Hisshirtlessbosomtotheblastisbare。Anonheturnsandcastsawistfuleye，Andwithscantnapkinwipestheblindingspray；Andlooksaround，asifhefainwouldspyFriendshehadfeastedinhisbetterday：Ah!somearedead；andsomehavelongforborneToknowthepoor；andheisleftforlorn!Godhelpthepoor!Godhelpthepoor，whoinlonevalleysdwell，Orbyfarhills，wherewhinandheathergrow；Theirsisastorysadindeedtotell；Yetlittlecarestheworld，andless’twouldknowAboutthetoilandwantmenundergo。Thewearyingloomdothcallthemupatmorn；Theyworktillworn-outnaturesinkstosleep；Theytaste，butarenotfed。ThesnowdriftsdeepAroundthefirelesscot，andblocksthedoor；Thenightstormhowlsadirgeacrossthemoor；Andshalltheyperishthus——oppressedandlorn？Shalltoilandfamine，hopeless，stillbeborne？No!Godwillyetariseandhelpthepoor!“Amen!“saidBarton，solemnlyandsorrowfully。“Mary!wench，couldstthoucopymethemlines，dostthink？——that’stosay，ifJobtherehasnoobjection。““NotI。Morethey’reheardandreadthebetter，sayI。“SoMarytookthepaper。Andthenextday，onablankhalfsheetofavalentine，allborderedwithheartsanddarts——avalentineshehadoncesuspectedtocomefromJemWilson——shecopiedBamford’sbeautifullittlepoem。
Myheart，oncesoftaswoman’stear，isgnarledWithgloatingontheillsIcannotcure。ELLIOTT。Thenguardandshieldherinnocence，Lethernotfalllikeme；’Twerebetter，oh!athousandtimes，Sheinhergraveshouldbe。TheOutcast。Despairsettleddownlikeaheavycloud；andnowandthen，throughthedeadcalmofsufferings，camepipingsofstormywinds，foretellingtheendofthesedarkprognostics。Intimesofsorrowfulorfierceendurance，weareoftensoothedbythemererepetitionofoldproverbswhichtelltheexperienceofourforefathers；butnow，“it’salonglanethathasnoturning，““theweariestdaydrawstoanend，etc。，seemedfalseandvainsayings，solongandsowearywasthepressureoftheterribletimes。
Deeperanddeeperstillsankthepoor；itshowedhowmuchlingeringsufferingittakestokillmen，thatsofewincomparisondiedduringthosetimes。
But，remember!weonlymissthosewhodomen’sworkintheirhumblesphere；
theaged，thefeeble，thechildren，whentheydie，arehardlynotedbytheworld；andyettomanyhearts，theirdeathsmakeablankwhichlongyearswillneverfillup。Remember，too，thatthoughitmaytakemuchsufferingtokilltheable-bodiedandeffectivemembersofsociety，itdoesnottakemuchtoreducethemtoworn，listless，diseasedcreatures，whothenceforwardcrawlthroughlifewithmoodyheartsandpain-strickenbodies。Thepeoplehadthoughtthepovertyoftheprecedingyearshardtobear，andhadfounditsyokeheavy；butthisyearaddedsorelytoitsweight。
Formertimeshadchastisedthemwithwhips，butthischastisedthemwithscorpions。Ofcourse，Bartonhadhisshareofmerebodilysufferings。BeforehehadgoneuptoLondononhisvainerrand，hehadbeenworkingshorttime。ButinthehopesofspeedyredressbymeansoftheinterferenceofParliament，hehadthrownuphisplace；andnow，whenheaskedleavetoresumehisworkhewastoldtheywerediminishingtheirnumberofhandseveryweek，andhewasmadeaware，bytheremarksoffellow-workmen，thataChartistdelegate，andaleadingmemberofatrades’union，wasnotlikelytobefavouredinhissearchafteremployment。Stillhetriedtokeepupabraveheartconcerninghimself。Heknewhecouldbearhunger；forthatpowerofendurancehadbeencalledforthwhenhewasalittlechild，andhadseenhismotherhideherdailymorseltoshareitamongherchildren，andwhenhe，beingtheeldest，hadtoldthenoblelie，that“hewasnothungry，couldnoteatabitmore，inordertoimitatehismother’sbravery，andstillthesharpwailoftheyoungerinfants。Mary，too，wassecureoftwomealsadayatMissSimmonds’；though，bytheway，thedressmakertoo，feelingtheeffectofbadtimes，hadleftoffgivingteatoherapprentices，settingthemtheexampleoflongabstinencebyputtingoffherownmealtillworkwasdoneforthenight，howeverlatethatmightbe。