"I'm afeard you will think I have come on rather curious business-like—for me."
"How so? What is the case, Mr. Wheelwright?"
"Why, I've had a hard life on't, since I seen you, when my school was broke up; and I've called to see—I was too proud once to come of such an arrant—but I thought 'twas likely you would not see a poor family suffering in such a storm as this."
"Surely not—if it is in my power to render assistance."
"Well, I thought as much—and I've called to see if you have not some second-hand clothes, and a little something to eat, that you can give us—or any thing else that you can spare—for we are in very great distress."
"Indeed—in actual want—of food and clothes, did you say? What has brought——
"O, don't ask—that woman there—I little thought I should ever come to this."
"Why have you not informed me of it before? Pray what is the matter with your hand, doctor?"
"I accidentally run a gouge through it, and hain't been able to do any work since. We had nothing to live upon. My hands were my only resources from day to day;—my working tools, and every article of furniture in the house, to the last blanket, the last shirt, and my wife's last shawl, have been pawned at the broker's, to enable us to keep the breath of life in us. We have now neither a stick of wood to burn, nor a morsel to eat!"
"Can it be possible, my dear sir, that you are reduced to a condition so deplorable? Why have you not been to see me sooner?"