Never before had I seen such dire wretchedness as I saw in the cottages.

Never before had I met with such noble patience under suffering as I found among the people.

The martyrs of old could endure, and die.

I asked myself if they could endure, and _live_, like the martyrs whom I saw round me ?--live, week after week, month after month, year after year, on the brink of starvation; live, and see their pining children growing up round them, to work and want in their turn; live, with the poor man's parish prison to look to as the end, when hunger and labor have done their worst! Was God's beautiful earth made to hold such misery as this?
I can hardly think of it, I can hardly speak of it, even now, with dry eyes!" His head sank on his breast.

He waited--mastering his emotion before he spoke again.