diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:02:56 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:02:56 -0700 |
| commit | e594520f6b9917d71359ed8a966a5f89a57b79a0 (patch) | |
| tree | 9a5937ea42baa121ce711f507bf129968001211b | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35053-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 229136 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35053-h/35053-h.htm | 1703 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35053-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 91731 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35053-h/images/illus1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 105469 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35053.txt | 1497 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35053.zip | bin | 0 -> 30333 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 3216 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35053-h.zip b/35053-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f65f7ee --- /dev/null +++ b/35053-h.zip diff --git a/35053-h/35053-h.htm b/35053-h/35053-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba0d99d --- /dev/null +++ b/35053-h/35053-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1703 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + Sarah's First Start In Life, by Adelaide M. G. Campbell.. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Sarah's First Start in Life., by Adelaide M. G. Campbell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Sarah's First Start in Life. + +Author: Adelaide M. G. Campbell + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35053] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE. *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Mary Meehan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE.</h1> + +<h2>BY ADELAIDE M. G. CAMPBELL.</h2> + + +<h3>PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACT COMMITTEE.</h3> + +<h3>LONDON:<br /> +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,<br /> +NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.;<br /> +43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.<br /> +BRIGHTON: 127, North Street.<br /> +<span class="smcap">New York</span>: E. & J. B. YOUNG AND CO.</h3> + +<h3>PRINTED BY<br /> +WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,<br /> +LONDON AND BECCLES.</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>"LET HIM DOWN, MISS; IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW."</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE.</h2> + + +<p>"Now, Sarah, just you make haste with that kettle, and we will have a +nice cup of tea for dad when he comes in."</p> + +<p>"Dad's" real name was David Brown, and Sarah was his only child, just +turned eighteen. The Browns were a happy family, though poor, and they +put their trust in God, and did not worry about the morrow. Sarah had +just been telling her mother of a situation as kitchen maid that she had +been inquiring about, and had almost decided to take, but her father's +permission was still wanting. Mr. Brown was a cab driver, and found it +sometimes very hard work to make both ends meet, especially in the +winter time, when coals were a necessity and dear at best.</p> + +<p>This conversation took place on Christmas Day, and Brown had promised to +be home for tea, knowing how disappointed his wife and Sarah would feel +if he stayed out until his usual hour, which was half-past ten. Soon the +kettle was singing away merrily on the hob, and Sarah was toasting some +bread in front of a small bright fire, when a knock was heard, the door +opened, and a man about twenty-four came in. He was evidently not +unexpected, as four places were prepared at the table.</p> + +<p>Dick Bream was one of a large family, and very much devoted to Sarah; +they had told each other how they would work hard to earn some money and +set up house together, and Sarah was now longing to tell him about her +future situation. Dick was a footman, and had a very comfortable place +in Belgrave Square—he was getting on well, and his master had promised +to help him to get a place as upper servant in a year or two. He and +Sarah kissed each other heartily under the misletoe, which was over the +door, and Dick shook hands with Mrs. Brown, and they were beginning to +talk about Sarah's future when Mr. Brown's cheerful voice was heard +calling her to hold the horse, while he got down from the box. Up sprang +Sarah, out she ran and stood at Bobby's head, patting and soothing him +in his impatience to get to the warm stable and clean hay. Mr. Brown +took the horse and harness to the stable, and Sarah held the lantern +whilst he wiped down Bobby.</p> + +<p>"Well, father," said Sarah, "tea is ready, your slippers are by the +fire, and I have some news to tell you; but you shan't hear it till you +have drunk a hot cup of tea and eaten one of my best baked cakes."</p> + +<p>The father patted her cheek, kissed his wife, and, drawing off his coat, +sat down at the head of the table.</p> + +<p>After the grace was reverently said by Sarah, Mr. Brown said—</p> + +<p>"Well, what is this wonderful news?"</p> + +<p>Sarah looked across the table at Dick, whom Mrs. Brown had told about +the situation, and smiled, whilst her mother began telling the father +about Sarah's plan. Mr. Brown looked grave, and slowly shook his head +when he heard that a departure was meditated.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, I won't have my girl going out into the world and becoming +independent and looking down on her old dad, when she sees the way fine +folk treat one another;" so said Brown, and he evidently thought the +discussion was at an end, as he got up, pulled out his pipe and invited +Dick to take a turn.</p> + +<p>But Sarah had set her heart on helping her family, and was not thus to +be set aside.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dad," she exclaimed, "how can you think such dreadful things about +me? Can I ever forget how you and mother have worked for me since I was +a baby? I only wish to help you, and mother is willing if you agree."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown was silently wiping away a few tears with her apron, and Dick +was comforting her with promises to do what he could to smooth matters.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Brown, "I'll talk it over with your mother, and tell +you to-morrow what we think." With this scanty comfort Sarah was obliged +to content herself. Meanwhile Mr. Brown and Dick went outside to smoke, +and naturally they began talking about Sarah's plan.</p> + +<p>"I don't think my girl is fitted for service," said Mr. Brown; "she +ought to stay at home and help her mother."</p> + +<p>"But," interrupted Dick, "Sarah is a big girl now, and you cannot expect +her always to stay at home; and what could she do if she were left +without the experience service is sure to give her?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown saw this, but was still undecided as to what should be done; +but at last, after a little more persuasion, he agreed to let Sarah try +service for a year. In saying good night Dick just whispered to her to +be quite easy, as it was all right; so, like a wise girl, she went to +bed, and in her prayers asked God to bless her future career and comfort +her father. The next day at breakfast, which was at 6.30, Mr. Brown +began by solemnly announcing that he had a thing or two to tell his +family; so, with expectant eyes fixed on him, he said that Sarah might +take the situation for a year, and went on to tell her of all the +temptations and troubles she would meet with in service, and his parting +advice was, "Honesty is the best policy."</p> + +<p>After Mr. Brown had left for his day's work, and Sarah had cleared away +the breakfast things and cleaned their three rooms, she put on her +neatest dress and went off to ask when she might go into her situation +and begin her new work. She took an omnibus to Sloane Square, and from +there walked to Eaton Place, and went up to a big house, where she rang +the bell, where, after the door was opened, she was shown into a little +anteroom. After waiting half an hour a messenger was sent to conduct her +to Lady James, her future mistress. Sarah felt very nervous, as, +although she had already had an interview, this was the final one, and +much depended on it. Lady James was busy writing letters, but when she +saw Sarah, she put down her pen and turned to her with a bright smile +and a few kind words of encouragement. After ten minutes had been passed +in asking and answering questions, Lady James told Sarah she thought she +would suit, and wished her to begin her work in three days. Poor Sarah +thought this was rather too quick, but said she would certainly try and +be ready; so she went out of the house feeling very important at the +idea of at last going into service.</p> + +<p>Of course the next few days were very busy ones, as she had to make two +new print dresses and neatly mend her clothes. Mrs. Brown was very +unhappy at the idea of losing her only child, but tried to make the last +few days cheerful, and took as much of the housework off her hands as +possible. At last only the good-byes remained to be said. Poor Mrs. +Brown was sobbing bitterly, and Mr. Brown was fussing over Sarah's box +and bag, whilst Dick, who was going with her as far as the house, was +busy harnessing Bobby. The good-byes were at last over, Mrs. Brown was +all but kissed away, and Sarah jumped into her father's cab, which was +to take her to Eaton Place. Dick and Sarah were not so sad as the mother +and father, for they felt that this was at last a step towards getting +on in life, and, after all, "nothing venture nothing have."</p> + +<p>Eaton Place was soon reached, and Mr. Brown pulled up at the door of the +house where Sarah was to begin her new duties. The bell was rung, and +the door was opened by a footman in silk stockings and powdered hair. Of +course Sarah was much too frightened to ask this grand man what she +should do, so she made Dick ask him if he might take her box upstairs, +and whilst Sarah and her father were saying the real good-bye, Dick and +the footman went up to the attic with the box. Dick, who was a friend of +his, told him a little about Sarah, that this was her first place, and +that he and she were engaged, etc. Mr. Brown had just driven off when +Dick arrived downstairs to take his departure also.</p> + +<p>"Now, miss," said Charles the footman, "will you come downstairs and +have a cup of tea and see all your future friends?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to very much," said Sarah; "but I must take off my +jacket, and where can I put it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Charles, "we arn't too particular, leave it anywhere."</p> + +<p>Now, Sarah had been brought up, quite properly, to think tidiness one of +the greatest virtues; however, she said nothing, and trotted happily +away with her jacket on her arm.</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the dark staircase, her jacket was rather roughly taken +from her by Charles and flung on the dresser. "Well," thought Sarah, "if +this is the way my things are to be treated, they won't last me long, +and how can I get others?" However, the sound of tea-cups and laughter +soon drove such thoughts out of her head, and she was shown into a +fairly large room, in which about five servants were talking very +merrily, and altogether making rather an unnecessary noise. Directly the +two appeared there was a dead silence, and one of the housemaids called +out to Sarah to come and sit beside her. She took the offered place, and +had only just seated herself when she was asked all sorts of questions, +as <i>e.g.</i> "How long have you been in service?" "What wages did you get?" +and many others of the same kind. Sarah at last found time to answer all +these various questions, which she did with her usual good temper, and, +during loud exclamations, managed to tell them a little about her former +life. She did not quite like all this catechising, but not wanting to be +thought disagreeable, made the best of it. When she had finished, Edith, +the housemaid, began at once to tell Sarah some of the trials of their +downstairs life.