have tried to go there since.”

“What is the woman’s name?”

“Her name is Mrs. Claxon.”

“And she lives three or four doors from Mr. Maxwell’s?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I am going home with you in a little while, and will get you to show me the house. Your mother had some furniture in her room?”

“Yes, sir. We had a bureau, and a bedstead, and a good many things.”

“Do you know what was in the bureau?”