Buttherent!Itwashalf-a-crownaweek——nearlyallMary’searnings——andmuchlessroommightdoforthem，onlytwo——Nowcamethetimetobethankfulthattheearlydeadweresavedfromtheeviltocome——Theagriculturallabourergenerallyhasstronglocalattachments；buttheyarefarlesscommon，almostobliterated，amongtheinhabitantsofatown。Stillthereareexceptions，andBartonformedone。Hehadremovedtohisresenthousejustafterthelastbadtimes，whenlittleTomhadsickenedanddied。Hehadthenthoughtthebustleofaremovalwouldgivehispoorstunnedwifesomethingtodo，andhehadtakenmoreinterestinthedetailsoftheproceedingthanheotherwisewouldhavedone，inthehopeofcallingherforthtoactionagain。Soheseemedtoknoweverybrass-headednaildrivenupforherconvenience。Onlyonehadbeendisplaced。ItwasEsther’sbonnetnail，whichinhisdeeprevengefulangeragainsther，afterhiswife’sdeath，hehadtornoutofthewall，andcastintothestreet。Itwouldbehardworktoleavethehouse，whichyetseemedhallowedbyhiswife’spresenceinthehappydaysofold。Buthewasalawuntohimself，thoughsometimesabad，fiercelaw；andheresolvedtogivetherent-collectornotice，andlookoutforacheaperabode，andtellMarytheymustflit。PoorMary!
shelovedthehouse，too。Itwaswrenchinguphernaturalfeelingsofhome，foritwouldbelongbeforethefibresofherheartwouldgatherthemselvesaboutanotherplace。Thistrialwasspared。Thecollectorofhimself，ontheveryMonday，whenBartonplannedtogivehimnoticeofhisintentiontoleave，loweredtherentthree-penceaweek，justenoughtomakeBartoncompromiseandagreetostayonalittlelonger。Butbydegreesthehousewasstrippedofallitslittleornaments。Somewerebroken；andtheoddtwopencesandthreepences，wantedtopayfortheirrepairs，wererequiredforthefarsternernecessityoffood。Andby-and-byMarybegantopartwithothersuperfluitiesatthepawn-shop。Thesmarttea-tray，andtea-caddy，longandcarefullykept，wentforbreadforherfather。Hedidnotaskforit，orcomplain，butshesawhungerinhisshrunk，fierce，animallook。Thentheblanketswent，foritwassummertime，andtheycouldsparethem；andtheirsalemadeafund，whichMaryfanciedwouldlasttillbettertimescame。Butitwassoonallgone；andthenshelookedaroundtheroomtocribitofitsfewremainingornaments。Toalltheseproceedingsherfathersaidneveraword。Ifhefasted，orfeastedafterthesaleofsomearticleonanunusual’mealofbreadandcheese，hetookallwithasullenindifference，whichdepressedMary’sheart。SheoftenwishedbewouldapplyforrelieffromtheGuardians’relievingoffice；
oftenwonderedthetrades’uniondidnothingforhim。Once，whensheaskedhimashesat，grimed，unshaven，andgaunt，afteraday’sfasting，overthefire，whyhedidnotgetrelieffromthetown，heturnedround，withgrimwrath，andsaid，“Idon’twantmoney，child!D——ntheircharityandtheirmoney!Iwantworkanditismyright。Iwantwork。“Hewouldbearitall，hesaidtohimself。Andhedidbearit，butnotmeekly；
thatwastoomuchtoexpect。Realmeeknessofcharacteriscalledoutbyexperienceofkindness。Andfewhadbeenkindtohim。Yetthroughitall，withsterndeterminationherefusedtheassistancehistrades’unionwouldhavegivenhim。Ithadnotmuchtogive，but，withworldlywisdom，thoughtitbettertopropitiateanactive，usefulmember，thantohelpthosewhowereunenergetic，thoughtheyhadlargefamiliestoprovidefor。NotsothoughtJohnBarton。Withhim，needwasright。“GiveittoTomDarbyshire，“hesaid。“He’smoreclaimonitthanme，forhe’smoreneedofit，withhissevenchildren。“NowTomDarbyshirewas，inhislistless，grumblingway，abackbitingenemyofJohnBarton’s。Andheknewit；buthewasnottobeinfluencedbythatinamatterlikethis。Marywentearlytoherwork；buthercheerylaughoveritwasnowmissedbytheothergirls。Hermindwanderedoverthepresentdistress，andthensettled，asshestitched，onthevisionsofthefuture，whereyetherthoughtsdweltmoreonthecircumstancesofease，andthepompsandvanitiesawaitingher，thanontheloverwithwhomshewastosharethem。