Hewasdressedinhisbest，hisSundaysuitofcourse；whilehisfaceglitteredwiththescrubbinghehadbestowedonit。Hisdarkblackhairhadbeenarrangedandre-arrangedbeforethehouseholdlooking-glass，andinhisbutton-holehestuckanarcissusasweetNancyisitsprettyLancashirename，hopingitwouldattractMary’snotice，sothathemighthavethedelightofgivingither。ItwasabadbeginningofhisvisitofhappinessthatMarysawhimsomeminutesbeforehecameintoherfather’shouse。Shewassittingattheendofthedresser，withthelittlewindow-blinddrawnononeside，inorderthatshemightseethepassers-by，intheintervalsofreadingherBible，whichlayopenbeforeher。SoshewatchedallthegreetingafriendgaveJem；shesawthefaceofcondolence，thesympatheticshakeofthehand，andhadtimetoarrangeherownfaceandmannerbeforeJemcamein，whichhedid，asifhehadeyesfornoonebutherfather，whosatsmokinghispipebythefire，whilehereadanoldNorthernStar，borrowedfromaneighbouringpublic-house。ThenheturnedtoMary，who，hefeltbythesureinstinctoflove，bywhichalmosthisbodythought，waspresent。HerhandswerebusyadjustingherdressforcedandunnecessarymovementJemcouldnothelpthinking。Heraccostwasquietandfriendly，ifgrave；shefeltthatshereddenedlikearose，andwishedshecouldpreventit，whileJemwonderedifherblushesarosefromfear，oranger，orlove。Shewasverycunning，Iamafraid。Shepretendedtoreaddiligently，andnottolistentoawordthatwassaid，whileinfactsheheardallsounds，eventoJem’slong，deepsighs，whichwrungherheart。AtlastshetookupherBible，andasiftheirconversationdisturbedher，wentup-stairstoherlittleroom。AndshehadscarcelyspokenawordtoJem；scarcelylookedathim；nevernoticedhisbeautifulsweetNancy，whichonlyawaitedherleastwordofpraisetobehers!Hedidnotknow——thatpangwasspared——thatinherlittledingybedroomstoodawhitejug，filledwithaluxuriantbunchofearlyspringroses，makingthewholeroomfragrantandbright。
Theywerethegiftofherricherlover。SoJembadtogoonsittingwithJohnBarton，fairlycaughtinhisowntrap，andbadtolistentohistalk，andanswerhimasbesthemight。“There’stherightstuffinthishere’Star，’andnomistake。Sucharight-downpieceforshorthours。““Atthesamerateofwagesasnow？“askedJem。“Aye，aye!elsewhere’stheuse？It’sonlytakingouto’themasters’pocketwhattheycanwellafford。DidIevertellyewhatth’Infirmarychapletmeinto，manyayearagone？““No，“saidJem，listlessly。“Well!yomustknowIwereinth’Infirmaryforafever，andtimeswererareandbad，andtherebegoodchapstheretoaman，whilehe’swick，whate’ertheymaybeaboutcuttinghimupatafter。SowhenIwerebettero’th’fever，butweakaswater，theysaystome，saysthey，’Ifyo’canwrite，youmaystayinaweeklonger，andhelpoursurgeonwi’sortinghispapers；andwe’lltakecareyo’veyourbellyfulofmeatanddrink。
Yo’llbetwiceasstronginaweek。’Sotherewantedbutonewordtothatbargain。SoIweresettowritingandcopying；th’writingIcoulddowellenough，butthey’dsuchqueerwayso’spelling，thatI’dne’erbeenusedto，thatI’dtolookfirstatth’copyandthenatmyletters，foralltheworldlikeacockpickingupgrainso’corn。Butonethingstartledmee’enthen，andIthoughtI’dmakeboldtoaskthesurgeonthemeaningo’t。I’vegettennoheadfornumbers，butthisIknow，thatbyfarth’
