aniel's advice, now
he was dead and gone a little fruit, toys and cakes. The minding of the
shop did not require her whole time, nor even the keeping her children
clean, and she loved to see them clean; so she took in washing, and
altogether made a shift to earn bread for her children, still weeping
for Daniel, when Jacky's arch looks made her think of his father.--It
was pleasant to work for her children.--'Yes; from morning till night,
could she have had a kiss from their father, God rest his soul! Yes; had
it pleased Providence to have let him come back without a leg or an
arm, it would have been the same thing to her--for she did not love him
because he maintained them--no; she had hands of her own.'

"The country people were honest, and Peggy left her linen out to dry
very late. A recruiting party, as she supposed, passing through, made
free with a large wash; for it was all swept away, including her own and
her children's little stock.

"This was a dreadful blow; two dozen of shirts, stocks and
handkerchiefs. She gave the money which she had laid by for half a
year's rent, and promised to pay two shillings a week till all was
cleared; so she did not lose her employment. This two shillings a week,
and the buying a few necessaries for the children, drove her so hard,
that she had not a penny to pay her rent with, when a twelvemonth's
became due.

"She was now with Mary, and had just told her tale, which Mary instantly
repeated--it was intended for my ear. Many houses in this town,
producing a borough-interest, were included in the estate purchased by
Mr. Venables, and the attorney with whom my brother lived, was appointed
his agent, to collect and raise the rents.

"He demanded Peggy's, and, in spite of her intreaties, her poor goods
had been seized and sold. So that she had not, and what was worse her
children, 'for she had known sorrow enough,' a bed to lie on. She knew
that I was good-natured--right charitable, yet not liking to ask for
more than needs must, she scorned to petition while people could any how
be made to wait. But now, should she be turned out of doors, she must
expect nothing less than to lose all her customers, and then she must
beg or starve--and what would become of her children?--'had Daniel not
been pressed--but God knows best--all this could not have happened.'

"I had two mattresses on my bed; what did I want with two, when such a
worthy creature must lie on the ground? My mother would