l. He must study chances of profit to a farthing, and in such study
there is naturally small thought of his workers, save as hands in which
the farthings may be found. Many a woman goes to her place of work,
leaving behind her children who have breakfasted with her on "kettle
broth," and will be happy if the same is certain at supper time.

"There's six of us have had nought but kettle broth for a fortnight,"
said one. "You know what that is? It's half a quarter loaf, soaked in
hot water with a hap'orth of dripping and a spoonful of salt. When
you've lived on that night and morning for a week or two, you can't help
but long for a change, though, God forgive me! there's them that fares
worse. But it'll be the broth without the bread before we're through.
There's no living to be had in old England any more, and yet the rich
folks don't want less. Do you know how it is, ma'am? Is there any chance
of better times, do you think? Is it that they _want_ us to starve? I've
heard that said, but somehow it seems as if there must be hearts still,
and they'll see soon, and then things'll be different. Oh, yes, they
must be different."

Will they be different? It is unskilled workers who have just spoken,
but do the skilled fare much better? I append a portion of a table of
earnings, prepared a year or two since by the chaplain of the
Clerkenwell prison, a thoughtful and earnest worker among the poor,
this table ranking as one of the best of the attempts to discover the
actual position of the workingwoman at present:--

"Making paper bags, 4 1/2_d._ to 5 1/2_d._ per thousand; possible
earnings, 5_s._ to 9_s._ a week. Button-holes, 3_d._ per dozen;
possible earnings, 8_s._ per week.

"Shirts 2_d._ each, worker finding her own cotton; can get six done
between 6 A. M. and 11 P. M.

"Sack-sewing, 6_d._ for twenty-five, 8_d._ to 1_s._ 6_d._ per
hundred; possible earnings, 7_s._ per week.

"Pill-box making, 1s. for thirty-six gross; possible earnings,
1_s._ 3_d._ a day.

"Button-hole making, 1_d._ per dozen; can do three or four dozen
between 5 A. M. and dark.

"Whip-making, 1_s._ per dozen; can do a dozen per day.

"Trousers-finishing, 3_d._ to 5_d._ each, finding own cotton; can
do four per day.

"Shirt-finishing, 3_d._ to 4_d._ per dozen."

So the list runs on through all the trades open to women. A pound a week
is a fortune; half or a third of