</p> + +<p>She told her that the cook, who was then in the kitchen, was very cross, +and would be sure to give her a lot to do, and as she did not like any +kind of dirty work herself, the kitchen-maid had to do it all, and keep +the kitchen spotless. Sarah was rather frightened by this account of the +cook, and begged Edith to tell her more; but she had some work to do, +and could not stop to chat any longer. In a few minutes in came Mrs. +Ellis, the cook, and told Sarah to hurry up as there were some pots to +wash, and poor Sarah had to gulp down her cup of tea and eat her bread +and butter very fast.</p> + +<p>"Please, ma'am, may I first go and take off this dress?" asked Sarah, in +a timid little voice.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Ellis; "can't you pin that one up? It ain't so grand, +you need not take such care of it."</p> + +<p>Now, it was Sarah's best dress, so she thought this was very unkind, and +told the cook she had no better, and was afraid of spoiling the neatest +she had.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Ellis, "go up, and make haste; I can't have you +wasting your time, there's enough to be done without that."</p> + +<p>Sarah flew upstairs, not forgetting to take up her jacket on the way, +and before the cook had found time to grumble at her absence was down +again, dressed in a neat cotton gown and apron. Mrs. Ellis showed her +where to find the pots, pans, hot water, and washing-up cloths, and +Sarah set to work with might and main; but it was not so easy as she +expected. First, some of the spots on the coppers would not come off, +then the cloths got so wet there was nothing to dry up with, and +altogether when Sarah had cleaned a dozen she felt her arms ache as they +had never ached before. All at once she heard Mrs. Ellis calling her, so +she ran into the kitchen where she found a great fuss going on, as +dinner was being dished up, and Mrs. Ellis had burnt her hand badly in +pouring out the soup.</p> + +<p>Sarah was very sorry about this accident, and anxious to do all she +could to help; but being new, and not knowing the ways of the lower +regions, she was not able to be of much use, but she was most helpful in +carrying the dishes up to the dining-room door, and so saved a little of +the footman's time, who was in consequence very grateful. She then went +upstairs to brush her hair and make herself tidy, and when she came down +found, to her surprise, that supper had been ready some time. Edith +found room for her and saw she had all she wanted, and introduced her to +the other servants, whom she had not seen at tea, and she was wished +success in her new career. After supper was over Sarah hoped she would +be able to go to bed, but found that all the dinner things had to be +washed up and put into their proper places, so she began her work at +once, and soon Edith good-naturedly offered to help her, both making +great friends over the work.</p> + +<p>At half-past ten all was finished, and Edith conducted her to the small +but airy bedroom they were to share. Sarah now had to finish her +unpacking—her father's, mother's, and Dick's photographs taking a most +prominent position on the little chest of drawers. Edith naturally +wanted to hear all about Dick, and Sarah was delighted to find so +sympathetic a friend to discuss him with. Edith soon tumbled into bed, +but Sarah folded her things tidily up on a chair, and then opened her +Bible to read her chapter. Sarah's mother was a very religious woman, +and knew that the Bible was always a friend in time of need, so she had +made Sarah promise never to omit reading a few verses after her day's +work was over. In her prayers, Sarah thanked God for giving her so +comfortable a home, and asked Him to soften her temper, which she knew +would often get the upper hand. The light was soon put out, and all was +quiet, and she remembered nothing more till she saw Edith standing +half-dressed by her bedside, telling her to hurry or else Mrs. Ellis +would be grumbling at her the first day. Sarah found that last night's +experience was but an instance of what her daily work would be.</p> + +<p>After she had been a month in her place, she ventured to ask Mrs. Ellis +whether she might go and see her mother, and the cook, who had grown +quite fond of her for her cheerful and helpful ways, willingly gave her +the required permission. If only people would learn how a little oil of +cheerfulness eases the wheels of life surely they would cultivate it +more. Troubles come quite readily enough without making them, and the +sunshine of a bright countenance often remedies what no earthly doctor +can cure. Sarah finished all her work, put on her hat, her neat black +dress and jacket, and went off in great spirits to see her home.</p> + +<p>She found a great difference in her mother, who had evidently only just +got up, as her hair was not done, and the room, although fairly tidy, +was not so neat as Sarah had been accustomed to see it. Mrs. Brown told +her that she had been very poorly ever since her departure, and really +if it had not been for Mrs. Carrol, she would never have managed to get +on as well as she had.</p> + +<p>Sarah was very distressed at this account, and was just beginning to +tell her mother about her life, when in came Mrs. Carrol to get tea +ready.</p> + +<p>She was not at all Mrs. Brown's style, being very rough and dictatorial, +and had not learnt that the power of gentleness is irresistible. Mrs. +Carrol was a widow, her husband having been killed down a coal-mine in +Wales, she had not married again, but was very fond of both Mrs. and Mr. +Brown, probably finding in them the qualities most missing in herself, +<i>e.g.</i> gentleness and humility. Mrs. Carrol did not seem best pleased at +finding Sarah with her mother.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Brown, you know you ought not to be out of bed. Why didn't Sarah +make you lie down again? What's the use of a daughter if she don't take +care of her mother?"</p> + +<p>Poor Sarah was so surprised at this onslaught that she could not find +words to defend herself—so, wisely, said nothing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown went meekly back to bed whilst Mrs. Carrol made her a nice +cup of tea and Sarah prepared the toast. Soon mother and daughter were +left alone again, and Sarah began talking about her situation and her +hopes of soon being able to send her mother a little money. Mrs. Brown +was quite delighted at having her daughter near her again, and they had +so much to tell each other that when Sarah next looked at the old cuckoo +clock in the corner it was almost eight, and time to return to Eaton +Place. She gave her mother a good hug, and told her to be sure and write +if she got worse.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately Mr. Brown had not yet come home from his work, so poor +Sarah had to go back without having been able to inquire from him about +her mother's health.</p> + +<p>Sarah was often made uneasy by the very casual way in which Sunday was +regarded. Sometimes she was able to induce Edith to go to church with +her, but generally she went alone, and she knew that few, if any, of the +servants thought it necessary to attend. Sarah looked forward from +Sunday to Sunday; she forgot all her petty troubles in church, and +always found some golden word of comfort to help her through the week.</p> + +<p>Six months had passed and she was still in the same place, having made +great friends with the other servants, and earned a golden opinion from +Mrs. Ellis, which naturally pleased her mistress, Lady James, very much.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown had been steadily getting weaker and weaker, till one day +when Sarah was, as usual, washing up, the footman came to tell her that +she was wanted in the servants' hall. She was surprised at this summons, +and still more so when she found Dick waiting for her, especially as she +had seen him only a week ago.</p> + +<p>"Well, Dick, whatever is the matter?" asked Sarah. "Why do you look so +sad? Make haste and tell me."</p> + +<p>Poor Dick, who had come to tell Sarah of her mother's death, did not +quite know how to begin, so he asked how long it was since she had seen +her, and was told a fortnight.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Dick, "Mrs. Brown was taken suddenly worse, and——" Here +poor Dick broke down, and naturally Sarah had little difficulty in +supplying the rest, which Dick was obliged to tell her was only too +true. Sarah was in great distress, and really did not know what she was +saying. She kept reproaching herself for having omitted to write +oftener, also, for ever having left her mother, and especially for not +having tried to see more of her.</p> + +<p>Dick told her all he could, assuring her that Mrs. Carrol had been very +kind, and had done all that was possible to ease her mother in the +household affairs.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sarah," said Dick at last, "can you get your things and come home +for a bit, as your father will want you sadly?" Sarah went to her friend +the cook, told her of her trouble, and asked for two days absence. Mrs. +Ellis went upstairs to see if she could find her mistress, and having +done so, obtained not only a day or two, but a week. Sarah was crying so +very bitterly she could hardly pack the few necessary things; but, with +Edith to help her, she and Dick went off to Mr. Brown's home. There they +found all in great confusion, neighbours whispering outside the house, +and women trying to keep the children from screaming and making a noise.</p> + +<p>When Sarah and Dick appeared, there was a general silence, and as she +went into the house many of her former friends tried to say a few +sympathetic words and press her hand.</p> + +<p>Sarah tried to thank them, but only tears would come, and she hurried +upstairs to comfort her unhappy father. Mr. Brown silently held out his +hand in welcome and sobbed bitterly, whilst Dick remained below, not +knowing whether to go in or stay outside. However, he at last went into +the house and found, as he expected, Sarah and her father taking their +last silent farewell at their loved one's bedside.</p> + +<p>The days that followed were naturally very sad, and Sarah was thankful +there was so much to be done, knowing that there would be only too much +time for brooding afterwards.</p> + +<p>The funeral took place three days after Sarah's return home, and, +although Sarah followed the beautiful service as attentively as she was +able, her heart was too sorrowful to receive so much comfort from it as +is possible. A great many of the neighbours attended to show this last +mark of respect to their dead friend. Mrs. Carrol had offered on the way +back to help Sarah to tidy the house, and she gladly accepted the offer, +as, having been so long away, she did not know where the things had been +kept, although she did not quite like the thought of anybody touching +her mother's things except herself. Mr. Brown was going to take his cab +out the next day as usual, to see if he could earn a little money, as +the six months' illness had made a great hole in his earnings, but Sarah +besought him to stay and talk to her a little, which, after some demur, +he was willing to do, and they sat down to breakfast, not trusting +themselves to speak of yesterday's sad events. The week soon passed, and +Sarah had to return once more to her work, but this time she had great +doubts in her mind as to whether she ought not to stop and take care of +her father; but Mr. Brown told her so plainly that it helped him more to +know that she was comfortable and earning some money, that for the time +being she gave up the idea.</p> + +<p>All the servants were glad to have her among them again, and tried to +tell her how much they felt for her, and Lady James sent for her to say +that if she would like to go twice a week to see Mr. Brown she might +take an hour off her work, for which kindness Sarah was very grateful.</p> + +<p>After this permission, Sarah went very often to see her father, and +found that Mrs. Carrol made him so comfortable and cheered him so much +that she really need have no compunction about having left him. The +house always seemed to be tidy and clean, and although nobody seemed to +think this at all extraordinary, Sarah sometimes felt an uneasy +sensation creeping over her; but Mrs. Carrol was always so kind that she +put these thoughts away from her, as being disloyal to her father.