At one period they had had four children, and though the whole weight of this young brood rested on her arms, on her muscles, on her strength of mind and body, she never ceased in her efforts to comfort him.

Then at length, falling utterly upon the ground, he would pour forth piteous prayers for mercy, and after a night of sleep would once more go forth to his work.
But she never yielded to despair: the struggle was never beyond her powers of endurance.

She had possessed her share of woman's loveliness, but that was now all gone.

Her colour quickly faded, and the fresh, soft tints soon deserted her face and forehead.

She became thin, and rough, and almost haggard: thin till her cheek-bones were nearly pressing through her skin, till her elbows were sharp, and her finger-bones as those of a skeleton.