Question

As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors,[6] I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. It is true, a child just dropped from its dam[7] may be supported by her milk for a solar year, with little other nourishment; at most not above the value of two shillings, which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner as instead of being a ______________ upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall on the contrary contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands

Answer 1

[...] by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner as instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish [...]

Step-by-step explanation:

The text shown above is an excerpt taken from "A Modest Proposal" written by Jonathan Swift. In this text, Swift shows, in a very sarcastic way, a criticism of how Irish high society, the church and the English were treating the situation of the poor in Ireland. To criticize this situation, he suggests that children be used to feed the English, the clergy and the high society. In this way these children would no longer be a cost to their parents and society and would be useful in keeping the individuals who controlled Irish policies well fed.

The word "charge" added to the text is present in the original text and demonstrates the fact that high society, the church and the English see poor children as a burden, a cost and not a responsibility.