"hours, called her, and with more temper paid and discharged her.

"Behold me now alone in the house with

my poor grandmother's corpse, which was "a melancholy situation, though I was by "no means weak or foolish enough to be "alarmed at it, for I well knew the dead "could not hurt me; and I truly believe, "the six days I spent alone in this manner, "for I could get no servant, was the first

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step towards correcting my follies.

"Some gentlemen that knew my grand"mother attended the funeral, which over, "I began to reflect seriously what was to "become of me. To work for my bread "where I was known, my pride and vanity forbade; beside, had even at

46.

66

tempted it, I was so much disliked that 66 no one would have recommended or "employed me; I therefore, after some "consideration, resolved to sell the furni ture, take the money from the banker's, pay what was owing, and retire where I " was not known, until I could settle some

་

feasible plan..

T

N 3.

With

"With this determination I went one "morning to the banker's, but was greatly "astonished to find the house shut up; I "however thought some of the family were 66 dead, and knocked at the door; but what "was my distress and horror when informed

they had been necessitated to stop pay(6 ment, and it was feared there would be "litttle or nothing for the creditors.

"I was so overpowered by this intelligence, that I was obliged to request the "man to call me a coach, for I could "scarcely stand; and, to complete all, on

my return home I received demands from "the doctor, and different trades-people, "to the amount of forty pounds; which, "added to what was owing for rent, and

my grandmother's funeral, made nearly "eighty pounds.

"Had I been beloved among my neigh"bours, they would, doubtlefs, as they "were all in good circumstances, have

stayed until it was seen what dividend "the banker could pay; but, as it was, my "loss was no sooner known, than the ap66 plications

7

66

66

"plications were renewed in the most pressing terms, and the most galling comments passed, even to my face, on my poor grandmother for bringing me up "like a lady when she had no fortune to "leave me. Thus situated I had no other "recourse but selling the furniture, which "I was necessitated to do for half the "value.

--

"The money thus obtained paid all that "was owing; but left me destitute of a "home, with only ten guineas and my "clothes, and no friend to afford me either "succour or counfel; I therefore deter"mined to remove into the city, and idle

ἐσ

ness not being among my faults, I en"deavoured to procure work or some si“tuation, but as I had no recommend"ation, nobody would employ me; in

66

consequence my small stock was soon expended, and I found myself in the " utmost necessity.

"The woman, where I had lodged some "months, seeing me behave properly, for having no one to bear my humours, I "studied

"studied to suppress them, at length, re"commended me to a friend of hers who

kept a linen warehouse at the west-end of "the town, and whom she thought might "find me constant employ; she therefore "desired me to wait on her early one morning.

Though this was a humiliation that I "did not easily brook, yet hunger was

too pressing for me to refuse, and I accordingly attended; but judge my sur"prize and shame, when in the mistress "of the shop I instantly recognized the "servant I had struck in the presence "Mr. Smith, and who did not quit us until after I had the small-pox.-Her sur

of

prise equalled mine, but recovering it "first, she insulted me with all the mean"ness of a narrow mind, saying, "And is it come to this? Beauty went first, and pride follows after; I wish you much success, Miss, in your new situation, but cannot think of employing my mistress, particularly one who has beat

me."

"To prevent more insult I immediately "left the house; but the consequences of "this meeting did not stop here, for she "represented me in such hateful colours "to my before friendly landlady, that she gave me warning, and I was obliged to "leave the house.

66

"Driven to the last distress, I applied "to one of those offices where they pro"cure places for servants, saying I was

'

just come from the country; and, to my

great satisfaction, in a few days was en"gaged by a lady to wait upon her; but

my evil fortune still pursued me, for "one morning the milliner waiting on her

recognized me; and well, indeed, she "might, for having made me a cap, after "I had the small-pox, which not posses"sing the power to make me look as I "did before, I tore it in pieces before her " and threw it into the fire. Actions of "this kind make people rancorous; and

my character, with every addition, was "related to my mistress, who discharged "me immediately, saying, she had no "doubt