greaterparto’th’accidentsascomedin，happenedinth’lasttwohourso’work，whenfolkgettentiredandcareless。Th’surgeonsaiditwerealltrue，andthatheweregoingtobringthatfacttolight。“JemwasponderingMary’sconduct；butthepausemadehimawareheoughttouttersomecivillisteningnoise；sohesaid，“Verytrue。““Aye，it’strueenough，mylad，thatwe’resadlyover-borne，andworsewillcomeofitaforelong。Block-printersisgoingtostrike；they’ngettenabang-upunion，aswon’tlet’embeputupon。Butthere’smanyathingwillhappenaforelong，asfolkdon’texpect。Yomaytakemywordforthat，Jem。“Jemwasverywillingtotakeit，butdidnotexpressthecuriosityheshouldhavedone。SoJohnBartonthoughthe’dtryanotherhintortwo。“Workingfolkwon’tbegroundtothedustmuchlonger。We’na’hadasmuchtobearashumannaturecanbear。So，ifth’masterscan’tdousnogood，andtheysaytheycan’t，wemuntryhigherfolk。“StillJemwasnotcurious。HegaveuphopeofseeingMaryagainbyherowngoodfreewill；andthenextbestthingwouldbe，tobealonetothinkofher。Somutteringsomethingwhichhemeanttoserveasanexcuseforhissuddendeparture，hehastilywishedJohngoodafternoon，andlefthimtoresumehispipeandhispolitics。Forthreeyearspasttradehadbeengettingworseandworse，andthepriceofprovisionshigherandhigher。Thisdisparitybetweentheamountoftheearningsoftheworkingclassesandthepriceoftheirfood，occasioned，inmorecasesthancouldwellbeimagined，diseaseanddeath。Wholefamilieswentthroughagradualstarvation。TheyonlywantedaDantetorecordtheirsufferings。Andyetevenhiswordswouldfallshortoftheawfultruth；
theycouldonlypresentanoutlineofthetremendousfactsofthedestitutionthatsurroundedthousandsuponthousandsintheterribleyears1839，1840，and1841。Evenphilanthropistswhohadstudiedthesubject，wereforcedtoownthemselvesperplexedintheirendeavourtoascertaintherealcausesofthemisery；thewholematterwasofsocomplicatedanature，thatitbecamenexttoimpossibletounderstanditthoroughly。Itneedexcitenosurprise，then，tolearnthatabadfeelingbetweenworkingmenandtheupperclassesbecameverystronginthisseasonofprivation。Theindigenceandsufferingsoftheoperativesinducedasuspicioninthemindsofmanyofthem，thattheirlegislators，theirmagistrates，theiremployers，andeventheministersofreligion，were，ingeneral，theiroppressorsandenemies；andwereinleaguefortheirprostrationandenthralment。ThemostdeplorableandenduringevilthataroseoutoftheperiodofcommercialdepressiontowhichIrefer，wasthisfeelingofalienationbetweenthedifferentclassesofsociety。Itissoimpossibletodescribe，orevenfaintlytopicture，thestateofdistresswhichprevailedinthetownatthattime，thatIwillnotattemptit；andyetIthinkagainthatsurely，inaChristianland，itwasnotknownevensofeeblyaswordscouldtellit，orthemorehappyandfortunatewouldhavethrongedwiththeirsympathyandtheiraid。Inmanyinstancesthesufferersweptfirst，andthentheycursed。Theirvindictivefeelingsexhibitedthemselvesinrabidpolitics。
