CH. III.] WIDOWS WITH YOUNG FAMILIES. 155 



customed to beg, when the labourers are out of employ- 

 ment. A very few succeed in their endeavours to support 

 themselves by industry, but in the most laborious and 

 wretched manner. 



County of Roscommon ; examinations taken by F. Diggens, Esq., and 

 W. T. M'Cullagh, Esq. ; parish of Boyle. Ten witnesses. 



There are about sixty widows in the parish of Boyle 

 with families of young children, and one hundred and one 

 ,who have none; not more than twelve are supported 

 solely by their own industry. 



Of these one hundred and sixty-one widows, upwards of 

 one hundred are entirely dependent on their children for 

 support. 



The labourers frequently give a day's labour to the 

 widows holding land, and these prefer remaining at home, 

 where they are sure of obtaining sympathy and assistance. 

 Nevertheless, this class of widows is decidedly worse off 

 than the mothers of illegitimate children, because they 

 have not wages allowed them by the Sessions. 



All the witnesses agree in saying that a working man 

 cannot possibly provide against the destitution of his 

 widow and orphans. 



County of Sligo, parish of Drumcliffe, barony of Carbery ; examinations 

 taken by T. Osier, Esq. and J. O'Flynn, Esq. Eleven witnesses. 



There are in this parish more than one hundred widows, 

 and the witnesses say that, bad as the condition of the aged 

 widow certainly is, they really think it, on the whole, better 

 than that of any other class of the destitute poor. The 

 very poorest of their neighbours never refuse them house- 

 room. Such as can walk to any distance beg ; those who 

 are not quite helpless, shift about from cabin to cabin, 



