The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson
A Parisian tramp named Armand values his solitary, nomadic life. He wants nothing to do with “starlings” (children). With winter coming, Armand goes back to his favorite place under the bridge. He finds that a mother and her three children have made their home there.
Their father is dead, and they’ve been turned out of their apartment. Armand is not happy about this development, but little by little the children capture his heart. He takes them to visit Father Christmas. They sing for the Christmas shoppers, and buy two dozen golden pancakes with the money they collect. The children’s mother is unhappy about this because she doesn’t want her children begging in the streets. So, Armand leaves for a time.
When he comes back to order them off of his property, Armand finds the children crying. Two women have seen them and are going to take them to an orphanage. Armand realizes that the children have completely won his heart and knows that he must do something drastic to save them from this awful fate.
