The maintenance of the family mainly depended on the mother, and the wallet of grandfather Boe.
The mother, poor though she was, had a heart of gold under her serge gown.

She washed and mended indefatigably.

When she had finished her washing, the children, so soon as they could walk, accompanied her to the willows along the banks of the Garonne, where the clothes were hung out to dry.

There they had at least the benefit of breathing fresh and pure air.

Grandfather Boe was a venerable old fellow.