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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 /< 
 
 FAITHFUL IN LITTLE. 
 
 I
 
 MRS. WILSON'S PARTING PRESENT.
 
 FAITHFUL IN LITTLE: 
 
 A TALE FOR YOUNG WOMEN. 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. F. E. HEAD. 
 
 FOURTH EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 JARROLD & SONS, 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS. 
 
 (All Rights Reserved.)
 
 477f . 
 H34: 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 The Servant 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 The Wife and Mother ... ... ... 44 
 
 £? 4 ,1 r^ o o
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 THE SERVANT
 
 FAITHFUL IN LITTLE. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 THE SERVANT. 
 
 'IVE and thirty years ago, a young girl 
 knocked timidly at a door in Finsbury 
 Place, about seven o'clock on a winter's 
 evening. She was evidently expected, or in so 
 noisy a place her knock would hardly have attracted 
 any notice. The door was speedily opened by a 
 young lady, who said, " Come in, Jane, we have 
 been expecting you." The tone of voice was par- 
 ticularly pleasant, and seemed to encourage the 
 girl, who entered at once, and, placing a bandbox 
 she had carried in her hand on the mat in the pas- 
 sage, turned to help a man with a box, which was 
 also placed within the door. The man departed 
 and the door was closed, and thus Jane Stimpson
 
 io Faithful in Little. 
 
 entered Mrs. Wilson's service as maid-of-all-work 
 to her and her three daughters, who occupied part 
 of a house in that noisy part of London which has 
 been mentioned. 
 
 I must try and describe Jane as she looked on 
 this, to her, memorable evening. Fancy a hungry- 
 looking girl of sixteen, with a very doughy com- 
 plexion, hair of no particular colour, rather short 
 in stature, with an old look for her years, and you 
 will have a tolerable notion of Jane's appearance, 
 and will perceive that she was certainly no beauty. 
 But if she had not beauty, she seemed honest and 
 looked you straight in the face when spoken to, 
 and her eyes brightened wonderfully when ad- 
 dressed in terms of kindness. In fact, it was the 
 expression of her face, joined to a tolerably fair 
 character, that had induced Mrs. Wilson to engage 
 her, as she was so very young for such a place ; but 
 she had begged so earnestly of that lady " only to 
 try her," for she " was sure she should be able to 
 do," and was not to be daunted by the number of 
 stairs or any of the manifold discomforts of a Lon- 
 don place-of-all-work. So Jane was installed ; and 
 after the first novelty was worn off, and she became 
 somewhat accustomed to her situation, she showed 
 herself apt in learning her duties. At first, her 
 notions of arranging the furniture were decidedly
 
 The " Will" and the " Way." 1 1 
 
 original, and afforded her young mistresses great 
 amusement ; laying the cloth properly for dinner 
 was an important business, and her look of dismay 
 when she discovered that there were no spoons on 
 the table or she had forgotten the tumblers, was 
 almost comic. But Jane had the will to do, and 
 she soon found the way, and very rarely forgot 
 when she once thoroughly understood any direc- 
 tion. Mrs. Wilson was a particularly kind-hearted 
 lady, with a very pleasant expression of face. She 
 held a firm rule over the house, and neither her 
 daughters nor servant would have dreamed of dis- 
 obeying her wishes ; but she was so good and 
 thoughtful that they all loved her very dearly, and 
 Jane looked up to her with infinite respect. Jane 
 soon learned to love the young ladies, but especially 
 the eldest, who was in rather delicate health. Miss 
 Wilson and her sister, Miss Dora, had daily pupils, 
 who occupied them during the morning ; and the 
 youngest, Miss Mary, was studying hard to be 
 fitted to help her sisters. The family were very 
 happy together, and though they led a quiet life 
 they were very cheerful and merry, and treated 
 Jane with more kindness than she had ever had 
 shown her in her life. Her naturally kind and 
 good nature seemed to expand in so genial an 
 atmosphere, as, indeed, most natures do.
 
 12 Fai 'tli 'fid in Little. 
 
 Jane had not been with Mrs. Wilson long, when 
 Miss Wilson was taken ill, and was confined to her 
 bed for some time. This illness added a great deal 
 to the work, the kitchen being underground, as it 
 generally is in London houses, and Miss Wilson's 
 room at the top of the house, which was four stories 
 high. Jane's poor legs must have often ached with 
 the constant running up and downstairs ; but she 
 took such a true interest in the patient that she 
 made light of trouble, and proved a most pains- 
 taking and affectionate assistant in the sick room. 
 When Miss Wilson was getting a little better and 
 sat up, Jane was very proud to be allowed to stay 
 in her room and talk to her, and then, bit by bit, 
 came out some of the trials of her former life. She 
 was born in a close court in the city. Her father, 
 who was a bricklayer, had been killed by falling 
 from a scaffold, leaving her mother a widow with 
 Jane and a younger sister, both quite babies. The 
 mother struggled on as well as she could, going out 
 charing ; and Jane spoke of the long days when 
 she and her little sister were left locked up in a 
 garret by themselves ; and how cold it was in the 
 winter, when they had no fire for fear of their 
 getting burnt. Then, how when she was old 
 enough she got a little place to mind a baby, and 
 her mistress was a harsh, ill-tempered woman, who
 
 The Hospital. 13 
 
 would beat her on the smallest pretence, and kept 
 her very short of food ; but, " The baby was such 
 a dear, miss, and was so fond of me, that I was 
 quite sorry when he ran alone, and missus said she 
 couldn't keep me any longer doing nothing." Then 
 she got a place in a lodging-house, in a dreadfully 
 close neighbourhood, where she had to sleep in the 
 back kitchen close to the sink. Often and often 
 she was not in bed before midnight, and up again 
 before six, and what scraps of food she had, she had 
 barely time to eat ! No wonder her growth was 
 so stunted, poor child ! Willing as she was to do 
 her best, she could not stand the work ; she caught 
 a fever, and had to be taken to the hospital. This 
 illness and being in the hospital was evidently the 
 portion of her short life that she looked back upon 
 as a kind of holiday, the only one she had ever 
 known. " To be sure, miss, I was very bad and 
 knowed nothing for a long time ; but after a bit I 
 got to know things, and it was so nice to lie there 
 so comfortable and have nice things, and the doctor 
 was very kind and quite a grand-looking gentle- 
 man, and nurse Blore was so good to me." 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said Miss Wilson," " getting well 
 is, as you say, very nice, Jane ; and I am very 
 thankful to feel a good deal stronger to-day than I 
 have been since I was laid up. You have been a
 
 14 Faithful in Little. 
 
 good little nurse, and I think you learnt something 
 from being ill yourself. Our Father in heaven 
 always sends some good to His children even in 
 what seems bad at the time. Your being ill taught 
 you how nice kindness is to the sick, and that is a 
 good lesson to any one, and worth being ill to 
 learn." 
 
 " Please, miss," said Jane, " that is just what the 
 chaplain at the hospital told me one day ; and I 
 think he said that God lets us be ill sometimes, 
 perhaps, that we might think of Him more. The 
 chaplain would come into the ward, and read such 
 beautiful stories out of the Bible, about Jesus heal- 
 ing the poor sick people." 
 
 " They are beautiful stories, indeed," said Miss 
 Wilson ; " and those stories of our Saviour always 
 seem to be more beautiful and comforting when we 
 are sick or in sorrow. When we are weak we want 
 love and kindness. Jesus is ever near us, and we 
 feel He knows our wants, and that He can and 
 does hear when we come to Him for help. He 
 knew pain and grief on earth, and He feels for 
 us in our need, and bids us come to Him to be 
 healed." 
 
 Jane had not had many opportunities of gaining 
 knowledge, but whenever a little grain of the good 
 seed had fallen in her way, it was lodged in good
 
 A Diligent Student. 1 5 
 
 ground and promised to bring forth abundant fruit, 
 for what she knew she practised. 
 
 By dint of a good deal of spelling she could 
 manage to read a little, and as she expressed an 
 earnest desire to improve, Miss Mary undertook to 
 give her lessons. She began to learn writing and 
 arithmetic, very necessary accomplishments. Jane 
 progressed pretty well in her studies, and as soon 
 as she could write a little she was provided with a 
 slate and pencil, on which she was expected to put 
 down an account of the money she spent. This 
 slate was often a source of laughter, for spelling 
 was rather a stumbling-block to Jenny. "Eggs" 
 were invariably "heggs," "cabbages" "cabbags," 
 while " oysters " would have puzzled anyone to de- 
 cipher. But if her orthography was queer, her 
 accounts were sure to be correct, and that was the 
 more important of the two. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson and her daughters were so fully 
 occupied, that Jane had to do a good deal of the 
 marketing ; and had she been careless and dis- 
 honest, her mistress would have suffered loss she 
 could very ill afford. The tradespeople with whom 
 Mrs. Wilson dealt, soon learnt to know Jane, and 
 always treated her with the kind of respect that is 
 generally accorded even to a young servant girl, if 
 she deserves it.
 
 1 6 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " A tidy young lass that of Mrs. Wilson's ; she 
 has a head on her shoulders. She knows what she 
 wants when she comes into the shop, and looks to 
 see she has it ; always counts her change, and 
 neither wastes my young men's time or her own by 
 chattering, as most of the young girls do — aye, and 
 old ones too, for the matter of that Though she 
 can give them a bit of her mind too. I had a new 
 hand lately," continued Mr. Forster, the cheese- 
 monger, " who of course did not know the girl, and 
 he served her with some bacon that certainly was 
 not quite what I should have thought fit to send 
 Mrs. Wilson. You should have seen her — she won- 
 dered where he had lived all his life that he did not 
 know what was fit to send such a lady as her mis- 
 tress. I happened to hear her, and made peace by 
 serving her myself, and telling the man I hoped he 
 would look out as sharp for my interests as she did 
 for her mistress's." 
 
 Jane's wardrobe was very scanty when she first 
 entered Mrs. Wilson's service, though the few 
 clothes she had were whole and clean. Her mis- 
 tress used to maintain that a great deal of the 
 untidiness and carelessness, or what may be called 
 " shiftlessness," of the poorer class, arises from want 
 of knowledge as well as from want of thought 
 They see a thing marked up a great bargain in
 
 "Cheap" but "Dear!" 17 
 
 shop windows, and they are tempted to buy simply 
 because it is cheap, without considering whether it 
 is what they want, or whether it is likely to wear 
 well. Mrs. Wilson often said she wished the word 
 "cheap "was banished from the dictionary — cheap 
 things were so often dear. 
 
 Jane had at first only six pounds a year — to her 
 a large sum — and it was quite an event when she 
 received her first quarter's wages. Her mistress 
 asked her what she intended to do with her money, 
 kindly adding that her own time was too much 
 occupied to allow her to give her much assistance in 
 spending it ; "but if you consult Miss Ellen, I dare 
 say she will help you to lay it out better than you 
 could do by yourself. I can only give you advice, 
 and you must try and remember that ' to wish ' for 
 a thing is not really ' to want ' it, and learn to say, 
 ' I can do without it.' " 
 
 Miss Wilson was quite willing to superintend 
 Jane's purchases, and went with her to the draper's 
 with whom the family generally dealt. It was a 
 very serious business to lay out thirty shillings to 
 the best advantage, but Miss Wilson had the happy 
 art of guiding without appearing to dictate, and the 
 result of their shopping was a pretty print for a 
 dress, and aprons, calico, and stockings. There 
 was some idea of a bonnet to wear on Sundays, 
 
 B
 
 iS FaitJ if id in Little. 
 
 and it really was a " want." Jane thought her 
 shoes would do a little longer ; but on examination 
 she acknowledged that she needed them even more 
 than the bonnet ; so they were bought and paid 
 for, and the purchase of a bonnet was obliged to be 
 deferred till next quarter-day. She had about 
 half-a-crown left, and Miss Wilson advised her to 
 keep that for any little expenses, as it was not well 
 to be quite without money in hand. Jane was 
 rather disappointed about the bonnet, and, swal- 
 lowing a sigh, exclaimed, 
 
 " Law, miss, how fast money does go, to be sure ! 
 But I have a frock now and lots of work to do, and 
 I shall get some more wages soon, and then I can 
 get a bonnet." 
 
 Miss Wilson gave an account of their marketings 
 to her sisters on her return home, and told them 
 how well Jane had given up her desire for a bonnet. 
 
 " Poor thing ! " said Dora, " it was very good of 
 her ; there is an old straw one of mine, I shall never 
 wear it again ; and if I look out some ribbon, I 
 daresay I can make it look more tidy than her own, 
 which certainly does look antiquated." 
 
 When the bonnet was nicely rctrimmed, Dora 
 gave it to Jane, who was exceedingly pleased, and 
 thought her young ladies were, as she said, " very 
 good to her."
 
 Musical Parties. 19 
 
 The sisters usually made their own clothes, and 
 after her work was done, Jane was had upstairs and 
 taught how to cut out and fix her own garments. 
 She was an apt pupil, partly because she had such 
 an earnest desire to succeed, and in course of time 
 became a very expert needlewoman. 
 
 In a neat bonnet and well-fitting print dress, 
 Jane looked a very different girl from the poor 
 hungry-looking being she was when she first came 
 to Mrs. Wilson's. It was pleasant to hear her sing- 
 ing at her work ; she was very fond of music, and 
 caught up a tune both quickly and correctly. 
 
 The great treats of her life were the musical 
 parties that were occasionally held at Mrs. Wilson's; 
 Jane always took care to get through her work 
 with extra speed, that she might take up her place 
 just outside the drawing-room door and listen to 
 the singing, and she had a very correct idea as to 
 the sweetness of this or that particular voice. Her 
 remarks, which were usually confided to Miss Mary, 
 were very amusing, generally terminating with, 
 
 " But law ! miss, your mamma do play so beau- 
 tiful ; and how lovely Miss Ellen did sing that 
 song ! a deal nicer than that Mrs. Brown, who goes 
 up so screechy-like." 
 
 So, in truth, Jane lived a happier life than ever 
 before ; not because there were no troubles, but her
 
 20 Faithful in Little. 
 
 happy temper kept her from making them. She 
 did her best, and who can do more ? She knew 
 her mistress intended her good, so if now and then 
 she spoke more hastily than was altogether neces- 
 sary, Jane did not answer pertly, or go downstairs 
 and grumble to herself and dwell on her grievances. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson had a great many troubles and 
 anxieties, and she worked very hard, and some- 
 times she might be thought irritable, but Jane 
 knew that no unkindness was intended. She would 
 think to herself that " Missus was a bit worrited — I 
 always knows it when she rings so quick ; but, 
 laws ! she looked so cold and tired when she corned 
 in, it ain't no wonder." 
 
 Unfortunately for the peace of domestic life, too 
 many are ready to resent a hasty word, and fre- 
 quently pride themselves on doing so, as a proof 
 of spirit, and having a proper regard for themselves, 
 forgetting, or too often, alas ! having never learned, 
 that it is " the meek and quiet spirit " which is of 
 " great price " in the sight of God, and which is also 
 called an " ornament," and surely is one that can 
 never get old-fashioned or unsuitable to any station 
 of life. 
 
 Jane was by no means deficient in spirit of the 
 right kind, and was not always as meek as she 
 might have been ; but if things went a little
 
 " The Meek and Quiet Spirit." 21 
 
 crooked, as things will occasionally do in the best 
 regulated family, she had no notion of setting them 
 straight by ill-temper or sulkiness ; as she would 
 say, " What's the use ? two wrongs won't make one 
 right." So she would only try and make things 
 look brighter, and somehow the brightness down- 
 stairs insensibly would ascend upstairs, and not 
 unfrequently helped to raise spirits that had much 
 to depress them. Her mistress was of that gene- 
 rous nature that never failed to be touched by 
 Jane's forbearance, and though of course nothing 
 was said, there was none the less felt. 
 
 Jane was certainly a comfort in the household, 
 and the friends of the family all took an interest in 
 her, and had a kind word for her. 
 
 "What a nice expression of face your servant 
 has!" was a frequent remark. And it was quite 
 true, because she had the goodness of heart that is 
 a greater beautifier to the countenance than regu- 
 lar features and a clear complexion. 
 
 As time went on, Jane's circumstances mended, 
 her wages were increased year by year, and so well 
 had she profited by the advice and assistance of 
 her young mistress, that she had learnt both to buy 
 her clothes with judgment, and to make and mend 
 them well. Acting by Mrs. Wilson's advice, she 
 began to lay by money in the Savings' Bank, and
 
 22 Faithful in Little. 
 
 very proud was she when she had a whole sove- 
 reign in safety there. 
 
 " Now you are a woman of property, Jane, you 
 will be getting a sweetheart," said Miss Wilson, "so 
 be careful." 
 
 " Oh, miss, that won't be in a hurry, for no one 
 would be like to fall in love with my beauty, and 
 I shan't say nothing of my savings. I won't be 
 married for my money, any way, so there's no fear 
 of me." 
 
 Love affairs certainly did occupy Jane's attention 
 a good deal about this time, as the second Miss 
 Wilson was engaged, and of course her intended 
 husband paid frequent visits to the house. Jane 
 thought he was a very nice gentleman ; " but then, 
 Miss Dora was such a nice young lady, there wasn't 
 many was good enough for her." 
 
