Thoreau writes a petition for Michael Flannery:
We the undersigned, contribute the following sums, in order to make up to Michael Flannery the sum of four dollars, being the amount of his premium for spading on the 5 ult., which was received and kept by his employer, Abiel H. Wheeler (MS, Clifton Waller Barrett collection. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.).
Thoreau writes in his journal:
To-day I have had the experience of borrowing money for a poor Irishman who wishes to get his family to this country. One will never know his neighbors till he has carried a subscription paper among them. Ah! it reveals many and sad facts to stand in this relation to them . . .
