112 



Its decline was rapid ; and before we were aware 

 of the danger, we found that it was actually dying. 

 It was on a dreadful evening of snow and storm, 

 that we sat "watching over our expiring babe. 

 One candle lighted our little room, and, cold as 

 the weather was, we could only afford a small fire ; 

 my three elder children were gathered close round 

 it ; and one began so mildly, but urgently, to 

 ask for her supper, that a piece of bread was 

 given to her. We heard a violent knocking at 

 the door, and the maid having opened it before 

 I could go myself, two men rudely pushed by 

 her, and forced their way into the room where 

 we sat. You may imagine the indignation and 

 horror I felt at such an intrusion, and at such a 

 moment. I asked, as calmly as I could, their 

 business, and one of them said ' Our business, 

 sir, is to demand assistance ; you may call it 

 charity if you like, but as we are driven by want 

 of work to starve, w y e must take by force what is 

 not willingly given to us ; my children have not 

 a crust to eat, and I am resolved to procure 

 something for them ; this is the first time we 

 have ever attempted to get by force what we 

 would willingly earn by our labour.' 



" * My friends/ said I, ' I am a stranger here, 

 and in distress myself misfortunes have reduced 

 me as well as you and the whole sum that I 

 am at present possessed of, will scarcely do more 

 than pay for the funeral of the infant whom you 



