This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...But things could not go on thus. Better or worse days must come, and sooner or later Jem Harper must get work or his family must starve. A quarter's house rent was due, and the landlord could not afford to let Jem postpone payment any more than his neighbours who craved a similar indulgence. Either the rent must be duly paid or they must move to other lodgings. Jem felt it was rather a choice between paying rent or going forth with his family into the open streels; for what lodgings were to be obtained in alleys where human beings were huddled and crowded together in swarms! He said so to his wife with a bursting heart, and though she tried to comfort him, she fairly broke down too as she saw the look of stony despair that settled in his eye, and heard the husky tones in which he spoke. "I never thought to come to this, Mary, but I must begin and pawn. Perhaps, God knows, I have held my head too high, and that it needs to be brought low and humbled to the dust." He bowed his head lower and lower, as though suiting the action to his words, till it sunk upon his knees, and his whole frame shook with one strong sob. He was passing through the valley of humiliation, but out of the depths he cried unto God, and God heard him, though it seemed as though He heard him not. Like Zion of old, Jem felt inclined in his anguish to exclaim, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me;" and like Zion of old, the answer was returned to him: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee; behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." "Jem," said Mary, trying to smile through her tears, " think of the poor fr...