 She had an idea that it was not quite right for 
 the second daughter to marry before the eldest : 
 but it was an idea she kept quite to herself, and 
 would have resented it stoutly from anyone else. 
 She loved all her young ladies, but Miss Wilson 
 was the object of her most profound admiration. 
 
 In the first place, she had delicate health, and 
 often wanted petting and nursing ; and secondly, 
 she had nursed Jane through a sharp illness, and to 
 be nursed by Miss Wilson, who had a natural turn
 
 A Gentle Hi?it. 23 
 
 for the vocation, was rather a luxury than other- 
 wise. Moreover, she was so good-tempered and 
 loving, that no wonder Jane thought in her heart 
 that Mr. Lee was a trifle blind. But she made 
 much of him, notwithstanding, and generally con- 
 trived to have something she fancied he liked for 
 supper when he was expected. 
 
 " Jane," said her mistress, " I really cannot afford 
 four eggs in a rice pudding." 
 
 " Law, ma'am, it was only for Mr. Lee, and I 
 made sure you would not mind, and I heard him 
 say he did like a nice baked rice pudding; perhaps, 
 as he lives in lodgings, ma'am, he don't get very 
 good puddings : leastways, my old missus did not 
 care much how she cooked for the young gents she 
 had to lodge, and they used to grumble awful 
 sometimes, and call the puddings ' stickjaw,' so I 
 thought gentlemen liked things good." 
 
 " Yes, I daresay they do, Jane ; but you must 
 not teach them extravagance, so you must not use 
 so many eggs again." 
 
 " Very well, ma'am," replied Jane ; but still the 
 puddings were as good as ever, and Jane had 
 always excellent reasons to give for making them, 
 and of course Miss Dora quite agreed with her that 
 nothing could be too good or too nice for Mr. Lee. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson was considerably amused with Jane's
 
 24 Faitliful in Little. 
 
 notions that gentlemen liked good cookery, and 
 advised her daughter to study the art diligently, for 
 she would find that domestic comfort and health 
 depended a great deal on well-cooked food. 
 
 " You see, my dear," continued Mrs. Wilson, 
 "Jane has good common sense and uses it too; 
 and if ever she has a house of her own, I think she 
 will make a better housewife than many double her 
 age. I do not mean to cast any reflections on you, 
 my child, as I feel quite confident you will study 
 your husband's comfort ; but young people do not 
 always see what comfort consists in, and are rather 
 apt to undervalue cookery. The Scotch proverb 
 of ' a cheerful face and clean hearth-stane ' being 
 pleasant things for a tired man to see on his return 
 home from business is quite true, and I do not 
 fancy Alfred will ever miss them in his own home ; 
 but add to them a nicely-appointed table and appe- 
 tising food, and I question much if he will care to 
 leave his own fireside." 
 
 " I was afraid you would be wet through, Jane," 
 said Miss Dora, as she opened the door to her one 
 Sunday evening on her return from church. "How 
 is it your bonnet is not quite spoiled, for you had 
 no umbrella, and it rained so fast ? " 
 
 " Why, miss, I did not know whatever I should 
 do. You know, miss, my sister Lizzie mostly
 
 A Dilemma. 2 5 
 
 meets me and we sit together at church, and when 
 we came out and saw how it rained, she was fit to 
 cry at the thought of her new shawl being done for, 
 and she cried out loud enough for everybody to 
 hear, ' Oh ! Jane,' she says, ' we shall be wet 
 through, what shall we do ? ' ' Why,' I said, ' come 
 home with me, to be sure, we ain't salt that we shall 
 melt ; ' and then a civil-spoken young man came 
 up, and said he saw we had no umbrella, and he 
 was hoping we would have his. You see, miss, he 
 wasn't anything but civil spoken, and so I said, 
 1 Thank you,' and he brought me to the door and 
 is going Lizzie's way, and promised to see her 
 home too." 
 
 " Do you know his name, Jane ? " 
 
 " No, miss, but I think he comes to church most 
 Sundays." 
 
 " Oh, very well," said Dora, " I am glad you did 
 not get wet. So now make haste, as mamma will 
 be glad of supper that she may go to bed early ; 
 to-morrow morning is her morning, you know." 
 
 Twice during the week Mrs. Wilson was obliged 
 to leave home very early, having to give some 
 lessons at a distance. Jane was always up and 
 had everything in readiness for breakfast by seven 
 o'clock, and never allowed her mistress to leave the 
 house without seeinsr that she had her umbrella or
 
 26 Faithful in Little. 
 
 overshoes, or without paying her every attention 
 she could think of. She did not admire a wet 
 morning, but her voice was quite cheery if it was 
 fine. " Such a nice morning, ma'am, the sun shines 
 lovely;" and the kindly tone of voice seemed to 
 make the morning more beautiful to Mrs. Wilson, 
 and the task before her lighter. So much can 
 kindness and sympathy lighten labour. 
 
 Perhaps, in no way can we do so much to fulfil 
 " the law of Christ " in bearing " one another's bur- 
 dens," as by showing ready sympathy. In many 
 cases it is all we can give, and surely it is wrong to 
 withhold it because the gift seems so small, so 
 much of the comfort of life depends on apparently 
 little things. What can be little if it adds even an 
 atom to the happiness of another ! Some people, 
 wise in their own eyes, may be heard to say, " I 
 keeps myself to myself, and neither meddles nor 
 makes with my neighbours ; " meaning, in other 
 words, that they are too selfish to interest them- 
 selves in the joys or sorrows of others. Such 
 people may be worldly wise, but as a rule are not 
 loveable, and lose more than they gain ; for sym- 
 pathy certainly blesses both giver and receiver. 
 
 The next Sunday evening the " civil young man " 
 again escorted Jane home from church, and of 
 course her young ladies joked her about her sweet-
 
 The " Civil Yonng Man." 27 
 
 heart, and asked her whether he was tall or short, 
 and if she had discovered his name and what 
 business he worked at. 
 
 Certainly he had contrived to convey a good 
 deal of information during the short walk from 
 church, for he had told her his name was William 
 Matthews, he was twenty-five years of age, and 
 worked at Mr. Sandars' foundry, where his father 
 and grandfather had also worked all their lives. 
 Jane allowed that he was not over good-looking, 
 but "he was respectable and minded his church 
 regular." 
 
 Mrs. Wilson, finding that it was a regular custom 
 now for the young man to attend Jane home from 
 church, told her she should like to see him and talk 
 to him. Mrs. Wilson was not one of those mis- 
 tresses who strictly forbid followers, as servants' 
 lovers are usually called. She used to say, " I 
 married myself, why should not my servant do the 
 same? But as I hate deceit, I like to have all 
 things fair and open, and to be satisfied that any 
 young man looking after a servant of mine is re- 
 spectable, and means to act fairly and honestly by 
 her. I think it is a duty that mistresses owe their 
 servants as members (for the time they are in their 
 service) of the family." 
 
 So William Matthews was asked into the draw-
 
 28 Faithful in Little. 
 
 ing-room, and at first looked a little shy and 
 uncomfortable, but Mrs. Wilson's kind voice and 
 pleasant manner soon set him tolerably at his ease. 
 She told him she fancied he had a liking for Jane, 
 and as she had conducted herself very well during 
 the time she had lived in her service, she was 
 anxious to know if he had the means to maintain 
 a wife, and also if the master for whom he worked 
 would speak well of him. 
 
 "Thank ye, ma'am, very kindly," replied William, 
 " I'm earning a matter of eighteen shillings a week, 
 and maybe I may get a rise. I never had an ill 
 word with the master, and I've worked for him ever 
 since I was thirteen years old, and I ain't no ways 
 afeard of your asking him about me. You see, 
 ma'am, a feller is lonesome without a wife to keep 
 things tidy and make a place comfortable, so I 
 says to myself, when I sees Jane coming regular 
 to church, and minding the service so attentive like, 
 and never staring about her, and looking so tidy 
 and trim, ses I, that's the girl for my money ; and 
 please God we comes together, she shan't have 
 cause to complain of taking me, for I'll do my best 
 to make her a good husband." 
 
 " Indeed," said Mrs. Wilson, " I am very glad to 
 hear you speak so honestly and in so straight- 
 forward a manner. Jane is a good girl, and has
 
 A First-rate Character. 29 
 
 served me well, and though I shall be sorry to part 
 with her, I shall do so willingly, to give her to an 
 honest, upright man. She has done her duty to 
 me, and I doubt not she will make a good wife. I 
 suppose you will like to see her sometimes, so you 
 will be welcome to come here one evening in the 
 week ; suppose we say every Wednesday, and I 
 shall expect that you will not stay later than ten 
 o'clock. Of course I shall make enquiries about 
 you, in justice to you and Jane ; and now, good 
 night, if you like you may go downstairs this even- 
 ing, I daresay you will find something to talk 
 about." 
 
 William accordingly took his departure, and did 
 find his way downstairs, where no doubt he and 
 Jane talked about many matters interesting to 
 themselves, but of which no record is left. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson knew something of Mr. Sandars, 
 William's master, and, therefore, had no difficulty 
 in making enquiries as to his character, and she 
 was glad to find the favourable impression he had 
 made on her was fully warranted. 
 
 Mr. Sandars considered him one of his most 
 promising hands. He knew him to be a good son 
 and an honest, steady fellow ; he was very glad to 
 find he was likely to marry a sensible, steady girl, 
 for he had known so many instances, in his long
 
 30 Faithful in Little. 
 
 experience of workmen, in which men's lives had 
 been ruined by marrying young girls who cared 
 for nothing but being married, and having a house 
 of their own. Working-men have not many oppor- 
 tunities of knowing much of the character of the 
 girls they seek for wives ; they meet them gene- 
 rally on Sundays, their only leisure time, and a 
 girl dressed out in her Sunday clothes is a very 
 different looking being to the untidy woman she 
 so often becomes in her own home. 
 
 Mr. Sandars was a kind and considerate master, 
 and interested himself more than many in the wel- 
 fare of his work-people. He often deplored the 
 hasty manner in which some men jumped into 
 matrimony, caught, perhaps, by a pretty face, and 
 finding, to their cost, that a pretty face alone, with- 
 out good principles, won't long keep a man's house 
 comfortable or make the most of his wages ; and as 
 men in general are not gifted with much patience, 
 they are apt, and surely with some excuse, to turn 
 from their own hearths and seek pleasure out of 
 doors. 
 
 " I do not think," said Mr. Sandars, " that will be 
 Matthews' way ; and I am very glad he proves 
 himself, in this important matter, as sensible a 
 fellow as I have taken him for." And the next 
 time he met William, he told him of the enquiries
 
 A Little Difference in Opinion. 31 
 
 Mrs. Wilson had made, and how pleased he was to 
 hear he was going to settle down with a girl who 
 was so well spoken of by her mistress. "You must 
 let me know when the affair comes off, and I shall 
 let you have the day, so that you may have a 
 holiday with your wife and your friends." 
 
 William touched his cap and thanked his master, 
 who, as he afterwards told Jane, was a real gentle- 
 man, and no mistake. 
 
 Jane's courtship went on very smoothly, and she 
 and William seemed very contented with each 
 other's company, as indeed lovers generally are, 
 though some do consider a tiff now and then as 
 necessary. Lovers' quarrels are too much like 
 playing with edged tools to be always advisable, 
 beside the coming to is so awkward. Certain 1)-, 
 Jane did not always agree with William on every 
 point, especially as regarded their marriage. Of 
 course, he wanted to be married off-hand ; what 
 was the good of waiting? He wanted a wife, and 
 he was sure a kind lady like Mrs. Wilson would 
 not mind sparing her — had not Jane better speak 
 to her at once ? 
 
 " Why, William, how can you talk so ! though, 
 to be sure, you can't be expected to know missus's 
 ways, and what would be convenient or not. Well, 
 then, Christmas '11 come soon, and I can't think of
 
 32 Faithful in Little. 
 
 leaving then ; what 'ud missus do with a new girl 
 in the dark weather, one as did not know her 
 ways ? She does get a bit of a holiday then, and 
 so do the young ladies, and much of a holiday it 
 would be to have a stupid to look after ; it would 
 be sure to make Miss Ellen ill, and who would 
 nurse her? and missus is not strong. And then 
 there's Miss Dora, why, she has got to look after 
 her wedding things, and ain't much use in the 
 house ; and Miss Mary, law ! she is after her books 
 and her playing, so you must just wait, and I dare- 
 say it will do you good, you will be all the wiser. 
 You see, you were a dear old stupid to think of my 
 going just yet, so be a good patient boy, and then 
 in the spring we'll see ; besides, I wouldn't go to 
 any man's home without tidy clothes, and, bless 
 you ! I've got lots to do yet." 
 
 Of course, William vowed she always looked 
 tidy, and what more did he want ? To be sure, she 
 must consider the missus and the young ladies ; he 
 did not like waiting, but perhaps she was right, the 
 missus was certainly very kind to them. In his 
 heart he knew Jane's reasons were good and did 
 her credit; and though he might be vexed at delay, 
 still he respected Jane more for her consideration 
 for her mistress's comfort, and respect is a great 
 strengthener of true love.
 
 Delays not always Dangerous. 33 
 
 Jane did not tell him she had saved money, 
 because, as she said to Mrs. Wilson, " It will come 
 a nice little surprise, and there will be plenty of use 
 for it, maybe, by and bye." 
 
 Mrs. Wilson was very glad Jane did not leave 
 her in the depth of winter, for soon after Christmas 
 the influenza became almost universal, and the 
 whole family suffered from it, Mrs. and Miss 
 Wilson the most severely. 
 
 Dora and Mary were ill first, and with them the 
 disease was slight ; but Mrs. Wilson was very ill 
 and confined to her bed, and a good deal of low 
 fever hung about her, and made her very weak for 
 some time. As to Ellen, she was always called 
 Murad the Unlucky, as she had a knack of taking 
 any illness in a severe form, and certainly this turn 
 of influenza was no exception to her usual rule. 
 
 Jane escaped pretty well at first, but her turn 
 came and she was obliged to lie by for a time ; she 
 would not own she was ill, till she nearly fainted 
 after carrying some arrowroot to Miss Wilson's 
 room, when Dora exclaimed — ■ 
 
 " There, Jane, I told you how it would be. Why 
 did you not wait for me to fetch that? Now you 
 just come with me, and go to bed at once. I am 
 quite strong now, and I shan't let you be nurse any 
 longer." 
 
 c
 
 34 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " Please, miss, I must go and look after the beef- 
 tea that is on the fire, and then if you could 
 manage a little bit I will lie down. I shall soon 
 be better." 
 
 " I believe I am quite equal to beef-tea ; at any 
 rate, I mean to be, and you are not to be found in 
 the kitchen without my leave, so be off to bed, and 
 I will go and get the warming pan and make you 
 comfortable ; and you, Ellen, drink your arrowroot 
 like a lady while I am gone." 
 
 Jenny faintly protested against giving so much 
 trouble, but was obliged to submit, for in truth she 
 could hardly stand. 
 
 William was in great distress when he found 
 Jane was laid by ; but Dora consoled him some- 
 what by giving him a few little commissions to 
 execute for her out of doors, and getting him to 
 fill coal-scuttles and carry them upstairs. In those 
 days, when so many were ill, it was extremely 
 difficult to get a charwoman, and particularly in 
 places where they were seldom wanted. Jane 
 never would agree to have help if she could pos- 
 sibly do without, she " Couldn't abide them char- 
 women," as she used to say ; "I'd rather do the 
 work twice over than have that Mrs. Norris. How 
 she could ever work and stuff herself at the rate 
 she did, used to puzzle me ; and to see her drink
 
 A Pleasant Meal. 35 
 
 tea ! six cups I've seen her have, and want another! 
 but I'd up and empty out the tea leaves for fear 
 she'd be ill." 
 
 The race may have improved since those days, 
 but a London-bred charwoman, thirty years ago, 
 was not generally a pleasant specimen of woman- 
 kind. 
 
 William's services were really valuable, and he 
 looked in every evening to see what he could do, 
 generally bringing some trifle in the shape of 
 oranges or a cake for Jane, for which she called 
 him a goose, but was, nevertheless, very gratified. 
 She did her best to get well by obeying the doctor's 
 orders, and taking the medicine and good things 
 that were considered proper for her. Her mistress 
 had not to say of her, as many have, that servants 
 are so tiresome to nurse, because they are so fan- 
 ciful and will not believe that others know what is 
 good for them better than they do themselves. 
 
 Miss Wilson was getting much better, and look- 
 ing forward to going to a friend's for change of 
 air. Mrs. Wilson was able to begin her teaching 
 again. Dora and Mary had a busy time of it, but 
 were rather proud of their work, and told Jane she 
 would not find everything topsy-turvy, as they 
 knew she expected. " And you may go down to 
 tea to-night," said Dora, " and perhaps you may 
 have company."
 