Stillshewasnotinsensibletotheprideofhavingattractedonesofaraboveherselfinstation；notinsensibletothesecretpleasureofknowingthathe，whomsomanyadmired，hadoftensaidhewouldgiveanythingforoneofhersweetsmiles。Herloveforhimwasabubble，blownoutofvanity；butitlookedveryrealandverybright。SallyLeadbitter，meanwhile，keenlyobservedthesignsofthetimes；shefoundoutthatMaryhadbeguntoaffixasternvaluetomoneyasthe“PurchaserofLife，“andmanygirlshadbeendazzledandluredbygold，evenwithoutthebetrayinglovewhichshebelievedtoexistinMary’sheart。SosheurgedyoungMrCarson，byrepresentationsofthewantshewassuresurroundedMary，tobringmattersmoretoapoint。
ButhehadakindofinstinctivedreadofhurtingMary’sprideofspirit，anddurstnothinthisknowledgeinanywayofthedistressthatmanymustbeenduring。Hefeltthatforthepresenthemuststillbecontentwithstolenmeetingsandsummereveningstrolls，andthedelightofpouringsweethoneyedwordsintoherear，whileshelistenedwithablushandasmilethatmadeherlookradiantwithbeauty。No；hewouldbecautiousinordertobecertain；forMary，onewayoranother，hemustmakehis。
Hehadnodoubtoftheeffectofhisownpersonalcharmsinthelongrun；
forheknewhewashandsome，andbelievedhimselffascinating。IfhehadknownwhatMary’shomewas，hewouldnothavebeensomuchconvincedofhisincreasinginfluenceoverher，byherbeingmoreandmorereadytolingerwithhiminthesweetsummerair。Forwhenshereturnedforthenightherfatherwasoftenout，andthehousewantedthecheerfullookitbadhadinthedayswhenmoneywas，neverwantedtopurchasesoapandbrushes，black-leadandpipe-clay。Itwasdingyandcomfortless；for，ofcourse，therewasnoteventhedumbfamiliarhome-friend，afire。AndMargaret，too，wasnowveryoftenfromhome，singingatsomeofthosegrandplaces。
AndAlice；oh，MarywishedshehadneverlefthercellartogoandliveatAncoatswithhersister-in-law。ForinthatmatterMaryfeltveryguilty；
shehadputoffandputoffgoingtoseethewidow，afterGeorgeWilson’sreasontothinkshewishedtobeasintimatewithhimasformerly；andnowshewassomuchashamedofherdelaythatshewaslikelynevertogoatall。Ifherfatherwasathomeitwasnobetter；indeed，itwasworse。Heseldomspoke，lessthanever；andoftenwhenhedidspeak，theyweresharpangrywords，suchashehadnevergivenherformerly。Hertemperwashigh，too，andheranswersnotovermild；andonceinhispassionhehadevenbeatenher。IfSallyLeadbitterorMrCarsonhadbeenathandatthatmoment，Marywouldhavebeenreadytoleavehomeforever。Shesatalone，afterherfatherhadflungoutofthehouse，bitterlythinkingonthedaysthatweregone；angrywithherownhastiness，andbelievingthatherfatherdidnotloveher；strivingtoheapuponepainfulthoughtonanother。Whoearedforher？MrCarsonmight，butinthisgriefthatseemednocomfort。
Motherdead!Fathersooftenangry，solatelycruelforitwasahardblow，andblisteredandreddenedMary’ssoftwhiteskinwithpain：andthenherheartturnedround，andsherememberedwithself-reproachhowprovokinglyshehadlookedandspoken，andhowmuchherfatherhadtobear；
andoh，whatakindandlovingparenthehadbeen，tillthesedaysoftrial。
Theremembranceofonelittleinstanceofhisfatherlylovethrongedafteranotherintohermind，andshebegantowonderhowshecouldhavebehavedtohimasshehaddone。Thenhecamehome；andbutforveryshameshewouldhaveconfessedherpenitenceinwords。Butshelookedsullen，fromherefforttokeepdownemotion；andforsometimeherfatherdidnotknowhowtobegintospeak。
Atlengthhegulpeddownpride，andsaid：“Mary，I’mnotabovesayingI’mverysorryIbeatthee。Thouwertabitaggravating，andI’mnotthemanIwas。Butitwerewrong，andI’lltrynevertolayhandsontheeagain。“Soheheldouthisarms，andinmanytearsshetoldhimherrepentanceforherfault。Heneverstruckheragain。Still，heoftenwasangry。Butthatwasalmostbetterthanbeingsilent。