Idleness, vice, and intemperance had done the miserable work and the dead mother, fallen upon the threshold of her own door in a drunken fit, had died in the presence of her young ones.
What's to be done with Maggie?
Death touches the spring of our common humanity. This woman had been despised, scoffed at and denounced, but now, pity took the place of anger, and sorrow of denunciation. Neighbors went to the hut: some with grave clothes, and some food for the children.
Take her to the poorhouse, for no one can be bothered with her. She will be kept clean, have food, and doctored.
John, the oldest, was a stout boy of twelve able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate, between ten and eleven, was a bright, active girl. But Maggie, the youngest, was hopelessly diseased. She had fallen from a window and injured her spine two years ago. ''What is to be done with the children?'' was the chief question now.
No, dear. You sha'n't be left here alone.
O, Mr. Thompson! Don't leave me here all alone!
After considering the matter, farmer Jones said that he would take John and Mrs. Ellis concluded that it would be charitable of her to make choice of Katy. But no one took Maggie, because who wanted a bed-ridden child?
There was reason in that, but it still didn't satisfy. The day following the death was made the day of burial. Farmer Jones took John and Mrs. Ellis took Kate away as Maggie was parted with both her siblings and left alone.
She saw the wheelwright, Joe Thompson come in when all had departed. She pleaded him to not leave her alone and Joe Thompson, though rough in exterior, had a very kind heart which was tender towards children.