 36 Faithful in Little. 
 
 So she had, for there was William, looking very 
 red in the face with the effort of toasting a muffin 
 he had brought for her tea, and which Jane said 
 was very good ; and though one side was over- 
 done and the other nearly white, she would not 
 have hurt his feelings for the world by saying so. 
 They had a very pleasant meal, and altogether 
 Jane looked so little tired on going to bed, that 
 Dora told her she was half jealous, for she looked 
 brighter and better, after sitting in William's com- 
 pany for two hours than with a whole week of her 
 nursing. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Dora ! William and me have been 
 talking of your goodness to me, and he says how 
 pleased he was to do anything for such a young 
 lady who speaks so pleasant ; and, indeed, miss, I 
 can't think how you and Miss Mary have kept 
 everything so tidy in the kitchen ; and now I hope, 
 please God, I shan't give you any more trouble." 
 
 " Well, I hope you won't," replied Dora, " for we 
 have had a long nursing bout ; but we must all feel 
 very grateful to our Father in Heaven that we are 
 all spared, and so far restored to health, while so 
 many have been cut off. Shall I read you one of 
 my favourite psalms ? " 
 
 " Oh, if you please, miss ; I do so love to hear 
 you read."
 
 A New Servant. 37 
 
 So Dora read the 91st Psalm, and after talking 
 of the comfort God's promises are to all, retired to 
 rest very glad at heart that her labours had been 
 so successful, under God's blessing. She had, too, 
 cause for especial thankfulness that Mr. Lee had 
 entirely escaped the prevailing epidemic. 
 
 The quiet little household resumed its usual 
 uneventful course, and when the early spring days 
 began to brighten the sky, Mrs. Wilson talked the 
 matter over with her girls, and they agreed that it 
 would be but right to remind Jane that they were 
 willing to keep their promise of releasing her and 
 providing themselves with another help. Jane said 
 she was quite willing to wait till her mistress met 
 with some one likely to suit her ; but she and 
 William had been talking of the Easter week being 
 a good time to be married in, and his master had 
 raised his wages to a pound a week, and there were 
 some rooms to let in a street not far from the 
 foundry that would just suit them. 
 
 So Mrs. Wilson made enquiries, and was fortu- 
 nate to meet with a girl who seemed likely to suit 
 her. Jane worked early and late to leave every- 
 thing in apple-pie order, and gave the new servant 
 many instructions about various domestic arrange- 
 ments, and how " missus never eat any upper crust, 
 and Miss Ellen could not eat her eggs boiled hard,"
 
 38 FaW if ul in Little. 
 
 &c. She hovered about Miss Ellen, and lingered 
 the last evening as if she could not bear to leave, 
 till at last Mrs. Wilson was obliged to say, 
 
 " Now, Jane, child, you really must go. I shan't 
 say much to you to-night ; but, remember, I shall 
 always be glad to see you. If troubles should 
 come, as they do to all, come to me, and if I can 
 help you, you may be sure I will. Do your duty 
 to your husband as faithfully as you have done to 
 me, and you will have the comfort of a good con- 
 science. And now I must give you my present," 
 and she produced a family Bible : " I give it with an 
 earnest prayer that you and your husband will seek 
 to guide your steps by its precepts. Make a 
 practice of at least finishing the day by reading a 
 chapter. You will find I have put a mark in the 
 beautiful chapter about wives at the end of the 
 Proverbs. The verses I have put a double mark 
 to I would advise you to learn by heart. And 
 now, good bye, God bless you ! " 
 
 Jane was quite overcome by Mrs. Wilson's kind- 
 ness ; and after shaking hands with her and her 
 young ladies, she departed, carrying her precious 
 book, which she resolved should occupy the place 
 of honour in her new home. 
 
 The sun shone brightly on Jane's wedding morn- 
 ing, and she was astir betimes, as the ceremony
 
 Looking to Jesus. 39 
 
 was to be at an early hour to allow of a long day 
 in the country. She knelt by her bedside and 
 prayed earnestly to Him whose ears are ever open 
 to those who seek Him, that He would enable her 
 to serve Him and to do her duty in the station to 
 which He had called her. She then read the text 
 Miss Wilson had written out for her, — " Let us run 
 with patience the race set before us, looking unto 
 Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." God 
 has been very good to me, thought Jane, and I do 
 hope I shall be a good wife, at least, I'll try. The 
 text says, " looking to Jesus," and that means He 
 will help me. I must try and remember that " The 
 Lord is my strength and my salvation." 
 
 Jane dressed herself in her neat new dress, a 
 present from her young ladies, her sister had a 
 holiday for the day, and they set off together for 
 the church from the friend's house where she had 
 stayed for the night. William and a friend, to act 
 as father, met them at the church door ; and after 
 the ceremony, which was felt to be a solemn service 
 by both, they left the church, arm in arm, as man 
 and wife. 
 
 William said he meant to make the most of his 
 wedding day, so to do the thing in good style he 
 had hired a nice tax cart, which his friend could 
 drive, and the whole party would go and spend the
 
 40 Faithful in Little. 
 
 daj' in Epping Forest. And a very pleasant day 
 they had. Perhaps few people enjoy the country 
 so thoroughly as Londoners do ; the change is so 
 complete from the incessant noise and bustle to the 
 delicious quiet of green fields. The fresh air, free 
 from dust and smoke, is so exhilarating that no 
 wonder the spirits rise, and care, dull care, seems 
 left behind. 
 
 The wedding party were thorough cockneys, and 
 had very rarely enjoyed a day in the country, for 
 this was before the days of railroads. Their enjoy- 
 ment of sauntering through the picturesque nooks 
 of the Forest was intense, and was not lessened 
 by a good dinner, for, as William said, he would 
 have a good dinner that day anyways. There was 
 plenty of laughter and merriment, William advising 
 his friend to follow his example, and his friend 
 looking at Lizzie thought perhaps he might if he 
 could get anyone to have him. Whereat that 
 young woman blushed and laughed, and they all 
 laughed and were very happy, till it was pro- 
 nounced to be time to put the horse to and get 
 homewards. 
 
 It was a lovely evening, and its calm beauty 
 sank into their hearts, making them happy and 
 peaceful, they scarcely knew why ; only as Jane 
 sat with her hand clasped in her husband's she had
 
 The Wedding Party, 
 
 41 
 
 a sense of rest and a fulness of content she never 
 forgot. They set Lizzie clown at her mistress's 
 door, with a promise from her to come and see 
 them the next Sunday, and then William took his 
 wife to her own home.
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 THE WIFE AND MOTHER.
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 THE WIFE AND MOTHER. 
 
 AXE found plenty of occupation at first in 
 her new home, which consisted of two 
 rooms in a small house in one of the 
 narrow streets leading from Chiswell Street. It 
 was a handy locality for William, which was its 
 chief recommendation ; otherwise it was a dull 
 situation, or only enlivened by sights and sounds 
 that were not cheering. Jane made her own small 
 rooms look bright and cheerful, as cleanliness and 
 neatness will do for even the poorest dwelling. But 
 when she had arranged everything to her satisfac- 
 tion, and seen that her husband's clothes were in 
 perfect repair, she began to find she had a good 
 deal of time hanging heavy on her hands. Her 
 husband went to his work at six o'clock, and as to 
 wasting her own time in bed she never thought of 
 it. Breakfast time at eight o'clock found the house- 
 hold work considerably advanced, so that when the
 
 An Inconvenience. 45 
 
 breakfast things were put away, and her prepa- 
 rations made for dinner, with perhaps a little 
 marketing, there was nothing to do. 
 
 Young wives generally feel this want of occupa- 
 tion, more especially when they have been accus- 
 tomed to an active life. Too many misuse this 
 time terribly and lay the foundation of indolent 
 habits, that have sad effects in future years. A 
 thoughtless woman will gossip with her neighbours 
 and learn to dawdle in a very short time, and bad 
 habits are much more easily learned than they are 
 easy to lay aside. There is an old Swedish proverb 
 that " Idleness is the devil's cushion." 
 
 Now, cushions are very comfortable things in 
 their way, but young healthy people do not want 
 cushions, and better not begin to use them. It is 
 not a matter of astonishment that a young girl 
 used all her life to hard work should feel it a great 
 thing to be mistress of her own time, free to manage 
 her own house just as she pleases ; it is very natural, 
 and there is nothing wrong in it, only she should 
 remember in time to guard against falling into lazy 
 ways. 
 
 Jane Matthews could not be idle ; it was not in 
 her nature, and she was not given to gossiping. 
 She hardly knew what it was that made the time 
 seem so long between meals, they were generally
 
 46 Faithful in Little. 
 
 ready before William came home, for she had no 
 clock to tell her the exact time, which was very- 
 inconvenient. So she propounded some of her 
 trouble to William ; of course she had told him she 
 had saved money, though she had let him buy the 
 furniture, knowing, as she said, that her savings 
 would come in handy some time. 
 
 Well, she proposed to buy a clock, to which he 
 willingly agreed, so he drew £4. out of the Savings' 
 Bank, which was just half she had. A large new 
 clock was out of the question, but after some search 
 a second-hand one was found for £3 10s., and with 
 the remaining ten shillings Jane bought some little 
 household things she found necessary. 
 
 Miss Wilson and Dora had been to see her, and 
 reported to mamma how comfortable she seemed, 
 and they had waited to see William come in to tea 
 in order to congratulate him, and he seemed very 
 proud and happy. 
 
 " Jenny said she should soon come and see you, 
 mamma, as she wants some advice. I asked her," 
 continued Ellen, " what she did with herself while 
 William was at work, and she said the only trouble 
 she had was, the days were so long." 
 
 " I daresay she won't complain of that long," 
 replied her mamma ; " she will find occupation 
 soon enough, though now I daresay she may find 
 time hang rather heavily on her hands."
 
 Paying a Visit. 47 
 
 Jane soon found her way to Finsbury on an 
 afternoon she knew she was likely to find Mrs. 
 Wilson at home. 
 
 " Well, Jenny," said Miss Mary, " here you come 
 at last, looking just the same ; does she not, 
 mamma? " 
 
 " I should hope so," replied her mamma, " I do 
 not like my friends to change. I am glad to see 
 you like your old self, and hope you are quite com- 
 fortably settled." 
 
 " Thank'e, ma'am, I am very well and happy, 
 and glad to see you looking so well ; and William 
 sends his duty to you and the young ladies." 
 
 " Well, I hope he has not repented yet of getting 
 married." 
 
 " I do not think he does, ma'am," said Jane, 
 blushing. 
 
 " Ah, it's early days yet," said Miss Mary, " and 
 he has not found out yet what a dragon you can 
 be ; but now, show me your wedding ring, you 
 keep it so covered up." 
 
 " It is a good thick one," said Mrs. Wilson, as 
 Jane exhibited her hand, " and I hope you will live 
 to wear it out." 
 
 " Are you not afraid of washing it off? " said 
 Mary, " I think I should be." 
 
 " It was rather strange the first day or two,"
 
 48 Faithful in Little. 
 
 replied Jane, " but I'm quite used to it now. I've 
 been married three weeks, you know." 
 
 " Yes, I remember, and you ought to have been 
 here before ; but I must go now, for I am hard at 
 work and cannot spare time for gossiping, even 
 with Mrs. Matthews — really it sounds quite grand !" 
 and off ran Mary, leaving Jane alone with Mrs. 
 Wilson. 
 
 After making enquiries for Miss Wilson and 
 Miss Dora, Jane begged Mrs. Wilson, as a favour, 
 to give her some work to do. 
 
 " Well, Jane, I would gladly give you some, but 
 you know we always do the work that would be 
 suitable for you ourselves, principally because we 
 cannot afford to pay for putting plain work out." 
 
 " Oh ! ma'am," said Jane, " I do not want to be 
 paid ; I want some work to fill up my time." 
 
 " That would not be fair to you, Jane," replied 
 Mrs. Wilson, " though I quite believe it would give 
 you pleasure to do something for us." 
 
 " Indeed it would, ma'am, for you are the best 
 friend I ever had ; and you know, ma'am, I could 
 do some needlework, for you always have so much 
 to do in other ways." 
 
 " That is true," replied Mrs. Wilson, " but you 
 must remember that time is money, and I have no 
 more right to your time than I have to your money.
 
 A Kind Offer. 49 
 
 I should not like always to deprive you of the 
 pleasure of doing any little things for me or any 
 other friend, but to give you work to do for me 
 regularly would not be right for either of us. My 
 idea is, that you should try and get work from 
 some warehouse — that is a more independent way, 
 and would suit you better than working for friends. 
 There are a good many wholesale warehouses in 
 your neighbourhood, I know, and you would have 
 but little difficulty in getting some work that would 
 employ your leisure time. The pay is not high 
 probably, but it would be certain, and you would 
 find the money useful some day. Don't spend 
 your earnings, as your husband's wages ought to 
 be quite enough ; but lay them by for a future day, 
 and you may depend upon it they will be very 
 useful. You asked my advice, and I give you the 
 best I can." 
 
 " I'm sure, ma'am, you are very good," said Jane, 
 " and I'll try and do as you tell me, only if you do 
 want any little odd job done at any time, do let 
 me do it for you." 
 
 " Oh, I daresay I shall find something for you, 
 and I should not wonder if you will want to come 
 and help when Miss Dora is married." 
 
 " Oh ! ma'am, is the time settled ? " asked Jane. 
 
 "The day is not fixed," replied Mrs. Wilson, 
 
 D
 
 50 Fait J if id in Little. 
 
 " but I expect we shall lose her in July. Mr. Lee 
 does not like waiting any longer, he says he wants 
 a housekeeper." 
 
 " Well, ma'am, I don't wonder ; for men are poor 
 things by themselves." 
 
 " Yes," said Mrs. Wilson, " housekeeping is 
 woman's work, and very important work too ; you 
 could not do your husband's work, and it is not to 
 be expected he should do yours." 
 
 " That's true, ma'am, thank you for talking to 
 me, and I'll try and get some work to-morrow." 
 
 " Well, talk to your husband about it." 
 
 " Oh, ma'am, he'll be sure to say it's all right," 
 said Jane, " if you bid me do anything. He thinks 
 you know everything." 
 
 " Not quite," replied Mrs. Wilson, smiling at 
 William's opinion of her abilities ; " but I have 
 lived a little longer in the world than you, and used 
 my brains. And now, good bye for to-day, I shall 
 be glad to know how you get on ; and do not 
 forget to take some exercise, it will not do for you 
 to sit still all day, you have not been used to it, 
 and nothing will recompense you for loss of health ; 
 you should get your husband out for a walk some 
 of these nice evenings, you would both be all the 
 better for it." 
 
 " Well, old woman, what did the missus say to
 
 Pleasant Walks. 5 1 
 
 you?" asked William, as they sat over their tea, 
 which Jane had got home in time to get ready. 
 
 " Oh, missus is quite well, and asked me how I 
 got on at home ; and Miss Mary wanted to know 
 whether you were tired of me yet," replied Jane. 
 
 " Oh, did she ? Well, I think I can put up with 
 you a bit longer," said William ; " you fit into the 
 place here pretty tidy like. What do you think of 
 a bit of a turn this nice evening?" 
 
 " Why, it would be just the thing I should like," 
 said Jane. 
 
 " That's your sort," said William, " and I'll tidy 
 up a bit, and we'll go on London Bridge and see 
 the boats come in." 
 
 On their way to the Bridge, Jane told her 
 husband how she meant to get some work the next 
 day. He could not see she could want more to do ; 
 there was the dinner to cook, and his buttons to 
 sew on, besides lots of fallals women wore which 
 must take a heap of time to do. Jane laughed and 
 said now she had sewed all his buttons on she did 
 not think they would come off in a hurry, and it 
 was only his nonsense about women's fallals, she 
 hadn't many. 
 
 " Oh, very well, do as you like, if you and the 
 missus says it's right, I'm agreeable." 
 
 So that matter was settled, and they enjoyed
 
 52 Faithful in Little. 
 
 their walk, finding the fresh air from the water and 
 the amusement of watching the passengers land 
 from the steamboats very pleasant. Many an 
 evening they spent thus, to the great benefit of 
 their health. 
 
 Jane had no difficulty in getting work, and per- 
 haps my readers may like to know what she found 
 to do. It must be remembered that fashions have 
 altered very much in thirty years, and also that in 
 those days there were no sewing machines. For 
 many years a great deal of blond edging, run on to 
 plain blond, was universally worn for caps, quilled 
 fully round the face. An immense quantity was 
 worn, as it did not keep clean long and was done 
 for when dirty. Running on the edging was a 
 simple kind of work, requiring only expedition and 
 cleanliness ; the pay was therefore, of course, small, 
 about one penny for every dozen yards. Jane 
 could, without neglecting any of her own affairs, 
 run a good many dozen yards in the course of a 
 week, and at the end of a few months had laid by 
 a nice little sum. It must not be supposed that 
 Jane was too strongly inclined to save, no one was 
 more ready to give, both time and money, when 
 really needed ; but if she had not been careful she 
 would not have had anything in her power to give 
 when it was wanted.
 