</p> + +<p>One day her mistress had taken her three boys, aged six, seven, and +eight, to the Zoological Gardens in honour of Sir Alfred's birthday, and +Sarah was given a whole day's holiday. She had written to Dick to ask +whether he could get a day off and take her for a walk, and, as he bore +a very good and steady character, his master let him have the day, +knowing he was engaged to Sarah.</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock they started for their trip, and Dick suggested going +in a penny steamer down the Thames, to which Sarah joyfully agreed. The +day was very fine and warm, and when they landed at Greenwich they +bought some ginger beer and buns, and had quite a feast on the grass +under some shady trees.</p> + +<p>They naturally had a great deal to tell each other, and discussed many +plans for the future. Dick told Sarah that his master was thinking of +taking a house in the north of Scotland for a year, and he wanted Dick +very much to go with him. Sarah was very distressed about this, as she +thought a year a very long time, and in her heart of hearts she was +afraid Dick might get to like some one else better than herself.</p> + +<p>Dick read her thoughts fairly accurately, and assured her she need never +think he would forget her, as he felt certain there was no nicer or +prettier girl all the world over, and Sarah was too pleased at this +speech to think of further objections. At last they had to turn +homewards, and on the steamer they spoke but little, each wondering when +and where they should meet again, little thinking how much was to happen +before a year was over.</p> + +<p>Walking down the Embankment towards Westminster Sarah all at once met +her father, who was so deep in conversation with his companion, Mrs. +Carrol, that he did not see Sarah till they were close to each other.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father," she said, "I am very glad to see you, and really you look +quite well and cheery again."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown was equally surprised to see Sarah, and rather stammered out +his welcome. The girl turned to Mrs. Carrol and said—</p> + +<p>"Well, Mrs. Carrol, how are you; thank you so much for looking after my +father so well. I really don't know what he would have done without +you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown here interrupted Sarah by saying: "Yes, she has indeed earned +our thanks, and she has promised I need never do without her again—in +fact, we were married this morning, and we were on our way to see you +and ask for your congratulations."</p> + +<p>Sarah could hardly believe her ears, and showed very plainly that such +was the case, whilst Dick stood by in shocked silence.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father!" cried Sarah, "do you mean to say you have already +forgotten my dear mother? Why, it is barely four months since we lost +her. I don't think you have behaved well to me in this matter. Surely I +ought to have been told before this last step was taken."</p> + +<p>Mr. Brown gazed in silence at Sarah's flushed and angry face, not +knowing what to say. He managed at last, however, to get in a few words +of excuse between her breathless expostulations.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sarah, you seem to forget how lonely I have been all this time, +and if I choose to marry again I need not first ask my daughter. I +always knew this idea of going out to service would do you no good."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carrol, who must now be called Mrs. Brown, had up to the present +said nothing, but she told Sarah she hoped to make her and her father +comfortable, and that in time they would be good friends. Sarah answered +that she did not think this was very likely, as she did not like +underhand ways, and she was in fact getting so angry that Dick thought +it high time to take her away, in which effort he was at last +successful.</p> + +<p>"Well, really, Sarah," said Dick, "I do think you have spoken rather too +unkindly to your father. Surely if he chooses to marry again so soon it +is his own business. Of course, I perfectly understand your feelings, +but you must not forget that he is still your father, and you should +never forget to show respect to him. You did not show the Christian +spirit I hoped to see, and you have certainly done no good by losing +your temper."</p> + +<p>Sarah had been feeling very sad and angry during Dick's little lecture, +and as she still considered herself quite in the right, she would not +confess even to Dick that she had behaved hastily.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Sarah, "you needn't begin to scold me; you won't have me +much longer to scold, and I do think father ought to have told me +first."</p> + +<p>Now, Dick saw quite well that it was no use arguing with her when she +was in this mood, so when they arrived at Lady James's house he bade her +rather a cold farewell, and promised to come and see her for the last +time on Sunday, before he went to Scotland.</p> + +<p>Sarah went straight up to her room, and throwing herself on her bed wept +bitterly. She felt very lonely, and, now that even Dick was vexed with +her, she began to think that her behaviour was not all it should have +been. She knew she had quite lost her temper and behaved badly, and +although we may say she had some excuse, it is always a silly thing to +do. Nobody will respect a person who gives way to their evil passions, +and Sarah felt that for the time being she had estranged her father and +Dick and greatly lowered herself in their opinion. She fell on her knees +and begged God with might and main to forgive her, and rose in a few +minutes feeling calmer and happier.</p> + +<p>The servants' supper-bell had rung, but Sarah did not feel inclined to +talk and laugh with the others, so she stayed where she was and occupied +herself with her thoughts, which were anything but happy ones. The next +day was very wet and gloomy and quite in accordance with Sarah's +feelings, as the more she thought over the previous day's events the +angrier she felt with herself, knowing that, after all, it did not much +matter to her if her father were married, as she was always in service, +and hoped soon to be married herself.</p> + +<p>She also could not help remembering how, in spite of herself, she had +been struck by Mrs. Carrol's much softened voice and manner, and she +really began to think that, after all, it might be for the best.</p> + +<p>The days dragged slowly on, till at last Sunday arrived, and Sarah had +decided to make her peace with Dick, not liking him to go on his journey +feeling unhappy about her. Six o'clock was the hour he generally came, +and she rushed upstairs to see that her hair was tidy, and had taken the +opportunity of pinning some geraniums into her dress, which had been +sent downstairs from the drawing-room to be thrown away. Seven o'clock +came, but did not bring Dick, and Sarah was tortured with melancholy +thoughts as to whether he had decided he would not see her till she had +made her peace with her father. At last she was obliged to give up all +idea of his coming, as it was now ten o'clock, and very miserable were +her feelings when she crept into bed and sobbed herself to sleep.</p> + +<p>At the end of the week Sarah, who generally distributed the servants' +letters, was much surprised at finding one for herself.</p> + +<p>Now, everybody likes to receive letters from their friends, and for +Sarah, who had never had many, the excitement was great; in fact, she +quite forgot all about her father's sudden marriage and Dick's +departure, as well as the week's misery, and, getting into a corner by +herself, she opened the letter and began to read, and this is what she +read—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Sarah,</span></p> + +<p>"I am afraid you must be very angry with me for not having +turned up on Sunday, but on Friday night master told me he +wanted me to pack up everything as we were to go on Saturday by +the night mail to Scotland, so I really could not get a minute +to go and see you. I hope this will find you well as it leaves +me, and happier than when I saw you last. I am very happy here, +and it is a beautiful place, but a long way off from you. Write +to me soon, as I will also to you.</p> + +<p>"Your affectionate friend,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dick</span>."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Sarah was very much relieved by the contents of this letter, and decided +that she would go and see her father as soon as she could. This +opportunity soon occurred, and Sarah found him and her stepmother having +their supper together. Mr. Brown looked rather sheepishly at his +daughter, not quite knowing in what frame of mind she intended to make +this visit, but he soon saw that she really was doing her best to set +matters straight again.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown offered her some tea, which Sarah gladly accepted, and they +all three talked cheerfully about future plans and past events, not +touching, however, on the two chief changes in the family.</p> + +<p>At last she left them alone together, and the door had hardly closed +behind her when Sarah was on her knees by her father's chair, asking him +to forgive and forget all the unkind speeches she had made about his +marriage. Mr. Brown was delighted at the reconciliation, as he loved his +daughter most dearly, and they spent one of the happiest hours together +they had ever passed.</p> + +<p>Sarah went with a light heart back to her work, feeling that certainly +peace was better than strife, and wondering how she had managed to keep +up the disturbance for so long.</p> + +<p>Many weeks elapsed with no noteworthy events, and Sarah felt quite happy +and established in her situation, knowing that she was earning enough +money to prevent her from being any sort of burden to her father or +stepmother.</p> + +<p>Lady James was at this time rather delicate, having had a bad attack of +rheumatic fever, from which she had, however, almost recovered.</p> + +<p>One day there was to be a large dinner-party in the house, and Edith, +Sarah's friend, the housemaid, was going to look over the staircase at +all the smart dresses, and had promised to tell Sarah, who could not be +spared, all about them. Eight o'clock arrived, and Edith ran upstairs to +watch the ladies come, and go down to dinner. She had never seen so many +grand-looking people, and her heart was filled with longing desire to +possess only one dress half as beautiful as the ones she saw. There was +her mistress looking lovely in deep pink satin, her wonderful hair +crowned by a tiara of diamonds and pearls.</p> + +<p>When the dining-room door had shut them off from Edith's eyes, she went +downstairs into the drawing-room, and, putting all thoughts of dresses +and diamonds out of her head, busied herself in smoothing the covers, +shaking up the cushions, and putting chairs and sofas straight again.</p> + +<p>When her work was over, she joined the others downstairs, not at all +objecting to taste some of the dishes which came down from the dinner +party.</p> + +<p>At half-past eleven all the visitors had left, and Sarah was lazily +sitting down chatting away to the other servants, who all felt that they +deserved a little rest after such a busy evening. At last Sarah and +Edith took up their candles to go to bed, leaving the others still +talking. On the way Sarah heard Sir Alfred and Lady James going upstairs +to their rooms, so she told Edith she was going to have one look at her +beautiful mistress, and Edith had better come too, so they went up by +the back staircase and peeped through the swing door.</p> + +<p>Sir Alfred was behind his wife, when suddenly Edith gave a loud cry, and +rushed downstairs again before Sarah had time to see what had happened.</p> + +<p>Sir Alfred flung open the door and demanded an explanation of this +singular conduct, when again a cry was heard, and this time it was +clearly that of "fire." Sir Alfred, grasping the situation in a minute, +bade his wife fly down to the bedroom, off the drawing-room, rouse their +two boys, who slept there, and tell the women-servants to leave the +house instantly, as he already judged the fire to be of considerable +dimensions. He, meanwhile, would rush upstairs to fetch Charlie, who +slept in the nursery.