mother succeeding well in her
speculations. She had now a maid-servant, and her apprentices were
increased to twelve, and there was every appearance of brisk and full
employment. In 1803 I found that Virginia, who was then fourteen years
old, had left school. She had told my mother that, during the last
half-year, she had only repeated over again what she had learnt the
half-year before, and that she thought she could employ her time better
at home and assisting her. My mother was of the same opinion, and
Virginia now superintended the cutting-out department, and was very
useful. She said that the increase of business had been very great, and
that my mother could hardly execute the orders which she received.
There were now two servants in the house, and additional workwomen. My
mother also had very much altered in appearance: before, she was usually
clean and neat, now she was well if not elegantly dressed, and appeared
much younger and better looking. I must do her the justice to say that
prosperity had not spoiled but improved her: she was more kind and more
cheerful every time that I went to see her; and I may add that, with the
exception of a little necessary castigation to Miss Amelia and her
companions, she never scolded, and was kind to her servants. The last
year she had been even more successful, and was now considered the first
milliner in the town. I believed that she deserved her reputation, for
she had a great deal of taste in dress; and when she had gone upstairs
to decorate previous to the hour of arrival of her customers, and came
down in a handsome silk dress and an elegant morning cap, I would often
look at her with surprise, and say to myself, "Who would think that this
was my mother, who used to shove the broom at me in the little parlour
at Fisher's Alley?"

The reader may inquire how my father and mother got on after such an
alteration in her circumstances. I can only reply that they got on
better than they did before; for my mother, who did not wish my father's
company in the house, pointed out to him that, with so many young people
living with her, it would be very inconvenient if he came there in the
evenings to smoke his pipe, and that it would be better if he could
smoke and drink his beer anywhere else. My father perceived the
propriety of this, and assented with a good grace: my mother was very
liberal to him, and he was now enabled, when he chose, to ask a
companion or two to jo