From The Warminster Herald, Saturday 27th November 1880:
A short time ago a gentleman (?) member of the Board Of Guardians of the town in which he resided, which, en passant, is not 50 miles from the quiet little town of Warminster, had an old man, who had seen his best days, working for him, paying him a shilling a day or six shillings a week for his services; so one day the said gentleman asked him why he didn’t apply to the Board for relief, and thus increase his scanty income, promising to do what he could for him.
The old man struck with the idea, decided to adopt the course suggested, and accordingly on the Board day presented himself for relief, but his master was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting; however, the Board granted him two shillings a week.
He went home and told his master of his good fortune, who said he must thank him for his influence in obtaining it for him; of course the old man did feel grateful, but how quickly did his gratitude turn when his master told him that he should reduce his wages to four shillings a week, and this, with the two shillings allowed from the parish, would still make up his 6s. a week. What an instance of selfishness; don’t you think so?