For thirteen weeks they had lived upon less than one shilling a head per week, and I am not sure that they did not pay the rent out of that; and now the income of the whole eleven is under 16s., with rent to pay.
In this house they hold weekly prayer-meetings.

Thin picking--one shilling a week, or less--for all expenses, for one person.

It is easier to write about it than to feel what it means, unless one has tried it for three or four months.

Just round the corner from Heatley Street, we stopped at the open door of a very little cottage.

A good-looking young Irishwoman sat there, upon a three- legged stool, suckling her child.