Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/125

Rh of the bridge, obviously clad in a garment each, very dirty and unkept, a little boy and a girl of about seven and nine. Elnora's heart began to ache. "Say," said the boy. "Ain't you going to look what we have gave you?" "I thought it wasn't polite to look before people," answered Elnora. "Of course, I will, if you would like to have me." Elnora opened the package. She had been presented with a quarter of a stale loaf of baker's bread, and a big piece of ancient bologna. "But don't you want this yourselves?" she asked in surprise.

"Gosh, no! I mean ist plain no," said the boy. "We always have it. We got stacks this morning. Pa's come out of it now, and he's so sorry he got more 'an ever we can eat. Have you had any before?" "No," said Elnora, "I never did!" The boy's eyes brightened and the girl moved restlessly. "We thought maybe you hadn't," said the boy. "First you ever have, you like it real well; but when you don't have anything else for a long time, years an' years, you git so tired." He hitched at the string which held his trousers and eyed Elnora speculatively. "I don't s'pose you'd trade what you got in that box for ist old bread and bologna now, would you? Mebby you'd like it! And I know, I ist know, what you got