Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/169

 "She's got something to sell, I guess," said Tom.

Just then Hannah came to the door, and the children told her about the little girl.

"Go away!" said Hannah; "we don't want to buy anything."

The child came a step nearer and said timidly,—

"Will you please to buy some matches, ma'am?"

"No," said Hannah shortly; "we don't want any pedlers 'round here."

The child sighed and turned away.

"Hannah," said Posy, with her cheeks very red, "that's a poor little girl, and Mamma always buys things of poor little girls."

"Your mamma's got plenty of matches," said Hannah in the same cross tone. "She wants a chance to steal something; that's what she wants."