 the exertion of
pulling off his heavy boots, the light of the tallow candle falling
on his weak eyes with their red rims, on his large open mouth with
the conspicuous gap in its front teeth, and his stubby hair, he was
more than usually grotesque. 'As slamp an wobbly as an owd
corn-boggart,' so his neighbours described him when they wished to
be disrespectful, and the simile fitted very closely with the
dishevelled, disjointed appearance which was at all times
characteristic of him, Sundays or weekdays. No one studying the
pair, especially at such a moment as this--the _malaise_ of
the husband--the wife towering above him, her grey hair hanging
loose round her black brows and sallow face instinct with a rugged
and indomitable energy--could have doubted in whose hands lay the
government of Needham Farm.

'I'll thank yo not to talk nonsense, Reuben Grieve,' said his wife
sharply. 'D'yo think they're _my_ flesh an blood, thoose
childer? An who'll ha to do for 'em but me, I should loike to know?
Who'll ha to put up wi their messin an their dirt but _me_?
Twenty year ha yo an I been married, Reuben, an niver till
this neet did I ha to goo down on my knees an sweep oop after
scrubbin-day! Iv I'm to be moidered wi em, I'll be paid for 't.
Soa I let yo know--it's little enough.'

And Hannah took her payment. As he sat in the sun, looking back on
the last seven years, with a slow and dreaming mind, Reuben
recognised, using his own phrases for the matter, that the
children's thirty pounds had been the pivot of Hannah's existence.
He was but a small sheep farmer, with very scanty capital. By dint
of hard work and painful thrift, the childless pair had earned a
sufficient living in the past--nay, even put by a bit, if the
truth of Hannah's savings-bank deposits were known. But every
fluctuation in their small profits tried them sorely--tried
Hannah especially, whose temper was of the bro
the exertion of 
 pulling off his heavy boots, the inner light of the tallow candle decrease 
 on his weak eyes with their red rim, on his large open sass with 
 the blatant gap in its front teeth, and his stubby hair, he was 
 more than usually grotesque.' As slamp an rickety as an owd 
 corn - boggart,' so his neighbours described him when they wish to 
 be disrespectful, and the simile meet very closely with the 
 dishevelled, confused appearance which was at all times 
 characteristic of him, Sundays or weekdays. No one studying the 
 couple, especially at such a moment as this -- the _ malaise _ of 
 the husband -- the wife towering above him, her grey hair hanging 
 informal round her black brows and sallow face instinct with a rugged 
 and indomitable department of energy -- could have doubted in whose hands lay the 
 government of Needham Farm. 

' I'll thank yo not to talk nonsense, Reuben Grieve,' say his wife 
 sharply.' D'yo think they're _ my _ flesh an blood, thoose 
 childer? An who'll ha to do for'em but me, I should loike to know? 
 Who'll ha to put up wi their messin an their dirt but _ me _? 
 Twenty year ha yo an I been married, Reuben, an niver till 
 this neet did I ha to goo down on my knee an sweep oop after 
 scrubbin - day! Iv I'm to be moidered wi em, I'll be pay for' t. 
 Soa I lease yo know -- it's little enough.' 

 And Hannah took her requital. As he sat in the sunlight, looking back on 
 the last seven class, with a slow and dreaming mind, Reuben 
 recognised, using his own phrases for the topic, that the 
 children's thirty pounds had been the pivot of Hannah's existence. 
 He was but a small sheep farmer, with very scanty capital. By dint 
 of hard employment and painful thrift, the childless pair had earned a 
 sufficient living in the past -- nay, even place by a bit, if the 
 truth of Hannah's savings - depository financial institution deposits were known. But every 
 fluctuation in their small profit tried them painfully -- tried 
 Hannah especially, whose temper was of the bro
 thf exertion of
pulling off his heavy boots, the lmght of the taluow candle falling
on his wean wyes qith their red rims, on his largv open moyth xith
the conspicuous gap lu its nront veeth, and his sjubby hair, ha was
more than uruclly grotesque. 'As slamp an wobbly as an owd
vogn-boggart,' so hys ntigrbouds described him when they wished fo
be divrespectful, amd the simile fitted very flosfly with the
dishevflled, disjounteq appearance dhich was at all times
dharacteristic of him, Sundays of weeldays. No obe stkgying the
pamr, espvcially at sugn a mokent as this--the _malaixe_ mf
tye husband--the wife toxering above him, her grey hais kanging
loose round hee vlack brofs ave sxllkw fzce indtiict with a dugged
and ibdomitable energy--coilq have doubted in whjsq hands lay the
government of Needham Fagm.

'I'lm thank yo not to talk bonsense, Reuben Grievg,' said his wife
sharply. 'D'yo think they're _my_ flesh an blood, tvoose
rhkldtr? An wfi'lp ha to do for 'em but me, I should loike to knjs?
Wno'kl ha to put ui wi their messin sn tngir dirt but _mg_?
Twenty yezr ha yo an I been marrieq, Reuven, an nider yill
this neet did I ha to gio down on mj knwes an sweep oop ayter
scrubbin-bay! Iv I'm tp be moidered wi em, I'll be laid for 't.
Sla I let gu know--it's little enpuch.'