 Quite a Grand Dinner. 53 
 
 "Did you get your breakfast all right, Will?" 
 enquired Jane, as she greeted her husband at dinner 
 time, one day. 
 
 " Yes, pretty well, considering," said William ; 
 " though I expect I left the things in a pretty mess. 
 And how did the wedding go off, Jenny? I would 
 ha' run round to the church to have had a look at 
 Miss Dora ; but I was peckish and wanted my 
 breakfast, that's the truth, and I couldn't spare the 
 time." 
 
 " Oh, she looked just beautiful, not fine, you 
 know," said Jane, " but so nice ; and Mr. Lee 
 looked quite the gentleman, and he said he liked 
 to see me there, it was like old times. You know 
 the wedding was very early, so we laid the break- 
 fast last night, and very pretty it looked with the 
 cake in the middle of the table ; and I've got a bit 
 for you. Miss Dora said you were to be sure and 
 come and drink her health. Missus was very quiet, 
 I don't think she half likes parting with Miss Dora, 
 though she looked very proud of her son-in-law. 
 They set off as soon as they had done breakfast, as 
 they had a long way to go ; I just stayed to help 
 Ann to put away the things while Miss Wilson 
 packed up Miss Dora's wedding dress and things, 
 and then I came home. Missus made me bring 
 some fowl and ham home with me, so we shall 
 have quite a grand dinner."
 
 54 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " And I know I've got good sauce for it, so 
 wishing them as happy as we be, I'm ready to 
 handle my knife and fork — jolly good it looks too," 
 remarked William, sitting down to table. 
 
 Some months passed away very quietly and 
 happily. William had a few little crooks in his 
 temper, as most people have ; and, had Jane been 
 so disposed, she could have got up a few domestic 
 broils as easily as anyone. But she was a wise 
 little woman in her way, and learned to hold her 
 tongue when necessary ; as she used to say, 
 
 " Law, it takes two to make a quarrel, and I ain't 
 going to be one. What's the use of contradicting 
 him ? Will's a good fellow, and his bits of temper 
 don't last." 
 
 She had not studied her chapter of Proverbs in 
 vain, " In her mouth was the law of kindness," and 
 truly, " the heart of her husband did safely trust in 
 her." Oh that women would learn the use of 
 silence ! Who was ever heard to regret having 
 kept silence ? and how many have lived to rue the 
 day they answered railing with railing ! 
 
 Mrs. [Matthews was a proud woman when she 
 carried her baby boy to show him to Mrs. Wilson. 
 She was, therefore, rather vexed to find Mrs. Wilson 
 was out and only Miss Mary at home.
 
 The First Baby, 55 
 
 " Well, Jenny," said Mary, " I am very glad to 
 see you out again ; and now let me see the baby. 
 I am rather curious about babies, and do not think 
 I ever saw one quite so young. Dear me ! what a 
 funny little morsel it is, so soft and warm." 
 
 " He is rather small, miss, but very good, and 
 sleeps so well at night," said Jane, looking fondly 
 at the " little morsel," as Mary called him, and 
 who just then made such a comical face that she 
 laughed outright. " It was only the wind, miss ; 
 there, hush, baby, hush ! " 
 
 "Why," said Mary, "I should think you had 
 been nursing all your life, you do it so handily." 
 
 " Sure, miss, it seems to come natural like, only I 
 was very trembly when I dressed him first." 
 
 " Well, let me have him a bit," said Mary, " and 
 you fetch the parcel that is on the side table, Dora 
 left it for you when she was here last. I was to 
 give it to you with her love." 
 
 Jane put the baby into Miss Mary's arms, where, 
 like a model child, he went comfortably to sleep ; 
 and Jane opened her parcel, and in it found a 
 pretty white frock for the baby. 
 
 " Oh ! what a beauty ! " exclaimed Jane, " and so 
 nicely made too ; how kind it was of Miss Dora to 
 think of my baby — I beg her pardon, I mean Mrs. 
 Lee."
 
 56 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " Yes," said Mary, " she hoped it would be in 
 time for the christening. Have you thought of a 
 name? " 
 
 " It's to be next Sunday, miss. I wanted to call 
 him William, after his father ; but he said he didn't 
 think that would do, as by and bye, people would 
 be for calling them 'old Will' and 'young Will,' 
 and for his part he didn't fancy to be called old 
 anything yet awhile. So then we thought of 
 George being a good sounding name. Don't you 
 think it is, miss ? " 
 
 " Oh, very nice indeed," replied Mary ; " but here 
 comes Ellen, and she will give you her opinion." 
 
 Jane was delighted to see Miss Wilson, and the 
 baby had to be exhibited again, and show the 
 pretty pink toes, and all the interesting little details 
 of babyhood, so very dear to mothers, young 
 mothers especially. Miss Wilson quite approved 
 the name of George, which she observed was a 
 name fit for a true Briton, as she hoped he would 
 be all his life. 
 
 " And I suppose William is very fond of it," con- 
 tinued she. " Does he do much nursing ? " 
 
 " Well, not much yet, miss ; he calls him ' the 
 young shaver," and likes to see him on my lap, but 
 he is half afraid to handle him for fear of letting 
 him fall."
 
 Baby's Vist to Mrs. Wilson. 57 
 
 " Ah ! " said Miss Wilson, " he will get his hand 
 in by the time you have another. Mamma will be 
 sorry to have missed you, but she is spending the 
 evening with Mrs. Lee. Mary, you ought to have 
 had your tea and not waited for me, I am so much 
 later than I expected. Jane, you must be quite 
 famished." 
 
 " Indeed, miss, I must go ; William will be won- 
 dering what is become of me." 
 
 " Well, never mind his wondering for once, Jane," 
 said Miss Wilson ; " you will be fainting by the 
 way for want of something to eat, and you do not 
 look very strong yet. Of course William knows 
 where you are, and will come after you, if it is 
 only to see that we have not quite eaten the baby 
 up." 
 
 Jane smiled and looked quite happy in her old 
 quarters; and soon after tea, as Miss Wilson antici- 
 pated, her husband made his appearance, apolo- 
 gizing for coming with the excuse, that he thought, 
 maybe, Jane would be tired with carrying the 
 young 'un so far the first time. 
 
 Miss Wilson carried the baby downstairs, and 
 told his father he had been quite a pattern baby, 
 which gratified him greatly. She told Jane she 
 should be sure and remember her next Sunday, 
 and she hoped baby would grow up to be a blessing 
 to her and his father.
 
 58 Faithful in Little. 
 
 Jane had no reason to complain of having 
 nothing to do, after the birth of her baby, for he 
 was a delicate child, always taking cold and cutting 
 his teeth with difficulty. When in the course of a 
 year and a half another baby made its appearance, 
 it may be guessed her hands were fully occupied. 
 Still she was never so busy but she could find time 
 to help a neighbour in distress. It was well known 
 in her immediate neighbourhood that if any one 
 was ill, or wanted a child minded, or a bit of 
 washing done, that Mrs. Matthews was the one to 
 apply to, and rarely did any one apply in vain. 
 
 However she might be occupied for her children 
 or a neighbour, she never neglected her husband, 
 his comfort was her first care ; she could shift the 
 little ones, she used to say, but the father ought to 
 have his meals regular and comfortable, she had 
 no notion of making the children first and father 
 second. Consequently, as his home looked pleasant, 
 his wife with a cheerful face, and the children 
 taught to look for "father," he had far more induce- 
 ments to stay at home than to go loitering about 
 by himself. 
 
 Jane was always kind and hospitable to anyone 
 of his fellow-workmen he liked to bring home with 
 him for a chat, and she would join in the talk, 
 while she sat at her work, in a cheerful way she
 
 A Great Sorrow. 59 
 
 had, that made an evening so spent very pleasant 
 Some people in her circumstances might say they 
 could not afford to have company at home, but she 
 would maintain that a man must have some amuse- 
 ment, and if he went from home he would be sure 
 to spend something, and she thought it was nicer 
 that he should have a little pleasure by his own 
 fireside. 
 
 Jane did not now see quite so much of her mis- 
 tress and her family as she used to do, for they had 
 removed to a greater distance. A great sorrow 
 had fallen upon them in the death of the youngest, 
 Miss Mary. When Jane called soon after and 
 found Mrs. Lee and her baby son staying on a 
 visit, she could hardly notice the child, so much 
 was she overcome by the loss of its aunt. 
 
 "To think she did not see it, poor little dear !" 
 said Jane to her husband, on her return home ; 
 " and poor missus looks so sad, and the place did 
 not seem a bit like it used to. Miss Ellen looked 
 very poorly, though she tried to speak as cheerful 
 as she could for the missus' sake. She was never 
 a one to think of herself; and she talked to 
 Georgy, and said what a man he had grown, and 
 how she hoped he would grow up a good boy ; 
 and what a comfort it was to them, now she was 
 gone, to know that dear Miss Mary must be so
 
 Go Fait J if ul in Little. 
 
 happy, because she had been a good daughter and 
 trusted to her Saviour. I'm sure, thinking of her 
 will make me try more and more to make my boys 
 good boys — God bless 'em ! it would be very hard 
 to part with 'em." 
 
 Troubles were coming on Jenny that taxed her 
 strength and courage considerably. Trade was 
 very bad all over England, and in many manufac- 
 tories wages were being reduced ; the harvest had 
 been a scanty one, consequently bread was dear, so 
 that any reduction in wages was felt to be a very 
 great hardship. Grumbling and discontent were 
 very rife, and working-men began to talk of striking 
 for increased pay, not considering that masters 
 would have been glad enough to pay them better 
 if trade allowed them to do so. It may be remem- 
 bered that Mr. Sandars, William Matthews' master, 
 was a kind man, but he was obliged to submit to 
 the pressure of the times, and calling his men to- 
 gether, he told them that he was compelled to 
 reduce their wages. He hoped it would not be for 
 long, but as it was he could not help himself. 
 
 William and several others were willing to work 
 on, knowing the master would not have come to 
 such a resolution had it been possible to avoid it ; 
 and as William said, " Half a loaf was better than 
 no bread." But there were two or three men
 
 A Strike and its Consequences. 61 
 
 amongst them, blustering fellows, more inclined to 
 talk than work, and they vowed that not another 
 stroke of work should be done in the foundry till 
 the master was made to pay the same wages as 
 formerly. By dint of loud talk they gained over 
 the weaker ones, and having the greater number on 
 their side they were able to dictate to the rest. 
 So a strike was the consequence, and William was 
 thrown out of work. To be sure, he was better off 
 than some, for there were Jane's savings to fall 
 back upon for a time ; but when it is all going out 
 and nothing coming in, money soon vanishes. 
 Jane did all she could to make things last ; and a 
 little money in her hands went further than it did 
 with many ; but with all her care and forethought, 
 they got behindhand with the rent. 
 
 The strike ended at last, having continued four- 
 teen weeks, and William went to work again. He 
 had been induced by necessity to apply to a loan 
 office for £$ to be repaid with interest at a year's 
 end. It had been rather against Jane's wish that 
 he had borrowed money at all ; but when once 
 done, she did not worry him with regrets. 
 
 " What's done can't be helped," she would say, 
 " and I must make the best of it." 
 
 Her two boys, George and James, were two nice 
 children, inheriting a fair share of their mother's
 
 62 Faithful in Little. 
 
 even temper, but not very robust in health. She 
 made them obedient, and as she was always truth- 
 ful with them, they trusted her implicitly — anything 
 mother said was relied on in perfect good faith. 
 They were small of their age, as so many London 
 children are. When one was about five and the 
 other three and a half, a little sister was added to 
 the family, to the great delight of the boys, who, 
 unlike a good many children, thought a new baby 
 was a precious thing. Jane was not often very 
 angry ; when she was, it was a thing to be remem- 
 bered ; and she was very indignant when she heard 
 a neighbour tell George, shortly before his sister's 
 birth, that " His nose would soon be put out of 
 joint." It was an expression common enough and 
 often repeated, simply because it is a saying ; but 
 it was one that Jenny could not hear with patience. 
 
 " Stop," she said, " don't put such a thought into 
 the boy's head. God tells little children to love 
 one another, and is that the way to do it when you 
 try to make them jealous ? " 
 
 " Oh, Mrs. Matthews, I didn't mean anything ; 
 it was only my nonsense," said Mrs. Jones. 
 
 u Maybe you didn't," replied Jane, " but nonsense 
 of that sort does a deal of mischief, and a child 
 can't tell but what it's true, and I don't want my 
 children to hate one another."
 
 An Unrealized Foreboding. 63 
 
 " Law ! " said Mrs. Jones, " I begs your pardon, I 
 never thought of it like that ; as you say, it's 
 stupid, but then people don't think." 
 
 " No, and more's the pity," replied her friend ; 
 " a deal of mischief just comes out of not thinking." 
 
 The time was drawing near when the borrowed 
 ;£*5 must be repaid, and Matthews had not been 
 able to save anything like enough to meet the 
 claim. Poor fellow ! it was hard on an honest man 
 who had the will to pay. To be in debt was quite 
 new to him, and he did not know anyone he could 
 ask to help him, even if he could have screwed up 
 courage enough to ask. So he was at his wit's 
 end, and naturally consoled his wife, as the manner 
 of man is, with anticipations of ruin, and being sent 
 to gaol, and she and the children to the workhouse, 
 and other agreeable doings. Jane did her best to 
 keep his spirits up, and told him that they had 
 done their best, and she was sure help would come 
 somehow. She had great faith in the silver lining 
 to the darkest cloud, and knew too, in this case, 
 that she had excellent grounds for her faith. 
 
 " To think of your coming to the workhouse, 
 Jenny, and breaking up the home. I shan't be fit 
 to look the children in the face again," almost 
 sobbed William, after walking up and down the 
 room some time.
 
 64 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " Xonscnse, old man," said Jenny, " I haven't 
 been quite idle all this time — look here ! " and she 
 went to a cupboard where, out of an old teapot, she 
 produced five sovereigns. " There, you won't get 
 sent to gaol this time, and I ain't going to the 
 workhouse, thank God. Don't be afraid, it's all 
 honestly come by, so go and make a free man of 
 yourself, once more." 
 
 Matthews could hardly believe his own eyes. 
 
 " But where did you get it ? " he asked ; " I can't 
 make it out." 
 
 " Why, you see, Will," said his wife, " I knowed 
 you'd want it, and I got work to do, and I've saved 
 every penny I could anyways do without, and then 
 I do think God has helped me especial." 
 
 " Well, you are a jewel of an old woman ; give 
 us a kiss and I'll go and pay these yellow boys 
 back again, and come back and we'll have a cosy 
 evening." 
 
 Mrs. Matthews soon after paid Mrs. Wilson a 
 visit, she had not seen her for a long time, as she 
 could not well spare the time. Mrs. W'ilson made 
 many enquiries about her affairs, and Jane told her 
 about the borrowed money, and what a way Will 
 was in, and how she had saved up the necessary 
 sum. 
 
 " But why did you not tell him," enquired her 
 friend, " what you were doing ? "
 
 A Kind Wish. 65 
 
 " Well, ma'am, you see, I thought," replied Jane, 
 " it was but fair he should have some of the worry- 
 as well as me ; and I don't think after this he will 
 be in a hurry to go to a loan office again." 
 
 After Jane was gone Mrs. Wilson was talking the 
 matter over with her daughter, and she observed, 
 
 " Who would think, to look at that little woman, 
 so plain and insignificant as she is in appearance, 
 that she had such a brave spirit. I call her a 
 heroine ; and among all the people I know, and 
 my acquaintance with life is not small, there is no 
 one I more highly respect than Jane Matthews." 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said Miss Wilson, " I quite agree 
 with you, and such a frail little body as she is too. 
 She is not looking well, and no wonder, with all 
 the hard work she has had lately. I was glad to 
 hear her say she intended to move in March, for 
 that neighbourhood she lives in is very close and 
 confined. She never was strong herself, and the 
 children do not seem healthy. I wish I could send 
 them all for a month to the sea-side." 
 
 "I daresay you do, my dear," replied Mrs. Wilson, 
 " and so should I ; but you know, if ' wishes were 
 horses, beggars would ride,' and I suppose that 
 would hardly be tolerated now-a-days. She will 
 not lose her reward, that is one blessing. Poor as 
 her lot seems to us to be here, how many of the 
 
 E
 
 66 FaitJiful in Little. 
 
 rich would be glad to change places with her here- 
 after, for truly she has been faithful with little." 
 
 As soon as Jane was able to turn herself round, 
 as she expressed it, and things began to look a little 
 brighter, she set about looking for a house. It was 
 her idea to give up lodgings, have a house of her 
 own, and get a couple of men to board and lodge, 
 that would help pay the rent. William was rather 
 afraid of such an undertaking, but he had had so 
 much cause to trust his wife that he agreed to try 
 it, and do his best to get two tidy fellows as 
 lodgers. 
 
 " I heard Dick Styles growling at the way his 
 landlady put upon him the other day," said 
 William, "and I've a notion he'd jump at the offer, 
 so get a berth and I'll put the question ; he's a 
 steady chap enough, and when one's found I dare- 
 say we shall start another, there ain't no fear of 
 their being comfortable." 
 
