THE POOR WOODCUTTER. 81

 

he did not earn half-a-dollar during the
whole day; at other times he did better.
But the avarage of his gains was not over
four dollars a week. This sum he found
altogether insufficient for the wants of his
family. Many privations were the conse-
quence. Sickness came at last to add to
the distress of the unhappy man. For two
weeks he was confined to the house—most
of the time to his bed—and had it not been
for the kindness and charity of some neigh-
bours, his family would have suffered for
food.

As soon as he could get out again, and
before he had so far recovered his strength
as to be really able to go to work, he was
on the wharf, seeking employment. He
earned but a trifle on the first and second
days, and on the third day his only job was
that obtained from Mr. Edgar. The split-
ting and piling of half a cord of seasoned
hickory wood was work beyond his strength.
It took him full three hours to perform it,
and when he received his wages and turn-

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