AndwhenIhear，asIhaveheard，ofthesufferingsandprivationsofthepoor，ofprovisionshopswhereha’porthsoftea，sugar，butter，andevenflour，weresoldtoaccommodatetheindigent，——ofparentssittingintheirclothesbythefiresideduringthewholenightforsevenweekstogether，inorderthattheironlybedandbeddingmightbereservedfortheuseoftheirlargefamily，——ofotherssleepinguponthecoldhearthstoneforweeksinsuccession，withoutadequatemeansofprovidingthemselveswithfoodorfuelandthisinthedepthofwinter，——ofothersbeingcompelledtofastfordaystogether，uncheeredbyanyhopeofbetterfortune，living，moreover，orratherstarving，inacrowdedgarret，ordampcellar，andgraduallysinkingunderthepressureofwantanddespairintoaprematuregrave；andwhenthishasbeenconfirmedbytheevidenceoftheircarewornlooks，theirexcitedfeelings，andtheirdesolatehomes，——canIwonderthatmanyofthem，insuchtimesofmiseryanddestitution，spokeandactedwithferociousprecipitation？Anideawasnowspringingupamongtheoperatives，thatoriginatedwiththeChartists，butwhichcameatlasttobecherishedasadarlingchildbymanyandmanyaone。Theycouldnotbelievethatgovernmentknewoftheirmiserytheyratherchosetothinkitpossiblethatmencouldvoluntarilyassumetheofficeoflegislatorsforanationwhowereignorantofitsrealstate；aswhoshouldmakedomesticrulesfortheprettybehaviourofchildrenwithoutcaringtoknowthatthosechildrenhadbeenkeptfordayswithoutfood。Besides，thestarvingmultitudeshadheard，thattheveryexistenceoftheirdistresshadbeendeniedinParliament；andthoughtheyfeltthisstrangeandinexplicable，yettheideathattheirmiseryhadstilltoberevealedinallitsdepths，andthatthensomeremedywouldbefound，soothedtheirachinghearts，andkeptdowntheirrisingfury。Soapetitionwasframed，andsignedbythousandsinthebrightspringdaysof1839，imploringParliamenttohearwitnesseswhocouldtestifytotheunparalleleddestitutionofthemanufacturingdistricts。Nottingham，Sheffield，Glasgow，Manchester，andmanyothertowns，werebusyappointingdelegatestoconveythispetition，whomightspeak，notmerelyofwhattheyhadseen，andhadheard，butfromwhattheyhadborneandsuffered。
Life-worn，gaunt，anxious，hunger-stampedmen，werethosedelegates。OneofthemwasJohnBarton。Hewouldhavebeenashamedtoowntheflutterofspiritshisappointmentgavehim。TherewasthechildishdelightofseeingLondon——thatwentalittleway，andbutalittleway。Therewasthevainideaofspeakingouthisnotionsbeforesomanygrandfolk——thatwentalittlefurther；andlast，therewasthereallypuregladnessofheartarisingfromtheideathathewasoneofthosechosentobeinstrumentsinmakingknownthedistressesofthepeople，andconsequentlyinprocuringthemsomegrandrelief，bymeansofwhichtheyshouldneversufferwantorcareanymore。Hehopedlargely，hutvaguely，oftheresultsofhisexpedition。Anargosyoftheprecioushopesofmanyotherwisedespairingcreatures，wasthatpetitiontobeheardconcerningtheirsufferings。ThenightbeforethemorningonwhichtheManchesterdelegatesweretoleaveforLondon，Bartonmightbesaidtoholdalevee，somanyneighbourscamedroppingin。JobLeghhadearlyestablishedhimselfandhispipebyJohnBarton’sfire，notsayingmuch，butpuffingaway，andimagininghimselfofuseinadjustingthesmoothing-ironsthathungbeforethefire，readyforMarywhensheshouldwantthem。AsforMary，heremploymentwasthesameasthatofBeauTibbs’wife，“justwashingherfather’stwoshirts，“
inthepantryback-kitchen；forshewasanxiousabouthisappearanceinLondon。Thecoathadbeenredeemed，thoughthesilkhandkerchiefwasforfeited。
