“Behold,” cried Mr. Willock,“the picture.
SIMPLE BODILY PAIN.
“But to go on with the story—‘So, sir,’ continued the merchant, ‘the poor young man died; and in about two months after that event, his widow was delivered of her sixth child. These misfortunes were on the heels of each other; and the expences of interring her husband swallowed up the whole of her little money. Her landlord, a man of a hard heart, and cruel disposition, would not give her time to pay a twelvemonth’s rent, which was in arrear. It is only fifteen days since he told her, with the most savage cruelty, that if she did not pay the money in a few days, that he would seize her furniture, and turn her into the street. He has kept his word; to-day the huissiers or bailiffs have surrounded the house of this poor woman, and have taken every thing, even to the cradle of the poor innocent at her breast. The neighbours having found out what was going on, assembled together immediately, and would probably have soon put an end to the power of these harpies of justice, if this good creature had not entreated them to desist. Ah, sir,’ continued he, ‘this is but a poor place; we are all distressed here, or she should not want assistance.’ The young stranger listened to the narrative with great attention, and begged him to proceed. ‘You may judge, sir, how much this amiable woman is beloved, and she deserves it all. In her better days, she never heard of distress without endeavouring to relieve it; if any one of her neighbours was sick, she was always their nurse; and she attended to these duties without neglecting her aged father, who is still alive, though near an hundred years of age, or forsaking the attention due to her little ones. During the lifetime of her husband, who was a dealer in stuffs from Marseilles, all that she could save beyond what she thought superfluous to their situation, she used to bestow in charity upon her poor neighbours.’
“Henry, who was so much affected that the tears ran from his eyes, now dismounted, and in an animated tone desired the shopkeeper to show him the way to the dwelling of the poor woman. ‘Conduct me,’ said he, ‘to the house of this respectable widow, who deserves a palace instead of a prison, and who ought to find a protector in every friend of humanity.’ Such was the noble appearance of Henry, and the generous expression of his countenance, that the crowd instantly made way for him to pass through to the dwelling of the widow.
“Henry presently arrived at the habitation of misery, and which had been but a little time before the abode of conjugal felicity. He was struck with astonishment at the scene which presented itself; he found the interesting female, of whom he had heard so much, surrounded by her little ones, who were crying, while she was endeavouring to console and comfort them with every mark of tenderness and affection, regardless of her own distress.
“Let us see, my dear children, if we can find the picture of this good mother. It is—it is the face of
SADNESS.
“See her full of anxiety and sorrow, yet calm and resigned to the will of Heaven. Notice the dejection; the eyebrows rise towards the middle of the forehead more than towards the cheeks; the eyeball appears full of perturbation; the white of the eye is turned yellow; the eyelids are drawn down, and a little swelled; all about the eye is livid; the nostrils are drawn downwards; the mouth is half open, and the corners are drawn down; the head carelessly leaning on one of the shoulders; the face is of a lead colour; the lips pale.