THE POOR WOODCUTTER. 19

 

the window. The wood-sawyer, a hearty-
looking Irishman, was working away with
an energy that brought the perspiration to
his face, although the thermometer was
within five degrees of zero; but the other
man, who was splitting the wood and
throwing it into the cellar, was slower in
his movements, and appeared to be suffer-
ing from the severity of the weather. As
Mr. Edgar sat at the window of his warm
and comfortable parlour, and looked out at
this poor man, who swung his axe slowly,
he noticed his countenance more particu-
larly than he had done before. It was
marked with many furrows, worn into it
by toil or suffering, and had something
subdued and sad, as if affliction and disap-
pointment had been his attendants at some
part of his journey through life. As Mr.
Edgar looked at him, marking the slow
progress he made in his hard work, and
then thought of the many comforts he en-
joyed, a feeling of pity came into his heart.

“Poor man! You have to work hard

Ti—2 82