longer maintain, and who, though his disease was nearly subdued, was himself almost ready to die for want of good nourishing diet.
"How came you all to be in this condition, good woman?" said Mrs. Benson to his wife; "surely you might have obtained relief before your husband was reduced to such extremity?" "Oh, my good lady," said the woman, "we have not been used to begging, but to earn an honest livelihood by our industry; and never till this sad day have I known what it was to ask charity. This morning, for the first time, I applied at the only great house in this village, where I made no doubt there was abundance. I told my dismal tale to a servant, and begged she would make it known to her mistress; but she assured me it was in vain to come there, for her lady had such a family of cats, dogs, monkeys, and all manner of creatures, that she had nothing to spare for poor people; at the same instant I saw the poulterer bring a rabbit and a fowl, which I found were for the favourite cat and dog. This discouraged me from begging; and I had determined that I never would ask again, but the sight of my dear husband and children in this condition drove me to do it."
"Well, comfort yourself," said Mrs. Benson, "we will see what we can do ; in the meantime here is
