A New Traffic
When she prayed for a blessing on the two strangers they smiled scornfully and impatiently; and the elder said, cunningly:
“Alas! we know the evils of mere charity,
And would devise a more considered way.
Let each man bring one piece of merchandise.”
“Ah, sirs!” replied the hostess, “then your compassion, your gold and your goodwill are of no avail. Think you, after all these weary months, that any man has merchandise left to sell? They have sold long ago all but the very clothes they wear, to keep themselves alive till better days come. Such offers are mockery of our distress.”
“We mock you not,” said the elder merchant. “All men have the one precious thing we wish to buy, and have come hither to find; none has already lost or sold it.”
“What precious treasure can you mean? Men in Ireland now have only their lives, and can barely cherish those,” said the poor woman, wondering greatly and much afraid.