y a
dollar a year for my services, and this was more than I ever meant to
earn there. Thus equipped and supplied I was sent out into the streets
of Windsor.

I had not gone half a mile before I met a poor old woman whom I had
known very well in Rutland. She recognized me at once, though I know I
was sadly changed for the worse. She was on her way to Fall River, where
she had relatives, and where she hoped for help, but had no money to pay
her fare, so I divided my small stock with her, and that left me just
one dollar and a half with which to begin the world again. I went down
to the bridge and the toll--gatherer gave me as much as I could eat,
twenty five cents in money, and a pocket-full of food to carry with me.
I was heading, footing rather, for Meredith Bridge in New Hampshire.
It was in the month of December; and I was poorly clad and without an
overcoat. I must have walked fifteen miles that afternoon, and just at
nightfall I came to a wayside public house and ventured to go in. As
I stood by the fire, the landlord stepped up and slapping me on the
shoulder, said:

"Friend, you look as if you were in trouble; step up and have something
to drink."

I gladly accepted the invitation to partake of the first glass of liquor
I had tasted in three years. It was something, too, everything to be
addressed thus kindly. I told this worthy landlord my whole story; how
I had been trapped by the two milliners, and how I had subsequently
suffered. He had read something about it in the papers; he felt as if
he knew me; he certainly was sorry for me; and he proved his sympathy
by giving me what then seemed to me the best supper I had ever eaten,
a good bed, a good breakfast, a package of provisions to carry with me,
and then sent me on my way with a comparatively light heart.

It rained, snowed, and drizzled all day long. I tramped through the wet
snow ankle deep, but made nearly forty miles before night, and then came
to a public house which I knew well. When I was in the bar-room drying
myself and warming my wet and half-frozen feet, I could not but think
how, only a few years before, I had put up at that very house, with a
fine horse and buggy of my own in the stable, and plenty of money in my
pocket. The landlord's face was familiar enough, but he did not know
me, nor, under my changed circumstances, did I desire that he should.
Supper, lodging, and breakfast nearly exhausted my small money capital;
I was worn and weary,