Friendly neighbours gave a little bread and Mr. V. had some meals at a cabman’s shelter in return for calling drivers when fares wanted them.
On January 27 he opened the cab-door for a lady, who gave him 2d. The police were watching him and he was arrested for begging. The visitor was enabled to see the charge sheet and speak in his favour. He was a week on remand, and three days in prison. His wife borrowed 5s. from sympathetic neighbours.
| s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (of which 2s. 6d. was back rent) | 3 | 9 |
| Wood | 0 | 1 |
| Coal | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | 2 |
Leaving 10d. for food for three people. Again neighbours came to the rescue, and Mrs. V. received broken bread and several cups of tea. She spent the 10d. thus:
| s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|
| Bread | 0 | 7¾ |
| Sugar | 0 | 1 |
| Butter | 0 | 1 |
| 2 potatoes | 0 | 0¼ |
| 0 | 10 |
When Mr. V. came out of prison he managed to earn 7s. 10½d.
| s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 3 | 0 |
| Coal | 1 | 4 |
| Lamp oil | 0 | 3 |
| Wood | 0 | 1 |
| Soap | 0 | 1½ |
| 4 | 9½ |
Leaving for food 3s. 1d., which gives an average of 9¼d. per head a week, or between 1¼d. and 1½d. a day.
The following four weeks the money earned was 8s. 1d., 7s. 1½d., 6s. 9d., and 10s. 7d. The averages per head a week for food were 9¼d., 8d., 7d., and 1s. 2½d. respectively. The rent had fallen 4s. into arrears, and Mrs. V. still owed the 5s. borrowed when her husband went to prison.