what does he see that depresses the speaker?

"A Modest Proposal" purports to address the problems of poverty and overpopulation in Ireland with a simple economic solution: the Irish should eat their babies when the infants become one year old. While some serious alternatives are provided, the piece at least involves a humorous method of getting people thinking about the real issues and how they might be solved in a way other than cannibalism.

As he walks the streets he sees many women who are begging in order to support their children. They are so occupied at this task that thet are not employed in honest work. The children are all dressed in rags and headed towards a life of crime Or worse.