Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-12-20

One article of comfort after another was
then sold, until the homo which had been
the subject Of so much pride and pleasure
was stripped Of everything that made it
comfortable.
just as things were coming TO the worst,
one of the daughters got employment at
four shillngs week. But what was four
shillings to keep three adults upon and pay
house rent2 Living at that dying rate was
protracted starvation,
at was very wrong to be proud" said the
widow; lit seemed as if one was above
taking what God sent but did feel it
drcadtully hard to seek for relief. | had
never been used to take anybody's money
unless l had earned it from them, and had
always been able to keep out Of debt and
out Of trouble. know it was not right,
but when we brought home the first relief
and set it on the table, we all set to crying,
50 much that we could not touch il. But
that is all over now, and We thank God for
the daily bread lie sends us."
And another;
"You would not think that wretchcti hole
was inhabited, would you :" asked our
guide, pointing to a cellar under an empty
house.
"No, surely it is not" answered, for it
seemed impossible that anything human
could live in that dark, dark hole.
"Ah, that's sad case there, sir We
must not call, for the man is so sensitive
that I believe he would rather die outright
than be seen by strangers as he is He was
formerly an ovcrsccr, and from this he got
reduced to spinners work; and then he
could not get any work at all, though he
tired everything except begging; and when
he had sold everything he had, he left his
house because he could not pay the rent,
and crcpt away to this cellar to die. Would
you believe it, sir2 had to beg him to
take the relief, he took the thing to hear!
so.n
And another:
We turned down q narrow archway, damp
and drcary, and arrived in q little square
court where there were about twenty one
storicd cottages, many nearly rootless, others
with doors hanging on one hinge A lot of
ragged, half-nalcd children were making
mud pies in the centre of the court, while
occasionally sharp rcbukcs, in a shYill Irish
broguc, were being administered by slattern-
ly women leaning agains. the doorposts.
We entered one house. The usual scene
presented itsclf-four bare walls, fixture
bedstcad, with some shavings and q counter
pane, and pot beside what should he a
me- y NOlIdu NllH IL DdJy III llCI utallS SIT
upon the bedstead, with her head leaning
against the wall She started up as we
entered and smoothed the hair which had
fallen negligont!y about her.
You seem i'll, my good woman" We
remarked after few sentences had been
exchanged.
''I am ill, SIR she answered; ~ have Gye
children, and this morning there was not Il
morscl of bread for them; and 50 took this
basket and started Off to Strcttord, and
round the country and I have walked over
twenty mite, ,I tl,i- j. -",a. ! have got"
With one hand she opened the basket
which contained Il few crusts of bread, and
with the other she took out Of her pocket
twopence haltpcnny.
and l trampcd over all those weary
roads" she continued, slipping off two more
outlines of shoes. And is it wonder [
look i'll, after dragging this child in my arms
all that distance! But l cannot see them
starvn have but Is. sd. week to keep
them on, and ! must do something. God
knows how long shall be able
looked upon that wan and wasted face,
.hoso thin and W.thered arms, and then upon
lthe little group0round her. Alas, how soon.
n2ll probability, her hard and weary pill
s'ili1'13 i13 will be over forever, and her mo-
'LtIlc9S N,ildren lcfs to the tender mercics
Of the worlSl