Ponderinginmymindthefar-seeingschemesofThismanandThatman，andofthepublicblessingcalledParty，forstayingthedegeneracy，physicalandmoral，ofmanythousandswhoshallsayhowmany？oftheEnglishrace；fordevisingemploymentusefultothecommunityforthosewhowantbuttoworkandlive；forequalisingrates，cultivatingwastelands，facilitatingemigration，and，aboveallthings，savingandutilisingtheoncominggenerations，andtherebychangingever-growingnationalweaknessintostrength:ponderinginmymind，Isay，thesehopefulexertions，Iturneddownanarrowstreettolookintoahouseortwo。
Itwasadarkstreetwithadeadwallononeside。Nearlyalltheouterdoorsofthehousesstoodopen。Itookthefirstentry，andknockedataparlour-door。MightIcomein？Imight，ifIplased，sur。
ThewomanoftheroomIrishhadpickedupsomelongstripsofwood，aboutsomewharforbarge；andtheyhadjustnowbeenthrustintotheotherwiseemptygratetomaketwoironpotsboil。Therewassomefishinone，andthereweresomepotatoesintheother。
Theflareoftheburningwoodenabledmetoseeatable，andabrokenchairorso，andsomeoldcheapcrockeryornamentsaboutthechimney-piece。ItwasnotuntilIhadspokenwiththewomanafewminutes，thatIsawahorriblebrownheaponthefloorinacorner，which，butforpreviousexperienceinthisdismalwise，Imightnothavesuspectedtobe’thebed。’Therewassomethingthrownuponit；andIaskedwhatthatwas。
’’Tisthepoorcraythurthatstayshere，sur；and’tisverybadsheis，and’tisverybadshe’sbeenthislongtime，and’tisbettershe’llneverbe，and’tisslapeshedoesallday，and’tiswakeshedoesallnight，and’tisthelead，sur。’
’Thewhat？’
’Thelead，sur。Sure’tisthelead-mills，wherethewomengetstookonateighteen-penceaday，sur，whentheymakesapplicationearlyenough，andisluckyandwanted；and’tislead-pisonedsheis，sur，andsomeofthemgetslead-pisonedsoon，andsomeofthemgetslead-pisonedlater，andsome，butnotmany，niver；and’tisallaccordingtotheconstitooshun，sur，andsomeconstitooshunsisstrong，andsomeisweak；andherconstitooshunislead-pisoned，badascanbe，sur；andherbrainiscomingoutatherear，andithurtsherdreadful；andthat’swhatitis，andnivernomore，andnivernoless，sur。’
Thesickyoungwomanmoaninghere，thespeakerbentoverher，tookabandagefromherhead，andthrewopenabackdoortoletinthedaylightuponit，fromthesmallestandmostmiserablebackyardI
eversaw。
’That’swhatcoomsfromher，sur，beinglead-pisoned；anditcoomsfromhernightandday，thepoor，sickcraythur；andthepainofitisdreadful；andGodheknowsthatmyhusbandhaswalkedthesthreetsthesefourdays，beingalabourer，andiswalkingthemnow，andisreadytowork，andnoworkforhim，andnofireandnofoodbutthebitinthepot，andnomorethantenshillingsinafortnight；Godbegoodtous！anditispoorweare，anddarkitisandcoulditisindeed。’
KnowingthatIcouldcompensatemyselfthereafterformyself-
denial，ifIsawfit，IhadresolvedthatIwouldgivenothinginthecourseofthesevisits。Ididthistotrythepeople。ImaystateatoncethatmyclosestobservationcouldnotdetectanyindicationwhateverofanexpectationthatIwouldgivemoney:
theyweregratefultobetalkedtoabouttheirmiserableaffairs，andsympathywasplainlyacomforttothem；buttheyneitheraskedformoneyinanycase，norshowedtheleasttraceofsurpriseordisappointmentorresentmentatmygivingnone。
