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Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn, 1810-1865

"Mary Barton"

Henry Carson. So
temper, or what Mary called "spirit," led her to encourage Mr.
Carson more than ever she had done before.
Some weeks after this there was a meeting of the Trades' Union to
which John Barton belonged. The morning of the day on which it was
to take place he had lain late in bed, for what was the use of
getting up? He had hesitated between the purchase of meal or opium,
and had chosen the latter, for its use had become a necessity with
him. He wanted it to relieve him from the terrible depression its
absence occasioned. A large lump seemed only to bring him into a
natural state, or what had been his natural state formerly. Eight
o'clock was the hour fixed for the meeting; and at it were read
letters, filled with details of woe, from all parts of the country.
Fierce, heavy gloom brooded over the assembly; and fiercely and
heavily did the men separate, towards eleven o'clock, some irritated
by the opposition of others to their desperate plans.
It was not a night to cheer them, as they quitted the glare of the
gas-lighted room, and came out into the street.


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