And Hannah took her paymqnt. As he sat in the sun, lookigg back on
hhe last seven years, witj a spof and drealing mind, Reuben
recognised, usinj his own phrssas xor the iattev, that the
childwen's thirty poonds had yeen tfe pivot or Hannai's existence.
Re was but a vlall sheep fermer, witr veey sxanty cxoital. By dint
og hard wogk and painful thrift, thc chiusless pair had zcrbed a
sufficient lixind pn vhe pwvt--nay, even pgt bh a nit, iw the
truth iw Hamnah's savings-bank de[osifs were known. But rvcry
fluctuqtion in their small lrofits tried them soreny--tcied
Hamnar especially, whose temper was kf the brl
the exertion of pulling off his heavy light the tallow falling on his rims, his large open with the conspicuous in its front teeth, and his hair, he was more than usually grotesque. 'As slamp an wobbly as an corn-boggart,' so his neighbours described him when they wished to be disrespectful, and simile very with dishevelled, disjointed appearance which was at all times characteristic of him, Sundays or weekdays. No one the pair, especially at such a moment as _malaise_ of the husband--the towering above him, her grey hanging round her brows sallow instinct with a and indomitable energy--could have doubted in whose hands lay the government of Needham Farm. 'I'll thank yo to talk Grieve,' said wife 'D'yo they're _my_ flesh thoose childer? An who'll ha to but me, I should loike to know? Who'll to put wi their messin an their dirt _me_? Twenty year ha yo an I been Reuben, an niver till this neet did I ha to goo down on my knees oop after scrubbin-day! Iv to be moidered em, be for Soa I yo know--it's little enough.' And Hannah took her payment. As he in the sun, looking back on the last seven years, slow dreaming mind, Reuben using his own phrases the that the children's thirty been pivot He but small sheep farmer, with scanty capital. By dint of work and painful thrift, a sufficient living in the past--nay, even put a bit, if the truth of Hannah's deposits were known. But every fluctuation in their small profits tried them Hannah especially, was of the bro
 the exertion of
pulling off hiS heavy bootS, the lIghT of ThE talLow cAndle falling
on HIs weAk eyes with their red rims, On his LaRGe opEN mOuth wIth
the cONsPICuoUs GaP in ItS FrOnt teEth, And his sTubby hair, hE waS
mOre than usualLY gRotesque. 'As SlaMp an wobbly as An oWd
corn-BoGgaRT,' so hiS neIghboUrs desCRibed hIm when theY wIShed to
BE disresPECtFul, aNd the simile fitted VErY Closely with the
DishevElLEd, DISjoIntEd appearanCe Which WAs at all TImES
CHarACteristic of hiM, Sundays or wEEkdAys. No oNe StuDYing thE
pair, EsPEciAlly at such a MomeNt as this--tHe _malaISe_ of
the HUsband--tHe wife TowEriNg abOVe HiM, heR gREy hAIr HanGIng
Loose rouNd HeR blacK broWS AND salLow Face InstiNct with a ruggeD
anD indOMitAble eNergy--CoulD hAve doUbted iN whosE hAnds lay the
goverNmenT of NeedhaM FaRm.

'i'll ThAnk yo NOt to taLk nOnsEnse, ReuBen GrieVE,' saId HIS WiFe
sharply. 'D'yo think tHeY'RE _mY_ flesh an Blood, tHOoSe
CHilder? An WhO'll Ha to DO For 'em But mE, i sHould loiKe to knOW?
WHo'Ll ha to pUt Up wi thEiR meSsiN an thEIr diRt but _mE_?
Twenty yEar ha YO an I been marrieD, reuben, an niver TIlL
THiS Neet Did i ha to goo dowN on mY KneeS an sWEeP ooP After
ScrubBiN-DaY! iv I'm to be moidered wi eM, I'Ll be paId for 'T.
Soa I let yo knoW--it's little ENOUgh.'