Thewoman’smarrieddaughterhadbythistimecomedownfromherroomonthefloorabove，tojoinintheconversation。Sheherselfhadbeentothelead-millsveryearlythatmorningtobe’tookon，’
buthadnotsucceeded。Shehadfourchildren；andherhusband，alsoawater-sidelabourer，andthenoutseekingwork，seemedinnobettercaseastofindingitthanherfather。ShewasEnglish，andbynature，ofabuxomfigureandcheerful。Bothinherpoordressandinhermother’stherewasanefforttokeepupsomeappearanceofneatness。Sheknewallaboutthesufferingsoftheunfortunateinvalid，andallaboutthelead-poisoning，andhowthesymptomscameon，andhowtheygrew，-havingoftenseenthem。Theverysmellwhenyoustoodinsidethedooroftheworkswasenoughtoknockyoudown，shesaid:yetshewasgoingbackagaintoget’tookon。’Whatcouldshedo？Betterbeulceratedandparalysedforeighteen-penceaday，whileitlasted，thanseethechildrenstarve。
Adarkandsqualidcupboardinthisroom，touchingthebackdoorandallmannerofoffence，hadbeenforsometimethesleeping-
placeofthesickyoungwoman。Butthenightsbeingnowwintry，andtheblanketsandcoverlets’gonetotheleavingshop，’shelayallnightwhereshelayallday，andwaslyingthen。Thewomanoftheroom，herhusband，thismostmiserablepatient，andtwoothers，layontheonebrownheaptogetherforwarmth。
’Godblessyou，sir，andthankyou！’werethepartingwordsfromthesepeople，-gratefullyspokentoo，-withwhichIleftthisplace。
Somestreetsaway，Itappedatanotherparlour-dooronanotherground-floor。Lookingin，Ifoundaman，hiswife，andfourchildren，sittingatawashing-stoolbywayoftable，attheirdinnerofbreadandinfusedtea-leaves。Therewasaveryscantycinderousfireinthegratebywhichtheysat；andtherewasatentbedsteadintheroomwithabeduponitandacoverlet。ThemandidnotrisewhenIwentin，norduringmystay，butcivillyinclinedhisheadonmypullingoffmyhat，and，inanswertomyinquirywhetherImightaskhimaquestionortwo，said，’Certainly。’Therebeingawindowateachendofthisroom，backandfront，itmighthavebeenventilated；butitwasshutuptight，tokeepthecoldout，andwasverysickening。
Thewife，anintelligent，quickwoman，roseandstoodatherhusband’selbow；andheglancedupatherasifforhelp。Itsoonappearedthathewasratherdeaf。Hewasaslow，simplefellowofaboutthirty。
’Whatwashebytrade？’
’Gentlemanaskswhatareyoubytrade，John？’
’Iamaboilermaker；’lookingabouthimwithanexceedinglyperplexedair，asifforaboilerthathadunaccountablyvanished。
’Heain’tamechanic，youunderstand，sir，’thewifeputin:’he’sonlyalabourer。’
’Areyouinwork？’
Helookedupathiswifeagain。’Gentlemansaysareyouinwork，John？’
’Inwork！’criedthisforlornboilermaker，staringaghastathiswife，andthenworkinghisvision’swayveryslowlyroundtome:
’Lord，no！’
’Ah，heain’tindeed！’saidthepoorwoman，shakingherhead，asshelookedatthefourchildreninsuccession，andthenathim。
’Work！’saidtheboilermaker，stillseekingthatevaporatedboiler，firstinmycountenance，thenintheair，andtheninthefeaturesofhissecondsonathisknee:’IwishIWASinwork！Ihaven’thadmorethanaday’sworktodothisthreeweeks。’
’Howhaveyoulived？’
Afaintgleamofadmirationlightedupthefaceofthewould-beboilermaker，ashestretchedouttheshortsleeveofhisthread-
barecanvasjacket，andreplied，pointingherout，’Ontheworkofthewife。’
