CH. V.] SICK POOR. 185 



7. A woman sick, lying on a bed in a small room ; no- 

 body belonging to her. A poor family that has the room 

 " give her the corner for God's sake. 33 



" Would you go to the House of Industry ?" 



" Hy 3 ah ! no, sure, there would be nobody to bury me 

 out of it ; I wouldn't go there at all." 



" You M be better off there than here, with enough to 

 eat." 



" Hy * ah ! what matter? if I had anything at all to keep 

 me, I 'd be better contented to stay here, and die among 

 the neighbours." 



8. A young woman sick, and almost blind, in a small 

 room ; her aunt supporting her by begging, but she is 

 lying in bed sick now ; a poor family owning the room, 

 giving them the corner, for charity. 



" Would you go to the House of Industry ?" 



ef Hy 9 ah ! no, sir ; I never was in such a place, among 

 strangers, and I 'd rather stay among the neighbours/ 5 



" Why wouldn't you go there ? you 'd be better off." 



" Why, I 'd like to be able to go out to mass ; it 's the 

 only comfort now." 



" But the priest would attend you there, and you 'd hear 

 mass." 



" Well, sir, I wouldn't like to go there." 



"Why so?" 



"Why, if you must know it [she said this with tears], 

 there is a little creature of a sister I have, and she 's at ser- 

 vice, and she has nobody to look after or care about her 

 but me ; and if I went to the poor-house, and she was out 

 of place, what would she do ? she 'd have no place to come 

 to." 



