"You cannot eat plain bread now, can you, Grind ?" "All this day, sir, I shan't eat nothing; I couldn't swallow it," he answered.

"After the fever and the shaking's gone, then I could eat, but not bread; it seems too dry for the throat, and it sticks in it.

I get a dish o' tea, or something in that way.

The next day--my well day, as I calls it--I can eat all afore me." "You ought to have more strengthening food." "It's not for us to say, sir, as we ought to have this here food, or that there food, unless we earns it," replied Grind, in a meek spirit of contented resignation that many a rich man might have taken a pattern from.

"Mr.Jan he says, 'Grind,' says he, 'you should have some meat to eat, and some good beef-tea, and a drop o' wine wouldn't do you no harm,' says he.