</p> + +<p>Sir Alfred very soon found this to be utterly impossible, as when he +opened the door he was met by volumes of smoke, and found the nursery to +be one mass of flames. In a minute all was confusion, men-servants +rushing about trying to save what valuables they could from the +bedrooms, which were still untouched. The inmates were now assembled in +front of the house, gazing horror-struck at the flames, as they +illumined the darkness and filled the upper windows with their glare. Of +course the whole neighbourhood was roused, and the wildest excitement +prevailed.</p> + +<p>The policemen were shouting directions, which were as far as possible +obeyed, and the suspense was at last broken by the cry of, "Out of the +way; here come the fire engines." The horses dashed up, panting and +foaming, and all was instantly discipline and order, the walls in a +minute were swarming with firemen, and water was flooding the street. +But who can describe the feelings of Sir Alfred, who dared not tell his +wife of his unsuccessful attempt to rescue Charlie. Hardly master of his +senses, he rushed madly from room to room in the vain hopes of +discovering the child, until with difficulty, for the whole staircase +was now rapidly becoming one mass of flames, he escaped into the street.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a universal murmur, and a voice shouted out, "Hold +on, miss. Don't look down; we'll get you."</p> + +<p>These words were addressed to Sarah, who had suddenly appeared on the +drawing-room balcony, with Charlie peacefully sleeping in her arms.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he awoke and began to cry, but poor Sarah was in no state of +mind to comfort him. What ages it seemed! How slowly help came towards +her, and how very heavy Charlie was getting!</p> + +<p>Her brain seemed reeling, and her thoughts surged up, reproaching her +for many a thing she had never thought twice about.</p> + +<p>She uttered a prayer for help, and clenched her teeth, determined to +hold out till relief came; and relief came but slowly. At last, when she +felt it impossible to hold this heavy burden any longer, a man's voice +called out to her, "Let him down, miss; it's all right now." But Sarah +would not let Charlie out of her arms, fearing the effects which the +awful sight of the flames might have on his already highly excitable +brain; so she clutched him tighter, and the only thing to be done was to +lift them over the balcony down together.</p> + +<p>The crowd—for where is there ever a greater crowd than near a +fire?—cheered loudly; but Sarah had fainted away, and never heard how +heartily it sympathized.</p> + +<p>Sir Alfred, who had gazed up horror-struck at the brave girl, was +jealously holding the boy in his arms, evidently looking for the marks +of fire which he was certain must be upon him. Charlie was, however, +quite unhurt, and after giving him to a friend to hold, he knelt down by +Sarah, who was still insensible, and began trying to restore her. A +neighbour offered to take her into their house, and gratefully accepting +this kindness, Sir Alfred and a fireman carried her indoors.</p> + +<p>The fire was, by now, gradually getting under control, and it only +remained to house the inmates, who, having fortunately not gone to bed, +were still in their everyday clothes, Lady James and her little one +being the only exceptions. Everybody was anxious to do their best for +the James family, who were great favourites with all who knew them, and, +by half-past one, all were settled somewhere for the night.</p> + +<p>Now we must go back to the origin of the fire.</p> + +<p>Master Charlie, "Baby Charlie," as he was called, being the youngest, +had determined to have a little fun; so, after dinner was served, and +his nurse was safely downstairs at her supper, he got out of bed, lit a +candle, and began reading a book his father had just given him, which +was very exciting. Curiously enough he came to a part of the book where +there had also been a dinner-party, and the children of the house had +gone down to dessert. Charlie began thinking it was rather hard luck he +had not been allowed to see something of the party, and he wondered in +his little brain whether he could not manage it, so he put the candle +and the book on the floor near the table, as he knew he was doing wrong, +and did not want them to be seen, and crept stealthily downstairs.</p> + +<p>He found to his surprise that the drawing-room door was open, and the +room itself was empty, as Sir Alfred and Lady James, whose guests had +just left, were playing a game of billiards in the billiard-room, so as +he had no idea how late, or how early it was, he went behind a screen +near the balcony window and sat down to wait. But it was in reality +about eleven, all the ladies had left, and the servants were very busy +downstairs. As it was long past Charlie's bedtime he fell soundly +asleep. Now, the nurse, who had only been a short time in Lady James's +family, was most unscrupulous, and when she came down for her supper, +she found it so much more amusing than sitting alone in the nursery, +that, trusting Charlie was sound asleep, she remained downstairs +chatting quite happily with the servants. The fire had now been +smouldering some time, and had been caused by the candle falling out of +the candlestick on to the open book, which blazed up in a few minutes, +and quickly set the tablecloth alight. Edith and Sarah were the first to +go upstairs and to discover the flames. Sarah at once thought of the +stone staircase which led up to Charlie's room, and which could not +catch fire; but she had scarcely reached the top floor, when she saw the +walls of the night nursery fall in, and, through a rift in the flames, +saw, to her horror, that Charlie's bed was empty. Thinking that the +child had got frightened by the flames, and had probably strayed into +some of the lower rooms, she searched carefully into every cupboard and +corner of the bedrooms and dressing-rooms. But all this took a long +time, and the flames were gaining rapidly upon her. Sarah soon +remembered that the stone staircase ended on the drawing-room floor, +being continued in wood, which had already caught fire from the flames +of the front staircase. She was still searching frantically in Lady +James's boudoir, which was next to the drawing-room, for Charlie, when +she saw, to her horror, that all exit from downstairs was now +impossible. She bethought herself of the drawing-room balcony, which was +of stone, and in opening the window which led on to it, she saw, to her +mingled horror and relief, the form of little Charlie peacefully +sleeping behind the big screen. Her thankfulness can better be imagined +than described, and seizing the child in her arms she ran out, thankful +to get in the air and to leave the suffocating rooms, now filled with +smoke, behind her.</p> + +<p>Poor Sarah was very ill for a week, but in reality it was more the shock +which had upset her than the actual burns, although she had several +rather bad ones on her arms. However, after these had been carefully +dressed with lint and croton oil, she felt fairly like herself again.</p> + +<p>Poor Lady James had suffered from the disaster terribly, and was obliged +to go abroad for her health, which the doctor feared would only with +great difficulty be re-established; so one day Sir Alfred sent for Sarah +to come to his study, and when she had arrived, he began by telling her +how unutterably grateful they were to her, and little Charlie, who was +close at hand, thanked her also in his pretty childish manner. Sir +Alfred then went on to say how sorry they all were to lose her, but as +it was impossible to take her abroad with them she must look out for +another place. Here poor Sarah, who had been very happy in their +service, completely broke down. Sir Alfred soothed her as best he could, +and assured her that their gratitude was much too great ever to allow +them to forget her. He also gave her a purse with fifty pounds in it, +forty of which he begged her to put at once into the savings bank, and +he also promised to add one pound to it every Christmas.</p> + +<p>Sarah was surprised and greatly overcome at this great generosity and +gratitude, saying that anybody else would have done the same in her +place. She said good-bye to her mistress, whom she felt very sorry to +see looking so ill, took a still sadder leave of her fellow-servants, +and went for a few days to her father's home.</p> + +<p>She soon received a letter from Lady James telling her that she had a +friend who was going to Ireland, and being badly in want of a +kitchen-maid had promised to take Sarah if she did not mind going so far +off. Of course Sarah was only too delighted to go anywhere, not liking +to be idle longer than was necessary, and really she had been so happy +in her experience of service that she was quite anxious to begin work +again. She went to see Mrs. Sinclair, who was a bright fashionable lady, +but very unlike Lady James. She quite approved of Sarah, not really +troubling herself much as to her character or abilities, so it was +decided that they should start in two days.</p> + +<p>Sarah wrote a long letter to Dick, telling him all about her adventures +and forthcoming journey; but, not knowing what her address would be, she +was unable to say where he should write to her.</p> + +<p>The two days passed quickly, and Sarah went to Mrs. Sinclair's London +house to make acquaintance with her fellow-servants, with whom she was +to go over to Ireland immediately. She had not travelled much by train +before, so the whole sensation was new to her, and when they arrived in +the evening at Fleetwood, her excitement was very great. The luggage was +all put on board, together with the young lady's bicycle, and she had a +little time to look about her.</p> + +<p>The sea was very rough, and Sarah, who had never been on it before, +thought the waves looked mountains high. Sailors were rushing to and +fro, and when Sarah heard the funnel blow out its signal of departure, +she did not quite understand what had occurred or what was going to +happen; but she soon felt the steamer rolling and pitching, and, in +spite of the other servants trying to persuade her to go and lie down, +Sarah stayed on deck much too excited to think of feeling ill. She sat +down under cover, and presently one of the sailors came up to her. He +looked very odd to her eyes, all done up in his oil-skins and huge +boots, but he also looked so very jolly that she thought he must be +nice. He asked her if she would like a rug; and Sarah, who was beginning +to feel very cold, accepted his offer gladly. Away he staggered, for by +this time the moon looked as if she was playing hide and seek with the +ship, now looking full at Sarah and then shyly hiding her round face +again. Back came the sailor quickly with a nice warm rug, and after +having tucked Sarah up all round in it, he sat down and began to talk to +her. Now, she did not quite like this, but as he had been so kind she +could not exactly tell him to go, so they talked away for a good long +time, and Sarah began telling Mike, as she found out his name to be, all +about her first place, and how she was going to Ireland to begin life in +another situation. Mike was very interested, and now became so friendly +with her that she at last said she must go below, as she was beginning +to feel rather ill. Mike would not believe this, and tried hard to +prevent her; but Sarah was a very determined little person and would +have her own way, so she went downstairs to join the other servants, but +they were all suffering so much that she was obliged to look at a paper +and not talk.</p> + +<p>At last they arrived at Belfast, and Sarah was very glad, as she thought +the cabin so stuffy, and Mike having been so tiresome, Sarah had not +liked to go up on deck again, the consequence being that her head was +aching violently. After landing, they all went to the Northern Counties +Hotel, where a good breakfast was ordered, consisting of fresh herrings, +coffee, eggs, fadge and honey. Sarah, who sat next the window, could +hardly take her eyes off the street, filled as it was with a motley +crowd of small fish carts, ragged newspaper boys, and factory girls +hurrying to their work, with their bright shawls pinned carelessly over +their heads, and their short skirts and bare feet all looking very +different to any London crowd she had ever seen. Soon the time arrived +to start for Ballycastle, which was their destination, and after two +hours' journey by train they arrived.