quite beyond hope of further knotting.  Then Peter rose, and going to one of the little shops that supplied the district, soon returned with a real jump-rope, with wooden handles! So from time to time, real tops, real dolls, real marbles and various other real, if cheap, things, hitherto only enjoyed in dreams, or at most through home-made attempts, found their way into the angle, and were distributed among the little imps.  They could not resist such subtle bribery, and soon Peter was on as familiar and friendly a footing as he could wish.  He came to know each by name, and was made the umpire in all their disputes and the confidant in all their troubles.  They were a dirty, noisy, lawless, and godless little community, but they were interesting to watch, and the lonely fellow grew to like them much, for with all their premature sharpness, they were really natural, and responded warmly to his friendly overtures.

After a time, Peter tried to help them a little more than by mere small gifts.  A cheap box of carpenter’s tools was bought, and under his superintendence, evenings were spent in the angle, in making various articles.  A small wheel barrow, a knife-and-fork basket, a clock-bracket and other easy things were made, one at a time.  All boys, and indeed some girls, were allowed to help.  One would saw off the end of a plank; another would rule a pencil line; the next would plane the plank down to that line; the next would bore the holes in it; the next would screw it into position; the next would sandpaper it The work went very slowly, but every one who would, had his share in it, while the rest sat and watched.  When the article was completed, lots were drawn for it, and happy was the fortunate one who drew the magnificent prize in life’s lottery!

Occasionally too, Peter brought a book with him, and read it aloud to them.  He was rather surprised to find that they did not take to Sunday-school stories or fairy tales.  Wild adventures in foreign lands were the most effective; and together they explored the heart of Africa, climbed the Swiss mountains, fought the Western Indians, and attempted to discover the North Pole.  They had a curious liking for torture, blood-letting, and death.  Nor were they without discrimination.

“I guess that fellow is only working his jaw,” was one little chap’s criticism at a certain point of the narrative of a well-known African explorer, rather famous for his success in advertising himself.  Again, “that’s bully,” was the comment uttered by another, when Peter, rather than refuse their request to read aloud, had been compelled to choose something in Macaulay’s Essays, and had read the description of the Black Hole of Calcutta, “Say, mister,” said another, “I don’t believe that fellow wasn’t there, for he never could a told it like that, if he wasn’t.”