Wapsie

So down the poor little fellow lay, his 'Wapsie' praying by his bedside.

Wylder's Hand Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1843

He was now saying -- as holding his 'Wapsie's' hand, he capered round in front, looking up in his face --

Wylder's Hand Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1843

'Wapsie's' eyes followed, smiling, the wild vagaries of his little Fairy.

Wylder's Hand Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1843

'Wapsie' was mentioned, sometimes the vicar's eyes filled, but he smiled through this with a kind of gladness at the child's affection.

Wylder's Hand Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1843

Is he ever angry when he laughs — is he, Wapsie — oh, Wapsie, is he?

Wylder's Hand 2003

Little man looked wonderingly from his tired eyes on Wapsie, and his thin fingers crept on his hand, and Wapsie turned about, drying his eyes, and said — ‘Little man! my darling!’

Wylder's Hand 2003

Little ‘Fairy’ used to walk, when parochial visits were not very distant, with his ‘Wapsie;’ how that name came about no one remembered, but the vicar answered to it more cheerily than to any other.

Wylder's Hand 2003

And they cried and smiled together in that delightful embrace, while all the time little Fairy, with a paper cap on his head, was telling them half-a-dozen things together, and pulling Wapsie by the skirts.

Wylder's Hand 2003

‘The best friend that Wapsie ever met with in his life.’

Wylder's Hand 2003

And little man looked on him with his tired eyes, not quite understanding what it meant, nor why Wapsie was crying; and the nurse said --

Wylder's Hand Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1843