CH. IV.J AGED AND INFIRM POOR. 169 



help of my hired labour : when I became unable to work, 

 I gave this up to a friend without any compensation. I 

 have since gone from house to house, among my old 

 neighbours, getting a share of their meals, arid a bed of 

 straw in their corner. I have myself a sheet and a fold 

 of a blanket, which I take about with me. It is to the 

 small farmers, not the labourers, I apply all old acquaint- 

 ances, that knew me when I earned my own bread, and 

 some of them relatives. They live near the town, in the 

 country. I prefer going to persons in the country, be- 

 cause they can give me a good fire and a bed of straw. I 

 stop generally but one night in the same house, and may 

 stop two with a relation, or more, as I find welcome ; 

 some would be glad to keep me for a week, but I would 

 not trouble them, when I know I can have welcome else- 

 where. When I think I have trespassed too much on 

 one neighbourhood, I move off to another. When I come 

 to a house, I ask a lodging for God's sake : the only re- 

 fusal I meet with, is when some tell me they have not 

 straw to make a bed. When I ask in God's name, they 

 would think it a sin to refuse me, though I know many 

 of them would be better pleased I did not trouble them ; 

 but I have no reason to complain of them, for, winter or 

 summer, I never saw them frown on me yet. I do not 

 carry a bag : wherever I lodge, I get a share of the meals, 

 I am always sure of it. I expect nothing but my food ; 

 I do not wish to carry anything away with me, nor be 

 an incumbrance on the inhabitants beyond my bit. I 

 come into the town once a week, to apply to five house- 

 keepers, who give me a halfpenny each every week. What 

 is killing me, is that I cannot get enough of tobacco ; the 

 want of it, I believe, is taking away my eyesight ; it would 



