4

having no family of her own, literaly devoted
herself to the sons and daughters of poverty and
affliction. When from her own scanty stores
she had nothing to give, she used to beg
of those who had and even when this resource
failed, she still had her time; and her cares,
her advise and her consolation to give to
the poor, the sick and the ignorant. At one
of their late meetings, Richard had informed
her of the condition of poor Lucy, and the
good widow had now come, to comfort if
she could not assist her.
Lucy, was dosing when she entered and
when roused by the loud complaining voice
of Becky, who was giving a history of her
grievances, she shrunk from the notice
of a stranger. Becky complained most
bitterly, that her husband had taken
in a poor wanderer, who was a heavy
burden on them, obliging her to stay at
home, instead of going out to work, and so
in fact bringing them all into a state of starvation.