rewery was an
immoral place for a young girl to work in, and that if I remained there
I might lose my character and reputation. So I was taken away and put to
work in another place and then in another, but I am sure that I never
again found a place that I liked half as well as the dear old bottled
beer shop."

CHAPTER II

_Domestic Service_

When Marie was about fifteen years old, her mother took her away from
the factories and put her into domestic service. Factory work was
telling on the girl's health, and the night freedom it involved did not
please her mother. The young woman for some time had felt the charms of
associating with many boys and girls unchaperoned and untrammelled. She
liked the streets at night better than her home.

"When I got into the street," said Marie, "I felt like a dog let loose."
Of course, she hated to go into domestic service, where the evenings
would no longer be all her own, but her mother was still strong enough
to have her way.

"At that time," Marie wrote me, "I was a poor, awkward girl, somewhat
stupid, perhaps, but who would not be at my age and in the same
environment? I had received most of my education in the factories and
stores down-town, which was perhaps beneficial to everybody but me.
Even my mother, who in some ways was stupid and hard, noticed that this
sort of education was likely to have what is called a demoralizing
effect on me. So she induced a kind-hearted, philanthropic woman, Mrs.
Belshow, to take me as servant girl. Mrs. Belshow was high in affairs of
the Hull House Settlement Workers, and generously paid my mother one
dollar and a half a week for my services.

"Mrs. Belshow had a beautiful house. At first these fine surroundings,
to which I was entirely unused, made me more awkward than ever. But soon
I got accustomed to the place and became very serviceable to my
employer. I was lady's maid as well as general housekeeper, and my fine
lady duly appreciated my work, for she never asked me to do service
after half-past nine at night or before half-past five in the morning.
Besides, she allowed me Sunday afternoon free, but only to go to church
or Sunday School. For the honourable lady told me very kindly that she
did not wish to interfere with my religion in any way whatever. This
advice I accepted meekly, as I was greatly in awe of her, though I
should have much preferred to spend my half holiday in my home locality
and to dance there with other stu