But this family was another of those instances in which working people have been pulled down by misfortune before the present crisis came on.

Just previous to the mills beginning to work short time, four of their five children had been lying ill, all at once, for five months; and, before that trouble befell them, one of the lads had two of his fingers taken off, whilst working at the factory, and so was disabled a good while.

It takes little additional weight to sink those whose chins are only just above water; and these untoward circumstances oiled the way of this struggling family to the ground, before the mills stopped.

A few months' want of work, with their little stock of shop stuff oozing away--partly on credit to their poor neighbours, and partly to live upon themselves -- and they become destitute of all, except a few beggarly remnants of empty shop furniture.

Looking round the place, I said," Well, missis, how's trade ?" "Oh, brisk," said she; and then the man and his wife smiled at one another.