 Finding a house to suit was not altogether an 
 easy matter ; it was not what was pretty outside, 
 but what was convenient inside that Jane looked 
 after. At last one was found, that had as many 
 conveniences as could be expected for the rent she 
 could afford, in a clean paved court, a quiet place, 
 such as there are in many parts of the city. It 
 required a good deal of management to make the
 
 Good Bargains. 67 
 
 furniture stretch over a larger space, and some new 
 things were necessities. But Jane was a capital 
 hand at a bargain, and bore in mind her mistress' 
 old precept, " Never buy anything only because it 
 is cheap." 
 
 William was a handy man in a house, and could 
 put up shelves, and do many odd jobs that tend 
 so much to make a home convenient and tidy. 
 Many an old bit of furniture she picked up at the 
 broker's for an old song, because it was out of 
 repair in sundry ways, was made quite useful and 
 neat by dint of mending and patching. 
 
 Miss Wilson paid her a visit when she was 
 settled, and was highly amused with some of her 
 arrangements, and by the history of some of her 
 new acquisitions, which she related in the quaint 
 way that was habitual to her. Things had been 
 bought expressly for use, but they seemed quite at 
 home, and to fit into their places in a wonderfully 
 comfortable way, and imparted a cosy look that is 
 often deficient in places of far greater pretensions. 
 
 " You do look quite settled indeed," said Miss 
 Wilson ; " and have you any lodgers yet ? " 
 
 " Yes, miss," replied Jane, " two very tidy young 
 men ; they have the back bedroom and they have 
 their meals with us." 
 
 " But you must have a good deal more to do ? " 
 said Miss Wilson.
 
 68 F ait i if id in Little. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, miss, what with one thing and 
 another, and their bit of washing too, but it all 
 comes into the day's work," said Jane. " Please, 
 miss, now you are here, will you write baby's name 
 in the Bible ? You've done the rest, and I couldn't 
 bear no one to write in it after you." 
 
 " Certainly," replied Miss Wilson. " What is the 
 name ? I quite forget." 
 
 " Oh, we called her after you, miss — Ellen, if you 
 please : William thinks it's the prettiest name for a 
 girl." 
 
 " What ! better than Jane? " asked Miss Wilson. 
 
 "Oh, a deal, miss," replied Jane; "he likes it 
 well enough, he says, because it's mine, but it ain't 
 pretty ; so I says I ain't pretty nor never was, so 
 we just match, my name and me. Baby favours 
 her father, don't you think so, miss ? " 
 
 " Well, I think she does, rather," said Miss 
 Wilson ; " she has more colour in her cheeks than 
 the boys, and her eyes are like her father's ; but 
 now I must write the name. I am glad to see the 
 book looks as if it was used and not kept only for 
 show." 
 
 " We keep that for Sunday afternoons," said 
 Jane; "William will read me a chapter, and you 
 can't think how quiet the little 'uns sit, one on each 
 side of him, and listen so attentive ; and are so
 
 The Family Register. 69 
 
 proud to say a bit of a hymn to him. It's my bit 
 of quiet in the week ; I don't think I could get on 
 without my Sunday afternoon and church in the 
 evening. I do try to go in the morning, but I can't 
 manage it always." 
 
 "I should hardly think you could," said Miss 
 Wilson ; " if we do what we can we know we are 
 obeying our Lord and Master, who is willing to 
 accept even our imperfect service, if offered with a 
 faithful and loving heart. There, I've written my 
 namesake's name, so good-bye, little one ; grow up 
 a good woman like your mother. Good bye, Jenny, 
 come and see us when you have time : I think I 
 have some stuff that will make baby a frock." 
 
 The years that had passed away had left their 
 traces on Jane Matthews, as they do on all. She 
 had become stouter and more matronly-looking, 
 and was the mother of four children ; another girl 
 having been added to her family. Her husband 
 continued to work at the foundry, and hoped in 
 time to get one of his boys there also. In the 
 meantime he tried hard to give them as much 
 schooling as he could, and he would not let them 
 have anything to do with the idle, ill-behaved lads 
 that abound everywhere. 
 
 " I've worked hard all my time," he would say,
 
 70 Faithful in Little. 
 
 "and my boys must too; and they'd find it precious 
 hard to buckle to, if they got a taste for loafing 
 about now." 
 
 But he was not harsh, and was generally ready 
 to enter into any of their little plans of play ; so 
 they were not at all afraid of him, though they 
 knew he would be obeyed. Their mother had 
 never used any such threat, as "I'll tell father;" 
 so they looked upon father and mother as their 
 friends, as indeed parents ought to be to their 
 children, and, thank God, are in many cases. 
 Where they arc not, who is to blame? Surely the 
 parents, whose duty it is to teach their children 
 obedience from their very earliest days. It is not a 
 lesson that can, with any safety, be put off ; for as 
 the poet says, 
 
 "Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." 
 
 One day Mrs. Matthews, being busy, sent her 
 little girl Ellen (Nelly she was generally called) to 
 the grocer's for some rice and sugar, and gave her 
 a shilling to pay for them, and was surprised to see 
 her return very quickly, empty-handed. 
 
 " Well, Nelly, where's the rice ? I want it, the 
 pudding won't be done for dinner," said her mother. 
 
 " I haven't got it," said the child ; " the woman
 
 Nelly's Misfortunes. 71 
 
 you sent told me as you had said she was to go, 
 and you wanted me." 
 
 " What woman, child ? I never sent any woman, 
 you may be sure. Where's the shilling ? " said her 
 mother. 
 
 " Oh ! I gave her that to buy the things for you," 
 answered the child. 
 
 " How could you be so simple ? " exclaimed Jane. 
 
 " Well, but, mother," said Nelly, innocently, " she 
 said you told me to give it her, and so I did." 
 
 " You little goose ! don't you go to believe what 
 people says to you in the streets," said her mother. 
 " You'll get no pudding for dinner, and I must give 
 you a whipping to make you remember another 
 time. I was sorry enough to do it," said Jane to 
 her husband, after explaining why his dinner was 
 rather short ; " but, you know, she don't hear lies 
 at home, and the little puss takes everything for 
 gospel that's said to her, and that won't do out of 
 doors, you know. Here, Nelly, come and kiss 
 father ; and you won't hearken to naughty people, 
 who tell lies, again in the streets, will you? Mother 
 can't afford to lose shillings." 
 
 Nelly was a very truthful child, and couldn't 
 understand why she was whipped because the 
 naughty woman took her money ; but the lesson 
 was not lost on her, and no one ever had the oppor-
 
 J2 Faithful in Little. 
 
 tunity of robbing her again. As a little treat, after 
 the distress Nelly had been in, her mother promised 
 to take her and Polly, the little one, to see her old 
 friend, Mrs. Wilson, that afternoon. 
 
 The children were greatly delighted, as the way 
 to that lady's house was past a great number of 
 beautiful shops ; and they knew Miss Wilson gene- 
 rally had some pretty things to show them, and 
 there were such grand pictures on the walls. The 
 dinner things were soon cleared with the help of 
 the little ones, and they set off, and fortunately 
 found Mrs. Wilson and Miss Ellen at home. Many 
 mutual enquiries were made, and Jane was telling 
 how she had brought the children with her for a 
 great treat, when the door opened and a curly- 
 headed little girl peeped in, and was just running 
 off when Miss Wilson said, 
 
 " Come here, Nelly, I want you." 
 
 The little one ran up to her, and turning shyly 
 round, looked up at Jane. 
 
 " Oh," said Jane, " that must be your little niece, 
 miss ; how like she is to Miss Dora." 
 
 " There, go and shake hands," said her aunt ; 
 " that is a very old friend of mamma's, and these 
 are her little girls." 
 
 After shaking hands and giving Jane a kiss, that 
 quite won her heart, Miss Wilson suggested to
 
 Happy Little Ones 73 
 
 Nelly to take the little ones with her and show 
 them her playthings. Nothing loth, the little ones 
 started off together, and were duly introduced to 
 dolly and a wonderful doll's house. 
 
 " What a pretty little thing she is ! " said Jane, 
 after the children had left the room. " I hope Mrs. 
 Lee is quite well." 
 
 " No, indeed," replied Mrs. Wilson, " I went to 
 see her this summer, and found her in a very weak 
 state of health, quite unfit to have children about 
 her, so I brought Nelly home with me, and we shall 
 keep her till her mamma is stronger. She is a 
 good child and quite a companion for her aunt. 
 And now, Jenny, give an account of yourself. How 
 are you getting on at home ? With your lodgers 
 and your children you do not find time hang so 
 heavily on your hands as it used to do." 
 
 " I'm mostly busy enough," said Jane, " but I do 
 a bit of work at odd times for the shops, or a bit of 
 washing. It takes a deal to keep the house, and 
 what with the schooling, and one thing and another, 
 it ain't easy to make both ends meet ; but, thank 
 God ! we ain't in debt." 
 
 "And how is William ?" asked Mrs. Wilson, "I 
 suppose he continues to think you the best wife in 
 London." 
 
 " He is pretty well, ma'am," replied Jane. " We
 
 74 Faithful in Little. 
 
 don't often fall out, but he did try a bit of jealousy 
 though." 
 
 " William jealous ! " exclaimed Miss Wilson ; 
 " how could that come to pass, and what naughty 
 deed had you been doing of all people in the 
 world ? " 
 
 " Why, you see, ma'am," answered Jane, " there's 
 a neighbour of ours, a Mrs. Barker ; and, poor soul, 
 she had a very bad confinement, and no one much 
 to see to her, so of course I couldn't but go and do 
 what I could for the poor thing ; I did some wash- 
 ing for her and kept the children out of her way. 
 They had not lived there long, and Will didn't 
 know much of them ; not that he'd mind my doing 
 anything for any poor sick body. After she got 
 better her husband looked in one evening to thank 
 me for helping his wife, which was very civil, you 
 know, ma'am. William had just come in to tea, 
 and as it was all ready, I asked Mr. Barker if he 
 would take a chair and have some with us ; and so 
 polite he was, jumping up to fetch the kettle for 
 me to fill the teapot, and handing the bread and 
 butter directly I finished, talking very pleasant all 
 the time. And there sat William as quiet as a 
 mouse, eating his tea as if he hadn't a word to say 
 ■ — he that can have his say well enough when he 
 pleases. Mr. Barker asked him questions, and he
 
 A Fit of Jealousy ! 75 
 
 only kind o' growled out an answer, and I sits 
 wondering what on earth ailed him, I never sec him 
 so glum. Mr. Barker went off after tea, and Will 
 sits himself down by the fire and pretended to read. 
 He wouldn't talk to me or the children, so I let 
 him alone, thinking I'd have it out with him by 
 and bye. So when he'd got comfortable in bed, 
 and I was doing some little matters about the 
 room, I says, ' Why, whatever made you so glum 
 to-night, old man ? ' " 
 
 " ' Just as if you didn't know,' says he. 
 
 " ' Me ! ' says I, ' what do you mean ? ' 
 
 "' Oh yes, indeed,' says he, 'just as if you didn't; 
 I daresay it's very fine to sit there at table and be 
 waited on like a duchess. And its " Oh, Mrs. 
 Matthews, let me get the kettle," and " Mrs. Mat- 
 thews, shall I cut some bread and butter?" Very 
 fine indeed, but I don't like it, mind you, so there.' 
 
 " ' Why, old fellow, you don't mean as you are 
 jealous ? ' And for the life of me, ma'am, I couldn't 
 help laughing ; to think of Will being jealous of a 
 dowdy old wife like me. Well, he said, he didn't 
 know about being jealous, but he didn't want to 
 see any man waiting on me. So I says, ' Well, if 
 you don't like no one to wait on me, you do it 
 yourself, old man ; you get up and get me the 
 kettle yourself, and you'll sec if I am likely to care
 
 j6 Faithful in Little. 
 
 for anyone else doing it ; and now go to sleep, and 
 don't be such a donkey again.' You see, ma'am, if 
 I've anything to say to Will, I bides my time and 
 wait till he's safe in bed, and then I've my say out, 
 and he can't run away." 
 
 "A very good way too," said Mrs. Wilson. "And 
 is he quite got over his jealous fit ? " 
 
 " Law, yes, ma'am, it wasn't likely to last, and I 
 don't think it's a complaint he's subject to. But 
 please, ma'am, I must get the children home again, 
 and wish you and Miss Ellen good-day." 
 
 The children were called from their play, and 
 were only partially consoled for being fetched away 
 by the present of a pot of jam for their supper, and 
 the promise that little Miss Nelly should come and 
 see them the next time her aunt went into their 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 Mrs. Matthews and the children reached home 
 rather late, and found father and the boys on the 
 look-out for them. Father took up Polly in his 
 arms, and had to listen to a long account of the 
 grand game of play she and Nelly had been having, 
 and the big doll that had real shoes and real 
 stockings. 
 
 " And there was another Nelly, father, who had 
 such pretty cheeks, and her hair curled, oh, so long ! 
 Why don't my hair curl ? " And clapping her
 
 Janes Account of her Visit. yy 
 
 hands, " there's something so good in there," point- 
 ing to the pot, " and Georgy and Jim's to have 
 some." 
 
 " Bless the child ! how fast your tongue goes ; 
 ain't I to have something good too ? " asked her 
 father. 
 
 Oh yes ! father was to have some, and Polly was 
 going to sit on his knee and have some supper. 
 
 The boys were quite ready for their share of the 
 feast, and while they discussed the contents of the 
 pot, which was a very unusual accompaniment to 
 their supper, Jane told her husband of her visit, 
 and how she had seen little Miss Nelly Lee. 
 
 " Missus doesn't get out so much now as she was 
 used to ; she and Miss Ellen was as kind as ever, 
 and asked after you, Will, and was so glad to hear 
 the boys were doing well." 
 
 " Ah, they are very kind," said William ; " but 
 now, children, mother's tired, so, Nelly, put Polly 
 to bed ; and, boys, be off." 
 
 " I don't half like the feel of my leg," said Jane ; 
 " the walk's tired it, I suppose." 
 
 Jane had been troubled with a bad leg a great 
 part of her life, and often was obliged to rest it 
 when she would gladly have been engaged with 
 more active work. Her constitution was not origi- 
 nally strong, and the rough treatment and scanty
 
 78 Faithful in Little. 
 
 food she had in her childhood had not made it 
 stronger. Her weakness showed itself, as it so 
 often does, in the leg ; and some year or two after 
 the last recorded visit to Mrs. Wilson, it became so 
 very bad, and she was altogether so much out of 
 health that the doctor strongly advised her to go 
 into the hospital, where she would have perfect 
 rest. 
 
 " I know you," said Mr. Miles, " what a bustling 
 body you are ; and unless you are almost tied up 
 you won't be quiet. Here is this good little lassie 
 of yours, I know she will do her best to keep house 
 while you are laid by, won't you?" 
 
 Nelly thought she could, she was sure she would 
 try ; and mother did let her do most of the cleaning 
 now her leg was bad. 
 
 Mr. Miles had a great respect for Jane, whom he 
 had known for many years, so he left her, promising 
 he would speak to the house surgeon of St. Bar- 
 tholomew's, and get a recommendation for her as 
 an in-patient. 
 
 Poor Jenny ! it was a great trial to leave her 
 home, but when she found how the idea upset her 
 husband, she pretended that it was just what she 
 wanted, and made quite light of it. 
 
 " Poor old fellow ! " she said to her neighbour, 
 Mrs. Barker, " we ain't never been parted, and he's
 
 Work a Pleasure. 79 
 
 that cut up, I can't bear to go ; but then, if I don't, 
 maybe I shall lose my leg altogether, and that 'ud 
 be worse still." She had the comfort of knowing 
 all would go on as well as could be expected at 
 home, during her absence, for she had brought up 
 the children to be very helpful. The boys had 
 been accustomed to be up betimes, to light the fire, 
 set the kettle on, and clean their boots before they 
 set off for their work in the morning. 
 
 Jane used to say, " She could have done it all 
 herself a deal easier, but the work did them more 
 good than harm, and spared her strength." 
 
 The boys were so fond of her, that they did not 
 seem ever to think anything done for mother was 
 a hardship. Mrs. Barker promised to look in and 
 help Nelly in such matters as were beyond her 
 powers, and Nelly was to see after Polly, who was 
 rather a wilful little woman ; and if her mother 
 had let her, would rule everybody in the house. 
 After having provided for everything as far as 
 possible, Jane got her husband to take her to the 
 hospital. 
 
 " Good-bye, dear old Will," said she, "please God 
 I shall come back again strong enough to whip 
 you all round ; and don't be down-hearted. What 
 a thing it is there should be such a beautiful place 
 to go to : and you are to come and see me ; and
 
 80 Faithful in Little. 
 
 do go and tell Miss Wilson where I am, I'm sure 
 she'll come and see me." 
 
 William promised he would, and giving her a 
 hearty kiss, left her, feeling very disconsolate and 
 lonely. 
 
 " Please, ma'am," said Mrs. Wilson's servant to 
 her, " there's a man at the door wants to see you 
 or Miss W ilson ; he's says his name is Matthews." 
 
