le of gentility, is made the deposit of all the money and most
especial valuables of the family.

"Now, Henry," says the mother, "look out and see if father is coming
along the street;" and she begins filling the little black tea kettle,
which is soon set singing on the stove.

From the inner room now daughter Mary, a well-grown girl of thirteen,
brings the baby, just roused from a nap, and very impatient to renew his
acquaintance with his mamma.

"Bless his bright eyes!--mother will take him," ejaculates the busy
little woman, whose hands are by this time in a very floury condition,
in the incipient stages of wetting up biscuit,--"in a minute;" and she
quickly frees herself from the flour and paste, and, deputing Mary to
roll out her biscuit, proceeds to the consolation and succor of young
master.

"Now, Henry," says the mother, "you'll have time, before supper, to take
that basket of clothes up to Mr. Sheldin's; put in that nice bill, that
you made out last night. I shall give you a cent for every bill you
write out for me. What a comfort it is, now, for one's children to be
gettin' learnin' so!"

Henry shouldered the basket, and passed out the door, just as a
neatly-dressed colored man walked up, with his pail and whitewash
brushes.

"O, you've come, father, have you? Mary, are the biscuits in? You may as
well set the table, now. Well, George, what's the news?"

"Nothing, only a pretty smart day's work. I've brought home five
dollars, and shall have as much as I can do, these two weeks;" and the
man, having washed his hands, proceeded to count out his change on the
ironing table.

"Well, it takes you to bring in the money," said the delighted wife;
"nobody but you could turn off that much in a day."

"Well, they do say--those that's had me once--that they never want any
other hand to take hold in their rooms. I s'pose its a kinder practice
I've got, and kinder natural!"

"Tell ye what," said the little woman, taking down the family strong
box,--to wit, the china tea pot, aforenamed,--and pouring the contents
on the table, "we're getting mighty rich, now! We can afford to get
Henry his new Sunday cap, and Mary her mousseline-de-laine dress--take
care, baby, you rogue!" she hastily interposed, as young master made a
dive at a dollar bill, for his share in the proceeds.

"He wants something, too, I suppose," said the father; "let him get his
hand in while he's young."

The baby gazed, with round, astonis