</p> + +<p>The luggage was left at the station, where it would be well guarded till +called for, and the servants all got up on outside jaunting cars, which +were waiting for them. Sarah thought these cars looked very odd, as +there was a kind of long box in the middle and two seats on either side, +which, if you were a novice, were apt to jog you off. She mounted with +some difficulty, and held on very tight. They drove at a very great +pace, and, as Sarah thought, very recklessly round the corners. After a +time, however, she quite enjoyed the motion, and was much surprised to +see all the children with their feet quite bare, generally driving a fat +pig or two; and when she, by chance, looked into the cabins and saw pigs +and fowls happily making themselves quite at home, her astonishment knew +no bounds, but on asking the other servants, she was told this was quite +usual, and nobody thought it even extraordinary.</p> + +<p>They passed a great many bogs on their way, and Sarah had no idea what +these were till she was told, and even then she thought they looked very +dull and dirty, and did not understand how people could use the peat, +which was piled up in large stacks to keep it dry, in any way. At last +they turned in at the avenue gate, and came up to a very pretty house +which was covered with creepers, the lawn in front being bright with +flower-beds, where masses of geraniums, begonias, mignonette, etc., were +blooming, as flowers only can bloom on Irish soil. Behind the lawn was a +long row of tall scarlet pokers, "tritomas," as the footman was very +proud of calling them when he told Sarah that in October he had counted +as many as four or five thousand in bloom. The green fields and trees +behind making a most beautiful background.</p> + +<p>Of course, during the next few days there was a great deal to do, and +Sarah had not only her kitchen work, but was also asked to help the +housemaid, who was a cheerful Irish girl, whose peculiar brogue amused +her very much. Sarah's mistress was most of the time lying on a sofa in +the drawing-room, as she still felt the effects of the journey from +London, and her only daughter was bicycling all over the country +visiting her various friends. Any spare time that Sarah had she spent in +exploring the beautiful neighbourhood of Ballycastle, which lies near +the sea.</p> + +<p>Several months passed, during which time Sarah was very happy in her +beautiful home; she wrote to Dick every fortnight, and told him how she +was getting on, and he answered her letters regularly. One day he wrote +saying that he had a great piece of news to tell her, which was, that +his master had given him a place as upper servant, and had also raised +his wages. His letter was written in great spirits, and Sarah only felt +sorry she was not on the spot to tell him at once how delighted she +felt. His letter went on to say that his master was thinking of paying +some shooting visits in the north of Ireland, and Dick hoped they might +meet, as he was to be valet for the occasion. Sarah was greatly excited +at this prospect, and could only relieve her feelings by taking a good +walk along the headlands. Sarah was one of those people who cannot do +without sympathy, and she knew that great joy likes to be shared to make +it complete, therefore she felt very sad at not being able to talk over +every detail of this great excitement with Dick, as a letter seemed to +her quite inadequate for the occasion.</p> + +<p>Mrs. and Miss Sinclair were going to pay a few visits in the country, +and had told the housekeeper to give the servants a day's outing in +Belfast. After their departure the house was very quiet, and there was +naturally not much work to do, but Sarah felt that with such a beautiful +garden and such perfect scenery, she could never be dull.</p> + +<p>One morning she went down to bathe, a thing she had never done before; +at first she would only let the water ripple over her feet, then come up +to her knees, which she thought very brave of her, but Peggy, the +housemaid, who was also there, laughed so heartily, that she ventured +quite in, and enjoyed herself so much that she determined to repeat the +operation whenever she had time.</p> + +<p>At last the housekeeper announced in a very grand manner that in two +days the servants might go to Belfast for their trip. They were all very +much pleased, and the maids busied themselves in mending their dresses +and putting new ribbons on their hats. They were determined to enjoy +themselves, and knew that a smart appearance would greatly help this +object. The day soon came, and at an early hour everybody was assembled +in the hall waiting for the cars which Mrs. Sinclair had kindly ordered +for them. This time Sarah had no difficulty in seating herself, and +enjoyed the drive in the fresh morning air and lovely sunshine very +much.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the station, they only just had time to take their tickets +and jump into their places, when the train was off, they laughed a great +deal, and were all very light-hearted when Belfast was reached. At first +they were not sure what they would do, but Sarah unconsciously solved +the difficulty by exclaiming, "Oh, I <i>am</i> hungry!" so they all trooped +off for breakfast at an inexpensive hotel.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sinclair had given the footman a letter to the manager of a flax +mill, and they thought they would go there after they had finished their +meal. The manager sent his foreman to show them over the mill, and Sarah +had as much as she could do to hear his explanation of the various +processes used for spinning flax. The noise was terrible, and quite +deafened Sarah, who could not help feeling very thankful that she was +not one of the poor factory girls, whose pallid faces predicted an early +death. She said something about this to Peggy, who told her that they +seldom lived long, as the air being full of dust atoms, which they +inhaled all day, gradually affected their lungs. Sarah came away feeling +very sad, but she had not much time to think, as she was again hurried +on to some new sight.</p> + +<p>They spent a very happy day, and ended up with a good tea of scones, +oat-cake, bread and butter and jam.</p> + +<p>At the station they still had half an hour to wait for the train, so +they sat down on one of the benches and talked. Suddenly Sarah uttered a +half cry, but on seeing Peggy looking at her, she quickly gained her +composure. Near a train which had just arrived, stood two girls and a +man. The man was very like Dick, and as he half turned round, Sarah saw +that it was really he. One of the girls, who was very pretty, was +talking to him with her hand on his arm, and Sarah thought he looked at +her very affectionately. They chatted and laughed for some little time +till the guard came round for the tickets, then the pretty girl, to +Sarah's horror, gave Dick a kiss which he seemed fully to expect, and +she jumped into the train, waving her handkerchief repeatedly to him.</p> + +<p>Dick and his companion now left the station, and, passing close to +Sarah, she heard her say, "My! how fond you two are of each other, she +certainly is very pretty, just your style." Sarah meanwhile was choking +with rage, hardly believing her ears, and feeling beside herself with +jealousy.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes she asked Peggy to take a turn outside the station, as +they still had ten minutes before their train left. Sarah did not feel +inclined to talk, and Peggy, being Irish, was only too glad to use this +opportunity of letting her tongue run on. After they had gone some +little distance they retraced their steps, when Sarah suddenly saw Dick +and his friend, who had left the station by another way, coming towards +them. He saw her some distance off, and quickened his steps, when, to +his astonishment, Sarah blankly looked at him, and, half bowing, passed +over to the other side of the road. Dick was dumb with surprise, and +would have followed her, but seeing that she was determined to avoid +him, he changed his mind.</p> + +<p>Now, Dick had no idea that Sarah had been in the station, and could not +imagine what had happened, but he expected some letter of explanation, +and thought he would wait.</p> + +<p>Sarah meanwhile had taken a corner seat in the train, and was tormenting +herself with all sorts of uncomfortable thoughts.</p> + +<p>The return journey was very different for the whole party from the +morning one, the others finding her very much of a wet blanket. Arrived +home, she felt as miserable as possible, and did not know what to do to +get at the rights of the matter.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Dick, who was very proud, determined to wait for Sarah's +explanation, and she had made up her mind to act in the same way, so the +estrangement seemed likely to go on indefinitely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Peggy," said Sarah one day, "what a sweetly pretty dress you are +making! When are you going to wear it? Why, I shan't know you when you +have it on."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Peggy, "this is not for myself, it is for a great friend, +and, as she is very pretty, sure I am making her a pretty dress for +Christmas."</p> + +<p>The gown in question was pale blue, trimmed with black ribbons, and the +sleeves were all tucked, so Sarah might well admire it.</p> + +<p>"Well," she asked, "what is this beauty's name? Do tell me."</p> + +<p>"No," said Peggy, "I shan't; it's a secret, and you might tell, as I +believe you know her brother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know anybody," cried Sarah, "as for a man, I only know +one."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Peggy, "I'll tell you; it is Maggie Bream, and she is +in service near Belfast."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Sarah, "is her name Bream?"</p> + +<p>"Well, and why shouldn't it be? I suppose you've no objection?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no; but tell me more about her. Has she any sisters?"</p> + +<p>"No, not one, nor half a one; but she has lots and lots of brothers, and +she often tells me she is right glad there are no more girls in the +family, as they are none too well off as it is. Of course, her eldest +brother earns a power of money, as his master just thinks a heap of him; +but there, he's engaged, so what's the use of him? He saves and stints +just because he wants to marry soon."</p> + +<p>Sarah was now all excitement, and could hardly command her voice to ask +this wonderful brother's name, however, Peggy volunteered it by saying—</p> + +<p>"Maggie has just met Dick in Belfast—in fact, they were there the same +day that we were. Maggie wrote to tell me yesterday. I'm right sorry I +missed her, but her train went just before ours."</p> + +<p>Peggy noticed (for who so sharp as Peggy?) Sarah's restlessness and her +flushed face, and wanted to know what was the reason.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Sarah, "I am the girl Dick's engaged to, and I have made a +horrible mistake."</p> + +<p>Peggy naturally wanted to know what the mistake was; but Sarah would not +tell her, as she now felt she had been very silly, and she did not want +to be laughed at.</p> + +<p>Sarah now thought the best thing she could do was to write to Dick and +tell him why she had behaved in such an extraordinary way at Belfast. He +was very glad to get this letter, as he had been thinking a great deal +about her, trying to understand how he had offended her. He wrote off at +once and asked if she could possibly get another outing, in order to +arrange about their wedding, as he had now saved quite enough and would +not wait any longer.</p> + +<p>Sarah had to be patient till Mrs. Sinclair came back, and when her +mistress heard why the day was wanted she gladly gave the required +permission. Sarah wrote to her former mistress telling her that her +marriage would soon take place, and she would have to leave her present +situation. Lady James answered her letter most kindly, and said that she +and Sir Alfred were thinking of returning to their Scotch home, and +offered her the place of lodge-keeper and Dick that of butler.