I am sorry she has left
you, neighbour."
"The Lord's will be done. It's hard times for such as us,"
said the man; and leaving the window open, he retired into his
room.
It was a single chamber of which he was the tenant. In the
centre, placed so as to gain the best light which the gloomy
situation could afford, was a loom. In two corners of the
room were mattresses placed on the floor, a check curtain hung
upon a string if necessary concealing them. In one was his
sick wife; in the other, three young children : two girls.
the eldest about eight years of age; between them their baby
brother. An iron kettle was by the hearth, and on the mantel-
piece, some candles, a few lucifer matches, two tin mugs, a
paper of salt, and an iron spoon. In a farther part, close to
the wall, was a heavy table or dresser; this was a fixture, as
well as the form which was fastened by it.
The man seated himself at his loom; he commenced his daily
task.
"Twelve hours of daily labour at the rate of one penny each
hour; and even this labour is mortgaged! How is this to end?
Is it rather not ended?" And he looked around him at his
chamber without resources: no food, no fuel, no furniture, and
four human beings dependent on him, and lying in their
wretched beds because they had no clothes.
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