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"There's nothing like trying, husband. I can tell them we must be as economical as possible, for the times are hard and we are restricted in our out-goes."

"Very true, you can. Well, then, say 'one forty' per week. That's settled. Now, I think of opening my old brick-yard again this fall and burning a hundred thou- sand brick, won't that be nice work for them?"

"It will, indeed! why that's a good thought -- if it will not be too hard for them, Mr. Siddleton."

"No, not at all. They can pick out the clay by little and little, load it, dump it, grind it, would it, dry it, and pack it, fire it, watch it -- do almost every thing about the kiln, and I look on, give directions, and work when I please."

"I like the plan, husband, exceedingly. It will keep the men away from the house too a great deal, and so make it more comfortable for me, and more agreeable for all."

"I've got an order for a hundred thousand brick from George Pepper and Company over at the Falls "Works. They are going to put up a new factory, and will pay me the cash on delivery."

"Well, husband, go right about it. Make that your principal business till it is done, and between us we'll manage the paupers somehow or other to make them help along and earn their own support."

Mr. and Mrs. Siddleton, and the town paupers, all lived in a sociable sort of a way under the same roof. The principle adopted throughout this entire establishment was, compactness, centralization, no spare room, no waste. This house was somewhat picturesque and romantic in its outward look, having a main part originally twenty by twenty-eight feet, two stories in front and one in the rear, which was a wing running back into a steep hill that overshadowed it. This wing was on a level with, the upper floor, and the roof was straight from front to rear, and under the roof was garret room for the paupers, who could climb there by a very narrow, very steep and neck-breaking little flight of stairs, the width of a closet door, occupying in the ascent but three feet leaning distance. The garret was partitioned off by a curtain, the south part for the females, who had their accommodations in that loft, the north by the men. The wing below was divided into a sitting-room eight feet by ten, and four dormitories averaging eight feet square. Besides these, there was a small wing on the west side of the rear room, used as a common room for the females, where from four to six, according to circumstances, and one or two small children extra, could bunk down over night.

We don't know how little room we really need, good friends, till we are brought into straights! A room eight feet square will very comfortably accommodate two or three souls, (so said Mrs. Siddleton,) if they can't by any possibility of things have any more square feet. And inasmuch as "three or four in a bed" is often a jocose amusement for happy-hearted, well-to-do folks in the world -- why wonder at it that a large room ten feet by twelve say, should be capable of accommodating six or eight paupers of all sizes and ages? It is perfect amusement for paupers to snuggle up together as they sleep, for they impart warmth to each other in this manner, so doing away with the necessity of extra bedding, where that article is not to be had for love and -- no money.

These apartments were the special privileges of the paupers. The balance of the building was carpeted, the windows of the front chamber-parlor were hung with embroidered muslins; a sofa, soft rockers and chairs; a large mirror, handsome vases, some few pictures, a large family Bible, etc., etc., were among its treasures, conveniences and ornaments. Below there was a large front dining-room, commodious bed-room, large pantry, and extra sleeping room.

From these rooms the smell of good savory dishes often found its way to the wings and lofts above. Sometimes the savory odor was the only thing of the kind that ever hobbled up those stairs.

We are not instituting any comparisons in these pages between the state of wretchedness and degradation witnessed among the paupers in the country poor-houses, and the paupers and other miserable victims of want in the cities and in their alms-houses. It is probable that in many respects the rural paupers often suffer less than those, for there is hardly any measurement of the human degradation the poor exhibit in the cities, in groups where they are driven by their common, absolute want. In one thing it is true, the country paupers have a great advantage. They can inhale the pure atmosphere of heaven, whenever they step forth from their confined and ill-flavored apartments. They also usually have access to the purest water as a beverage. And how many soever ameliorating circumstances we might hunt up and mention, these will readily enough occur to others, to the critics especially. But it is enough, that the old rural poor-house system, in its denial of citizenship; the sale of the poor to the lowest bidder as chattels, the compulsory labor it permits; the degradation it winks at; the heartlessness and cruelty it cultivates, is a NORTHERN INSTITUTION, hard by the free press, the free soil, the free school, the church of Jesus Christ the Son of God.