Aboveall，tradewasveryslack；cottonscouldfindnomarket，andgoodslaypackedandpiledinmanyawarehouse。Themillsweremerelyworkedtokeepthemachinery，humanandmetal，insomekindoforderandreadinessforbettertimes。Sothiswasanexcellentopportunity，MessrsCarsonthought，forrefittingtheirfactorywithfirst-rateimprovements，forwhichtheinsurance-moneywouldamplypay。Theywereinnohurryaboutthebusiness，however。Theweeklydrainofwagesgivenforlabour，uselessinthepresentstateofthemarket，wasstopped。Thepartnershadmoreleisurethantheyhadknownforears；andpromisedwivesanddaughtersallmannerofpleasantexcursions，assoonastheweathershouldbecomemoregenial。Itwasapleasantthingtobeabletoloungeoverbreakfastwithareviewornewspaperinhand；tohavetimeforbecomingacquaintedwithagreeableandaccomplisheddaughters，onwhoseeducationnomoneyhadbeenspared，butwhosefathers，shutupduringalongdaywithcalicoesandaccounts，hadsoseldomhadleisuretoenjoytheirdaughters’talents。Therewerehappyfamilyevenings，nowthatthemenofbusinesshadtimefordomesticenjoyments。Thereisanothersidetothepicture。TherewerehomesoverwhichCarsons’firethrewadeep，terriblegloom；thehomesofthosewhowouldfainwork，andnomangaveuntothem——thehomesofthosetowhomleisurewasacurse。
There，thefamilymusicwasangrywails，whenweekafterweekpassedby，andtherewasnoworktobehad，andconsequentlynowagestopayforthebreadthechildrencriedaloudforintheiryoungimpatienceofsuffering。
Therewasnobreakfasttoloungeover；theirloungewastakeninbed，totryandkeepwarmthinthemthatbitterMarchweather，and，bybeingquiet，todeadenthegnawingwolfwithin。Manyapennythatwouldhavegonelittlewayenough’n。oatmealorpotatoes，boughtopiumtostillthehungrylittleones，andmakethemforgettheiruneasinessinheavytroubledsleep。itwasmother’smercy。Theevilandthegoodofournaturecameoutstronglythen。Thereweredesperatefathers；therewerebitter-tonguedmothersOhGod!whatwonder!；therewererecklesschildren；theveryclosestbondsofnatureweresnaptinthattimeoftrialanddistress。TherewasFaithsuchastherichcanneverimagineonearth；therewas“Lovestrongasdeath“；and，self-denial，amongrude，coarsemen，akintothatofSirPhilipSidney’smostgloriousdeed。Thevicesofthepoorsometimesastoundushere；butwhenthesecretsofallheartsshallbemadeknown，theirvirtueswillastoundusinfargreaterdegree。OfthisIamcertain。Asthecold，bleakspringcameonspring，innamealone，andconsequentlyastradecontinueddead，othermillsshortenedhours，turnedoffhands，andfinallystoppedworkaltogether。Bartonworkedshorthours；Wilson，ofcourse，beingahandinCarsons’
factory，hadnoworkatall。Buthisson，workingatanengineer’s，andasteadyman，obtainedwagesenoughtomaintainallthefamilyinacarefulway。StillitpreyedonWilson’smindtobesolongindebtedtohisson。
Hewasoutofspiritsanddepressed。Bartonwasmorose，andsouredtowardsmankindasabody，andtherichinparticular。Oneevening，whentheclearlightatsixo’clockcontrastedstrangelywiththeChristmascold，andwhenthebitterwindpipeddowneveryentry，andthrougheverycranny，Bartonsatbroodingoverhisstintedfire，andlisteningforMary’sstep，inunacknowledgedtrustthatherpresencewouldcheerhim。Thedoorwasopened，andWilsoncamebreathlessin。“You’venotgotabito’moneybyyou，Barton？“askedhe。“NotI；whohasnow，I’dliketoknow。Whattenyouwantitfor？““Idonnotwantitformysel’，tho’we’venonetospare。ButdonyouknowBenDavenportasworkedatCarsons’？He’sdownwi’thefever，andne’erasticko’firenoracowdpotatointhehouse。““Ihangotnomoney，Itellye，“saidBarton。Wilsonlookeddisappointed。