Thedoorstoodopen，asusual，betweenthehouse-placeandback-kitchen，soshegavehergreetingtotheirfriendsastheyentered。“So，John，yo’reboundforLondon，areyo？“saidone。“Aye，IsupposeImungo，“answeredJohn，yieldingtonecessityasitwere。“Well，there’smanyathingI’dlikeyotospeakontotheParliamentpeople。
Thou’ltnotspare’em，John；Ihope。Tell’emourminds；howwe’rethinkingwe’nbeenclemmedlongenough，andwedonnotseewhattengoodthey’nbeendoing，iftheycan’tgiveuswhatwe’reallcryingforsin’thedaywewereborn。““Aye，aye!I’lltell’emthat，andmuchmoretoit，whenitgetstomyturn；butthouknowsthere’smanywillhavetheirwordaforeme。““Well，thou’ltspeakatlast。Blessthee，lad，doask’emtomaketh’masterstobreakth’machines。There’sneverbeengoodtimessin’spinning-jenniescameup。““Machinesisth’ruinofpoorfolk，“chimedinseveralvoices。“Formypart，“saidashivering，half-cladman，whocreptnearthefire，asifague-stricken，“Iwouldliketheetotell’emtopassth’short-hours’
bill。Fleshandbloodgetsweariedwi’somuchwork；whyshouldfactoryhandsworksomuchlongernorothertrades？Justask’emthat，Barton，willye？“Bartonwassavedthenecessityofanswering，bytheentranceofMrsDavenport，thepoorwidowhehadbeensokindto；shelookedhalf-fed，andeager，butwasdecentlyclad。Inherhandshebroughtalittlenewspaperparcel，whichshetooktoMary，whoopenedit，andthencalledout，danglingashirtcollarfromhersoapyfingers：“Seefather，whatadandyyou’llbeinLondon!MrsDavenporthasbroughtyouthismadenewcutallafterthefashion——Thankyouforthinkingonhim。““Eh，Mary!“saidMrsDavenport，inalowvoice，“whatten’sallIcando，towhathe’sdoneformeandmine？But，Mary，sureIcanhelpye，foryou’llbebusywi’thisjourney。““Justhelpmewringtheseout，andthenI’lltakeemtoth’mangle。“SoMrsDavenportbecamealistenertotheconversation；andafterawhilejoinedin。“I’msure，JohnBarton，ifyoaretakingmessagestotheParliamentfolk，yo’llnotobjecttotelling’emwhatasoretrialitis，thislawo’theirs，keepingchilderfra’factorywork，whethertheybeweaklyorstrong。There’sourBen；why，porridgeseemstogonowaywi’him，heeatssomuch；andIhangottennomoneytosendhimt’school，asIwouldlike；andthereheis，rampagingaboutthestreetsa’day，gettinghungrierandhungrier，andpickingupa’mannero’badways；andth’inspectorwon’tlethimintoworkinth’factory，becausehe’snotrightage；thoughhe’stwiceasstrongasSankey’slittleritlingofalad，asworkstillhecriesforhislegsachingso，thoughheisrightage，andbetter。““I’veoneplanIwishtotellJohnBarton，“saidapompous，careful-speakingman，“andIshouldlikehimfortolayitaforetheHonourableHouse。
Mymothercomedouto’Oxfordshire，andwereunder-laundry-maidinSirFrancisDashwood’sfamily；andwhenwewerelittleones，she’dtellusstoriesoftheirgrandeur：andonethingshenamedwere，thatSirFrancisworetwoshirtsaday。NowhewereallasoneasaParliamentman；andmanyon’em，Ihannodoubt，arelikeextravagant。Justtell’em，John，do，thatthey’dbedoingtheLancashireweaversagreatkindness，ifthey’dha’theirshirtsa’madeo’calico；’twouldmaketradebrisk，thatwould，wi’thepowero’shirtstheywear。“JobLeghnowputinhisword。Takingthepipeoutofhismouth，andaddressingthelastspeaker，hesaid：“I’lltellyewhat，Bill，andnooffence，mindye；there’sbuthundredsofthemParliamentfolkaswearsomanyshirtstotheirback；butthere’sthousandsandthousandso’poorweaversashanonlygottenoneshirti’