</p> + +<p>Sarah was perfectly delighted, and not less so when she found in the +envelope a present of ten pounds, with which to buy herself some nice +wedding clothes. She then went up to Mrs. Sinclair and told her about +the offer Lady James had made them, and gave a month's notice, which she +said she was really sorry to be obliged to do, but as Dick had done the +same to his master, she hoped Mrs. Sinclair would not blame her. She +then went to Belfast and told Dick about all the plans suggested. He was +quite delighted, and as he had already given his master a month's +notice, felt no compunction in leaving.</p> + +<p>Dick made her promise to marry him in a month, and they then went to see +his sister, Maggie, who was to be bridesmaid, and wear the wonderful +dress.</p> + +<p>The month soon passed, and with Peggie's help, Sarah was able to make +three new dresses, and various other things. Mr. Brown was very pleased +to hear of his daughter's marriage, and was only sorry he was unable to +be there himself, but he sent her six plated spoons and forks, and a +small locket which her mother had left to her.</p> + +<p>The servants were all sorry to lose Sarah, they gave her a silver +tea-pot as a wedding gift, and saw her off at the station.</p> + +<p>Dick and Sarah met at the door of St. Anne's church on this auspicious +day. She was dressed in a blue alpaca gown, trimmed with white lace, and +a hat to match. After the service was over, Mr. and Mrs. Bream went away +in a brougham Dick had ordered for the occasion, and they had their +wedding breakfast in the same hotel where Sarah had spent part of that +eventful day, when she and her fellow-servants had come to Belfast for +their holiday.</p> + +<p>They both had a very happy time and went straight across to England, +where they were to spend a few days with Sarah's father and his wife, +till Lady James arrived from abroad.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Brown met them at the door of her old home, her father +having taken a holiday for the occasion. During the following week, Dick +and Sarah were mostly out of the house, visiting the Crystal Palace, and +many other places which Sarah had never been able to see. When the week +was over, they went together to see Lady James, and finding that she +wished them to begin work at once, they packed up their belongings and +set off for Scotland, where we will now leave them with many good wishes +for a long and happy life.</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sarah's First Start in Life., by +Adelaide M. G. Campbell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE. *** + +***** This file should be named 35053-h.htm or 35053-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/0/5/35053/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Mary Meehan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/35053-h/images/cover.jpg b/35053-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3624b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/35053-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/35053-h/images/illus1.jpg b/35053-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..08d93a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/35053-h/images/illus1.jpg diff --git a/35053.txt b/35053.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..850253c --- /dev/null +++ b/35053.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1497 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Sarah's First Start in Life., by Adelaide M. G. Campbell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Sarah's First Start in Life. + +Author: Adelaide M. G. Campbell + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35053] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE. *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Mary Meehan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE. + + BY ADELAIDE M. G. CAMPBELL. + + + PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACT COMMITTEE. + + LONDON: + SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, + NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; + 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. + BRIGHTON: 127, North Street. + NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG AND CO. + + + PRINTED BY + WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, + LONDON AND BECCLES. + + +[Illustration: "LET HIM DOWN, MISS; IT'S ALL RIGHT NOW."] + + + + +SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE. + + +"Now, Sarah, just you make haste with that kettle, and we will have a +nice cup of tea for dad when he comes in." + +"Dad's" real name was David Brown, and Sarah was his only child, just +turned eighteen. The Browns were a happy family, though poor, and they +put their trust in God, and did not worry about the morrow. Sarah had +just been telling her mother of a situation as kitchen maid that she had +been inquiring about, and had almost decided to take, but her father's +permission was still wanting. Mr. Brown was a cab driver, and found it +sometimes very hard work to make both ends meet, especially in the +winter time, when coals were a necessity and dear at best. + +This conversation took place on Christmas Day, and Brown had promised to +be home for tea, knowing how disappointed his wife and Sarah would feel +if he stayed out until his usual hour, which was half-past ten. Soon the +kettle was singing away merrily on the hob, and Sarah was toasting some +bread in front of a small bright fire, when a knock was heard, the door +opened, and a man about twenty-four came in. He was evidently not +unexpected, as four places were prepared at the table. + +Dick Bream was one of a large family, and very much devoted to Sarah; +they had told each other how they would work hard to earn some money and +set up house together, and Sarah was now longing to tell him about her +future situation. Dick was a footman, and had a very comfortable place +in Belgrave Square--he was getting on well, and his master had promised +to help him to get a place as upper servant in a year or two. He and +Sarah kissed each other heartily under the misletoe, which was over the +door, and Dick shook hands with Mrs. Brown, and they were beginning to +talk about Sarah's future when Mr. Brown's cheerful voice was heard +calling her to hold the horse, while he got down from the box. Up sprang +Sarah, out she ran and stood at Bobby's head, patting and soothing him +in his impatience to get to the warm stable and clean hay. Mr. Brown +took the horse and harness to the stable, and Sarah held the lantern +whilst he wiped down Bobby. + +"Well, father," said Sarah, "tea is ready, your slippers are by the +fire, and I have some news to tell you; but you shan't hear it till you +have drunk a hot cup of tea and eaten one of my best baked cakes." + +The father patted her cheek, kissed his wife, and, drawing off his coat, +sat down at the head of the table. + +After the grace was reverently said by Sarah, Mr. Brown said-- + +"Well, what is this wonderful news?" + +Sarah looked across the table at Dick, whom Mrs. Brown had told about +the situation, and smiled, whilst her mother began telling the father +about Sarah's plan. Mr. Brown looked grave, and slowly shook his head +when he heard that a departure was meditated. + +"Nay, nay, I won't have my girl going out into the world and becoming +independent and looking down on her old dad, when she sees the way fine +folk treat one another;" so said Brown, and he evidently thought the +discussion was at an end, as he got up, pulled out his pipe and invited +Dick to take a turn. + +But Sarah had set her heart on helping her family, and was not thus to +be set aside. + +"Oh, dad," she exclaimed, "how can you think such dreadful things about +me? Can I ever forget how you and mother have worked for me since I was +a baby? I only wish to help you, and mother is willing if you agree." + +Mrs. Brown was silently wiping away a few tears with her apron, and Dick +was comforting her with promises to do what he could to smooth matters. + +"Well," said Mr. Brown, "I'll talk it over with your mother, and tell +you to-morrow what we think." With this scanty comfort Sarah was obliged +to content herself. Meanwhile Mr. Brown and Dick went outside to smoke, +and naturally they began talking about Sarah's plan. + +"I don't think my girl is fitted for service," said Mr. Brown; "she +ought to stay at home and help her mother." + +"But," interrupted Dick, "Sarah is a big girl now, and you cannot expect +her always to stay at home; and what could she do if she were left +without the experience service is sure to give her?" + +Mr. Brown saw this, but was still undecided as to what should be done; +but at last, after a little more persuasion, he agreed to let Sarah try +service for a year. In saying good night Dick just whispered to her to +be quite easy, as it was all right; so, like a wise girl, she went to +bed, and in her prayers asked God to bless her future career and comfort +her father. The next day at breakfast, which was at 6.30, Mr. Brown +began by solemnly announcing that he had a thing or two to tell his +family; so, with expectant eyes fixed on him, he said that Sarah might +take the situation for a year, and went on to tell her of all the +temptations and troubles she would meet with in service, and his parting +advice was, "Honesty is the best policy." + +After Mr. Brown had left for his day's work, and Sarah had cleared away +the breakfast things and cleaned their three rooms, she put on her +neatest dress and went off to ask when she might go into her situation +and begin her new work. She took an omnibus to Sloane Square, and from +there walked to Eaton Place, and went up to a big house, where she rang +the bell, where, after the door was opened, she was shown into a little +anteroom. After waiting half an hour a messenger was sent to conduct her +to Lady James, her future mistress. Sarah felt very nervous, as, +although she had already had an interview, this was the final one, and +much depended on it. Lady James was busy writing letters, but when she +saw Sarah, she put down her pen and turned to her with a bright smile +and a few kind words of encouragement. After ten minutes had been passed +in asking and answering questions, Lady James told Sarah she thought she +would suit, and wished her to begin her work in three days. Poor Sarah +thought this was rather too quick, but said she would certainly try and +be ready; so she went out of the house feeling very important at the +idea of at last going into service. + +Of course the next few days were very busy ones, as she had to make two +new print dresses and neatly mend her clothes. Mrs. Brown was very +unhappy at the idea of losing her only child, but tried to make the last +few days cheerful, and took as much of the housework off her hands as +possible. At last only the good-byes remained to be said. Poor Mrs. +Brown was sobbing bitterly, and Mr. Brown was fussing over Sarah's box +and bag, whilst Dick, who was going with her as far as the house, was +busy harnessing Bobby. The good-byes were at last over, Mrs. Brown was +all but kissed away, and Sarah jumped into her father's cab, which was +to take her to Eaton Place. Dick and Sarah were not so sad as the mother +and father, for they felt that this was at last a step towards getting +on in life, and, after all, "nothing venture nothing have." + +Eaton Place was soon reached, and Mr. Brown pulled up at the door of the +house where Sarah was to begin her new duties. The bell was rung, and +the door was opened by a footman in silk stockings and powdered hair. Of +course Sarah was much too frightened to ask this grand man what she +should do, so she made Dick ask him if he might take her box upstairs, +and whilst Sarah and her father were saying the real good-bye, Dick and +the footman went up to the attic with the box. Dick, who was a friend of +his, told him a little about Sarah, that this was her first place, and +that he and she were engaged, etc. Mr. Brown had just driven off when +Dick arrived downstairs to take his departure also. + +"Now, miss," said Charles the footman, "will you come downstairs and +have a cup of tea and see all your future friends?" + +"I should like to very much," said Sarah; "but I must take off my +jacket, and where can I put it?" + +"Oh!" said Charles, "we arn't too particular, leave it anywhere." + +Now, Sarah had been brought