 " Tell him to walk up," said Mrs. Wilson. " I 
 hope," said she, turning to her daughter, " there's 
 nothing wrong with Jane or the children, she did 
 not look at all well when she was last here." 
 
 " Well, William, how are you ? It's many a day 
 since I saw you. And how is the wife and the 
 children ? " 
 
 " Why, ma'am," said William, " my missus is laid 
 up and gone to the hospital ; she bid me come and 
 ask miss if so be she'd go and see her. I'd take it 
 very kind of you, miss." 
 
 Of course, Miss Wilson agreed to go as soon as 
 she could. Both she and her mother were very 
 sorry to hear the cause, and did their best to com- 
 fort William. 
 
 " Thank'ee, ma'am," said William, " I know it's 
 for her good ; but the place do look so cold like 
 without her, there ain't many like Jane ; we never 
 had an ill word since we was married."
 
 Kind Encouragement. 81 
 
 " What a blessing that is to think of," said Mrs. 
 Wilson ; " but we must not forget, my friend, who 
 sends these trials — ' Whom He loveth He chas- 
 teneth.' It is hard for you now, I know ; but try 
 and think of the goodness of God in giving you a 
 good wife, and trust Him to restore her to you and 
 the children. Depend upon it, there is a blessing 
 even in this trial ; but it is to those that love Him 
 that all things work together for good. You must 
 not let your faith fail now, when you want it most, 
 and try and keep up your spirits for the children's 
 sake." 
 
 " Thank'ee, ma'am," said William, " you are very 
 good ; and I'll try and not be down-hearted. The 
 young 'uns follow their mother, and does all they 
 can, poor things. Good evening, ma'am — good 
 evening, miss, and thank'ee kindly. Jane will be 
 main glad to see you." 
 
 The next day, Miss Wilson started on her visit 
 to the hospital ; but as Jane's home was only a 
 little out of the direct way, she called there in 
 order that she might give Jane the latest news 
 from home. It was a fine, brisk, frosty day, and 
 Miss Wilson enjoyed her walk. She found Nelly 
 very busy, washing up the dinner things in quite 
 a womanly style, the room quite tidy, and Polly 
 sitting on a stool doing something with a needle
 
 82 Fait J if id in Little. 
 
 and thread. Miss Wilson was asked to guess what 
 it was ; but that being an effort which, from its 
 appearance, was beyond her power, she was told in 
 a whisper, as a great secret, that it was a kettle- 
 holder for mother when she came home. She told 
 them she was going to see mother, and should tell 
 her what good girls she had, and how busy they 
 were — promising faithfully not to say a word of 
 the kettle-holder. She was leaving the house, when 
 a neighbour came running in to see if William was 
 in ; he was to tell him that George had broken his 
 leg by a fall from a ladder, and he had been carried 
 to the hospital. Miss Wilson was obliged to stay 
 a little longer to console the children, and then left, 
 wondering whether Jane had heard of the accident, 
 and resolving to make enquiries before she saw her. 
 Close by the gates she met William, who looked in 
 a maze, as he had only just heard something was 
 amiss, and did not know what. 
 
 " Oh, miss, I'm so glad to meet you," said he, 
 " I'm just going to see the poor boy, if they'll let 
 me in." 
 
 "Well," said Miss W T ilson, "we can but ask." 
 
 They found their way in, and in answer to the 
 
 question — W T as a boy, named Matthews, badly 
 
 hurt ; and could they see him ? — were answered, 
 
 that the boy was then under the surgeon's hands ;
 
 A Broken Leg. 83 
 
 he had a compound fracture of the leg, and if they 
 liked to wait till he was in bed, as the man was his 
 father, he could see him — : and the lady would be 
 admitted also. William was very eager she should 
 see him, as he begged her to tell his wife, " he 
 couldn't." 
 
 A gentleman now came through the room where 
 they were waiting, who remarked to another who 
 followed, " Capital little chap, that ; bore it like a 
 brick— he'll do well." 
 
 " Please, sir," said William, " was that my boy — - 
 Matthews, sir ? " 
 
 " Faith ! I don't know ! But stay, I think that 
 was his name ; a bricklayer's boy, fell off a ladder, 
 and fortunately broke his leg when he might have 
 broken his neck." 
 
 " Oh yes, sir, that's him." 
 
 " Ah, well, my man, don't fret, he'll do ; brave 
 boy, didn't cry out once." 
 
 " Thank you kindly, sir," said William ; and 
 much relieved that it was no worse, he and Miss 
 Wilson followed the attendant to the ward in which 
 he was placed. 
 
 George looked pale, but a smile overspread his 
 face at the sight of his father. 
 
 " I'm so glad you are come," said he ; "what will 
 mother say ? Oh, Miss Wilson, do please tell her
 
 84 Faithful in Little. 
 
 I ain't bad, you know ; and the doctor says I shall 
 soon be all right if I lie still. Poor mother, she'll 
 be so sorry." 
 
 Poor Georgie ! all his thoughts seemed to be for 
 his mother ; and he was comforted when Miss 
 Wilson assured him she would carry her a good 
 account of him. 
 
 " But how did it happen, my boy ? " 
 
 " I don't rightly know," said he ; " but the man 
 as I works under — Jackson, you know, father ! " 
 His father nodded. " Well, he's a kind of hasty 
 feller ; and he sung out from the scaffold for a hod 
 of bricks. It wasn't quite my work, miss, but he 
 seemed in a hurry like, so I ketched up the hod as 
 fast as I could, and got half-way up the ladder ; 
 when, somehow, I slipped like, and down the bricks 
 fell, and me a-top of 'em." 
 
 " They shouldn't 'a let him done it," muttered 
 Will, " but he always was such a willin' little chap." 
 
 " Well, George," said Miss Wilson, " it is indeed 
 a mercy it was no worse ; and I hope before you 
 go to sleep you will pray to God and thank Him 
 for having saved your life. You had better not 
 talk any more now, but I shall come in a day or 
 two and see you again ; now I am going to see 
 your mother." 
 
 " Good-bye, ma'am ; and good-bye, father. When
 
 A Cheerful Visitor. 85 
 
 you come again, bring me my own little Testament, 
 and give my love to Nelly and Polly." 
 
 Matthews left the ward and turned to go home, 
 while Miss Wilson went into the women's side, and 
 was directed to the ward in which Jane was. 
 
 " Oh, miss," said she, " I knowed you'd come, and 
 I am so glad to see you." 
 
 " Oh, it is very fine of you, Jane, to be laid up 
 here like a lady, taking your ease indeed," said 
 Miss Wilson cheerfully. " I was so sorry to hear 
 from William of your being here, because I knew 
 you must be bad before you would give up." 
 
 " Why, yes, miss, I did it for the best ; and the 
 doctors here say I might have lost my leg alto- 
 gether if I hadn't ; it wouldn't have been right, 
 miss, to be made a cripple, if it could anyways be 
 helped. It's leaving the father and the children as 
 fidgets me most." 
 
 " Ah ! but you must not be too anxious about 
 them," said Miss Wilson. And then she told her 
 how she had been to see them, and how well Nelly 
 was doing, and Polly was behaving like a lady. 
 Jane was naturally much interested in all the little 
 details Miss Wilson gave her. They seemed to 
 cheer her, but her friend could not help observing 
 that with all her efforts to look bright, she was weak, 
 and she rather dreaded the effect that the knowledge
 
 86 Faithful in Little. 
 
 of George's accident might have upon her. Still, it 
 was useless to delay, her time was getting short, 
 and she would be obliged to go home ; so in the 
 kindest and most considerate way she told Jane 
 all about it. Poor thing, she was very much cut 
 up ; and " Poor Georgie ! my poor boy ! " was all 
 she could say through her tears. She could not 
 help it, and she had a good cry. 
 
 There was a general feeling of sympathy from 
 the women occupying the beds near hers. Miss 
 Wilson did her best to console her ; and the first 
 burst of grief over, Jane's healthy nature helped her 
 to turn to the brightest side. 
 
 " What a comfort it was you was there, miss ! 
 and I know you've told me the worst." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, Jane," said Miss Wilson, " it would 
 not be kind to hide anything from you ; your trust 
 in me would be gone. I don't like to magnify 
 evils or make things out worse than they are ; but 
 I do love truth, and you know me too well to 
 dream of my deceiving you." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, miss ; and you'll come again 
 soon ? " 
 
 " Well, I'll try and come as soon as I can, but 
 now I must go." So stooping down, Miss Wilson 
 kissed her, whispering, "'No chastening for the 
 present seemeth to be joyous ; nevertheless, after-
 
 The Good Shepherd. 87 
 
 ward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness 
 to them that are exercised thereby.' Let us trust 
 our Good Shepherd, Jenny." 
 
 A hearty squeeze of the hand was her answer, 
 and Miss Wilson went away, and at the gate she 
 found William, waiting to hear how " the old 
 woman " was. 
 
 " She was a good deal upset about George, but 
 she bears up bonnily, and is looking forward in 
 good hopes of getting back home all the better for 
 being where she is," said Miss Wilson. " And now 
 you had better go home and tell the little ones how 
 glad their mother was to hear of their being such 
 good children." 
 
 "God bless you, miss; I'll go now, and thank 
 you." 
 
 It was a fortunate circumstance for our friend 
 Jenny, that she had the free use of her hands, and 
 when comfortably propped up in bed she could 
 work at her ease. She had foreseen that she should 
 be able to do so, and had, therefore, provided her- 
 self with work to take into the hospital with her, 
 such as a new shirt for her husband, and one for 
 each of the boys. The materials for new garments 
 stopped there, for money was not plentiful ; but 
 there were many cuttings and contrivings known 
 to thrifty mothers, that had to be done for the girls, 
 which kept her hands well employed.
 
 88 Faithful in Little. 
 
 The bed next to hers, on one side, was occupied 
 by a young woman named Charlotte Tyler, who 
 was suffering from a bad swelling on the knee. 
 She was getting better when Mrs. Matthews came 
 into the hospital ; but though she could sit up in 
 bed, she seemed to have no idea she could do any- 
 thing with her hands ; and as she was not able to 
 read, the time was so wearisome that it was no 
 wonder she became very fretful. 
 
 "Laws! how you do work away, Mrs. Matthews," 
 said Charlotte one day, after watching her a long 
 time in silence; "one would say you was a-working 
 for a wager. I think there's a lot of work to do 
 when one's well, and there ain't no call to do it in 
 the 'ospital, where one comes to be quiet." 
 
 " Well," replied Jane, " the quiet is very nice, but 
 one may have too much of a good thing, and I 
 should fret if I could not do anything. I am so 
 thankful I can use my hands, my bit of work makes 
 the time pass more quickly. It's funny you and I 
 should be so close together, both with lame legs. 
 What made yours bad ? " 
 
 "It was kneeling on those horrid cold stones, 
 that has to be kept so prim and white," said 
 Charlotte. " I lived housemaid in one of them big 
 houses by the Bank, that has stone stairs from top 
 to bottom of the house, and long stone passages.
 
 A Hospital Companion. 89 
 
 They took a heap of time to clean, but precious 
 little to get dirty ; and missus was particular and 
 couldn't a-bear to see a speck of dirt, so I was kep' 
 at it from morning to night scrubbing, and lots of 
 work besides. I was used to go to bed that tired 
 I couldn't sleep ; and when my knee got bad, I was 
 ready to cry with the pain, and cook told the 
 missus how bad it was, and she told the master, 
 who was a doctor ; so he looked at it, and directly 
 he saw it he said he knowed I had been kneeling 
 too much on cold stones, and asked me if I had 
 used to kneel upon anything soft, and I couldn't 
 help saying ' No, I had a bit o' carpet on purpose, 
 but when I was in a hurry I forgot it, and I didn't 
 think it 'ud hurt me.' Master was a peppery 
 gentleman, and said I shouldn't be such a fool as to 
 fancy things wouldn't hurt me, as was bad for other 
 people ; and I'd got myself in a nice scrape, for I 
 must go to the hospital, and it was great odds if 
 I was ever fit to scrub again." 
 
 "Well, never mind that," said Mrs. Matthews, 
 " if you can't scrub again, you can do something 
 else, I'll be bound." 
 
 " I don't know, I'm sure," replied Charlotte. 
 " You see, I ain't got any friends in Lunnon to go 
 to when I get out of the hospital ; and my wages 
 will soon go if I get a lodgin', and then I only
 
 90 Faithful in Little. 
 
 knows housemaid's work, and master said I mustn't 
 do hard work in a hurry again, and I don't think 
 I could if I tried ever so much." 
 
 " Are you fond of children ? " asked Jane. 
 "Couldn't you try for a nursemaid's place?" 
 
 " Oh, I'm fond enough of children ; but then a 
 nursemaid is always expected to do needlework, 
 and I'm no hand at that." 
 
 " There's no reason why you shouldn't be," said 
 Jane ; " see how white your hands are getting from 
 resting so long. Now, when nurse comes round 
 again we'll get her to set you up in bed as nicely 
 as she does me, and then I'll do my best to set you 
 in the way to do needlework. Why, bless you ! I 
 was a'most as old as you before I knew how myself, 
 and I've earned many a shilling by my needle 
 before now ; at any rate, it will be of use some 
 time, whatever you get to do." 
 
 The girl's face brightened up with a new hope, 
 and it was evident that a change from doing 
 nothing was a welcome idea, and she thanked Mrs. 
 Matthews heartily for her promised help. 
 
 " But I ain't got anything to do here in the way 
 of work, not a thimble even." 
 
 " Never mind," said her friend, " I brought my 
 bag with me ; and I can give you something to 
 begin upon, and a thimble too ; I always have a
 
 An Awkward Pupil. 91 
 
 spare one, it's so handy. Look here, these is bits 
 of patchwork ; my Nelly's done all this, and very 
 well done it is for her age. Some day I shall have 
 quite a handsome quilt. Miss Wilson, that kind 
 lady who came to tell me about my poor boy, 
 promised to bring me some pretty pieces for it, and 
 I expect her every day. Perhaps you'll be able to 
 do some of it, for it's easy work and straight- 
 forward ; and I'll fix it and teach you to fix for 
 yourself." 
 
 " Well, you are kind, to be sure ; and here comes 
 nurse," said Charlotte. " Oh ! please, nurse, do set 
 me up in bed ; this good woman is going to give 
 me some work." 
 
 " Well, I'm glad to hear that," said the nurse ; 
 "you will get well as fast again, and pick up your 
 spirits into the bargain. You can't do better than 
 follow Mrs. Matthews' advice ; see what a busy bee 
 she is, and how neatly she works," continued the 
 nurse, taking the collar of a shirt Jane had just 
 finished stitching. 
 
 "There, now you are nicely fixed, I know; and 
 you won't be half so tired to-night as you were last 
 night, and not quite so out of sorts either," added 
 the nurse laughing. 
 
 Charlotte Tyler sat to work with a will ; she was 
 sadly awkward at first, as she said, " Her fingers
 
 Q2 Faithful in Little. 
 
 were all thumbs." But she got on famously by- 
 degrees ; and the occupation amused and interested 
 her so much, that she lost her fretfulness, and quite 
 acknowledged that doing nothing was not so plea- 
 sant in reality as she thought it would be before 
 she tried it. 
 
 Miss Wilson, true to her word, soon came again 
 to see Jane, and brought her news of her children. 
 They were all well, and Miss Wilson made Jane 
 laugh by her description of Nelly getting up the 
 wash. 
 
 " There was the little thing ironing away so 
 busily, she did not even hear me go in ; and I 
 stood and watched her till Miss Polly caught sight 
 of me, and then of course there was no more quiet, 
 and we were obliged to have a game of play. She 
 had been ironing too, Nelly told me ; but she had 
 been careful not to let her have a hot iron. I 
 stayed," continued Miss Wilson, " while Nelly laid 
 the cloth for dinner, and William came in. He 
 looks well, and was very glad to find I was coming 
 to see you. There is a mysterious little packet I 
 promised to give you ; I have no idea what is in 
 it, but Jim and the girls were busy doing it up in 
 a corner, while I was talking to their father." 
 
 '• Why, bless me ! " exclaimed Jane, " what have 
 the children been after? What a pretty useful pin-
 
 Important Parcels. 93 
 
 cushion, and what is written on it ? ' For mother's 
 bag, from Nelly.' Well, now, how neat it is made, 
 I do think you must have helped her, miss." 
 
 "Perhaps I did, a little," said Miss Wilson 
 smiling ; " I fixed it, but it is all her own work. I 
 did not know she had sent it though, I fancied it 
 was to be given to you when you returned home, 
 but I suppose it would not keep till then. This 
 is an original packet — Polly's, I should guess." 
 
 Jane opened another little parcel, very queerly 
 packed, and found it to contain a stick of barley 
 sugar, a biscuit, and some bull's eyes. 
 
 " That must be Polly, surely," said her mother. 
 " Bless the child, to send me what she's so fond of 
 herself. Here's another, it feels like money." 
 
 Written outside the third enclosure was, "Jim's 
 first wages for mother." 
 
