d to convince them how much they would lessen
their distress, if they would contrive to deal with Mrs. Sparks for
ready money, rather than with Wills on long credit; those who
listened to her found their circumstances far more comfortable at
the year's end, while the rest, tempted, like some of their betters,
by the pleasure of putting off the evil day of payment, like them,
at last found themselves plunged in debt and distress. She took care
to make a good use of such instances in her conversation with the
poor, and by perseverance, she at length brought them so much to her
way of thinking, that Wills found it to be his interest to alter his
plan, and sell his goods on as good terms, and as short credit as
Mrs. Sparks sold hers. This completed Mrs. Jones's success; and she
had the satisfaction of having put a stop to three or four great
evils in the parish of Weston, without spending a shilling in doing
it.

Patty Smart and Jenny Rose were thought to be the two best managers
in the parish. They both told Mrs. Jones, that the poor would get
the coarse pieces of meat cheaper, if the gentlefolks did not buy
them for soups and gravy. Mrs. Jones thought there was reason in
this: so away she went to Sir John, the squire, the surgeon, the
attorney, and the steward, the only persons in the parish who could
afford to buy these costly things. She told them, that if they would
all be so good as to buy only prime pieces, which they could very
well afford, the coarse and cheap joints would come more within the
reach of the poor. Most of the gentry readily consented. Sir John
cared not what his meat cost him, but told Mrs. Jones, in his gay
way, that he would eat any thing, or give any thing, so that she
would not tease him with long stories about the poor. The squire
said he should prefer vegetable soups, because they were cheaper,
and the doctor preferred them because they were wholesomer. The
steward chose to imitate the squire; and the attorney found it would
be quite ungenteel to stand out. So gravy soups became very
unfashionable in the parish of Weston; and I am sure if rich people
did but think a little on this subject, they would become as
unfashionable in many other places. When wheat grew cheaper, Mrs.
Jones was earnest with the poor women to bake large brown loaves at
home, instead of buying small white ones at the shop. Mrs. Betty had
told her, that baking at home would be one step toward restoring the
good old manage