Посмертные записки Пиквикского клуба

Illustrative, like the preceding one, of the old Proverb, that Adversity brings a Man acquainted wit

           Hisfees,uponenteringandleavingthejail,arereducedinamount,andhebecomesentitledtoashareofsomesmallquantitiesoffood:toprovidewhich,afewcharitablepersonshave,fromtimetotime,lefttriflinglegaciesintheirwills.Mostofourreaderswillremember,that,untilwithinaveryfewyearspast,therewasakindofironcageinthewalloftheFleetPrison,withinwhichwaspostedsomemanofhungrylooks,who,fromtimetotime,rattledamoney-box,andexclaimedinamournfulvoice,‘Pray,rememberthepoordebtors;prayrememberthepoordebtors.’Thereceiptsofthisbox,whentherewereany,weredividedamongthepoorprisoners;andthemenonthepoorsiderelievedeachotherinthisdegradingoffice.

           Althoughthiscustomhasbeenabolished,andthecageisnowboardedup,themiserableanddestituteconditionoftheseunhappypersonsremainsthesame.Wenolongersufferthemtoappealattheprisongatestothecharityandcompassionofthepassersby;butwestillleaveunblottedtheleavesofourstatutebook,forthereverenceandadmirationofsucceedingages,thejustandwholesomelawwhichdeclaresthatthesturdyfelonshallbefedandclothed,andthatthepennilessdebtorshallbelefttodieofstarvationandnakedness.Thisisnofiction.Notaweekpassesoverourhead,but,ineveryoneofourprisonsfordebt,someofthesemenmustinevitablyexpireintheslowagoniesofwant,iftheywerenotrelievedbytheirfellow-prisoners.

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