At last, about twelve months before the date that this story opens, he determined to leave his wife and child at home and go to try his fortune in London.

When he got employment he would send for them.
It was a vain hope.

He found London, if anything, worse than his native town.

Wherever he went he was confronted with the legend: 'No hands wanted'.

He walked the streets day after day; pawned or sold all his clothes save those he stood in, and stayed in London for six months, sometimes starving and only occasionally obtaining a few days or weeks work.
At the end of that time he was forced to give in.