Fina

bad summer for most people and he had not fared better than the rest. A few weeks with one fi

, with fair hair and moustache and blue eyes. He wore a stand-up collar

re she was a general servant. They had 'walked out' for about fifteen months. Easton had been in no hurry to marry, for he knew that, taking good times wit

twelve mo

he always had enough to live on and pocket money besides; but now that he w

nd Crass in any way. He was afraid the latter did not like him very much as it was. Easton knew that Crass could get him the sack at any time, and would not scruple to do so if he wanted to make room for some crony of his own. Crass was the 'coddy' or foreman of the job. Considered as a workman he had no very unusual abilities; he was if anything inferior to the majority of his fellow workme

er as being 'no good', or 'too slow for a funeral'. The result was that this man was dispensed with at the end of the week. The men knew this, and most of them feare

tobacco and pints of beer, managed to keep in Crass's good graces and

things, Easton realized that it was not possible to

as a small house, one of a long row of simila

ft led into the front sitting-room, an apartment about nine feet square, with a bay window. This room was very rarely used and was always very tidy and clean. The mantelpiece was of wood painted black and ornamented with jagged

h Christmas numbers of illustrated papers. There was also a photograph of a group of Sunday School girls with their teachers with the church for the background. In the centre of the room was a round deal table about three feet six inches across, with the legs stained red to look like mahogany. Against one wall was an old couch c

oth, fender, hearthrug, etc, had been obtained on the hire system and were not yet paid for. The windows were draped with

room, and on the flyleaf might have been read the following inscription: 'To dear Ruth, from her loving friend Mrs

keepsake, but as Ruth never opened the book and never willingly allowed her thoughts to dwell upon the scenes of which it remind

ies of recollections of petty tyrannies, insults and indignities. Six years of cruelly excessive work, beginning every morning

egard for her health and welfare: her 'loving friend' had had none. Mrs Starvem's only thought had been t

r heard the name of God, or the singing of a hymn, without thinking of her former mistress. To have looked into this Bible would have remind

rs led into the kitchen or living-room: from here anothe

make a noise as the child had just gone to sleep. They kissed each other and she h

n two coloured almanacks, hung a tin lamp with a reflector behind the light. In the middle of the room was an oblong deal table with a white tablecloth upon which the tea things were set ready. There were four kitchen chairs, two of which were placed close to the table. Overhead, across the room, about eighteen inches down from the ceiling, were stretched several cords upon which were drying a number of linen or calico undergarments, a colour

in its sleep. Its face was very flushed and its eyes were moving under the half-closed lids. Every now and again its lip

omething wrong with

other. 'He's been very restless all day

s he's

I've nursed him several times today. And then at dinner-time he had a

ressed closely to its body, the little fists clenched, and face flushed. Then after a few seconds it b

ton. 'It may be fancy, but he don't seem to me

'It's his teeth what's wearing him out; he

uld be eight months old on Sunday. They were sorry they could do nothing to ease his pain, but c

e some tea,' sai

in their stead, Ruth half filled a tin basin with hot water from the boiler and gave it to him, and he then went to the scullery

e wasn't nothing in the house except bread and butter and that piece of cheese, so I cut some bread and butter and put some t

smells very nice anywa

as to what might befall himself. They were both very indignant, and sorry for poor old Linden

e table in silence

do we owe now

e last time he called that we'd pay two week

ll have to pay it, th

ill you have tomo

o five, less half an hour for breakfast and an hour for dinner, eight and a half hours a day--fort

he said, 'so there's no back day to

now,' rep

rent that'll leave us tw

ll of that,' said Ruth, 'becaus

other

g, and there's about twelve shillings owing for groceries. We'll have to pay them someth

ything we owe; then we shall know exactly where we are. You get me a piece

g we owe, or everythin

er make a list of

g plaintive little cries. The mother now went and knelt at the side of the cra

ggest thing we owe is the rent,' she

gs as well as you might. If you was to make a list of just the things you MUST have before you went out of a Saturday, you'd find the money would go much farther. Instead of d

ply: her head was b

band. 'First of all there's the r

he three weeks you we

at's one pound four,' said Eas

twelve sh

ed up in as

ell me only the other day that you'd

ll the summer. I paid the last of it the week you finished your last job. Then you were out three weeks

st us three shillings a week

's been bacon and eggs and

ginning to bec

e said, '

e did owe nearly a pound, but I've b

added to

four weeks. He hasn't sent a bill yet, but you ca

' said Easton, writing

engrocer for potatoes, ca

hing

utcher two an

meat for a long time,' sa

n't you remember? A

and he adde

e and oilcloth--twelve shillings. A letter cam

om the pocket of her dres

them to you before as I didn't want

first letter f

ION OF M

trict and S

L NO

. EA

that the amount due

ates, has not been pai

ame within Fourteen Da

at after this notice n

iven, before legal pr

ce pa

of the

ES

r, No. 2

................

...............

