CHAPTER XII.
REGARD FOR THE POOR.
WE sometimes get, by chance, as it were, glimpses of life altogether new, yet full of instruction.

I once had such a glimpse, and, at the time, put it upon record as a lesson for myself as well as others.
Its introduction into this series of "Confessions" will be quite in place.
"How many children have you ?" I asked of a poor woman, one day, who, with her tray of fish on her head, stopped at my door with the hope of finding a customer.
"Four," she replied.
"All young ?" "Yes ma'am.

The oldest is but seven years of age." "Have you a husband ?" I enquired.
The woman replied in a changed voice: "Yes, ma'am.

But he isn't much help to me.

Like a great many other men, he drinks too much.