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"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