They were poor and hard-working . The man sat all day in a little stall at the street corner and mended any shoes that were brought him . His wife sold the fruit and vegetables they grew in their garden in the Market Place , and as she was always neat and clean and her goods were temptingly spread out she had plenty of customers . The couple had one boy called Jem . A handsome , pleasant-faced boy of twelve , and tall for his age . He used to sit by his mother in the market and would carry home what people bought from her , for which they often gave him a pretty flower , or a slice of cake , or even some small coin . One day Jem and his mother sat as usual in the Market Place with plenty of nice herbs and vegetables spread out on the board , and in some smaller baskets early pears , apples , and apricots . Jem cried his wares at the top of his voice : ` This way , gentlemen ! See these lovely cabbages and these fresh herbs ! Early apples , ladies ; early pears and apricots , and all cheap . Come , buy , buy ! ' As he cried an old woman came across the Market Place . She looked very torn and ragged , and had a small sharp face , all wrinkled , with red eyes , and a thin hooked nose which nearly met her chin . She leant on a tall stick and limped and shuffled and stumbled along as if she were going to fall on her nose at any moment . In this fashion she came along till she got to the stall where Jem and his mother were , and there she stopped . ` Are you Hannah the herb seller ? ' she asked in a croaky voice as her head shook to and fro . ` Yes , I am , ' was the answer . ` Can I serve you ? ' ` We 'll see ; we 'll see !
Let me look XXXXX those herbs .
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