DEATH OF THE OLD WOMAN. 215 



which we could bestow, she had continued to 

 sink under accumulated infirmities and disease ; 

 the circulation became languid, and her ex- 

 tremities were severely frost-bitten. Too feeble 

 to raise herself up, she crawled whiningly along 

 on her hands and knees, with a stick to make 

 known her presence, wherever her inclination 

 led her \ but chiefly to Mr. King's room, where, 

 once a day, she received the benefit of his 

 humane attention. The most indifferent ob- 

 server must have been occasionally shocked at 

 the loathsome objects which have met his eye on 

 some parts of the Continent, and particularly at 

 Lisbon ; but no form or variety of human 

 wretchedness or degradation that I have ever 

 witnessed could be compared with that which 

 was exhibited in the person of this poor old 

 creature. The effect of her appearance, — the 

 involuntary shuddering which it caused, may 

 perhaps be conceived, but cannot well be 

 described. What a contrast between her and 

 the young girl standing erect and full of juicy 

 life by her side ! What a rebuke to the pride 

 of lordly man ! She was found in her hut, 

 stretched dead by the fire, near which were 

 several pieces of spare wood. Among the In- 

 dians the event occasioned not the slightest feel- 

 ing ; and, as she had no relations, it is doubtful 

 whether she would even have been buried, had 



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