Iforgetwhereboilermakinghadgoneto，orwherehesupposedithadgoneto；butheaddedsomeresignedinformationonthathead，coupledwithanexpressionofhisbeliefthatitwasnevercomingback。
Thecheeryhelpfulnessofthewifewasveryremarkable。Shedidslop-work；madepea-jackets。Sheproducedthepea-jackettheninhand，andspreaditoutuponthebed，-theonlypieceoffurnitureintheroomonwhichtospreadit。Sheshowedhowmuchofitshemade，andhowmuchwasafterwardsfinishedoffbythemachine。
Accordingtohercalculationatthemoment，deductingwhathertrimmingcosther，shegotformakingapea-jackettenpencehalf-
penny，andshecouldmakeoneinsomethinglessthantwodays。
But，yousee，itcometoherthroughtwohands，andofcourseitdidn’tcomethroughthesecondhandfornothing。Whydiditcomethroughthesecondhandatall？Why，thisway。Thesecondhandtooktheriskofthegiven-outwork，yousee。Ifshehadmoneyenoughtopaythesecuritydeposit，-callittwopound，-shecouldgettheworkfromthefirsthand，andsothesecondwouldnothavetobedeductedfor。But，havingnomoneyatall，thesecondhandcomeinandtookitsprofit，andsothewholeworkeddowntotenpencehalf-penny。Havingexplainedallthiswithgreatintelligence，evenwithsomelittlepride，andwithoutawhineormurmur，shefoldedherworkagain，satdownbyherhusband’ssideatthewashing-stool，andresumedherdinnerofdrybread。Meanasthemealwas，onthebareboard，withitsoldgallipotsforcups，andwhatnotothersordidmakeshifts；shabbyasthewomanwasindress，andtoningdonetowardstheBosjesmancolour，withwantofnutrimentandwashing，-therewaspositivelyadignityinher，asthefamilyanchorjustholdingthepoorship-wreckedboilermaker’sbark。WhenIlefttheroom，theboiler-maker’seyeswereslowlyturnedtowardsher，asifhislasthopeofeveragainseeingthatvanishedboilerlayinherdirection。
Thesepeoplehadneverappliedforparishreliefbutonce；andthatwaswhenthehusbandmetwithadisablingaccidentathiswork。
Notmanydoorsfromhere，Iwentintoaroomonthefirstfloor。
Thewomanapologisedforitsbeingin’anuntidymess。’ThedaywasSaturday，andshewasboilingthechildren’sclothesinasaucepanonthehearth。Therewasnothingelseintowhichshecouldhaveputthem。Therewasnocrockery，ortinware，ortub，orbucket。Therewasanoldgallipotortwo，andtherewasabrokenbottleorso，andthereweresomebrokenboxesforseats。Thelastsmallscrapingofcoalsleftwasrakedtogetherinacornerofthefloor。Thereweresomeragsinanopencupboard，alsoonthefloor。InacorneroftheroomwasacrazyoldFrenchbed-stead，withamanlyingonhisbackuponitinaraggedpilotjacket，androughoil-skinfantailhat。Theroomwasperfectlyblack。Itwasdifficulttobelieve，atfirst，thatitwasnotpurposelycolouredblack，thewallsweresobegrimed。
AsIstoodoppositethewomanboilingthechildren’sclothes，-shehadnotevenapieceofsoaptowashthemwith，-andapologisingforheroccupation，Icouldtakeinallthesethingswithoutappearingtonoticethem，andcouldevencorrectmyinventory。I
hadmissed，atthefirstglance，somehalfapoundofbreadintheotherwiseemptysafe，anoldredraggedcrinolinehangingonthehandleofthedoorbywhichIhadentered，andcertainfragmentsofrustyironscatteredonthefloor，whichlookedlikebrokentoolsandapieceofstove-pipe。Achildstoodlookingon。Ontheboxnearesttothefiresattwoyoungerchildren；oneadelicateandprettylittlecreature，whomtheothersometimeskissed。