__

4

d in almost exactly the same way as the other, the principal difference being that it was 'By order of the Overseers' instead of '

wn and began to rea

LUM &

House F

TREET, MU

. EA

I

that three monthly pay

came due on the first

let us have this amo

ur agreement you guar

Saturday of every fo

st request you for th

punctually u

s tr

LUM &

times in silence and finally with a

e for the oilcloth and t

ad the things about six months. We paid one pound down and

paid one pound twelve; so w

is amount t

to have gone without until we could pay cash for them: but you would have your way, of course. Now we'll

le arranging the coverings which the restless movements of the chil

. When he was working they had to go short in order to pay what they owed; but of what there was Easton himself, without knowing it, always had the greater share. If he was at work she would pack into his dinner basket overnigh

he crouched there, crying furtive

aid, without

't got the oilcloth there would have been illness in the house because of the way the wind use

three letters. 'I give you nearly every farthing I earn and I never interfere about anything, becaus

weeping, laying her head on the seat of t

rted up in

s the matte

man, he was ashamed. He knelt down by her, embracing her and apo

e nothing about having to go without things myself, but I can't bear it when you speak to me like you do lately. You seem to blame me for everything. You u

loor, her arms folded on the seat of the chair, and her head r

my fault. I leave things too much to you, and it's more than you can be expected to manage. I'll

lder as he kissed and fondled her, protesting that he would rath

it, walking about the room and rocking it in her arms. The child, however, continued to scream, so she sat down to nurse it: for a little while the infant refused to drink, s

s manner. Whatever could be the mat

s own and its mother's clothing a mass of undigested food. Mingled with the curdle

unate baby began to cry afresh, his face very pale, his lip

me fresh clothing. They both agreed that it was the coming teeth that had up

ind that with the aid of a little common sense and judicious man

tly what you are going to do before you spend anything; that saves you from getting things you don't really need

ece of paper and w

e that we must pay

them directly you got a job, and if I don't keep my word they won't let us hav

that,' s

d to pass the shop, because when I got the meat I promised t

that down.

of coal: on

ex

furniture and floor-cl

ex

s; we'd better pay one week o

ex

er; one shilli

hing

nd; we've had none for nearly three weeks

t's

r bread; that's

llings down for bread

s paying off what we owe, and what you have

sake, and let's get it do

than three shilli

lt sure that the item was already down; but finding

got that.

one a

ex

les, eig

es

l and firewo

ve that it was down already. However, he could not find

ther much longer, and they won't stand mending again. You remember the old ma

wet through tonight. If it's raining some morning when I'm going

t I saw when I was out this afternoon a very

ger, who for all he knew might have suffered from some disease, but then remembering that hi

et them. It's better to do that than for me to c

llings were ad

e anythi

it all come to

d he remained staring at the figures in con

t!' he ejacu

come to?'

our and

'Now if you think I manage so badly, p'raps you can

t wasn't for the debts,

ng, we must either get

made no

about the rat

left to pawn except my black coat and

r you'll be taken off to jail for a month, the

coat and vest and see what

ed--I might get something on that, because we won't get enough on the coat and vest. I don't like partin

se,' sai

hat he would do about it. She knew she had always done her best. At last she said, wistfully, trying to speak plainly for there seemed to be a lump in

ton, sheepishly. 'I think you'

ed Ruth, who seemed to think it a sort of honour to

dle of the night. He therefore woke him up as much as possible and mashed a little of the bread and toasted cheese with a little warm milk. Then taking the baby from Ruth he began to try to induce it to eat. As soon, however, as the child understood his object, it began to scream at the top of its voice, closing its lips firmly and turning its head rapidly from side to side every time th

two more slices of bread and spread on them all the margarine that was left; then put them on a plate on the table, covering them with

cepan so as to have a cup of tea before going out. If Ruth was awake and

coal and wood ready in the fender so that ther

s him for the night. Easton was sitting by the fire smoking, so everything b

rs let unfurnished to an elderly woman and her husband for two shillings a week. If we

oking and washing and one thing and another,' objected

room. They pay her twelve shillings a week each; board, lodging and washing. That's one pound f

u'd never be able to do the wor

edclothes, and we could easily manage without a washstand in our room for a bit, so the only t

chest of drawers,' sa

re's a cupboard in the room and whoeve

tranger in the way all the time, but I suppose we must do something of the sort or else we'll have to gi

e room,' he added, getting up a

ne leading into the front room--their bedroom--and the other into the empty back room. These two doors we

manacks on the walls; our washstand could go there by the window; a chair just there, and the bed along that wall behind the door. It's only a small

the wall. The latter was a good deal faded, of course, but it would not

who would take it?' asked Ru

ntion it to one or two of the chaps o

dgers: p'raps they might have a frien

it, cradle and all, and carried it up the narrow staircase into the front bedroom, Ruth leading the way, carrying the lamp and some clothes for the child. So

ston, pausing. He was half undressed

wn and get it

id Easton, beginning to p

d undressing yet. I'll get it,' replie

ing down,' said Ruth when she returned with the

e a bit of all right not knowing what time it was in the morning. I

ain fell asleep. The next time he work up the ticking had ceased. He wondered what time it was? It was still very dark, but that was nothing to go

was ready he went softly upstairs again. Ruth was still sleeping, so he decided not to disturb her. Returning to the kitc

clock over the front of a jeweller's shop a little way down the main road. When he arrived at this place he found that the clock being so high up he could not see the figures on the face di

voice, the owner of which Easton c

ve got to get to work at seven and

re you w

ore Road. You know, n

and who are you working fo

n exp

of an hour's walk from here to Elmore Road. You say you've got to get there at seven, and it's only a quarter to four now. Wher

not sure but that I ought to take you to the station. All I know about you is

said, opening the basket a

e I'll go home with you. It's on my beat, and I don't want to run you in if you're what you say y

relief of Easton, who went upstairs, set the hands of the clock right and started it going again. He then removed his overcoat and lay do

s exactly s