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chance of some traveller passing by. “Loo ye, my pretty ones,” said he, “you must each take hold and come along with me.” The poor children each took a hand, and went on, the tears bursting from their eyes, and their little limbs trembling with fear.
Thus did he lead them about two miles further on in the wood, and then told them to wait there till he came back with some cakes.
William took his sister Jane by the hand, and they wandered fearfully up and down the wood. “Will the strange man come with some cakes, Billy?” says Jane, "Presently, dear Jane,” says William. And soon again, "I wish I had some cakes, Billy,” said she; and it would have melted a heart of stone to have seen how sorrowfully they looked.
After waiting very long, they tried to satisfy their hunger with black-berries; but they soon devoured all that were within their reach; and night coming on, William, who had tried all he could to comfort his little sister, now wanted comfort himself; so when Jane said once more, “How hungry I am, Billy, I b-e-l-i-e-v-e I cannot help crying,”---William burst out crying too; and down they lay upon the cold earth, and putting their arms round each other’s neck, there they starved, and there they died.
Thus were these pretty little innocents
