22 THE LAST PENNY.

 

he lived, two pounds sterling a year, which
he always thought a large sum. But his
beer and tobacco cost nearly seven pounds!
He went over and over the calculation
a dozen times, in doubt of the first esti-
mate, but it always came out the same.
Then he began to go over in his mind the
many comforts seven pounds per annum
would give to his family; and particularly
how many little luxuries might be procured
for Lizzy, whose delicate appetite turned
from the coarse food that was daily set be-
fore her.

But to give up the beer and tobacco in
toto, when it was thought of seriously, ap-
peared impossible. How could he live with-
out them?

On that evening the customer whose
boots he had taken home in the morn-
ing, called in, unexpectedly, and paid for
them. Claire retained a sixpence of the
money and gave the balance to his wife.
With this sixpence in his pocket he went
out for a mug of beer, and some tobacco to