 It was half-a-crown. Jane looked enquiringly at 
 Miss Wilson, while tears stood in her eyes. 
 
 "Yes," replied her friend, "it is quite true; Jim 
 proves so handy a boy and so steady, that the 
 foreman spoke of him to the master, and Mr. 
 Sandars was very kind, and told Jim himself that 
 he always liked to encourage steady lads, and he 
 was willing to keep him, and he should have half-a- 
 crown a-week for the present." 
 
 " Oh, I am so glad, miss ; and now he will keep
 
 94 Fa it J if id in Little. 
 
 with his father and be out of harm's way. I wish 
 my poor George had been," continued Jane, " and 
 then perhaps he would not have broken his leg." 
 
 " Well, but he is getting on very well, I hear ; 
 and at his age, bones soon mend. You see," said 
 Miss Wilson, " I brought you bad news the last 
 time I came, so I am doubly pleased to be the 
 bearer of good news to-day. And now I want to 
 know how you are yourself." 
 
 " Thank ye, miss, I am getting on pretty well," 
 replied Jane. " I've a deal of medicine to take, and 
 the leg is not healed yet, but that could not be 
 expected, the doctor says. I feel better in myself, 
 though, and I think I'm getting on quite as well as 
 I could expect, considering I haven't been here 
 very long." 
 
 " And have you pleasant neighbours ? " enquired 
 Miss Wilson ; " here seems one able to employ 
 herself," continued she, turning to Charlotte Tyler ; 
 " and I should think, my friend, you find it a com- 
 fort to be able to use your fingers. I suppose you 
 are getting better." 
 
 " Thank ye, ma'am, I'm a deal better ; but I 
 never thought of doing anything till Mrs. Matthews 
 put it into my head ; and the time ain't near so 
 long now as it used to be. Mrs. Matthews was so 
 busy like, you see, ma'am," continued Charlotte, " I
 
 Charlotte Tyler. 95 
 
 got ashamed to be doing nothing when I could 
 work. But I'm a poor hand at it yet." 
 
 "Indeed, ma'am," said Jane, "she is getting on 
 very well, poor thing ! and is going to help me 
 with my quilt soon." 
 
 " Ah, and that reminds me, Jenny," said Miss 
 Wilson, " that I have some pieces for you in my 
 pocket. Here they are, but you must keep them 
 to look at when I'm gone, for my time will be 
 getting short. Who is your neighbour on the 
 other side, with her head so covered in bandages ? " 
 
 " Indeed, ma'am," replied Jane, " I don't rightly 
 know. She was carried in two days ago ; and 
 I think, from what the nurse said, her husband 
 had ill-used her. She moans dreadfully, at night 
 especially ; and I think she was quite off her head 
 last night, for she cried out so, ' Oh, don't, Tom ! 
 don't ! ' so often." 
 
 " Poor woman ! " said Miss Wilson, " how sad 
 these things are ! " 
 
 " Ah, they are indeed, miss," said Jane ; " there 
 are many sad sights and sounds in a hospital, but 
 then again it's a grand thing to be able to have the 
 first of advice and nursing free gratis for nothing : 
 so we must put one thing against another and be 
 thankful. Only, miss, it does seem so puzzling 
 why God, who is so good, let such horrid things be.
 
 g6 Faithful in Little. 
 
 One can understand an accident like my boy's, 
 which was an accident, and nobody's fault like ; 
 and then an illness seems natural like, and what 
 we must expect at times ; but a man ill-using his 
 wife, especially if she's a quiet body, as this poor 
 soul looks, it fairly beats me ; it don't seem like 
 Him who gave His own dear Son for us, and must 
 love us poor things so much." 
 
 " Ah, Jane, that is a subject that has troubled 
 wiser heads than yours or mine," said Miss Wilson. 
 " I only know it is quite impossible to understand 
 our heavenly Father's dealings with His creatures : 
 why, even your little Polly could not understand 
 why you make her do many things you know it is 
 right she should do ; so it is not so wonderful if 
 we do not comprehend God's ways. But we do 
 know that ' God is love ; ' it is impossible to doubt 
 that blessed fact, everything in nature around us 
 proves it, even if we had not the word of God itself 
 to teach us. Therefore, I think we may rest quite 
 satisfied that He permits such sad things to be, for 
 some wise purpose that is hid from our sight, 
 because it would not be good for us to know. Yet 
 even as it is, we can see some use in these sad 
 things ; when they lead us to pity such poor, mis- 
 guided creatures so much, that we feel obliged to 
 try and help them to become better, and so we
 
 God is Love. 97 
 
 learn to love our neighbour better ; and as we 
 learn to love our neighbour more, we are led to 
 love God Himself more. St. John, you know, says 
 a man is a liar, who says he loves God and yet 
 hates his brother : for ' He that loveth not his 
 brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God 
 whom he hath not seen?' So, you see, we really 
 dare not say we love God if we do not love our 
 brother or neighbour ; and if we love any one, we 
 try and keep them out of harm's way, do we 
 not ? " 
 
 " Why, yes, miss, certainly we do," replied Jane ; 
 " but it is very hard to know how to do it." 
 
 " So it is, indeed," said Miss Wilson ; " but the 
 will is the thing that is mostly wanted, the way 
 would soon come if the will was there — or perhaps 
 I should say, if people thought on the matter. My 
 dear mother has often said, that ' we take wicked- 
 ness as we do fevers, as something that must be.' 
 But doctors say, if people were temperate and 
 cleanly, and let in plenty of light and air into their 
 houses, fevers would vanish. Now, wickedness of 
 all kinds is dirt and pollutes the soul, and must be 
 got rid of by letting in the light of God's Holy 
 Word, and by cultivating love, truth, and honesty, 
 and cultivating good temper and kindness to each 
 other ; in fact, making goodness more attractive
 
 98 Faithful in Little. 
 
 than wickedness. Good will overcome evil in the 
 end, and then the kingdom of God will be come, 
 and His will be done, as we pray it may in the 
 Lord's prayer : and in the meantime, the wheat 
 and the tares must grow together." 
 
 " Well, I suppose they must, miss," replied Jane. 
 " It is God's will, and that ought to be enough for 
 poor creatures like us. I am a bit more satisfied 
 to think that if God lets evil be done here now, it 
 is for a wise reason." 
 
 " Ah, Jenny," said Miss Wilson, " depend upon 
 it, things very dark to our sight now, will be made 
 clear as daylight by and by. And there is great 
 comfort in the promise that ' all things work 
 together for good to them that love Him.' Now, 
 I really must say good-bye for to-day ; mamma 
 will think I am lost, and she was not very well 
 when I left her." 
 
 " And to think," exclaimed Jane, " that I have 
 been so full of my own concerns, I never asked 
 after her ; I can't think how I could forget. I 
 hope you won't take it amiss, miss ; I should have 
 thought of her directly your back was turned." 
 
 " Ah, well, I forgive you this once, Jenny," said 
 Miss Wilson smiling ; " forgetting an old friend is 
 a new complaint with you ; and she is not ill, only 
 a little fagged, and wants rest. Perhaps if I talked
 
 Wanted, a Place. 99 
 
 as much to her as I have to-day to you, I should 
 have tired her out as I may have done you." 
 
 " Ah, no fear of that, miss," said Jane. " Please 
 give my duty to missus, and I hope you will be 
 able to come and see me again soon." 
 
 " I shall try, certainly," replied Miss Wilson ; 
 " and now, good-bye. I shall try and see the 
 children on my way home, if I have time." 
 
 " Thank ye, miss ; and could not Mrs. Barker 
 bring them to see me? I do so long for them. 
 And I want," continued Jane, " to ask Mrs. Barker 
 if she could take this young woman in as a lodger 
 for a week or two. She expects to be discharged 
 soon, and has nowhere to go to." 
 
 " What, you mean your neighbour here ? " en- 
 quired Miss Wilson. 
 
 " Yes, sure, miss ; and perhaps you might hear 
 of a light place for her. I do think she is a tidy 
 girl," said Jane. 
 
 " I suppose you could have a character from your 
 last place ? " enquired Miss Wilson, turning to 
 Charlotte. 
 
 " Oh yes, ma'am," said Charlotte ; " I lived a year 
 with Mrs. King, of Bank Buildings, and only left 
 because I was ill ; the work was very heavy." 
 
 " I can well believe that," replied Miss Wilson ; 
 " I know Mrs. King very well, and I am sure she
 
 ioo Faithful in Little. 
 
 will speak well of you if you deserved it I will 
 remember you, and see if I can find anything for 
 you. And now, good-bye." And off she went, at 
 a good pace, with the satisfactory feeling of having 
 given pleasure to two people, at least. 
 
 " What a nice lady that is ! " remarked Charlotte, 
 " she talks so cheerful and looks so pleasant." 
 
 " Ah, she is indeed," replied Jane ; " and she is 
 as good as she looks. It's my opinion, if there 
 was more Miss Wilsons in the world it would be a 
 deal better place than it is. If ever she had to find 
 fault with me, she did it without being cross. 
 Some people, if they have to find fault, have a 
 knack of making one angry with them, instead of 
 yourself." 
 
 "Ah! don't they, just?" said Charlotte; "just 
 like my master, he used to blow us up all round, 
 and we couldn't a-bear him ; and I'm sure it didn't 
 make any of us a bit better." 
 
 " Ah, there's a deal of power in the ' soft word,' " 
 said Jane, " as, thank God, I learned a long time 
 ago." 
 
 Miss Wilson paid many more visits to the hos- 
 pital during Mrs. Matthews' stay. She generally 
 found her bed surrounded with those of the patients 
 who could get about. It had become well known 
 that Jane was an authority in the matter of cutting
 
 Great Preparations. ioi 
 
 out and fashioning garments. She was always 
 ready to lend an ear to any little trouble, and 
 could contrive little things to amuse a wearied 
 child, and there were several children in the ward, 
 for this was before the days of children's hospitals. 
 It was no wonder that when she was pronounced 
 fit to go home, there was a general feeling of regret 
 from her fellow-patients. She was in the hospital 
 fully six weeks, and, thanks to the excellent treat- 
 ment she had had, she looked quite a different 
 being, and merited her husband's remark, that, 
 " except being perhaps a trifle washy-looking, she 
 looked as if she had been ground young again." 
 Her boy George got home only a short time before 
 her, for the bones of his leg had not united so soon 
 as the surgeon expected. He was rather a delicate 
 boy, and in constitution as well as appearance took 
 a good deal after his mother. Notwithstanding 
 good nursing and skilful treatment, under one of 
 the cleverest surgeons, the leg became somewhat 
 shortened, causing him to limp in his walk. 
 
 There had been great preparations made at home 
 for Jane's return. Her husband, aided by Jim, had 
 been busy working after-hours, whitewashing the 
 ceilings and papering the keeping-room. He knew 
 Jane had long wanted such little matters done, so 
 he determined to give her an agreeable surprise.
 
 102 Faithful in Little. 
 
 Their kind neighbour, Mrs. Barker, had looked in 
 from time to time to see after the cleaning up. 
 Charlotte Tyler was lodging with her for a few 
 days before she went to the place Miss Wilson had 
 fortunately found for her. She was a great assist- 
 ance to Nelly in the heavier part of the cleaning, 
 and worked away with a will, happy in any way to 
 show her sense of the kindness Jenny had shown 
 her in the hospital. 
 
 Good little Nelly was very anxious everything 
 should be in apple-pie order. Polly, not to be out- 
 done, was found diligently washing the back yard, 
 mounted on her mother's pattens, and handling a 
 broom considerably taller than herself, having pre- 
 viously deluged the place with water she had 
 contrived to upset from a pail unfortunately placed 
 in her way. Of course she was in a state of dirt, 
 that caused poor Nelly almost to despair of making 
 her fit to be seen again. Happily, she came to no 
 further harm than a thorough washing could set to 
 rights ; and being very penitent, she promised her 
 father, when he and Jim started to fetch mother 
 home, that she would sit on her own little stool, 
 " like a lady," till he came back. 
 
 " And you try and keep your word," said her 
 father ; " for what would mother say, if she found 
 we had changed our Polly into a dirty little sweep 
 while she was away ? "
 
 Home, Sweet Home! 103 
 
 Such a direful idea made so strong an impression, 
 that she really kept her word pretty well, taking 
 great credit to herself for it afterwards, being 
 several times overheard to boast herself of " having 
 kept it like a lady," meaning her promise. 
 
 Happy is the family in which the mother's 
 return home is as eagerly expected as it was in 
 Jane's modest home. Very thankful was she to 
 find herself once more seated by her own fireside, 
 with her children round her, and her husband 
 looking at her with great content. He declared 
 " home looked like itself again now his old woman 
 was in her place once more." 
 
 There was no lack of conversation, there was so 
 much to ask and so much to tell, and the new 
 paper to be admired ; but the greatest delight of 
 all, to Jane's motherly heart, was to see her boy 
 George again, and to hear from his own lips all the 
 details of his accident. She thought him looking 
 but weakly, though he declared he was quite him- 
 self again and all ready for work, " only father 
 would not let me try for any till you was come 
 home." 
 
 " Ah," said his father, " he wanted to be off, but 
 the doctor bid me be careful of him ; so we thought 
 we'd wait till the mother corned home, though he 
 did think it a bit hard that he couldn't earn any- 
 thing, like master Jim here."
 
 104 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " Never mind," said his mother, " all in good 
 time ; we must look out for something lighter than 
 bricklaying for him. I was pleased to have your 
 half-crown," Jim," continued she, "and I don't 
 mean to spend it either. It did me a deal of good 
 to hear you was with father, and was a good boy." 
 
 "I means to try my best," answered Jim. " Why, 
 you know, mother, it warn't every master 't would 
 speak to a youngster like me ; but Mr. Sandars 
 was very kind, and told me he hoped I should be 
 as steady, and be a good workman like father ; so 
 I told him," continued Jim, speaking bravely, " I 
 wasn't going to disgrace my name if I know'd it. 
 He's a brick, he is ; and I only hope poor Georgy 
 will get a master like him." 
 
 " I am sure I hope so too," replied his mother. 
 " But now, Nelly, I've been so took up with the 
 boys, I've hardly had a look at you, and my Polly 
 too. How busy you must have been to make the 
 place look so nice ! " 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said her father ; " Nelly makes a 
 capital little housekeeper." 
 
 " Well, father," said Nelly, " you know mother 
 taught me, and I tried to do my best ; but I'm so 
 glad you've come back again. I got so afraid 
 sometimes that things would go wrong, but father 
 was very good and didn't scold, though I did spoil
 
 A Child's Present. 105 
 
 the dinner once, and clean forgot to boil the 
 potatoes another time." 
 
 " Accidents will happen sometimes with wiser 
 folks than my Nelly," said her mother ; " and I am 
 glad you managed so well." 
 
 Polly had been seated on her mother's lap, won- 
 derfully quiet for her ; but there being a slight lull 
 in the stream of conversation, she considered her 
 turn was fully come. She had been carefully 
 cuddling up something in her hand, but now she 
 seized her opportunity, and triumphantly produced 
 the kettle-holder. If it was not perfection in her 
 mother's estimation it decidedly was in her own. 
 It really was a very respectable-made affair for 
 such a little thing to do, and her mother praised 
 it, and gave the required promise, that she should 
 use that always at tea-time, and George undertook 
 to drive in a nail by the fire-place on which it was 
 to be hung. 
 
 There was quite a little feast for supper in honour 
 of mother's return ; and, under Mrs. Barker's super- 
 intendence, Nelly had made a beef-steak pudding, 
 which was pronounced a most successful perform- 
 ance, and gave great satisfaction ; so much so, 
 that it was all finished ; and Nelly was quite 
 delighted when her mother said she thought "in 
 time she might be a good cook."
 
 106 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " And now, father," said Jane, " let's have a 
 chapter before we goes to bed." 
 
 " Oh, yes," cried Polly, who was very wide 
 awake ; " and me and Nelly is going to sing such 
 a pretty hymn, Miss Wilson teached me ; she said 
 we was to sing it when you corned home." 
 
 " That was very good of her," said her mother ; 
 " but now father's going to read, so come, Polly, 
 and sit in my lap." 
 
 William read the fourteenth chapter of St. John, 
 and all afterwards kneeling down, they thanked 
 God for His mercy in bringing them together again 
 in health. It was a very simple but earnest prayer, 
 and concluded with a petition that what they asked 
 might be granted to them for Jesus' sake. The 
 girls then sang their hymn, to a tune Mrs. Wilson 
 had composed for that suitable for children : — 
 
 " Lord, I have passed another day, 
 
 And come to thank Thee for Thy care, 
 Forgive my faults in work or play, 
 And listen to my evening prayer." 
 
 It sounded very pretty from their sweet young 
 voices, and was followed by the evening hymn, in 
 which they all joined, so concluding a very happy 
 evening. 
 
 The next morning the family were early astir, 
 and Matthews and Jim went to their work, leaving
 
 "Not cut out for a Lady." 107 
 
 strong injunctions that mother was not to be 
 allowed to do too much. Jane laughed and said, 
 " She wasn't cut out for a lady quite, but she'd try 
 and see how lazy she could be.'' So when house- 
 hold matters were set pretty straight, she and 
 George sat down comfortably to consult over his 
 getting something to do. 
 
