Page:The queen's museum, and other fanciful tales.djvu/16

 the slightest degree! And, what is more, I know I shall never be able to do so; and I shall languish here for the rest of my days.'

Passing on, the Stranger met a mother coming out of her house. Her face was pale, and she was weeping bitterly. Filled with pity, he stopped and asked her what was the matter. 'Oh, sir,' she said, 'for a week I have been trying, for the sake of my dear children, to take an interest in that museum. For a time I thought I might do it, but the hopes proved false. It is impossible. I must leave my little ones, and go to prison.'

The Stranger was deeply affected by these cases and many others of a similar character, which he soon met with. 'It is too bad! too bad!' he said to himself. 'I never saw a city in so much trouble. There is scarcely a family, I am told, in which

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