Bradshaw's--and, besides, now that they were trying to restrict
every unnecessary expense, it was sometimes difficult to find
work for three women. Many and many a time Ruth turned over in
her mind every possible chance of obtaining employment for her
leisure hours, and nowhere could she find it. Now and then Sally,
who was her confidante in this wish, procured her some
needlework, but it was of a coarse and common kind, soon done,
lightly paid for. But, whatever it was, Ruth took it, and was
thankful, although it added but a few pence to the household
purse. I do not mean that there was any great need of money; but
a new adjustment of expenditure was required--a reduction of
wants which had never been very extravagant.
Ruth's salary of forty pounds was gone, while more of her "keep,"
as Sally called it, was thrown upon the Bensons. Mr. Benson
received about eighty pounds a year for his salary as minister.
Of this, he knew that twenty pounds came from Mr. Bradshaw; and,
when the old man appointed to collect the pew-rents brought him
the quarterly amount, and he found no diminution in them, he
inquired how it was, and learnt that, although Mr. Bradshaw had
expressed to the collector his determination never to come to
chapel again, he had added, that of course his pew-rent should be
paid all the same. But this Mr. Benson could not suffer; and the
old man was commissioned to return the money to Mr.
Pages:
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491