CONCERNING CALIBAN 



diately as soon as we are out of sight. He has an excellent 

 hard- working wife, and works very well himself until the last 

 pledge has quite worn away. We are sorry for Mrs.Caliban, 

 the mother of three prehistoric babies : for we hear that 

 Caliban, in the philosophic language of the district, " knocks 

 her about a bit/' when he has had what he calls " his glass 

 of beer/ 7 " YOU couldn't wish for a nicer husband, when 

 he's sober," she vows, poor woman, and is pathetically 

 hopeful every time the oath of abstinence is administered ! 

 It is dreadful how many bad husbands there are in this 

 small district. In another family the father is so well 

 known that the mere mention of his name is enough to 

 stiffen the employer of labour, 



" Dere Miss, my husband as been very unlucky ond strained 

 hisself again and ad to give up his work-' 



Thus the poor wife starts the usual appeal when the 

 inevitable has occurred and there is no more bread in the 

 house. We are quite accustomed to these missives, which 

 indeed might be stereotyped with space left for the date. 

 Although the brother of a local policeman, this black 

 sheep is altogether so hopeless, that, in order to keep his 

 poor little progeny from growing sable in their turn, we 

 have placed a lamb out here and there in divers charitable 

 folds. Alfie, the last rescued, is a more original letter- 

 writer than his mother. This was the document that he 

 sent her from that happy Home for Little Boys where we 

 trust he will grow up with an unimpeachable fleece. 



" Dere Mother ,-~I hope this finds you well. I hope James 

 and Vilet and Alice are well and nice and good. This is a 



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