It was first notified to them that the income abandoned by Mr Harding would not come to them; and these accounts were confirmed by attorney Finney.

They were then informed that Mr Harding's place would be at once filled by another.

That the new warden could not be a kinder man they all knew; that he would be a less friendly one most suspected; and then came the bitter information that, from the moment of Mr Harding's departure, the twopence a day, his own peculiar gift, must of necessity be withdrawn.
And this was to be the end of all their mighty struggle,--of their fight for their rights,--of their petition, and their debates, and their hopes! They were to change the best of masters for a possible bad one, and to lose twopence a day each man! No; unfortunate as this was, it was not the worst, or nearly the worst, as will just now be seen.
"Sit down, sit down, my friends," said the warden; "I want to say a word to you and to drink your healths, before I leave you.

Come up here, Moody, here is a chair for you; come, Jonathan Crumple;"-- and by degrees he got the men to be seated.

It was not surprising that they should hang back with faint hearts, having returned so much kindness with such deep ingratitude.