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ANNALS OF NEEDLEWOMEN. 219
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
• Chapter Iii. Poyebty Is, At All Times,...
work , and lier countenance was always so "bright and cheerful that we had nominated her " our sunbeam . "
Although she seemed to have a kind word for all her eomj > anions , there was a certain dignity of manner which caused some of them to
say , " Mrs . D held herself better than they . " Mrs . D would frequently come into my room on some errand , and then
linger to have a little chat , proving by her conversation a superiority -of mind over many of those by whom she was surrounded . She
became at last a privileged person in the household , and was sent for out of the workroom from time to time to fill little offices of
trust . Generally speaking , there was great courtesy shown her by the other workers ; butsad to saygreen-eyed jealousy at last
crept in among them ( on account , of the , few favors shown her ) _. It appeared that our old friend was in the habit of eating her
dinner alone , and remaining to wash , her hands when the rest had left the kitchenand I believe she was even further accused of bringing
her own towel , . Such exelusiveness gave rise to some unfeeling remarks one or two of the lowest class of her associates , and
among they nicknamed her , " my lady . " This she at first bore in silence , but once or twice I observed that the brightness had gone from her
face , and asked her the cause . She told me that " So and so " know ( mentioning in what their she had names offended ) "had them been , teasing and thoug her ; ht but _j _3 erhaps she did she not 'd
better keep at home . " I smiled at her fears , and said , " We couldn't get on without her ,
-and I would speak to her tormentors , " which I did , but this reproval only made matters worse ; and later , several times when .
. not Mrs . regain D it came without to work appealing , she found to the her matron seat . occupied , and could
One day , when thus supplanted in her favorite post , a regular r 8 toxm occurred on the question , and the old lady ' s hitherto
sneek submission under the taunts against her gentility gave _companions way , and , roused binforming to anger , she them returned , " That the she jeer was s of in her truth unkind a
ladborn and y bredand had never been accustomed to such low y associates as they , were ; but that in future she would rather
beg Retorts her followed bread than and put by up the with time their I entered low the and room vulg my _-ar remarks old friend . "
¦ -was in such a state , of excitement that no reason would calm her . The thrusts that had lately daily irritated her were now all repeated
demanded by her as that wrongs the offenders requiring should redress be , and dismissed sobbin from g violentl the y estab , she
lishment . I was much grieved that this state of affairs had not been put a
• stop to before such a climax had been reached ; now there was that evidentl it y was so much difficult anger to on render both sides justice , and without so many bein harsh g accuse remark d of s ,
partiality . I , however , supported Mrs . D ' s cause , b as 2 far as I
Annals Of Needlewomen. 219
ANNALS OF NEEDLEWOMEN . 219
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), June 1, 1862, page 219, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01061862/page/3/
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