 " You see, mother, I can limp about pretty tidy, 
 though I'm pretty glad to rest my leg when I've 
 been standing a bit." 
 
 " I should think that's likely enough," said his 
 mother ; " why, you can't expect to get a broken 
 leg quite strong in six weeks." 
 
 " You don't think I need go back to Thompson's 
 yard, mother, do you ? I daresay master might 
 take me on again, but I get all of a tremble think- 
 ing of going up a ladder. I don't want to be a 
 sneak, mother," continued the poor boy, " and I'll 
 try it again if you think I ought to." 
 
 " No, I don't want you to, my chap," replied his 
 mother ; " I never rightly liked it for you. I think 
 we had better enquire about here for some light 
 work. Laws ! something is sure to turn up at the 
 right time. Maybe Mr. Miles will be going by in 
 a day or so ; he promised to give me a call when I 
 came out of the hospital, and he's a gentleman as 
 keeps his word ; and then who knows, he may
 
 108 Faithful in Little. 
 
 think of something as may be fit for you, he knows 
 such lots of people. You needn't be idle now 
 neither, you can do some writin' and summing. A 
 lad ain't worth much as can't do that." 
 
 " You're about right there, mother," replied 
 George ; " and if I can get Polly to sit quiet a bit, 
 perhaps I can get her to learn her letters ; do ye 
 hear, young 'un ? Come, and we'll play at school, 
 and you shall learn all about great A, little A, 
 bouncing B." 
 
 Brother George was a great favourite with the 
 little woman, as he was always ready to contrive 
 toys for her and carry her pick-a-back. The notion 
 of learning her letters seemed a brilliant idea ; and 
 she set to work with such a will, that she learnt 
 pretty well half the alphabet before dinner, and of 
 course was eager to exhibit her learning to her 
 father, who was very ready to praise the industry 
 of his little maid. 
 
 Mrs. Matthews paid a visit to her neighbour, 
 Mrs. Barker, to thank her for looking after the 
 children. She found Charlotte Tyler packing her 
 box ready to send off by the carrier to her new 
 place at Hampstead. Miss Wilson had taken 
 some pains to find a place for her that would not 
 be too trying. Mrs. King had given her a good 
 character, as an honest, hard-working girl, only she
 
 A New Place. 109 
 
 was careless. Mrs. King had blamed herself for 
 not looking to see that she used the kneeling-mat 
 she had provided for the housemaid's use ; but 
 really it did seem too bad, that girls were so 
 thoughtless and required looking after like babies. 
 
 " I am afraid," said she, " that the poor girl has 
 had a sharp lesson, and I hope she will profit by 
 it. My husband says she has been suffering from 
 what is known as the ' housemaid's knee ; ' and it 
 is generally brought on by kneeling on cold stones, 
 without taking proper care to protect the knee 
 sufficiently, by using a mat or carpet to kneel on." 
 
 Charlotte was really grateful to Miss Wilson for 
 the trouble she had taken about her, and promised 
 faithfully she would do her best and try to be more 
 careful in future. She told Jane she didn't know 
 but getting into the hospital had been the best 
 thing that could have happened to her ; for she'd 
 learnt a many things she never know'd afore, " be- 
 sides meeting with a dear good soul like you, Mrs. 
 Matthews. And here's Mrs. Barker, she's so good 
 to me ; why, she won't let me pay for my bed ! 
 only just for my board ! She says it ain't nice for 
 a girl to go to a place without a penny in her 
 pocket ; and my clothes used to cost such a deal, 
 I never could save anything." 
 
 "Ah," said her friend, "now you can work so
 
 no Faithful in Little. 
 
 much better, you will be able to make your own 
 clothes, besides mending up your old ones ; and 
 then you must try and lay by for a rainy day." 
 
 " Well, I'll see," replied Charlotte ; " there's one 
 thing, I'm not to have near the hard work I've been 
 used to, and that's a save to one's clothes. Mrs. 
 Burlton seems a nice lady, and the house looks 
 like print, and she was very particular I should 
 look neat, she said. I'm to have a holiday every 
 three months, and then I shall come and see you, 
 and tell you how I get on." 
 
 " Well, good-bye now," said Jane ; " I fancy it 
 must be tea-time. Good-bye, Mrs. Barker ; it was 
 good of you to take Charlotte in." 
 
 " Good evening, Mrs. Matthews, I'm glad to see 
 you looking better ; and as to Charlotte here," said 
 Mrs. Barker, " I'm sure she's very welcome, and 
 you'd have done the same twenty times over, so 
 don't go to say nothing more about that." 
 
 Some days went on, and nothing offered suitable 
 for George. Jane was getting anxious, and the 
 poor boy rather down-hearted. Money was scarce, 
 as the whole family had to depend on William's 
 wages and the trifle Jim earned. They had been 
 without lodgers for some little time, and of course 
 money did not go quite so far while Jane was from 
 home as she made it do when she was able to
 
 Family Wants. 1 1 1 
 
 manage herself. The children wanted shoes, and 
 many other little matters that mothers so well know 
 are needed in a family ; moreover, she was anxious 
 Nelly should have some more schooling. When 
 Mrs. Matthews made up her mind that such or 
 such a thing ought to be done, she rarely lost much 
 time in trying to do it. So, in the first place, she 
 told her husband he must look out for some 
 lodgers, for she was quite able to do for them now ; 
 and then, as she had not had a call from Mr. Miles, 
 she thought she would go and see him. She 
 remembered too that Miss Wilson had told her 
 she was welcome to a clothing ticket for the 
 clothing club to which Mrs. Wilson was secretary. 
 There were half-yearly sales of ready-made clothing 
 at cost price, which was a great advantage, and 
 Jane hoped to get some things that were much 
 wanted at the sale, which was near at hand. As 
 she could hardly walk so far herself, she got William 
 to take the girls with him and call on Mrs. Wilson 
 for the ticket. Nelly and Polly were always de- 
 lighted to have a walk with father, and they were 
 very anxious to know if they should see little Miss 
 Nelly again. 
 
 Mrs. Wilson gladly gave William the ticket for 
 Jane, and recommended her to be early at the 
 room on the day of the sale, as she would then
 
 ii2 Faithful in Little. 
 
 have the best chance of getting what she required. 
 The children were very disappointed to find Miss 
 Nelly had gone home ; her mamma had been to 
 London and taken her back with her ; but they 
 brought home a few rather dilapidated toys she 
 had left behind, and George promised to mend 
 them up as good as new. 
 
 " The missus doesn't look any great shakes," said 
 William ; " and I doubt she ain't well. She asked 
 kindly after you and the boy, and bid me say she 
 should expect you to go and see her as soon as you 
 could manage so far. Miss wasn't at home, gone 
 for a change into the country, her ma' said." 
 
 " I'm glad of it," said his wife, "only the missus 
 is never quite happy when she's away. Now, I 
 say, George, you clean yourself up tidy, and you 
 and I'll go and see Mr. Miles ; and if he can't tell 
 us of anything, why," said Jane, " we'll get father 
 to ask Mr. Sandars to take you in at the foundry. 
 He don't like to because he's been so kind to Jim, 
 and it looks as if we was imposing on him." 
 
 " Well, one wouldn't like to do that," replied 
 George ; "and Jim 'ud crow over me just a bit at 
 first, as I'm oldest." 
 
 " I don't see that 't would matter much, and 
 besides you ain't there yet, at any rate," said his 
 mother ; " only it's well to have two strings to
 
 Searching' for Work. 1 1 3 
 
 one's bow, and if one thing won't do we must try 
 another, and not sit still and suck our thumbs." 
 
 " You ain't one to do that, mother, not you," said 
 George laughing. 
 
 Mr. Miles was not a chemist, though he had a 
 shop. He was an elderly gentleman, of rather 
 quaint appearance, and practised medicine as an 
 apothecary ; that is, he gave advice both at home 
 and abroad, and kept a shop where he dispensed 
 his medicines and sold drugs to chance customers. 
 Apothecaries are an extinct race now ; but in his 
 day, Mr. Miles had an extensive practice, especially 
 amongst his poorer neighbours, and was a really 
 skilful man and very kind-hearted. 
 
 " Well, Mrs. Matthews, so you are in the land of 
 the living. I was going to look in upon you, but, 
 bless me ! what with children down with the 
 measles, and mothers upstairs with babies, I have 
 had a hard time of it lately. And now," continued 
 Mr. Miles, " how are you getting on ? You didn't 
 come home and find your children burnt to death, 
 or your husband run away? You are a lucky 
 woman then ! But what is this lad doing here ? 
 he does not look over-bright." 
 
 Jane thanked the doctor for his enquiries, and 
 
 then told him how she had been so bold as to 
 
 come and ask his advice about George ; for she 
 
 II
 
 H4 Faithful in Little. 
 
 did not think he was quite fit to go back to his old 
 trade. Mr. Miles agreed with her on that point, 
 and told her that he never ought to have been put 
 to it. 
 
 " You see, my good woman," said he, " breaking 
 his leg was a shock to his constitution, as we 
 doctors call it ; and if he was a fine young gentle- 
 man we should send him to the sea-side, and make 
 him take it easy for a bit, but of course you can't 
 afford to do that." 
 
 " No, indeed, sir," replied Jane, " that would be 
 impossible." 
 
 " Ah, well, you are not the only one that can't 
 get everything that seems to be good for you," said 
 Mr. Miles ; " and it's all for the best in the long 
 run, depend upon it, though it is hard to see it at 
 the time. Now, I will tell you what I can do for 
 you. I want a boy I can depend upon, to carry 
 out my medicine, clean boots and knives, and make 
 himself generally useful in the house, and stay in 
 the shop when he is not wanted elsewhere. It so 
 happens I had to turn my boy away yesterday, as 
 I found the young rascal playing pitch-and-toss in 
 the street, instead of delivering some medicine that 
 I was particularly anxious should reach a patient 
 as quickly as possible. Loitering on an errand is 
 an offence I never look over. So do you hear, my
 
 The ' Doctor s Boy." 1 1 5 
 
 lad? If you come here, you are to come when you 
 are called, and do as you are bid." 
 
 George looked at his mother, and then at Mr. 
 Miles, with an expression on his face that clearly 
 meant that never should there be occasion of com- 
 plaint on the score of his loitering over any work 
 or errand. 
 
 "What does your mother say?" said Mr. Miles, 
 replying to George's look. " I see you would not 
 say no. The work is really light, none of my 
 patients live at a distance ; and there is no one in 
 the house but myself and my old housekeeper, and 
 if the boy gets on her blind side she would be 
 rather apt to pet and spoil him. He would have 
 two shillings a-week and plenty of grub, and just 
 now," continued Mr. Miles, in an undertone to 
 Jane, " that is very important for him, and maybe 
 the means of making him grow into a strong and 
 healthy man." 
 
 " Indeed, sir," said Jane, " I don't know how to 
 thank you enough for your kindness ; and I'm sure 
 his father and me will be thankful to let him come, 
 and many thanks to you. It don't do to boast of 
 one's own flesh and blood, but I am sure you may 
 trust George to do as he is told, for he's a good boy 
 at home, and I never know'd him to tell a lie in 
 his life."
 
 1x6 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " Well, let him come then at once," said Mr. 
 Miles ; " I know you, and I have known the boy 
 off and on since he was a baby, so I needn't waste 
 your time or mine by asking for character. You 
 must keep him as tidy as you can, because the 
 'doctor's boy' is rather a cut above common errand 
 boys, and should behave as such." 
 
 " Well, you see, sir," said Jane, " he's a growing 
 lad, and it's hard to keep him in clean and decent 
 clothes, but I'll do my best to make him nice." 
 
 " Very well, and I shall expect you here to- 
 morrow morning by seven o'clock ; and in the 
 meantime I will talk to Mrs. Hudson, the house- 
 keeper, and she will show you what to do before 
 breakfast." 
 
 George said, "Thank ye, kindly, sir; and I'll be 
 sure to be here in time." And then he and his 
 mother returned home. 
 
 Jane was rather tired, though the distance was 
 very short. She had some misgivings that her 
 husband would not quite approve of George's en- 
 gagement, but did not say so to the boy himself; 
 for as she said to herself, " Time enough to damp 
 his spirits when it can't be helped ; and, maybe, 
 after all, his father may like the place well enough." 
 
 True enough, William did object, because he 
 didn't like boys dawdling about as errand boys, as
 
 Another Broken Leg: i\ y 
 
 it was a lazy kind of work, and it was better to 
 bring up a boy to a trade. 
 
 " Yes," replied his wife, " that's true enough, 
 Will ; but I think it won't do him harm for a bit, 
 and he may get a good friend in Mr. Miles." 
 
 " And you know, father," said George, who had 
 been a little cast down by his father's objection, " I 
 won't be a lazy boy : and only think ! suppose I 
 should break a leg again, shan't I be at the right 
 shop to get it mended ? " 
 
 Poor George ! many a true word is spoken in 
 jest. He had not been many months with Mr. 
 Miles, before he had a fall in the street over a 
 piece of orange peel, and did break his other leg. 
 As the accident happened close to Mr. Miles' door, 
 he was taken in there and his master set it for him, 
 and then sent for his mother. 
 
 " Here's a pretty kettle of fish, Mrs. Matthews," 
 said Mr. Miles. " I didn't bargain for that boy 
 getting into mischief again." 
 
 " Oh ! please, sir ! what is the matter ? " said 
 Jane. 
 
 " Matter ! why matter enough ; he's been and 
 broken his other leg : and it's my belief his bones 
 are so brittle that he will be always at it. But 
 there, don't take on about it," continued the kind- 
 hearted Mr. Miles, seeing Jane turned very white ;
 
 1 1 8 Faithful in Little. 
 
 " he is all right now, and my old woman has got 
 him all comfortable in bed, and now she will be 
 happy : only give Mrs. Hudson some one to nurse, 
 and she is in her glory. So now you go upstairs 
 and look after him yourself." 
 
 Jane was beginning to express her gratitude to 
 Mr. Miles, but he cut her short by opening the 
 door and pointing the way to the room George 
 was in. There she found him comfortably in bed, 
 eagerly looking for her. 
 
 " Oh, mother ! you will say I'm an unlucky chap : 
 but then, you see, this will just make my legs even, 
 so don't you be cast down — and the master was 
 so gentle with me," continued George, " and Mrs. 
 Hudson too, she's like a mother." 
 
 " My poor boy," said Jane, kissing him ; " if you 
 are unlucky one way, you are lucky in getting 
 good friends ; I'm sure I don't know how to thank 
 the master or Mrs. Hudson enough." 
 
 " Never you mind about that, Mrs. Matthews," 
 said Mrs. Hudson, who just entered ; " the boy's a 
 good boy, and I'll look after him, so don't fret, but 
 make your mind easy. I can't let you stay now, 
 for he must try and go to sleep." 
 
 George was obliged to say good-bye to his 
 mother, sending by her many messages to all at 
 home. Jane left the room with Mrs. Hudson, who
 
 Friends in Need. \ 19 
 
 told her that the boy had behaved so well — had 
 been so industrious and obliging, that she did not 
 think Mr. Miles would ever make up his mind to 
 part with him. 
 
 Time proved that Mrs. Hudson's opinion was 
 correct. When George got about again, Mr. Miles 
 proposed to his parents that he should stay with 
 him altogether. 
 
 " He has plenty of brains," said he, " and has 
 picked up a good deal of knowledge in the shop ; 
 and if he gives his mind to it, there is no reason 
 why he may not in time become a druggist's 
 assistant." 
 
 Matthews could not say anything against a plan 
 that promised so well for the future welfare of his 
 boy ; and thankfully acknowledged Jane had not 
 made a bad morning's work when she went to 
 consult Mr. Miles about getting a place for him. 
 
 " Yes," said Jane, " it just proves that missus was 
 right when she used to say, ' When you are in 
 doubt, do the best you can, and put your trust in 
 God.' And I'm sure we ought to be grateful to 
 Him for His goodness to us and our children." 
 
 And here we may take leave of Jenny Matthews 
 and her family, with a well-founded hope that God 
 who had led her safely so far on life's journey, 
 would be with her to the end. The Matthews
 
 120 FailJiful in Little. 
 
 family had neither wealth, rank, nor beauty, but 
 they had what was of more worth, for they had a 
 practical trust in God their Father ; and they loved 
 their neighbour, and, as far as was possible, lived 
 in peace with all men. 
 
 It may be interesting to know that Jane is not a 
 fictitious character, such as she was she is depicted 
 in these pages. These memorials of her have been 
 written to encourage those who are still fighting 
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 events recorded of her daily life, no astounding 
 adventures, but it is often the dull daily round of 
 duties that is so irksome and so full of temptations 
 to idleness, selfishness, and forgetfulness of God's 
 commandments. Of such earnest, right-minded 
 women as Jane Matthews (no matter in what 
 station of life their lot may be placed), it may truly 
 be said, " Her children arise up and call her 
 blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her." 
 
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