d look.

"About as honest as most kids o' the same sort."

"Well, I'll trust you--and, mind, God sees you. There, now, don't you
fall and break it."

Our hero was not long in returning to the dreary cellar, with the eleven
basins of soup and eleven hunks of bread--all of which, with the
previously purchased luxuries, he spread out on the rickety table, to
the unutterable amazement and joy of the Wilkin family.

Need we say that it was a glorious feast? As there were only two
chairs, the table was lifted inside of the bottomless bed, and some of
the young people sat down on the frame thereof on one side, and some on
the other side, while Mrs Wilkin and her husband occupied the places of
honour at the head and foot. There was not much conversation at first.
Hunger was too exacting, but in a short time tongues began to wag. Then
the fire was lighted, and the kettle boiled, and the half-pennyworth of
tea infused, and thus the sumptuous meal was agreeably washed down.
Even the baby began--to recover under the genial influence of warm food,
and made faces indicative of a wish to crow--but it failed, and went to
sleep on sister's shoulder instead. When it was all over poor Mrs
Wilkin made an attempt to "return thanks" for the meal, but broke down
and sobbed her gratitude.

Reader, this is no fancy sketch. It is founded on terrible fact, and
gives but a faint idea of the wretchedness and poverty that prevail in
London--even the London of _to-day_!

THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Personal Reminiscences in Book Making, by
R.M. Ballantyne

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