A man stands in front of an almshouse with "releiving overseer deficit" written on it. In the background four people stand together; a woman holds a baby and a small child, and a man hunches forward onto a cane. "Overseer" is short for the "overseer of the poor," or the public servant who provides services to the poor., Text: Hard of Heart! the poor are flying; / At the sight of you their faint hearts bleed: / You callous wretch! you are denying / The mercy you will some time need., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