up, quite properly, to think tidiness one of +the greatest virtues; however, she said nothing, and trotted happily +away with her jacket on her arm. + +At the bottom of the dark staircase, her jacket was rather roughly taken +from her by Charles and flung on the dresser. "Well," thought Sarah, "if +this is the way my things are to be treated, they won't last me long, +and how can I get others?" However, the sound of tea-cups and laughter +soon drove such thoughts out of her head, and she was shown into a +fairly large room, in which about five servants were talking very +merrily, and altogether making rather an unnecessary noise. Directly the +two appeared there was a dead silence, and one of the housemaids called +out to Sarah to come and sit beside her. She took the offered place, and +had only just seated herself when she was asked all sorts of questions, +as _e.g._ "How long have you been in service?" "What wages did you get?" +and many others of the same kind. Sarah at last found time to answer all +these various questions, which she did with her usual good temper, and, +during loud exclamations, managed to tell them a little about her former +life. She did not quite like all this catechising, but not wanting to be +thought disagreeable, made the best of it. When she had finished, Edith, +the housemaid, began at once to tell Sarah some of the trials of their +downstairs life. + +She told her that the cook, who was then in the kitchen, was very cross, +and would be sure to give her a lot to do, and as she did not like any +kind of dirty work herself, the kitchen-maid had to do it all, and keep +the kitchen spotless. Sarah was rather frightened by this account of the +cook, and begged Edith to tell her more; but she had some work to do, +and could not stop to chat any longer. In a few minutes in came Mrs. +Ellis, the cook, and told Sarah to hurry up as there were some pots to +wash, and poor Sarah had to gulp down her cup of tea and eat her bread +and butter very fast. + +"Please, ma'am, may I first go and take off this dress?" asked Sarah, in +a timid little voice. + +"No," said Mrs. Ellis; "can't you pin that one up? It ain't so grand, +you need not take such care of it." + +Now, it was Sarah's best dress, so she thought this was very unkind, and +told the cook she had no better, and was afraid of spoiling the neatest +she had. + +"Well," said Mrs. Ellis, "go up, and make haste; I can't have you +wasting your time, there's enough to be done without that." + +Sarah flew upstairs, not forgetting to take up her jacket on the way, +and before the cook had found time to grumble at her absence was down +again, dressed in a neat cotton gown and apron. Mrs. Ellis showed her +where to find the pots, pans, hot water, and washing-up cloths, and +Sarah set to work with might and main; but it was not so easy as she +expected. First, some of the spots on the coppers would not come off, +then the cloths got so wet there was nothing to dry up with, and +altogether when Sarah had cleaned a dozen she felt her arms ache as they +had never ached before. All at once she heard Mrs. Ellis calling her, so +she ran into the kitchen where she found a great fuss going on, as +dinner was being dished up, and Mrs. Ellis had burnt her hand badly in +pouring out the soup. + +Sarah was very sorry about this accident, and anxious to do all she +could to help; but being new, and not knowing the ways of the lower +regions, she was not able to be of much use, but she was most helpful in +carrying the dishes up to the dining-room door, and so saved a little of +the footman's time, who was in consequence very grateful. She then went +upstairs to brush her hair and make herself tidy, and when she came down +found, to her surprise, that supper had been ready some time. Edith +found room for her and saw she had all she wanted, and introduced her to +the other servants, whom she had not seen at tea, and she was wished +success in her new career. After supper was over Sarah hoped she would +be able to go to bed, but found that all the dinner things had to be +washed up and put into their proper places, so she began her work at +once, and soon Edith good-naturedly offered to help her, both making +great friends over the work. + +At half-past ten all was finished, and Edith conducted her to the small +but airy bedroom they were to share. Sarah now had to finish her +unpacking--her father's, mother's, and Dick's photographs taking a most +prominent position on the little chest of drawers. Edith naturally +wanted to hear all about Dick, and Sarah was delighted to find so +sympathetic a friend to discuss him with. Edith soon tumbled into bed, +but Sarah folded her things tidily up on a chair, and then opened her +Bible to read her chapter. Sarah's mother was a very religious woman, +and knew that the Bible was always a friend in time of need, so she had +made Sarah promise never to omit reading a few verses after her day's +work was over. In her prayers, Sarah thanked God for giving her so +comfortable a home, and asked Him to soften her temper, which she knew +would often get the upper hand. The light was soon put out, and all was +quiet, and she remembered nothing more till she saw Edith standing +half-dressed by her bedside, telling her to hurry or else Mrs. Ellis +would be grumbling at her the first day. Sarah found that last night's +experience was but an instance of what her daily work would be. + +After she had been a month in her place, she ventured to ask Mrs. Ellis +whether she might go and see her mother, and the cook, who had grown +quite fond of her for her cheerful and helpful ways, willingly gave her +the required permission. If only people would learn how a little oil of +cheerfulness eases the wheels of life surely they would cultivate it +more. Troubles come quite readily enough without making them, and the +sunshine of a bright countenance often remedies what no earthly doctor +can cure. Sarah finished all her work, put on her hat, her neat black +dress and jacket, and went off in great spirits to see her home. + +She found a great difference in her mother, who had evidently only just +got up, as her hair was not done, and the room, although fairly tidy, +was not so neat as Sarah had been accustomed to see it. Mrs. Brown told +her that she had been very poorly ever since her departure, and really +if it had not been for Mrs. Carrol, she would never have managed to get +on as well as she had. + +Sarah was very distressed at this account, and was just beginning to +tell her mother about her life, when in came Mrs. Carrol to get tea +ready. + +She was not at all Mrs. Brown's style, being very rough and dictatorial, +and had not learnt that the power of gentleness is irresistible. Mrs. +Carrol was a widow, her husband having been killed down a coal-mine in +Wales, she had not married again, but was very fond of both Mrs. and Mr. +Brown, probably finding in them the qualities most missing in herself, +_e.g._ gentleness and humility. Mrs. Carrol did not seem best pleased at +finding Sarah with her mother. + +"Mrs. Brown, you know you ought not to be out of bed. Why didn't Sarah +make you lie down again? What's the use of a daughter if she don't take +care of her mother?" + +Poor Sarah was so surprised at this onslaught that she could not find +words to defend herself--so, wisely, said nothing. + +Mrs. Brown went meekly back to bed whilst Mrs. Carrol made her a nice +cup of tea and Sarah prepared the toast. Soon mother and daughter were +left alone again, and Sarah began talking about her situation and her +hopes of soon being able to send her mother a little money. Mrs. Brown +was quite delighted at having her daughter near her again, and they had +so much to tell each other that when Sarah next looked at the old cuckoo +clock in the corner it was almost eight, and time to return to Eaton +Place. She gave her mother a good hug, and told her to be sure and write +if she got worse. + +Unfortunately Mr. Brown had not yet come home from his work, so poor +Sarah had to go back without having been able to inquire from him about +her mother's health. + +Sarah was often made uneasy by the very casual way in which Sunday was +regarded. Sometimes she was able to induce Edith to go to church with +her, but generally she went alone, and she knew that few, if any, of the +servants thought it necessary to attend. Sarah looked forward from +Sunday to Sunday; she forgot all her petty troubles in church, and +always found some golden word of comfort to help her through the week. + +Six months had passed and she was still in the same place, having made +great friends with the other servants, and earned a golden opinion from +Mrs. Ellis, which naturally pleased her mistress, Lady James, very much. + +Mrs. Brown had been steadily getting weaker and weaker, till one day +when Sarah was, as usual, washing up, the footman came to tell her that +she was wanted in the servants' hall. She was surprised at this summons, +and still more so when she found Dick waiting for her, especially as she +had seen him only a week ago. + +"Well, Dick, whatever is the matter?" asked Sarah. "Why do you look so +sad? Make haste and tell me." + +Poor Dick, who had come to tell Sarah of her mother's death, did not +quite know how to begin, so he asked how long it was since she had seen +her, and was told a fortnight. + +"Well," said Dick, "Mrs. Brown was taken suddenly worse, and----" Here +poor Dick broke down, and naturally Sarah had little difficulty in +supplying the rest, which Dick was obliged to tell her was only too +true. Sarah was in great distress, and really did not know what she was +saying. She kept reproaching herself for having omitted to write +oftener, also, for ever having left her mother, and especially for not +having tried to see more of her. + +Dick told her all he could, assuring her that Mrs. Carrol had been very +kind, and had done all that was possible to ease her mother in the +household affairs. + +"Now, Sarah," said Dick at last, "can you get your things and come home +for a bit, as your father will want you sadly?" Sarah went to her friend +the cook, told her of her trouble, and asked for two days absence. Mrs. +Ellis went upstairs to see if she could find her mistress, and having +done so, obtained not only a day or two, but a week. Sarah was crying so +very bitterly she could hardly pack the few necessary things; but, with +Edith to help her, she and Dick went off to Mr. Brown's home. There they +found all in great confusion, neighbours whispering outside the house, +and women trying to keep the children from screaming and making a noise. + +When Sarah and Dick appeared, there was a general silence, and as she +went into the house many of her former friends tried to say a few +sympathetic words and press her hand. + +Sarah tried to thank them, but only tears would come, and she hurried +upstairs to comfort her unhappy father. Mr. Brown silently held out his +hand in welcome and sobbed bitterly, whilst Dick remained below, not +knowing whether to go in or stay outside. However, he at last went into +the house and found, as he expected, Sarah and her father taking their +last silent farewell at their loved one's bedside. + +The days that followed were naturally very sad, and Sarah was thankful +there was so much to be done, knowing that there would be only too much +time for brooding afterwards. + +The funeral took place three days after Sarah's return home, and, +although Sarah followed the beautiful service as attentively as she was +able, her heart was too sorrowful to receive so much comfort from it as +is possible. A great many of the neighbours attended to show this last +mark of respect to their dead friend. Mrs. Carrol had offered on the way +back to help Sarah to tidy the house, and she gladly accepted the offer, +as, having been so long away, she did not know where the things had been +kept, although she did not quite like the thought of anybody touching +her mother's things except herself. Mr. Brown was going to take his cab +out the next day as usual, to see if he could earn a little money, as +the six months' illness had made a great hole in his earnings, but Sarah +besought him to stay and talk to her a little, which, after some demur, +he was willing to do, and they sat down to breakfast, not trusting +themselves to speak of yesterday's sad events. The week soon passed, and +Sarah had to return once more to her work, but this time she had