Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/169

Rh to buy one toy, and then another, till her money was quite gone. When Mrs. Maſon found it was all expended, ſhe looked round for an object in distreſs; a poor woman soon preſented herſelf, and her meagre countenance gave weight to her tale.—A babe, as meagre, hung at her breaſt, which did not ſeem to contain ſufficient moisture to wet its parched lips.

On enquiry they found that ſhe lodged in a neighbouring garret. Her huſband had been out of employment a long time, and was now ſick. The maſter who had formerly given him work, loſt gradually great part of his buſineſs; for his beſt cuſtomers were grown ſo fond of foreign articles, that his goods grew old in the warehouſe. Conſequently a number of hands were dismissed, who not immediately finding employment elſewhere, were reduced to the moſt extreme diſtreſs. The truth of this account a reputable ſhopkeeper attested; and he added that many of the unhappy creatures, who die unpitied at the gallows, were firſt led into vice by accidental idleneſs. Rh