184 ON THE STATE OF IRELAND. [BOOK II. 



father is a labourer, and being handy, gets something to do 

 in mending shoes. She does not like to go to the House of 

 Industry without her cloak, which is in pawn for 5s. " I 

 was there/ 5 she said, " and came home on account of a 

 duty* I had to do." 



" Were you badly used when you were there ?" 

 " Yes, there is very bad usage there ; there is little to 

 eat or drink, and bad beds, and you see 'em all turning f 

 for lucre. I 'd rather stay at home if I could." 



5. An old woman, a beggar ; her sister lying in a corner, 

 a half idiot: she pays for the room. 



" I would not go to the House of Industry." 



" Why ?" 



" I would not go there at all, at all ; I would not have 

 my liberty, and I 'd rather stay among God and the neigh- 

 bours and Christians, and take my chance to get a bit of 

 vittles from them/ 5 



" But you y d be better off there than here, you would 

 have something better to eat." 



" I wouldn't go there if I was sure of getting that box 

 full of good vittles every day." 



6. An old woman, sick and bedridden ; her daughter, a 

 poor widow, attending her. " She would not go to the 

 poor-house at all. She hasn't long to live, and where 

 would be the use ?" 



The daughter was asked, "Would you let her go 

 there?" 



" No, sir, we wouldn't let her go among strangers, while 

 we can do anything for her ; I 'd rather go beg about the 

 streets than let her go there." 



* A religious vow to perform. f Becoming Protestants. 



