at the same time
on his breast, a position which gave something very peculiar to his
appearance.

As Mrs. Dalton had occupied a good deal of time in unsuccessfully
seeking for relief from other sources, it is unnecessary to say that the
day had now considerably advanced, and the heavy shadows of this dismal
and unhealthy evening had thrown their gloom over the aspect of all
nature, to which they gave an appearance of desolation that was in
painful keeping with the sickness and famine that so mercilessly
scourged the kingdom at large. A pot of water hung upon a dark slow
fire, in order that as little time as possible might be lost in
relieving their physical wants, on Mrs. Dalton's return with the relief
which they expected.

"Here's my mother," said one of her daughters, looking with a pale cheek
and languid eye out of the door; for she, too, had been visited by
the prevailing illness; "an', my God! she's comin' as she went--empty
handed!"

The other sister and Con, her brother, went also to look out, and there
she was, certainly without relief.

"She isn't able to carry it herself," said their father; "or maybe she's
comin' to get one of you--Con, I suppose--to go for it. Bad as Skinadre
is, he wouldn't have the heart to refuse us a lock o' meal to keep the
life in us. Oh! no, he'd not do that."

In a few moments Mrs. Dalton entered, and after looking upon the scene
of misery about her, she sat down and burst into tears. "Mother," said
the daughter, "there's no relief, then? You came as you went, I see."

"I came as I went, Nanty; but there is relief. There's relief for the
poor of this world in Heaven; but on this earth, an' in this world,
there is none for us--glory be to the name of God, still."

"So Skinadre refused, then?" said her husband; "he wouldn't give the
meal?"

"No," she replied, "he would not; but the truth is, our woful' state
is now so well known, that nobody will trust us; they know there's no
chance of ever bein' paid, an' they all say they can't afford it."

"I'm not surprised at what Tom says," observed our friend, young Con,
"that the meal-mongers and strong farmers that keep the provisions up
on the poor desarves to be smashed and tramped under foot; an' indeed
they'll get it, too, before long, for the people can't stand this,
especially when one knows that there's enough, ay, and more than enough,
in the country."

"If had tobacco," said the old man, "I didn't care--that would keep