MariaSilvawaspoor, , toRuth, , andhisconditionsheassociatedinhermindwiththeboyhoodofAbrahamLincoln, , , whileawarethatpovertywasanythingbutdelectable, shehadacomfortablemiddle-classfeelingthatpovertywassalutary, , believingthatsoonerorlateritwouldarousehimandcompelhimtoabandonhiswriting.

RuthneverreadhungerinMartin'sface, , , , whenwithher, shenotedanunusualbrightnessinhiseyes, andsheadmiredit, foritmadehimappearmorethepoetandthescholar—, andshenotedthechangesinthemfromdaytoday, , thoughthedaywaschillandraw, , andaftereacheventshehadseenhisvigorbloomagain.

Likewiseshewatchedhistoils, ! Sheknewthatheoutdidher, , , inacasualsortofway, whenshethoughthungerpinchedhardest, shewouldsendhiminaloafofnewbaking, , shewouldsendoneofhertoddlersintohimwithagreatpitcherofhotsoup, , knowingashedidthelivesofthepoor, andthatifeverintheworldtherewascharity, thiswasit.

Onadaywhenshehadfilledherbroodwithwhatwasleftinthehouse, , comingintoherkitchentofetchwater, -goodhealth, , .

BothMariaandMartindrankthesournewwineonemptystomachs, , theywerelonelyintheirmisery, andthoughthemiserywastacitlyignored, , , , , whereshehadfirstmetherhusband,—he, Martin, hadbeentheretwice! Yes, sherememberedthesugarsteamers, andhehadbeenonthem—well, well, ! Thatplace, too! Didheknowthehead-lunaoftheplantation? Yes, andhadhadacoupleofdrinkswithhim.