he could not prevent, and they were sent as much for the
chastisement of those who lost by him as they were for his own. If,
subsequently, his greatest exertion was not sufficient to provide
more than ordinary comforts for the family still dependent upon him,
his first duty was to see that they did not want. If he could not
pay his old debts without injury to his health or wrong to his
family, he was under no obligation to pay them; for it is clear,
that no claims upon us are so imperative as to require us to wrong
others in order to satisfy them."

Here was another new doctrine for the ears of the merchant--doctrine
strange, as well as new. He did not feel quite so comfortable as
before about the recovered debt of fifty dollars. The money still
lay upon his desk. He had not yet entered it upon his cash-book, and
he felt now less inclined to do so than ever. The claims of
humanity, in the abstract, pressed themselves upon him for
consideration, and he saw that they were not to be lightly thrust
aside.

In order to pay the fifty dollars, which had been long due to the
merchant, Mr. Moale had, as alleged, denied himself and family at
every point, and overworked himself to a degree seriously injurious
to his health; but his heart felt lighter after the sense of
obligation was removed.

There was little at home, however, to make him feel cheerful. His
wife, not feeling able to hire a domestic, was worn down with the
care and labour of her large family; the children were, as a
necessary consequence, neglected both in minds and bodies. Alas!
there was no sunshine in the poor man's dwelling.