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Mrs. Norris. Good evening, Mrs. Smith; mistress wished me to call upon you this evening to speak about Letty.

Mrs. Smith. Oh, Mrs. Norris! that girl does vex me so. I have told her it will break my heart if you send her away—girls are so trying!

Mrs. Norris. Oh, don't you flurry yourself, my good woman; mistress has no thought of such a thing; but Letty don't seem to settle, or feel herself contented, and so I sent her to see you on Sunday.

Mrs. Smith. She has nothing in the world to complain of, that I can see. I am sorry now that I let her go to Mrs. Jones's, where she went as company to Mrs. Jones more than anything, for she don't keep a servant; but, feeling poorly, she said Letty might come and hold the baby, and I think that set

her up.

Mrs. Norris. Very likely, and Letty, in many ways, is a very nice girl. She always keeps to the truth, which I care about more than most things. She is very good-tempered with the children, and would do very well, but for one fault-she can't bear to be spoken to. Now, Mrs. Smith, you are very sensible that girls can't know things out of their own heads, and that babies and little children require a deal of care, pretty dears; my heart often aches to see how they are neglected by the slips of girls, who think of nothing but dress and nonsense. Now Letty isn't one of that sort; she's steady enough, I dare say; but she can't know gentlefolks' ways, not if she was a conjuror, unless she's told.

Mrs. Smith. Very true, ma'am; I'm always telling

her so.

But, to speak my mind, I'm afraid she has met with those that uphold her in those ideas, or she'd never be so headstrong.

Mrs. Norris. Well, she's had a caution in Jack Wilton. That beggar-boy told the coachman the other day he wasn't going to be his slave. Master overheard him, and told him to pull off his livery that very minute, paid him his wages, and sent him off. I don't know what he put on to go away in. Mrs. Smith. Served him right.

Mrs. Norris. It did; but I felt sorry for the friendless boy, too. You see, this is what it is: girls and boys don't know what life is; they only care for the shoe that pinches at the moment, and don't look forward: but you and I were young once, and must make allowance for them. But what I came to say is, that we are going to the sea-side for a month, and mistress thinks Letty won't be wanted, as the under-housemaid will do for me there. She will give her board wages, but she thinks she had better come home; or, perhaps, you could find her a temporary place. And you'll tell her, that when she comes back, she must make up her mind to take orders from me without tossing her head, or flouncing about; for if she won't, there's others that will.

Mrs. Smith. Thank you, ma'am; I think I know of a place-of-all-work, where she can go for a month; and that will bring her to her senses.

Letty. Oh, mother! when will Stanley's people come back?

Mother. Who do you mean by Stanley's people ? Mr. and Mrs. Stanley?

Letty. Yes, to be sure. I never thought to long so to get back to prim Mrs. Norris; but I do think, if I'm much longer at the Badsdons, I shall go crazy. Mother. What's the matter, now? are there too many rules, there?

Letty. Oh, no, I wish there were. There's ten children, who all do as they like, and I have to cook and clean; my work is never done; and the place is always in a dirty muddle. dirty muddle. The boys are so rude, and call me all the names that ever you heard. My mistress only laughs when I complain, and says hard words break no bones; and if the boys are tiresome, why don't I slap them?

Mother. I hope you won't; they are more likely to slap you. But, my dear, you didn't like Mrs. Norris's way of bringing up children. Does Mrs. Badsdon please you better?

Letty. Oh, they are so many savages compared; and so dirty! My back is almost broken with all I have to do. Mistress scolds at me all day, and I would give all the world to get back. Do you think Mrs. Norris will let me?

Mother. Now, child, you have bought a little experience; and having paid for it, I hope you will keep it. You see that it may be a much easier and better thing to have a servant over you who knows her business, than a mistress that don't.

Letty. And this is the first five minutes I can call my own since I went there. Sundays are just like work-days, or worse; for they have company,

generally, and I have never seen the inside of a church since I went there. Do ask Mrs. Norris to let me go back; I will try to please her, indeed I will!

And so she did.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO A THIMBLE.

COME about the meadow,

Hunt here and there:
Where's mother's thimble ?

Can you tell where?

Jane saw her wearing it,

Fan saw it fall,

Ned isn't sure

That she dropped it at all.

Has a mouse carried it

Down to her hole-
Home full of twilight-
Shady, small soul?

Can she be darning there,
Ere the light fails,
Small ragged stockings,
Tiny torn tails?

Did a finch fly with it

Into the hedge?

Or a reed-warbler

Down in the sedge?

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