a
sensible lad), 'Sally, all the servants in the town have six pound
and better, and you have as hard a place as any of 'em.' 'Did you
ever hear me grumble about my work that you talk about it in that
way? wait till I grumble,' says I, 'but don't meddle wi' me till
then.' So I flung off in a huff; but in the course of the evening,
Master Thurstan came in and sat down in the kitchen, and he's such
winning ways he wiles one over to anything; and besides, a notion had
come into my head--now, you'll not tell," said she, glancing round
the room, and hitching her chair nearer to Ruth in a confidential
manner; Ruth promised, and Sally went on:

"I thought I should like to be an heiress wi' money, and leave it all
to Master and Miss Faith; and I thought if I'd six pound a year I
could, maybe, get to be an heiress; all I was feared on was that some
chap or other might marry me for my money, but I've managed to keep
the fellows off; so I looks mim and grateful, and I thanks Master
Thurstan for his offer, and I takes the wages; and what do you think
I've done?" asked Sally, with an exultant air.

"What have you done?" asked Ruth.

"Why," replied Sally, slowly and emphatically, "I've saved thirty
pound! but that's not it. I've getten a lawyer to make me a will;
that's it, wench!" said she, slapping Ruth on the back.

"How did you manage it?" asked Ruth.

"Aye, that was it," said Sally; "I thowt about it many a night before
I hit on the right way. I was afeard the money might be thrown into
Chancery, if I didn't make it all safe, and yet I could na' ask
Master Thurstan. At last and at length, John Jackson, the grocer, had
a nephew come to stay a week with him, as was 'prentice to a lawyer
in Liverpool; so now was my time, and here was my lawyer. Wait a
minute! I could tell you my story better if I had my will in my hand;
and I'll scomfish you if ever you go for to tell."

She held up her hand, and threatened Ruth as she left the kitchen to
fetch the will.

When she came back, she brought a parcel tied up in a blue
pocket-handkerchief; she sat down, squared her knees, untied the
handkerchief, and displayed a small piece of parchment.

"Now, do you know what this is?" said she, holding it up. "It's
parchment, and it's the right stuff to make wills on. People gets
into Chancery if they don't make them o' this stuff, and I reckon Tom
Jackson thowt he'd have a fresh job on it if he could get it into
Chancery; for the rascal w