66 THE WORLD OF ICE.

hope, to keep them up; but poor old men and old
women cannot help themselves, and cannot stand their
sorrows, and, as far as this life is concerned, they have
no hope, except to die soon and easy, and, if possible,
in summer time, when the wind is not so very cold
and bitter.”

“ But how can this be put right, Tom?” asked Fred
in a tone of deep commiseration. “Our being sorry
for it and anxious about it (and you’ve made me
sorry, I assure you) can do very little good, you
know.”

“J don’t know, Fred,” replied Tom, sinking into his
usual quiet tone. “If every city and town in Great
Britain would start a society, whose first resolution
should be that they would not leave one poor old man
or woman unprovided for, that would do it. Or if the
Government would take it in hand honestly, that would
clo it.”

«Call all hands, Mr. Bolton,” cried the captain in a
sharp voice. “Get out the ice-poles, and lower away
the boats.”

“Hallo! what’s wrong ?” said Fred, starting up.

“Getting too near the bergs, I suspect,” remarked
Tom. “I say, Fred, before we go on deck, will you
promise to do what I ask you ? i

« Well—yes, I will.”

“Will you promise, then, all through your life,
especially if you ever come to be rich or influential,
to think of and for old men and women who are
poor 2”