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As winter approached, Jessy's evening seasons of peace and solitude were gradually shortened. When the weather became cold, and it was early dark, her mother could no longer stand in the street with her neighbours. She made up for this by entering into conversation eagerly with all those who came to purchase any of the articles which, during the day were displayed on her stand, but which, at the close of it, were now carried into her house. Jessy's home, in winter, became thus the resort of all the idle women in the neighbourhood. This idle talking led to much evil, besides neglect of family duties. Sinners entice each other, -- and Jessy's mother gradually became addicted to the most ruinous of all vices, -- drinking. Thomas Grey, who now acted as a porter, indulged in the same sin. He stood almost all day on the street, waiting for any work that offered; but as he was not active, and generally somewhat stupefied by drink, he was not much employed, and earned but little. Of that little, he gave scarcely any to his wife, but spent almost the whole of it in the indulgence of his sinful habit, telling his wife, that she would get the pension, which was more than enough to pay for all the comforts that his house offered him. At the first term for receiving this pension, after Thomas had married Mrs. Allan, it barely paid the debts that had been contracted from trusting to it. The second term was now near, and house-rent, and many other things had been left unpaid, still looking forward to this fund. The people who had given Mrs. Grey credit, knew well at what time the Pension was paid, and a day or two after she received it, all of them demanded their money. Mrs. Grey paid as far as she could, but found that she had not enough to pay half the demands that were made upon her. She dared not tell her husband this, for Thomas now thought little of beating her when in anger. She therefore fell on every means in her power to induce her creditors to wait, and did not scruple to make promises she never could fulfill. To one person she promised that Jessy should pay what she earned at the end of every week, and this poor Jessy insisted on doing herself till the debt was paid, though, cold as it was, she still went to her work with nothing warmer to wrap herself in, than a thin shawl, and her shoes almost worn out. When Jessy had paid the last shilling that her mother's creditor claimed, the woman said to her, 'My good lassie, I see that you are really honest; and I am sure you are not idle like your mother, who is as careless as she is idle; for, if she had taken notice, she might have known that you have paid me two weeks' wages more than I had a right to. I have let you do this without saying anything, because I knew, that if your mother once got your money, little good from it would come to you, and you are in sore want of some bit shawl to keep you warm -- so with your last weeks' wages I have gotten you a second hand grey cloak; and wait a minute, and I'll go with you myself and fit you in a pair of shoes.' Jessy waited; and while doing so, her heart rose in thankfulness to that Lord who never forsook her, and who had now put it into the heart of a stranger to care for her.

Matters after this became worse and worse with Mrs. Grey. She could not easily get credit, and her own earnings, joined to Jessy's, were now the only means of support for the family. With good management this might have done; but with Mrs. Grey's bad management, and her evil habits, she was soon in real poverty, and therefore most anxious to obtain assistance in any way she could. About this time, a benevolent gentleman had ordered coals to be sold to the poor from his coal-yard in her neighbourhood, at a very reduced price. Mrs. Grey eagerly availed herself of this gentleman's goodness, and one day, when Jessy was at home for her scanty dinner, desired her to go and get some of the coals. These coals were given out at a fixed hour, and then there was much crowding and pushing at the place. Jessy was anxious to get forward as she had little time to spare, so she watched and kept her place, that she might be served in her turn. A woman behind her, after pushing herself past many others, at last held out her basket, and entreated one of the men to fling her coals into it, as her infant was left alone in the house. The man wished to oblige her, and threw a piece into her basket. Another piece, however, from the careless way the woman held her basket, missed it, and fell with great violence against poor Jessy's leg. The blow threw her down, and there was immediately a cry, 'The poor lassie's leg is broken! What a shame! That comes of serving people out of their turn!'

The man who had thrown the piece of coal ran to Jessy, and tried to raise her to her feet; but the pain from the blow was so great, that she could not stand, and almost fainted. She was known to some of the people near her, and on finding where she lived, the man lifted her up in his arms and carried her towards her house with the greatest care and tenderness. A crowd followed, and Mrs. Grey ran out as usual, on hearing a bustle in the street. On discovering that her own child was the cause, and seeing her carried pale, and apparently lifeless; she screamed out, 'Jessy ! my Jessy ! What is it? Who has done this? in such a loud and fearful voice as to recal Jessy to her senses. She got down, and tried to stand, and said, 'O mother! do not scream that way, it is not so bad.' She could say no more, and was helped into the house, and laid upon her little bed. It was now discovered that the blood was running down Jessy's leg into her shoe; and the man who had carried her home, immediately offered to carry her to an apothecary's who lived near, where the wound would be properly dressed, and to pay whatever was necessary, both at this time and afterwards, till she was well again.