Further Reminiscences. 131 



to an old college chum, who together with 

 his wife resided there. Most generously did 

 these good Samaritans receive and welcome 

 the whole party, until on the expiration of 

 ten days, "The Druid" secured a small house 

 in St. George's Terrace, Gloucester Road. 

 Curiously enough that modest row of houses 

 still exists, having undergone no change 

 during the three and forty intervening years. 

 They had not lived there long before life 

 assumed a sterner and graver aspect. Ex- 

 penses increased, prices were higher than at 

 Doncaster, and the struggle for existence 

 became fiercer and fiercer. " The Druid " 

 soon got an engagement in the service of 

 Bell's Life at three pounds a week, and 

 worked early and late to increase his income 

 by writing for other papers. He was often 

 compelled to travel for weeks together, and 

 his wife, whose cares and anxieties were 

 rapidly increased by the birth of three more 

 sons, found ample employment for hand and 

 brain. Nor had she leisure to dwell on 

 personal discomforts, or indulge in the 

 sense of loneliness which now and ao'ain 

 oppressed her. The patter of her children's 



