of peculiar
decency, but were thin and emaciated, even beyond what the rigor of
their penance here could produce. The youth tottered with weakness, and
the old man supported him with much difficulty. It is right to mention
here, that this pilgrimage was performed in a season when sickness and
famine prevailed fearfully in this kingdom. They advanced up to the
priest to pay their money on receiving the tickets; he extended his palm
from habit, but did not speak. The old man had some silver in his hand;
and as he was about to give it to the priest, I saw the child look up
beseechingly in his father's face, whilst an additional paleness came
over his own, and his eyes filled with tears. The father saw and felt
the appeal of the child, and hesitated; the priest's arm was still
extended, his hand open:--"Would you, sir," said the old man, addressing
the priest, "be good enough to hear a word from me?" "For what?" replied
the priest, in a sharp tone. "Why, sir," answered the old man, "I am
very much distressed." "Ay--it is the common story! Come, pay the money;
don't you see I've no time to lose?" "I won't detain you a minute, sir,"
said the man; "this child"----"You want to keep the money, then? that's
your object; down with it on the instant, and begone."

The old man dropped it into the priest's hand, in a kind of start,
produced by the stern tone of voice in which he was addressed. When the
priest got the money he seemed in a better humor, not wishing, I could
see, to send the man away with a bad impression of him. "Well, now
what's that you were going to say to me?" "Why, sir," resumed the old
man, "that I have not a penny in my possession behind what I have just
now put into your hand--not the price of a morsel for this child or
myself, although we have forty miles to travel!" "Well, and how am I to
remedy that? What brought you here, if you had not what would bear your
expenses?" "I had, sir, on setting out; but my little boy was five
days sick in Petigo, and that took away with it what we had to carry
us home." "And you expect me, in short, to furnish you with money to do
that? Do you think, my good man, there are not paupers in my own parish,
that have a better right to assistance than you have!" "I do not doubt
it, sir," said he, "I do not doubt it; and as for myself I could crawl
home upon anything; but what is this child to do? he is already sinking
with hunger and--" The poor man's utterance here failed him as he