“That’s all right!  I’d love to do it.  Shall I come early, right after dinner, or—­”

“Oh, come early!  It is so good of you!” The tears threatened to overflow their bounds.

Doodles glanced down the street.  “What is your address, please?  I have to take the next car.”

“Why, yes!  I forgot!  I live at 304 North Charles Street.”

“Thank you.”  He lifted his cap with a bright smile.  “I’ll be there!” he promised and was off.

The woman watched him as he hailed the passing car.  He saw her from a window and waved his hand.  She returned the salute, and then walked slowly away.

“I hope he won’t forget the number,” she said to herself, “he didn’t take it down.  And I never thought to give him my name!”

Doodles easily found the place the woman had designated.  The house was small and dingy, and two grimy babies were playing on the doorstep.

“Miss Lily’s upstairs, in back,” answered the girl to whom the inquiry had been referred.  “I guess it’s her you want.  Ther’ ain’t nobody else, ‘cept Miss Goby, an’ she’s a big un.”

The top of the dim flight was nearly reached when a door opened and threw a stream of light on the stairway.  The boy saw his new friend waiting for him.

“Walk right in!” she said cordially.  “It’s awfully good of you to come!”

The room was in noticeable contrast with the rest of the house.  Here everything was neat and homelike, although there was little attempt at ornament.  Doodles was soon seated in a cushioned rocker and listening to the little old lady’s grateful talk.

“When you spoke of that new song, ‘God shall wipe away all tears,’ it did seem as if I just couldn’t miss hearing you sing it!  But I never dreamed that you could do such a thing as to come and sing it to me here.  I wish I had a better place for you to sing in, but I’ve had to take up with ’most anything these days.”

The lad hastened to assure her that he was accustomed to sing in a small room, and that it made no difference to him where he was.

“Then you don’t mind not having an organ or piano or anything?” The tone was anxious.

“Not a bit,” he smiled.  “I never used to have accompaniment—­I can sing anywhere.”

After the first note Miss Lily sat motionless, bending forward a little, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes on the singer.  Whether she saw him was doubtful, for her tears fell fast as Doodles sang the comforting words.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;...and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,...neither shall there be any more pain:...for the former things are passed away.”

With silence the listener suddenly dropped her face in her hands and began to sob.

In a moment Doodles was singing again, and soon she grew calmer.  When he stopped she was ready to talk.