ME take the child! The parish
has enough to do to take care of foundlings and children whose
parents can't or don't work. You don't suppose we will look
after the children of those who can?
GINX. Jest so. You'll bring up bastards and beggars' pups, but
you won't help an honest man to keep his head above water. This
child's head is goin' under water anyhow!" --and he prepared to
bolt, amid fresh screams from the Chorus.
VII.--Malthus and Man.
Two gentlemen, who had been observing the excitement, here came
forward.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. This is our problem again, Mr. Philosopher.
Mr. PHILOSOPHER (to Ginx). You don't know what to do with your
infant, my friend, and you think the State ought to provide for
it? I understand you to say this is your thirteenth child. How
came you to have so many?
This question, though put with profound and even melancholy
gravity, disconcerted Ginx, Officer, and Chorus, who united in a
hearty outburst of laughter.
GINX. Haw, Haw, Haw! How came I to have so many? Why my old
woman's a good un and----
In fact, after searching his mind for some clever way of putting
a comical rejoinder, Ginx laughed boisterously. There are two
aspects of a question.
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