Renewing then my courage； and gathering my feeble remains of strength； I pushed on。 I reached the house； and knocked at the kitchen…door。 An old woman opened： I asked was this the parsonage？
“Yes。”
“Was the clergyman in？”
“No。”
“Would he be in soon？”
“No； he was gone from home。”
“To a distance？”
“Not so far—happen three mile。 He had been called away by the sudden death of his father： he was at Marsh End now； and would very likely stay there a fortnight longer。”
“Was there any lady of the house？”
“Nay； there was naught but her； and she was housekeeper；” and of her； reader； I could not bear to ask the relief for want of which I was sinking； I could not yet beg； and again I crawled away。
Once more I took off my handkerchief—once more I thought of the cakes of bread in the little shop。 Oh； for but a crust！ for but one mouthful to allay the pang of famine！ Instinctively I turned my face again to the village； I found the shop again； and I went in； and though others were there besides the woman I ventured the request—“Would she give me a roll for this handkerchief？”
She looked at me with evident suspicion： “Nay； she never sold stuff i’ that way。”
Almost desperate； I asked for half a cake； she again refused。 “How could she tell where I had got the handkerchief？” she said。
“Would she take my gloves？”
“No！ what could she do with them？”
Reader； it is not pleasant to dwell on these details。 Some say there is enjoyment in looking back to painful experience past； but at this day I can scarcely bear to review the times to which I allude： the moral degradation； blent with the physical suffering； form too distressing a recollection ever to be willingly dwelt on。 I blamed none of