say? It's all reight, isn't it? Shoo'll be one
amang th' rest."

Although Tip appeared to treat the event with such indifference, yet his
mind was ill at ease, for he well knew that his scanty means had barely
sufficed to find food for those dependent upon him before time, and an
additional mouth to provide for was by no means a thing to be desired.

There is an old saying, that God never sends a mouth without sending
something to put in it, and that is very true, but it is just possible
that the food sent to put in it is appropriated to some other mouth,
that has already got above its share. If this was not so, we should be
spared the pain of reading the heartrending accounts that are so
frequently brought under our notice of people being "starved to death."

It is not my intention to detail all the little incidents connected with
Sally's early years; suffice it to say that she was dragged up somehow,
along with her brothers and sisters, who as they got older and able to
work and earn a wage sufficient to support themselves, left one by one
to depend upon their own exertions, but never once giving a thought to
the debt of gratitude they owed to those, who had laboured so long, and
endured so many troubles for their sakes.

In time Sally was old enough to be put to some business, and as she had
all along been of a weaker constitution than her sisters, it was deemed
advisable to select some occupation for her of a lighter description.
Accordingly she soon found herself placed with a shopkeeper in the town,
to learn the mysteries of concocting bonnets, caps, &c. The money she
received at the commencement was very little, but doubtless was a just
equivalent for her labours; but her parents, whose income had decreased
with their increasing years, had often to suffer privations, in order to
dress Sally as became her position. Sally was naturally quick of
apprehension, and the old folks' hearts were often cheered by the
reports of her advancement.

"It maks me thankful monny a time i'th' day, Tip, to think ha Sally taks
to her wark; an' tha sees shoo's soa steady an' niver braiks ony time,
an' aw connot help thinkin, 'at may be, shoo'll net only be a comfort to
us in old age, but a varry gurt help."

"Shoo's steady enough," said Tip, "but aw dooant think its wise to build
ony castles i'th' air abaat her helpin us mich. Th' kitten seldom brings
th' old cat a maase. Nooan o' th' brothers has iver done owt for
us,--net 'at