Other cottages were hovels, through the broken roofs of which poured the rain, and wherein rheumatism and ague lived with the human dwellers.

How could I do aught but sympathise with any combination that aimed at the raising of these poor?
But the Agricultural Labourers' Union was bitterly opposed by the farmers, and they would give no work to a "Union man." One example may serve for all.

There was a young married man with two small children, who was sinful enough to go to a Union meeting and sinful enough to talk of it on his return home.

No farmer would employ him in all the district round.

He tramped about vainly looking for work, grew reckless, and took to drink.