She was clean; and had an intelligent look.

"Let's see, missis," said the visitor, "what do you pay for this nook ?" "We pay eighteenpence a week--and they WILL have it--my word." "Well, an' what income have you now ?" "We have eighteenpence a head in the week, an' the rent to pay out o' that, or else they'll turn us out." Of course, the visitor knew that this was true; but he wanted me to hear the people speak for themselves.
"Let's see, Missis Burns, your husband's name is Patrick, isn't it ?" " Yes, sir; Patrick Burns." "What! Patrick Burns, the famous foot- racer ?" The little woman smiled bashfully, and replied, "Yes, sir; I suppose it is." With respect to what the woman said about having to pay her rent or turn out, I may remark, in passing, that I have not hitherto met with an instance in which any millowner, or wealthy man, having cottage property, has pressed the unemployed poor for rent.

But it is well to remember that there is a great amount of cottage property in Preston, as in other manufacturing towns, which belongs to the more provident class of working men.

These working men, now hard pressed by the general distress, have been compelled to fall back upon their little rentals, clinging to them as their last independent means of existence.

They are compelled to this, for, if they cannot get work, they cannot get anything else, having property.