For these others, man for man, made just as much money, and paid less rent for their small cottages, and, furthermore, received doles from the vicar and his well-to-do parishioners, yet they could not better their position, much less afford the good clothing, books, music, and other pleasant things which the independent woodman bestowed on his family.
"Afoot in England"
W.H. Hudson
In bad years still more after a succession of lean fishings and harvests restriction is of course universal, and all the inhabitants of an island or a parish may be getting weekly doles of meal at the merchant's shop.
"Second Shetland Truck System Report"
William Guthrie
Human life was an obscene and cruel struggle of wild beasts for the doles flung by fortune into the arena.
"Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius"
Samuel Dill