She was not strong; and although, had she made an effort, she would have been able to look after her children like other women, she had neither the disposition nor the training to make that effort.
Her son regarded her with the sort of pity, not unmingled with contempt, with which young people full of life and energy are apt to regard those who are weak and ailing without having any specific disease or malady which would account for their condition.
"All the bothers fall upon father," he would say to himself; "and if mother did but make up her mind she could take her share in them well enough.

There was he walking about for two hours this evening with little Lucy in his arms, because she had fallen down and hurt herself; and there was mother lying on the sofa reading that book of poetry, as if nothing that happened in the house was any affair of hers.

She is very nice and very kind, but I do wish she wouldn't leave everything for father to do.

It might have been all very well before he lost his leg, but I do think she ought to make an effort now." However, Mrs.Sankey made no effort, nor did her husband ever hint that it would be better for herself as well as her family if she did so.
He accepted the situation as inevitable, and patiently, and indeed willingly, bore her burden as well as his own.
Fortunately she had in the children's nurse an active and trustworthy woman.

Abijah Wolf was a Yorkshire woman.