I could do with less to eat if I had to, gents; and blood was always thicker'n water with Matilda." Thad felt indignant.

The idea of this sleek-looking old rascal settling down on his poor sister, and making her support him, was too much for his temper.
"Well, I'd be ashamed if I were you, Wandering Lu, to even think of letting any woman earn my living for me, no matter if she did happen to be a sister.

As it is, she's hard pushed at times to get enough food together for herself and her husband." "Why, what's the matter with Andrew; why can't he do his share ?" demanded the other, boldly, and Thad thought he looked disgusted at the poor prospect before him.
"Mr.Hosmer is really sick," explained the boy; "and there's no humbug about his ailment, either.

I heard the doctor tell my mother that it was partly due to a lack of substantial food for years.
You see, the woman herself was ill for a long time, and her husband worked himself to skin and bone trying to provide for her.

Then she got over her trouble, and now it's his turn to go under.