There the aim of the tradesman is not to enrich himself, but to live! The purchase you make of him is more than an exchange--it is a good action.
Mother Genevieve at that time was still young, but had already lost that fresh bloom of youth which suffering causes to wither so soon among the poor.

Her husband, a clever joiner, gradually left off working to become, according to the picturesque expression of the workshops, a worshipper of Saint Monday.

The wages of the week, which was always reduced to two or three working days, were completely dedicated by him to the worship of this god of the Barriers,--[The cheap wine shops are outside the Barriers, to avoid the octroi, or municipal excise.]--and Genevieve was obliged herself to provide for all the wants of the household.
One evening, when I went to make some trifling purchases of her, I heard a sound of quarrelling in the back shop.

There were the voices of several women, among which I distinguished that of Genevieve, broken by sobs.

On looking farther in, I perceived the fruit-woman holding a child in her arms, and kissing it, while a country nurse seemed to be claiming her wages from her.