as he could run.

When he had given it to the person in the

shop to change, the latter looked at it very closely, sounded it on the counter, took it up again and examined it; and, at length, rushing towards the little Savoyard, seized him by the collar, and held him tight. "You good-for-nothing fellow," exclaimed the tradesman, "confess at once where you got this bad money!"

The astonished lad had quite forgotten what he ought to reply, and, trembling, stammered out the truth. But the man was distrustful, and was not at all satisfied with his statement. He wished at all events to trace out the party who had resorted to such an expedient for circulating base coin among the public. Accordingly, he still retained his hold of Seppi's collar, summoned a couple of his people to join him, and ordered the lad to lead the way directly to where he had left the stranger. Meantime the latter, having found the Savoyard to remain rather longer on his mission than he expected, began to think all was not right, and was confirmed in his fears when he perceived the approach of the party, headed by the boy: he accordingly started off, full tare, as fast as his legs could carry him. He was quickly pursued by the others, who still dragged poor Seppi with them against his will, but their efforts to overtake the culprit were in vain, and they were forced to give up the race, he having too great a start of them. They then dismissed the dead-weary Savoyard, saying, "Be off, young squire; you may now run wherever you like."

Run, indeed!-alas! poor Seppi was only too glad to be able to barely drag his wearied feet after him. He crept

slowly after the others, and thought of his distressed sister,

who, doubtless, would be waiting for him to return, in the deadliest anxiety and alarm. When he at length arrived at the spot where he had left her, he looked everywhere aboutbut his dear Marie was gone! "Marie, Marie, dear Marie !” cried Seppi, softly, but she did not reply. "Marie, Marie!” he repeated, but no answer. And now, indeed, poor Seppi's heart was broken, and he was quite in despair. He ran backwards and forwards, everywhere about, calling out loudly, "Marie!" but all in vain; and, leaving it to chance, he hurried down the first leading street to look for her.

The midnight hour had now struck, when Seppi, quite exhausted and faint, sank down upon the step of a house, and soon fell into a deep sleep. The morning dawned, and our little Savoyard still slept on. Doubtless he was dreaming of the mountains of his fatherland-of his dear parent-the playfellows he had left behind-but, perhaps above all, of his beloved sister, now wandering about, Heaven only knew where!

At this moment a window in the front kitchen of the house, and close to where poor Seppi was sleeping, was slowly opened, and a head in a white nightcap popped out it was that of the pastrycook, to whom part of the house belonged.

"Hallo! why now, there's a lazy rascal for you," said the pastrycook, perceiving the slumberer; "snoring there in this bright morning, and not knowing perhaps how he may get a crust of bread to eat at mid-day: sleeping, idling, begging, and stealing. What objects there are in this world to be sure. An efficient police ought not to tolerate such vagabonds. And only see how undisturbedly the boy sleeps here in the open street; but he is pretty sure, of course, that thieves would make no thriving business by him."