almost two years; and, during a considerable portion of this time, neither of them has been able to labor. They are both, however, disposed to do all that they can for their own support, and often suffer greatly from the exertions which they make, that they may not unnecessarily be dependent on charity. Their rent is a dollar a week, and they have four children to be fed, and clothed, and educated. In another of this class of families, the husband has an organic disease of the heart, and the support of the family devolves principally on the wife. He has been a mason; but now sews upon slop work with his wife for an hour or two of the day. They have five children; one, a very young infant; and one of about two years old, who is so feeble and sickly a child, as to require almost the incessant attention of the mother.-And in another, the feeble husband and wife, by their united exertions, can pay their rent, and obtain decent food and clothing, except when visited by sickness. But during the sickness of the husband, or wife, or child, they must greatly suffer, if not assisted by the bounty of those who are able to relieve them.-And another of these families consists of a husband, and wife, and six children. The children are all young, and the wages of the husband will not always meet the absolute necessities of the family. It is, however, only in the winter that they ask for any assistance,-except in a time of sickness.-And in another, the parents have lost one of their children, after a long sickness, in each of the three last years. And not only is expense increased during sickness, but a mother's whole care, and some at least of the father's, is then required for the charge of their children.

3. There are very virtuous single women, not provide for their own necessities.

who can

Of this class I visit one, who was formerly a nurse, but who has suffered from an incurable lameness during the last seven years. She lives in a room with another single woman, who supports herself by her own industry, and daily ministers to the comfort of her companion, with no wish for any other reward, than the approbation of God, and the happiness of doing good. This aged nurse has expended all that she had earned, and is wholly dependent on the bounty of her friends.-I visit also another, who has just sight enough to go safely through the house in which she lives, but not enough for any use of her needle; and who has not strength, even if her sight were sufficient, for any laborious occupation.-And another, who lives in one of the oldest, and most cheerless rooms in the city; and who could not live, if she were not sometimes aided by the hand of kindness.-I know of but one or two more of this class; and although they have less to endure than the mothers of young children, who are looking to them for bread which they know not where to obtain, yet if their condition is well understood, it will be felt to be one that is not to be disregarded.

4. There are aged and virtuous poor husbands and wives, who are doing what they can for self-support, but who are unable to provide for their daily wants.

In one family of this class, the husband, through infirmity, is merely capable of feeding himself, and is obliged to pass a considerable part of every day upon his bed. The wife, though younger than her husband, and generally able to do the work of her own room, is scarcely able to do more; and has recently been confined by a

long sickness. A son, who is a journeyman mechanic, pays their rent. But he has lately been kept at home by a sickness of thirteen weeks; and the rent of this time he has to make up from his future wages, which are scarcely more than sufficient for his own necessities.In another family, the feeble husband, who is seventysix years old, and is nearly blind, during the last summer was thrown from the side-walk into the street, by a man who was hastily passing him, and was so much injured by the fall, that he has ever since been confined to his bed, and will never go out again. His aged and infirm wife is his nurse. They live in a room which measures about eight feet by ten.-Another family consists of a very aged mother, and her daughter. The mother is wholly unable to labor; and the daughter, who is a very deserving woman, can do only very light work; and so little even of that, that she cannot earn enough to provide food for herself and her mother.-In another family, a daughter is doing all that she can to support a mother, who is more than eighty years old, and who must either be retained in the charge of this daughter, or go to the House of Industry. But who will not sympathize with this aged mother, in her wish to pass the short remnant of her days with her child? Or who will not sympathize with the daughter, in her wish to have the charge of her aged and broken mother? And yet they cannot live together, unless they are occasionally assisted by the bounty of others. And in another is an aged mother, who is at very great sufferer. She, too, is nursed by a daughter. A crippled son is also a dependent in this family. This widow is not only very poor, but from her very distressed condition has strong demands upon kindness.

5. Another division consists of aged widows, who have feeble or sick children, or utterly incapable relatives dependent upon them.

One of these widows has a daughter, who is in an almost constant state of mental derangement; and the only relief which is experienced from this distressing condition is, a recovery to a state of childlike understanding, and of almost infantile helplessness. This daughter is about thirty years old, and requires the whole time and care of her mother. The mother is a very poor, and a very worthy woman, and is the only nurse of her child.Another has four children; a widowed daughter, who is in a very feeble state of health; a son, who is a sailor, and who is a most affectionate child and brother; and two younger daughters. She has also a brother who lives with her, who is forty years old, who has had epileptic fits from his early childhood, and who has been an idiot more than thirty years. This poor creature is as dependent as a child of three years old, and receives from his sister the attentions and services that are required by a child. The mother is very infirm, but very industrious; and would never ask for assistance, if the united labors of her family would supply her with the necessaries of life. Another aged widow has the charge of an idiot daughter, who is about thirty years old. This child was also brought to idiocy by epilepsy.-Another has a son of about fifteen years old, who is so enfeebled and deformed by disease, that he is, and will be, capable of but few employments. And another has a daughter, who has long been lingering under a complication of diseases, which has made her helpless, and requiring the constant care of her mother, who has no other means of daily support than her daily labors.

6. Another division of the poor consists of women, who, in addition to their other afflictions, have deranged husbands.

By the wretched condition of two deranged men whom I found in the cells of the House of Correction, I was induced to seek out their families. For one of these men, provision has been made by the city for his board at the Asylum in Charlestown. His wife is an infirm woman, and cannot, by her daily labors, pay her rent, and obtain food for herself and her child. The other of these men has been sent home, because it was thought that he was so far reduced by sickness, that he would live but a few days. But under the nursing of his wife, he has recovered his strength, without recovering his reason; and his young children are daily hearing from him the most profane, and disgusting language, which can be uttered by man. In my last visit to his family, I was sent from his house by a threat, which it would not have been safe to disregard. His wife can literally do nothing for the support of the family; and they are so poor, as to be entirely dependent on the kindness of others.-I visit also in another family, the husband of which is in prison for insanity! His wife's hands are sometimes so much swollen by rheumatism, that she cannot use a needle. She has with her a daughter, fourteen years old, who is also subject to severe rheumatism; and four children under six years of age, two of whom are twin infants, and one of these children is in a dreadful state of disease. Of the opulent and humane among us, I implore mercy for these families. Can no better provision be made for the poor, when they become deranged, than the cells, or rooms, of a common prison? I am sorry to feel myself obliged to state, that