THE POOR WOODCUTTER. 87

 

and he handed the woman a couple of dol-
Jars. ‘Get necessary food for yourself
and children. To-morrow I will either
see you myself, or send to know if Mr.
Harlan is better. In the mean time, don’t
. let your minds be troubled. Better em-
ployment can be had for you, I am very
sure.”

“If we were only back in the country
again !” sighed the woman.

“Oh yes,” said Mr. Harlan; “if we
were only on some little place in the coun-
try! It was a sad day for us when we
turned our thoughts towards the city.”

“ The way may open for you to get back,”
returned Mr. Edgar; “at least, hope for
the best. You have evidently reached the
lowest point in the descending circle of for-
tune, and -it is but fair to think that the
movement will now be upward.”

When Mr. Edgar retired, it was with a
deeper feeling of sympathy for the poor
than he had ever known; and his cheek
burned as he called to mind the many in-