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have both her kitchens in perfect order, and the tea-kettle boiling, and was required to be washed and dressed, before her master returned to tea; so you see she had to work briskly, and if she did not do it thoroughly it was to be done over again, for which she was made to rise earlier the next morning. The advantage of being thus trained was very great, for when habits of order, punctuality, and thorough cleanliness, are attained, experience only is requisite to make a good servant. I am glad to tell you that both Martha and Jane passed through the first year's service well, and were then told that if they liked to stay another year they should receive an additional ten shillings of wages: this they wisely agreed to do, as Mrs. Thrifty told them that to remain a good while in one place was in itself a character.

I, A. C.

THE FIRST WAGES.

As Mrs. Thrifty had agreed to wash for her daughter, Martha had a few minutes' talk with some of her family every week, and had been allowed to walk in the town once or twice with her mother; but it was not till the month of August, when Mr. Seymour went to pay a visit to his friends, that Martha could be spared for a whole day to go home. After some talk with her mother, and a rapid call on their nearest neighbours, Martha said she would go and meet her little sister, who would be coming out of school soon. In her way, to her great joy, she met Jane Frivoll, who had been sent to the baker's for a loaf. Very cordial was the greeting; and "How you are grown, Jane!" "What a pretty gown you have got, Martha! Where did you buy it?" and such-like chat, would soon have wasted many minutes, and kept Miss Tyrrell waiting for the bread she required, when fortunately the schoolroom door opened, and Betsy Thrifty espied her sister: the friends parted hastily, Jane agreeing to ask her mistress's permission to walk part of the way to the town with her friend in the cool of the evening. This request was granted, and Jane, putting

on her best gown also to show her friend, joined her at her mother's cottage. After mutual inquiries about their daily employments, the number of things they could now do that they had known nothing of six months before, they once more touched on the subject of their dress and their wages.

"I'm sure I hope Mrs. Tyrrell will raise my wages next year, for I want to save, as your mother advised us, Martha; but how can we save with one shilling a-week?"

"It is not very easy," said Martha; "but mother says she made a beginning towards her twenty pounds in her first year; so I shall try hard. I brought my book over to show you. Have you got yours ?"

"No; but I have set it all down, and I think I can tell you. First of all, just before I had my first quarter's wages, Mrs. Tyrrell gave me this straw bonnet: you know my school one was rather small, and mistress did not like it; so she had this one turned; and it looked very nice when she gave it me to save buying a new one. As it cost me nothing, I thought I would get a nice ribbon for it; and that and the flowers under it took three shillings: it looked very pretty at first, but is rather faded now; and I do not think I shall buy a pink ribbon again for a bonnet. Then I bought this worked collar and a pair of thread gloves for Sundays; that took one-and-eightpence: and as spring was coming on, I found my boots looked so particular that I got a pair of shoes; they only cost three shillings, but when I showed them to Miss Tyrrell she said they were very dear, because they would not wear well; I believe she was right, for, though I only wear them on Sundays, or when I get a holiday, I have had them mended already. Then I bought two pairs of white stockings, and an apron, and a bit of net and bordering, and a cap-ribbon: one must have clean caps to look tidy. I know I had only twopence-halfpenny left out of thirteen shillings; and I was obliged to get some worsted and a stay-lace with that a week afterwards, for Mrs. Tyrrell unluckily caught me with holes in the heels of my stockings, and would not let me go to bed till I had mended them, she said. So there was my first quarter gone. Well, before I received my next quarter I was obliged to get my old shoes soled and my new ones stitched; and I had to borrow the money from mother to pay the shoemaker, for he said he would come and ask mistress for it if I did not pay. Mother was very angry; and at first I was frightened

lest she should tell mistress: however, I paid her the two shillings directly I got my wages; and I do not mean to borrow again if I can help it."

"I suppose," said Martha, "you bought your new gown next, Jane? It is very pretty. I was very nearly buying a delaine myself, instead of this cotton gown; but my mistress advised me to wait till next year. She said a cotton would be best, because it will do for a working gown when I can afford to buy another for best only: besides, my gown only cost six-and-sixpence."

"Why, Martha, my delaine only cost five-and-ninepence! How much did you buy of your print?"

"I bought eight yards of the wide print, because I wanted to have some left to make a new body by-and-by. And you see I have a tuck in it also. It was sixpence a yard, and two yards of calico to line the body and sleeves cost another sixpence; and two shillings for making it, because I cannot find time to do more than mend and knit a little; for Mrs., Wells has been very poorly and wants a deal of waiting on, and little Miss Fanny must have a walk in the evenings; and since the lady has been sick my mistress does not like to go out at all. The next gown I buy, I mean to make the skirt of it myself, and that will save sixpence at least."

"But how is it that you got your dress cheaper than mine, Jane?"

