Was this my sole reward for so many bitter, sleepless nights, which I had passed at their sick-beds?
for taking the very food from my own mouth to give it to them?
for humbling myself and going in rags and tatters that they might dress in fine feathers?
Then, sir, instead of being ashamed, the eldest of them stood up to me, and told me straight out that if I did not like to live in the same house with, and be kept by them, I might go and shift for myself, for Pressburg was large enough, and turned me into the street.

I did not know what to do.

My first thought was to make for the Danube; but, at the selfsame instant, it seemed as if some angel whispered in my ear, 'Have you not a daughter whom good, benevolent people are bringing up in all honour and virtue?
Go there! These good people will not reject you; they will even give you some corner or other where you may stretch your limbs until it please God to take you away.' And so, sir, I came on here, just as you see me.

I have absolutely nothing under heaven I can call my own.

I have not tasted a bit of food this day; and if you turn me from your door, and if my daughter will not see me, I must die of hunger in the street; for I would rather perish than accept another morsel from my ungrateful and shameful children." The part of all this rigmarole which appealed to Master Boltay most strongly was that this worthy woman had eaten no food that day.