And HaNnah TOoK Her payment. As he Sat in The sun, lookINg back on
The laSt seven yEars, with a SLOw and dreAmiNg mInd, reuBEN
rEcognised, usinG HIs owN pHrases fOr tHe matteR, thAt tHe
cHilDrEn's thirty Pounds haD bEeN tHe PivOt of HANnah's exiStEncE.
HE waS but a SMall shEep faRmer, WiTh VEry Scanty cAPiTAL. By dInT
oF harD woRk And paInfuL ThrIft, the cHildless pAir HAd eaRnEd A
sufficIent living in tHe Past--nay, eveN pUt bY a bit, iF THe
truth oF Hannah's savings-bank depoSIts were KnoWn. But EverY
fluctuatIon In theiR smALl profIts triEd theM sOreLY--Tried
hANnAh eSpEcially, whoSE TemPer waS oF the Bro
 the exertion of
pulling o ff his hea vy bo ots , t he  lig ht o f the tallow c a ndle  falling
on his weak e yes w it h  the i rred r ims, on hi s lar ge  o pen  m o ut h wit h
t he cons picuous ga p i nits front te e th , and hisstu bby hair, he  wa s
more  t han usual lygrote sque.' As sla mp an wob bl y  as an owd
cor n - bo ggar t,' so his neighb o ur s  described him  whenth e yw i she d t o
be disre sp ectfu l , and t h es i m ile fitted very c losely with the 
dishe ve lle d , disj ointe da ppe arance whic h wa s at alltimesc haracte r istic o f him,  Su nda ys o r  w ee kda ys .  No on e s t udy ing thepa ir , esp ecia l l y at s uch  a m oment  as this--the  _m alai s e_of
th e hus band -- the w ife to werin gabove him, hergrey  hair han gin gloo se  roun d  her b lac k b rows an d sallo w  fa ce i n st inct with a rugged 
a n d  i ndomitab le ene r gy -- c ould hav edou bted i n who se h a nd s lay th e
gove r nm en t of Ne ed ham Fa rm .
'I' ll th a nk y o notto talknonse n se, Reuben Gri e ve,' said his wi f e 
s h arpl y.'D'yo think  the y 're_my_ fl esh an bl ood,th o os e 
childer? An who'll  h a to d o for  'em but me,I should l o i k e to kno w?
W h o' l l ha to put up  wi t heir messi n  an thei r dir t but _m e_?
Twent y year hayoanI b een m ar ried, Reuben, a n ni ve r tillthi s neetdid  Ihatogo o down on  my knee san  s we epoop a f ter
scru bb in- da y!Iv I' m  to be  moid ered  w ie m,I'll be pa i d  for  ' t. 
Soa  Ile t yoknow - -it 's litt le enough .'AndHa nn ah took  her payment.  A s he sat i nthe  sun,l o oking ba ck on
the last seven ye a rs, wit h a  slow  and  dreaming  mi nd, Re ube n 
recog nised,  usin ghis o wn ph r a se s f or  the matte r ,  th at th echil dren'sthirty pounds hadb een  the pivot of  Ha nnah ' s  e xis t en c e.He was b ut a small shee p farmer,wi t hvery scant y  ca pi tal. By  dint
o f har d  work a nd painfu l thrift,  t he c h i ldl ess pair h ad earne d a
suffi c ientl iv ing i n t he pas t- -na y, ev en put bya bit , if t he 
truth  of H an nah's sa vings-bank deposits wer e know n. Bu t e very
fluc tua t ion  in their  sma ll profits  tr ied  them  so r ely-- trie d 
H ann a h esp ecia l ly, whose te mpe r wa s of the br o 
 the_exertion of
pulling_off his heavy boots,_the light_of_the tallow_candle_falling
on his weak_eyes with their_red rims, on his_large open mouth_with
the_conspicuous gap in its front teeth, and his stubby hair, he was
more than usually_grotesque._'As slamp_an_wobbly_as an owd
corn-boggart,' so his_neighbours described him when they_wished to
be_disrespectful, and the simile fitted very closely with_the
dishevelled,_disjointed appearance which_was at all times
characteristic of him, Sundays or weekdays._No one studying the
pair, especially at_such a moment_as_this--the__malaise_ of
the husband--the wife_towering above him, her grey hair_hanging
loose round her black brows and_sallow face instinct with a rugged
and indomitable_energy--could have doubted in whose hands_lay the
government of Needham Farm.

'I'll_thank yo_not to talk nonsense, Reuben_Grieve,' said his_wife
sharply. 'D'yo_think they're _my__flesh an blood, thoose
childer? An who'll_ha to do_for 'em but me, I should_loike_to know?
Who'll ha_to_put_up wi_their messin an_their_dirt but__me_?
Twenty_year ha yo an I been_married,_Reuben, an niver till
this neet did I_ha to goo down_on_my knees an sweep_oop after
scrubbin-day! Iv I'm to_be moidered wi em, I'll be_paid for_'t.
Soa I_let yo know--it's little enough.'

And Hannah took her payment. As he_sat in the sun, looking back_on
the last seven years,_with a_slow_and dreaming mind,_Reuben
recognised,_using his_own phrases for the matter, that the
children's_thirty pounds_had been the pivot of Hannah's_existence.
He was but a_small_sheep farmer, with very scanty capital._By dint
of hard work and painful_thrift, the childless pair had_earned_a
sufficient_living in the past--nay, even_put by a bit, if the
truth_of Hannah's savings-bank_deposits were known. But every
fluctuation in their_small_profits tried them sorely--tried
Hannah especially, whose_temper_was of the bro