It was a hard struggle sometimes, but everybody was kind to widow O'Grady and her orphans; God reward them.
'But the bad time came for poor Ireland; the famine visited us, and then the pestilence! Ye have heard enough of the horrors, without doubt, but not half of what they really were.

We were all starving, dying--I saw enough people die to make me wish myself dead hundreds of times, to be hidden from the sight; but I was fated to live.

You, ladies, in your charity, have saved me again; but oh! if it were not wicked, I should wish myself with my mother, brothers, and sister in heaven.' Here the poor girl's sobs choked her speech, and Mrs Prothero entreated her not to proceed.
'Only one word more, my ladies, and I have done.

When they were all gone--all--all--and I only left, I did not care what became of me.

I went about amongst those stricken down with the fever; but, woe is me, I never caught it.