"Mind being born, sir."

"Why do you say _sir_ to me? Don't you see I'm a working man?"

"Yes, and that's why. I think we ought to say _sir_ and _ma'am_ to
every one that can do something we can't. Tommy and I can't make iron
do what we please, and you can, sir! It would be a grand thing for us
if we could!"

"Oh, yes, a grand thing, no doubt!--Why?"

"Because then we could get something to eat, and somewhere to lie
down."

"Could you? Look at me, now! I can do the work of two men, and can't
get work for half a man!"

"That's a sad pity!" said Clare. "I wish I had work! Then I would
bring you something to eat."

The man did not tell them why he had not work enough--that his
drunkenness, and the bad ways to which it had brought him, with the
fact that he so often dawdled over the work that was given him, caused
people to avoid him.

"Who said I hadn't enough to eat? I ain't come to that yet, young 'un!
What made you say that?"

"Because when I had work, I had plenty to eat; and now that I have