ch she referred was charity sewing, and was only given out
in winter, she exclaimed, "Then it is not work at all, but charity, just
like the grocery orders." When the visitor said good-by, she was invited
to call again. She did so repeatedly, seeing the family once a week or
oftener. On account of the drunken husband, some question was raised as
to whether the groceries should be given regularly, but Mrs. X. stated
that her husband never shared the food. He was away from home most of
the time. Sometimes he would come home Saturday night and bring some
money, and then he would take his meals at home; but, when the money was
gone, he would go out for his meals, never asking how his wife and
children fared in his absence. It did not appear that his disregard was
due to his thinking that others would care for the family. The wife
insisted that he did not think or care how they fared. He had sometimes
left her for weeks, when {210} she was ill in bed, and had never asked or
known how she had been kept alive. He appeared to be so utterly
irresponsible that he could not be made more so.

At the visitor's suggestion, it was soon decided that the younger
daughter should take a place at service, where she could earn something
and yet go home every night. Such a place the visitor found for her, and
the girl was eager to save money to buy herself a coat for the following
winter. The needs of the family, however, made it necessary to take the
earnings for living expenses; but the visitor promised that somehow a
coat for the winter should be forthcoming. When the employer closed her
house in July, the visitor found a situation for the girl for the summer
in one of the country towns. Of this time the visitor writes: "All the
time I felt that the family were suffering more than was right. The
children were fatherless and with a sick mother, and little A. was
constantly ill, first one thing and then another, the doctors saying that
he was under-nourished. Mrs. X. did jobs of washing and scrubbing as she
could get them or was able, and the two children of thirteen both worked.
So a benevolent person consented to take entire charge of the family,
giving just what I should think proper. Accordingly, from that date to
October 10 an average of $2.65 a week was given, besides $13.00 for
clothes and other things. Also, {211} Mrs. X. and the two boys were sent
to the country for one week. Notwithstanding this, Mrs. X. felt the