The Widow and her Sons. 7

‘My boy, God may perhaps have mercy upon
me, for I feel very ill. You are an industrious
boy. Your employer likes you. When he
knows that you and your brother are in want
of everything, he will not refuse to advance you
some of your wages. I know that it is very
unpleasant to ask it; but you have a good
spirit, Frederick, and if you pray to God, He
will incline the heart of your master to help you.’

Frederick looked at his mother with anxiety.
They had often been in want of food, but she
‘had never before spoken to him in this manner.
He was alarmed at her paleness and exhaustion.
Nevertheless he restrained the tears that were
coming into his eyes, and, approaching her, he
persuaded her to lie down, and told her that
he would go to Mr. Kartmann, his employer.

His master complied with his request, but the
advance of wages which he obtained scarcely
sufficed to provide the common necessaries of
life, and the poor family was soon again in a
state of destitution.

On the 20th of January the garret of the
widow Kossmall was even colder than usual.
Not a spark of fire was to be seen in the stove.
No one had thought of food or fire, for the