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meaning to the word 〃servant。〃 There were women who came in occasionally to do the washing； or to help about extra work。 But they were decently clothed； and had homes of their own； more or less comfortable； and their quaint talk and free…and…easy ways were often as much of a lift to the household as the actual assistance they rendered。
I settled down upon the conclusion that 〃rich〃 and 〃poor〃 were book…words only； describing something far off； and having nothing to do with our every…day experience。 My mental definition of 〃rich people；〃 from home observation； was something like this： People who live in three…story houses； and keep their green blinds closed； and hardly ever come out and talk with the folks in the street。 There were a few such houses in Beverly； and a great many in Salem； where my mother sometimes took me for a shopping walk。 But I did not suppose that any of the people who lived near us were very rich； like those in books。
Everybody about us worked； and we expected to take hold of our part while young。 I think we were rather eager to begin； for we believed that work would make men and women of us。
I； however； was not naturally an industrious child； but quite the reverse。 When my father sent us down to weed his vegetable…garden at the foot of the lane； I； the youngest of his weeders； liked to go with the rest； but not for the sake of the work or the pay。 I generally gave it up before I had weeded half a bed。 It made me so warm！ and my back did ache so！ I stole off into the shade of the great apple…trees； and let the west wind fan my hot cheeks； and looked up into the boughs； and listened to the many； many birds that seemed chattering to each other in a language of their own。 What was it they were saying？ and why could not I understand it？ Perhaps I should； sometime。 I had read of people who did； in fairy tales。
When the others started homeward； I followed。 I did not mind their calling me lazy； nor that my father gave me only one tarnished copper cent； while Lida received two or three bright ones。 I had had what I wanted most。 I would rather sit under the apple…trees and hear the birds sing than have a whole handful of bright copper pennies。 It was well for my father and his garden that his other children were not like me。
The work which I was born to； but had not begun to do； was sometimes a serious weight upon my small； forecasting brain。
One of my hymns ended with the lines；
〃With books； and work； and healthful play； May my first years be passed； That I may give； for every day； Some good account at last。〃
I knew all about the books and the play； but the work；how should I ever learn to do it？
My father had always strongly emphasized his wish that all his children； girls as well as boys； should have some independent means of self…support by the labor of their hands； that every one should； as was the general custom； 〃learn a trade。〃 Tailor's workthe finishing of men's outside garmentswas the 〃trade learned most frequently by women in those days； and one or more of my older sisters worked at it； I think it must have been at home； for I somehow or somewhere got the idea； while I was a small child； that the chief end of woman was to make clothing for mankind。
This thought came over me with a sudden dread one Sabbath morning when I was a toddling thing； led along by my sister； behind my father and mother。 As they walked arm in arm before me； I lifted my eyes from my father's heels to his head； and mused： 〃How tall he is！ and how long his coat looks！ and how many thousand； thousand stitches there must be in his coat and pantaloons！ And I suppose I have got to grow up and have a husband； and put all those little stitches into his coats and pantaloons。 Oh； I never； never can do it！〃 A shiver of utter discouragement went through me。 With that task before me； it hardly seemed to me as if life were worth living。 I went on to meeting； and I suppose I forgot my trouble in a hymn； but for the moment it was real。 It was not the only time in my life that I have tired myself out with crossing bridges to which I never came。 real。 It was not the only time inmy life that I have tired myself out with crossing brid；es to which I never came。
Another trial confronted me in the shape of an ideal but impossible patchwork quilt。 We learned to sew patchwork at school； while we were learning the alphabet； and almost every girl； large or small； had a bed…quilt of her own begun； with an eye to future house furnishing。 I was not over fond of sewing； but I thought it best to begin mine early。
So I collected a few squares of calico； and undertook to put them together in my usual independent way； without asking direction。 I liked assorting those little figured bits of cotton cloth； for they were scraps of gowns I had seen worn； and they reminded me of the persons who wore them。 One fragment； in particular； was like a picture to me。 It was a delicate pink and brown sea…moss pattern； on a white ground； a piece of a dress belonging to my married sister； who was to me bride and angel in One。 I always saw her face before me when I unfolded this scrap；a face with an expression truly heavenly in its loveliness。 Heaven claimed her before my childhood was ended。 Her beautiful form was laid to rest in mid…ocean； too deep to be pillowed among the soft sea… mosses。 But she lived long enough to make a heaven of my child… hood whenever she came home。
One of the sweetest of our familiar hymns I always think of as belonging to her； and as a still unbroken bond between her spirit and mine。 She had come back to us for a brief visit； soon after her marriage； with some deep； new experience of spiritual realities which I； a child of four or five years； felt in the very tones of her voice； and in the expression of her eyes。
My mother told her of my fondness for the hymn…book； and she turned to me with a smile and said； 〃Won't you learn one hymn for meone hymn that I love very much？〃
Would I not？ She could not guess how happy she made me by wishing me to do anything for her sake。 The hymn was；
〃Whilst Thee I seek； protecting Power。〃
In a few minutes I repeated the whole to her and its own beauty； pervaded with the tenderness of her love for me； fixed it at once indelibly in my memory。 Perhaps I shall repeat it to her again； deepened with a lifetime's meaning； beyond the sea； and beyond the stars。
I could dream over my patchwork； but I could not bring it into conventional shape。 My sisters； whose fingers had been educated； called my sewing 〃gobblings。〃 I grew disgusted with it myself； and gave away all my pieces except the pretty sea…moss pattern； which I was not willing to see patched up with common calico。 It was evident that I should never conquer fate with my needle。
Among other domestic traditions of the old times was the saying that every girl must have a pillow…case full of stockings of her own knitting before she was married。 Here was another mountain before me； for I took it for granted that marrying was inevitable one of the things that everybody must do； like learning to read； or going to meeting。
I began to knit my own stockings when I ways six or seven years old； and kept on； until home…made stockings went out of fashion。 The pillow…case full； however； was never attempted； any more than the patchwork quilt。 I heard somebody say one day that there must always be one 〃old maid〃 in every family of girls； and I accepted the prophecy of some of my elders； that I was to be that one。 I was rather glad to know that freedom of choice in the matter was possible。
One day； when we younger ones were hanging about my golden…haired and golden…hearted sister Emilie； teasing her with wondering questions about our future； she announced to us （she had reached the mature age of fifteen years） that she intended to be an old maid； and that we might all come and live with her。 Some one listening reproved her； but she said； 〃Why； if they fit them… selves to be good； helpful； cheerful old maids； they will certainly be better wives； if they ever are married；〃 and that maxim I laid by in my memory for future contingencies； for I believed in every word she ever uttered。 She herself； however； did not carry out her girlish intention。 〃Her children arise up and call her blessed； her husband also； and he praiseth her。〃 But the little sisters she used to fondle as her 〃babies have never allowed their own years nor her changed relations to cancel their claim upon her motherly sympathies。
I regard it as a great privilege to have been one of a large family； and nearly the youngest。 We had strong family resem… blances； and yet no two seemed at all alike。 It was like rehearsing in a small world each our own part in the great one awaiting us。 If we little ones occasionally had some severe snubbing mixed with the petting and praising and loving； that was wholesome for us； and not at all to be regretted。
Almost every one of my sisters had some distinctive aptitude with her fingers。 One worked exquisite lace…embroidery； another had a knack at cutting and fitting her doll's clothing so perfectly that the wooden lady was always a typical specimen of the genteel doll…world； and another was an expert at fine stitching； so delicately done that i