He repaired their huts, clothed their backs, filled their bellies, and supplied them with necessaries for exercising their industry and different occupations.
"I'll give you one instance now, as a specimen of his character:--He and I, strolling one day on the side of a common, saw two boys picking hips and haws from the hedges; one seemed to be about five, and the other a year older; they were both barefoot and ragged, but at the same time fat, fair, and in good condition.

'Who do you belong to ?' said Mr.Greaves.
'To Mary Stile,' replied the oldest, 'the widow that rents one of them housen.' 'And how dost live, my boy?
Thou lookest fresh and jolly,' resumed the squire.

'Lived well enough till yesterday,' answered the child.

'And pray what happened yesterday, my boy ?' continued Mr.
Greaves.

'Happened!' said he, 'why, mammy had a coople of little Welsh keawes, that gi'en milk enough to fill all our bellies; mammy's, and mine, and Dick's here, and my two little sisters' at hoam:--Yesterday the squire seized the keawes for rent, God rot'un! Mammy's gone to bed sick and sulky; my two sisters be crying at hoam vor vood; and Dick and I be come hither to pick haws and bullies.' "My godfather's face grew red as scarlet; he took one of the children in either hand, and leading them towards the house, found Sir Everhard talking with my father before the gate.