The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-01-20

left tho room, the boilcr.Inakcr's eyes
were slowly turned towards her, az If
his last hope Of over again seeing that
vanished boiler lay inher direction.
is'rheso people had mover applied for
parish" relief but once 3 and that was
when tho. husband met with Q disabling
accident Ut bic work. ',,-.,,,.
lsSNot many doors from here, Twent
Into ~ room sOnHti10aAsSt ,Ao0r.' ;tCAo
Wpipap spologtxed jfor, ~ ybeinR in.t tAn
ssass ss sstRies
clothes in q saucepan on tho hearth.
There was nothing else into which she
could have put them. There was no
crOckcry, or tinware, or tub, or buck
ct. There was an old gallipot or two,
and there was broken bottle or SO,
and there were some broken boxes for
seats. The last small scrapng Of Goals
left was rakcd together In corner Of
the floor. There were some rags In all
open cupboard, also on the floor. In
corner OF tho room was n crazy old
French bedstead. with man lying on
his back upon 1t In ragged pilot jack.
ct, md rough oilskln fantail hat. The
room was perfectly blnck. II was dif.
ilcult to believe, Mt first, that It was not
purposcly coIored black, tho walls
were so Gcgrimed.
AS stood opposite the woman boil
ing the children's clothcs,-shc had not
even piece Of soap to wash them
with,-and apoIoSizin9 for her occu-
patton, | could take in NIL these things
without appearing to notice them, and
could even correct my inventory.
had missed. at the first glance, some
half pound Of bread in the otherwise
empty safe, Ill old rcd ragged crino-
line hungin. on tho handle Of the door
by which | had entered. and certain
fragments Of rusty iron scattered on
the floor. which looked like broken
tools and piece of stovc-pipc. a
child stood looking on. On the box
nearest to the fire sat two younger
children; one II delicate and pretty
little creature whom the other some
times kissed.
This woman, like the last, was wo.
fully shabby. and WAS dcgencrHting to
the Bosjcslnan complexion. Bnt her
figure, and the ghost Of Il certain vivac-
ity about.ler. and the spectre Of u dim
pie in her \chcck, carried my memory
strangely buck TO the old days Of the
Adclphi Theatre. London, when Mrs.
F'ilzwilliam was the friend Of Victor
inc.
May ask you what your husband
is!"
"IIc's coal-portcr. sir."-with Il
glance and sigh towards the bed.
lis he out Of work ?"
80 yes. sir, and works vt all times
very, very scanty with him, and now
he's laid up"
Its my legs" said the man upon
the bed. I'll unroIl EN-" And i'm.
mediAtcly began.
"llavc you any older children ?"
IL have daughter that does tho
nccdIe.work, and l have son TINT
does what he can. She's ut her work
HOW, and he's trying for work" :
"Do they live herc2'
"Thcy sleep here. They can't afford
to pay more rent, and SO they come
here ut night. The rent is very hard
upon us. It's rose upon us too, now
sixpcnce wcek,-On account Of these
new changes in tic luw, about the
rates. We are week behind; tho
landlords been shaking and rattling
ut that door friShtlul; he says he'll
turn US out. | don't know what's to
come Of It,"
The man upon the bed ruefully in
tcrposcd: Here's my leg. The skins
broke, besides the swelling. I have
had many kicks, working, one way
and another"
lie looked at his legs (Which were
much ,liscolorcd and nisshapcn) for
awhile, and then appearing to rclncm-
bcr that they were not popular with
his family, rolled them up again, rs II
they were something in the nature Of
maps OF plans that were not wanted 10
be referred TO, lay hopclcssly down oil
his back once more with his tuntail
hat over his face, and stirred not.
"Do your eldest son aud daughter
sleep in that cupbourd p" .:...
"ieS,' replied the woman. ..
"With the childrcny
"YcS. We huve to get together for
warmth. We have little to cover u.s."
"Uuvc you nothing by you to eat
but the piece Of bread see there 2"
"Notling. And wo had the rest Of
the loaf for our breakfast, with water.
l don't know what's to come Of it,
"Huyc you no prospect Of improve.
mcnt"
"lfmy eldest son earns anything TO-
day, he'll bring it home. Then VIC
shall have something to .cat tonight,
and may be able TO do something to-
wards the rent. Ii not, l don't know
what's to come Of it.'
"This is q sad state Of things"
eyes, sir, it's n hard, hard life. Take
care Of the stairs rs you 20, sir,-thcy'rc
brokcn-and good day, sir" d..
These people had mortal dread Of
entering the work-housc, and received
no out-ol-door relief. ,.1... 81"
In. another room, In still another
tenement, found very deccut wo-
man with five childreu,--the last, q
baby, aud she herself a patient of ihe
parish doctor,-to whom, her husband
being In the Hospital, the Union al
lowed for the support OF hersclf and
family, four shillings, = week and FIVE
loavcs. l suppose when Thisman, NJ.
p, and Thatman, M:P., and tho public
4 4 = q 4