We had some talk with that class of operatives who are both clean, provident, and "heawse-preawd," as Lancashire folk call it.

The Secretary told me that he was averse to such people living upon the sale of their furniture; and the committee had generally relieved the distress of such people, just as if they had no furniture, at all.

He mentioned the case of a family of factory operatives, who were all fervent lovers of music, as so many of the working people of Lancashire are.

Whilst in full work, they had scraped up money to buy a piano; and, long after the ploughshare of ruin had begun to drive over the little household, they clung to the darling instrument, which was such a source of pure pleasure to them, and they were advised to keep it by the committee which relieved them.

"Yes," said another member of the committee," but I called there lately, and the piano's gone at last." Many interesting things came out in the course of our conversation.