"I only meant the delaine itself, Martha. From what you tell me, your print gown is cheaper, for you have some left, and I have not a bit to mend mine with: and you know my gown is lined all through; so that, if you add that and the making, I believe my gown cost me nine-andsixpence."

"Then you had only one-and-sixpence left out of your quarter, Jane, had you?"

"I forgot to tell you that a lady came on a visit to mistress for a week, and when she went away she made me a present of a shilling."

"Then you have half-a-crown, now?" said Martha.

Jane looked annoyed, and hesitated a good deal, but, as Martha evidently expected an answer, she said, "I am half ashamed to tell you how silly I was; but when I bought my gown, the shopman persuaded me to buy a parasol, because he had a lot very cheap, quite a bargain, he said - only one-and-elevenpence-halfpenny. I had quite intended to keep my half-crown, but he over-persuaded me, and said

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all respectable servants now used parasols; and so I bought one, and very vexed I was directly, for I knew Miss Tyrrell would not like it. I only took it out two Sundays, and do you know, in opening it, one of the bones broke! but the worst was, Miss Tyrrell happened to see me with it, as I came from church, and she told me if I ever used it again she would not keep me in her service, for it was not respectable' for a poor girl like me to use a parasol. I did feel very cross for some time, and mistress looked very cross at me; but Miss Tyrrell told me again next day that she would not keep me if I did not dress respectably, so I was obliged to submit, for mother said if I lost such a good place as Mrs. Tyrrell's I should not get another like it in a hurry. But was not it a shame, Martha, of that shopman to persuade me against my will as he did?"

"I believe they all do so, Jane, and think it right to do so, to sell their goods; but I dare say the next time they want to make you buy a parasol, you will be able to say, No!"

"I believe I shall, Martha; and, after all, there is no use in them, for we have not time to go out much in the sun. But now tell me what have you bought with your wages?"

Martha drew her paper book out of her pocket, and read as follows, commenting on the items: "My boots were not new when I went to service, and I have a good deal of running errands, besides walking with Miss Fanny, and taking her to school: therefore the first thing I had to do was to get them mended; they wanted a great deal doing, and it cost me two-and-sixpence. I bought a pair of grey stockings and a pair of white, and a couple of aprons, one of which was a white one for Sundays, because I have to wait on Mrs. Wells while mistress goes to church; and I assure you our lady lodger is very particular, and looks at me from head to foot when I go in the parlour, and she asked me if I had no white aprons, so I bought one to please her, and she seemed pleased too, and gave me a bit of lace, and ribbon enough for a cap, which saved me buying, though it was not quite new. I got half a yard of net, which mother made into caps for me; then I got a pair of boot-laces, and some tape and cotton to run my new stockings in the heel. I spent six-and-sixpence that first shopping; but when I had made my aprons and run my stockings, which took me three weeks, (I have so little time for sewing,) I got leave to go

out with mother one day, and then I got five yards of stout calico to make a couple of shifts, which mother cut out for me before she went home, and which I had only finished making when I got my summer wages. The calico cost one-and-eightpence; and as the weather was getting warm I thought I had better choose my summer shawl while mother was with me, because I wanted to get a gown in July, and I was afraid I could not afford both articles out of one quarter. The shawl cost me three-and-sixpence; and as mother was going on to Norton to see grandmother, I sent her a little present of two ounces of tea and half a pound of sugar, and I think mother was as pleased as granny when I gave her the parcel."

"That took all your money, I suppose?" said Jane. "Oh no, I had sixpence left, for fear I should want anything before I got my next quarter; but I did not. Then last month I got my gown made, you know, and my strawbonnet cleaned, and this green satin ribbon put on it, which cost eightpence a yard; but I thought it looked nicer for best than a sarcenet one, and it is a good colour for winter as well as summer. I could only afford three yards of ribbon, for my new shoes cost me four-and-sixpence. I only wear them on fine days, and when the summer is over they will do for the parlour, as Mrs. Wells does not like my heavy boots."

Jane was looking over her friend's book. money left, however, this quarter ?"

"You have no

"Yes; I must tell you that Mr. Seymour, who is a very kind gentleman, and recollected seeing me at school at the Christmas examination, (I dare say you remember the gentleman who was with our Vicar that day, Jane,) came into the kitchen one Sunday night when I was reading to Mrs. Walker, and he stood talking to me ever so long, and made me say some of my catechism. Well, he promised me he would give me half-a-crown at Midsummer if my mistress would give me a good character. So I knew he would not break his word, and he gave it me last Monday, and promised me another at Christmas if mistress would ask him for it."

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Why, Martha! that will give you five shillings a year more than I get!"

"But you know, Jane, I have a good deal of work, and not so much leisure as you; I must be up very early too, for

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