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 made me feel weak in the joints to hear him; so I sat down, and 'took an observation,' as the sailors say. The father lay in bed with his eyes open, but his wife said he did not know anything; he had had a paralytic stroke since Lucy was at home. They're sort o' and sort o' not poor folks; in respect to this world, poor as the young ravens; but, in respect to furniture for t'other, forehanded! But soul and body must be kept together, and, if you'll join me, we'll send a load of wood just for love to Lucy—they'll feel better to take it so than as charity from rich folks—to be sure, them that takes can't enjoy themselves so much as them that gives ; but that's Scripture law, and we can't help it."

As our business is with Lucy's domestic service, we must pass over the interval spent at home. The energies of youth and good nursing soon restored her, and, through the good offices of Charles Lovett's mother, she obtained a place at a Mrs. Simson's, Mrs. Lovett's next-door neighbour. Mrs. Lovett would herself gladly have taken her, but she had just then cast upon her charities a desolate German girl, who, on account of her utter ignorance of our language, was unable to obtain a good place.

"As soon as Annet has learned English, and learned our ways, she will do well enough," said kind Mrs. Lovett; "and, in the mean time, I can make out with her better than others, for I am not particular." Never was woman less particular in her requisitions from others, nor more exact in the performance of every duty of humanity, than Mrs. Lovett. She was too intent on her own performances to watch over her neighbours, and she knew