Sketches by Boz - Penn State University

Sketches by Bozlove for me. Bitter cold and damp weather it was, yet, CHAPTER VI—THE LADIES’ SOCIETIESthough her dress was thin, and her shoes none of thebest, during the whole three days, from morning to OUR PARISH IS VERY PROLIFIC in ladies’ charitable institutions.In winter, when wet feet are common, and coldsnight, she was out of doors running about to try andraise the money. The money was raised and the executionwas paid out. The whole family crowded into the ety, the ladies’ coal distribution society, and the ladies’not scarce, we have the ladies’ soup distribution soci-room where I was, when the money arrived. The father blanket distribution society; in summer, when stonewas quite happy as the inconvenience was removed—I fruits flourish and stomach aches prevail, we have thedare say he didn’t know how; the children looked merry ladies’ dispensary, and the ladies’ sick visitation committee;and all the year round we have the ladies’ child’sand cheerful again; the eldest girl was bustling about,making preparations for the first comfortable meal they examination society, the ladies’ bible and prayer-bookhad had since the distress was put in; and the mother circulation society, and the ladies’ childbed-linenlooked pleased to see them all so. But if ever I saw monthly loan society. The two latter are decidedly thedeath in a woman’s face, I saw it in hers that night. most important; whether they are productive of more‘I was right, sir,’ continued Mr. Bung, hurriedly passinghis coat-sleeve over his face; ‘the family grew more take upon ourselves to affirm, with the utmost solem-benefit than the rest, it is not for us to say, but we canprosperous, and good fortune arrived. But it was too nity, that they create a greater stir and more bustle,late. Those children are motherless now, and their fatherwould give up all he has since gained—house, home, We should be disposed to affirm, on the first blush ofthan all the others put together.goods, money: all that he has, or ever can have, to restorethe wife he has lost.’not so popular as the childbed-linen society; the biblethe matter, that the bible and prayer-book society is36