great +doubts in her mind as to whether she ought not to stop and take care of +her father; but Mr. Brown told her so plainly that it helped him more to +know that she was comfortable and earning some money, that for the time +being she gave up the idea. + +All the servants were glad to have her among them again, and tried to +tell her how much they felt for her, and Lady James sent for her to say +that if she would like to go twice a week to see Mr. Brown she might +take an hour off her work, for which kindness Sarah was very grateful. + +After this permission, Sarah went very often to see her father, and +found that Mrs. Carrol made him so comfortable and cheered him so much +that she really need have no compunction about having left him. The +house always seemed to be tidy and clean, and although nobody seemed to +think this at all extraordinary, Sarah sometimes felt an uneasy +sensation creeping over her; but Mrs. Carrol was always so kind that she +put these thoughts away from her, as being disloyal to her father. + +One day her mistress had taken her three boys, aged six, seven, and +eight, to the Zoological Gardens in honour of Sir Alfred's birthday, and +Sarah was given a whole day's holiday. She had written to Dick to ask +whether he could get a day off and take her for a walk, and, as he bore +a very good and steady character, his master let him have the day, +knowing he was engaged to Sarah. + +At eleven o'clock they started for their trip, and Dick suggested going +in a penny steamer down the Thames, to which Sarah joyfully agreed. The +day was very fine and warm, and when they landed at Greenwich they +bought some ginger beer and buns, and had quite a feast on the grass +under some shady trees. + +They naturally had a great deal to tell each other, and discussed many +plans for the future. Dick told Sarah that his master was thinking of +taking a house in the north of Scotland for a year, and he wanted Dick +very much to go with him. Sarah was very distressed about this, as she +thought a year a very long time, and in her heart of hearts she was +afraid Dick might get to like some one else better than herself. + +Dick read her thoughts fairly accurately, and assured her she need never +think he would forget her, as he felt certain there was no nicer or +prettier girl all the world over, and Sarah was too pleased at this +speech to think of further objections. At last they had to turn +homewards, and on the steamer they spoke but little, each wondering when +and where they should meet again, little thinking how much was to happen +before a year was over. + +Walking down the Embankment towards Westminster Sarah all at once met +her father, who was so deep in conversation with his companion, Mrs. +Carrol, that he did not see Sarah till they were close to each other. + +"Oh, father," she said, "I am very glad to see you, and really you look +quite well and cheery again." + +Mr. Brown was equally surprised to see Sarah, and rather stammered out +his welcome. The girl turned to Mrs. Carrol and said-- + +"Well, Mrs. Carrol, how are you; thank you so much for looking after my +father so well. I really don't know what he would have done without +you." + +Mr. Brown here interrupted Sarah by saying: "Yes, she has indeed earned +our thanks, and she has promised I need never do without her again--in +fact, we were married this morning, and we were on our way to see you +and ask for your congratulations." + +Sarah could hardly believe her ears, and showed very plainly that such +was the case, whilst Dick stood by in shocked silence. + +"Oh, father!" cried Sarah, "do you mean to say you have already +forgotten my dear mother? Why, it is barely four months since we lost +her. I don't think you have behaved well to me in this matter. Surely I +ought to have been told before this last step was taken." + +Mr. Brown gazed in silence at Sarah's flushed and angry face, not +knowing what to say. He managed at last, however, to get in a few words +of excuse between her breathless expostulations. + +"Well, Sarah, you seem to forget how lonely I have been all this time, +and if I choose to marry again I need not first ask my daughter. I +always knew this idea of going out to service would do you no good." + +Mrs. Carrol, who must now be called Mrs. Brown, had up to the present +said nothing, but she told Sarah she hoped to make her and her father +comfortable, and that in time they would be good friends. Sarah answered +that she did not think this was very likely, as she did not like +underhand ways, and she was in fact getting so angry that Dick thought +it high time to take her away, in which effort he was at last +successful. + +"Well, really, Sarah," said Dick, "I do think you have spoken rather too +unkindly to your father. Surely if he chooses to marry again so soon it +is his own business. Of course, I perfectly understand your feelings, +but you must not forget that he is still your father, and you should +never forget to show respect to him. You did not show the Christian +spirit I hoped to see, and you have certainly done no good by losing +your temper." + +Sarah had been feeling very sad and angry during Dick's little lecture, +and as she still considered herself quite in the right, she would not +confess even to Dick that she had behaved hastily. + +"Well," said Sarah, "you needn't begin to scold me; you won't have me +much longer to scold, and I do think father ought to have told me +first." + +Now, Dick saw quite well that it was no use arguing with her when she +was in this mood, so when they arrived at Lady James's house he bade her +rather a cold farewell, and promised to come and see her for the last +time on Sunday, before he went to Scotland. + +Sarah went straight up to her room, and throwing herself on her bed wept +bitterly. She felt very lonely, and, now that even Dick was vexed with +her, she began to think that her behaviour was not all it should have +been. She knew she had quite lost her temper and behaved badly, and +although we may say she had some excuse, it is always a silly thing to +do. Nobody will respect a person who gives way to their evil passions, +and Sarah felt that for the time being she had estranged her father and +Dick and greatly lowered herself in their opinion. She fell on her knees +and begged God with might and main to forgive her, and rose in a few +minutes feeling calmer and happier. + +The servants' supper-bell had rung, but Sarah did not feel inclined to +talk and laugh with the others, so she stayed where she was and occupied +herself with her thoughts, which were anything but happy ones. The next +day was very wet and gloomy and quite in accordance with Sarah's +feelings, as the more she thought over the previous day's events the +angrier she felt with herself, knowing that, after all, it did not much +matter to her if her father were married, as she was always in service, +and hoped soon to be married herself. + +She also could not help remembering how, in spite of herself, she had +been struck by Mrs. Carrol's much softened voice and manner, and she +really began to think that, after all, it might be for the best. + +The days dragged slowly on, till at last Sunday arrived, and Sarah had +decided to make her peace with Dick, not liking him to go on his journey +feeling unhappy about her. Six o'clock was the hour he generally came, +and she rushed upstairs to see that her hair was tidy, and had taken the +opportunity of pinning some geraniums into her dress, which had been +sent downstairs from the drawing-room to be thrown away. Seven o'clock +came, but did not bring Dick, and Sarah was tortured with melancholy +thoughts as to whether he had decided he would not see her till she had +made her peace with her father. At last she was obliged to give up all +idea of his coming, as it was now ten o'clock, and very miserable were +her feelings when she crept into bed and sobbed herself to sleep. + +At the end of the week Sarah, who generally distributed the servants' +letters, was much surprised at finding one for herself. + +Now, everybody likes to receive letters from their friends, and for +Sarah, who had never had many, the excitement was great; in fact, she +quite forgot all about her father's sudden marriage and Dick's +departure, as well as the week's misery, and, getting into a corner by +herself, she opened the letter and began to read, and this is what she +read-- + + "MY DEAR SARAH, + + "I am afraid you must be very angry with me for not having + turned up on Sunday, but on Friday night master told me he + wanted me to pack up everything as we were to go on Saturday by + the night mail to Scotland, so I really could not get a minute + to go and see you. I hope this will find you well as it leaves + me, and happier than when I saw you last. I am very happy here, + and it is a beautiful place, but a long way off from you. Write + to me soon, as I will also to you. + + "Your affectionate friend, + + "DICK." + +Sarah was very much relieved by the contents of this letter, and decided +that she would go and see her father as soon as she could. This +opportunity soon occurred, and Sarah found him and her stepmother having +their supper together. Mr. Brown looked rather sheepishly at his +daughter, not quite knowing in what frame of mind she intended to make +this visit, but he soon saw that she really was doing her best to set +matters straight again. + +Mrs. Brown offered her some tea, which Sarah gladly accepted, and they +all three talked cheerfully about future plans and past events, not +touching, however, on the two chief changes in the family. + +At last she left them alone together, and the door had hardly closed +behind her when Sarah was on her knees by her father's chair, asking him +to forgive and forget all the unkind speeches she had made about his +marriage. Mr. Brown was delighted at the reconciliation, as he loved his +daughter most dearly, and they spent one of the happiest hours together +they had ever passed. + +Sarah went with a light heart back to her work, feeling that certainly +peace was better than strife, and wondering how she had managed to keep +up the disturbance for so long. + +Many weeks elapsed with no noteworthy events, and Sarah felt quite happy +and established in her situation, knowing that she was earning enough +money to prevent her from being any sort of burden to her father or +stepmother. + +Lady James was at this time rather delicate, having had a bad attack of +rheumatic fever, from which she had, however, almost recovered. + +One day there was to be a large dinner-party in the house, and Edith, +Sarah's friend, the housemaid, was going to look over the staircase at +all the smart dresses, and had promised to tell Sarah, who could not be +spared, all about them. Eight o'clock arrived, and Edith ran upstairs to +watch the ladies come, and go down to dinner. She had never seen so many +grand-looking people, and her heart was filled with longing desire to +possess only one dress half as beautiful as the ones she saw. There was +her mistress looking lovely in deep pink satin, her wonderful hair +crowned by a tiara of diamonds and pearls. + +When the dining-room door had shut them off from Edith's eyes, she went +downstairs into the drawing-room, and, putting all thoughts of dresses +and diamonds out of her head, busied herself in smoothing the covers, +shaking up the cushions, and putting chairs and sofas straight again. + +When her work was over, she joined the others downstairs, not at all +objecting to taste some of the dishes which came down from the dinner +party. + +At half-past eleven all the visitors had left, and Sarah was lazily +sitting down chatting away to the other servants, who all felt that they +deserved a little rest after such a busy evening. At last Sarah and +Edith took up their candles to go to bed, leaving the others still +talking. On the way Sarah heard Sir Alfred and Lady James going upstairs +to their rooms, so she told Edith she was going to have one look at her +beautiful mistress, and Edith had better come too, so they went up by +the back staircase and peeped through the swing door. + +Sir Alfred was behind his wife, when suddenly Edith gave a loud cry, and +rushed downstairs again before Sarah had time to see what had happened. + +Sir Alfred flung open the door and demanded an explanation of this +singular conduct, when again a cry was heard, and this time it was +clearly that of "fire." Sir Alfred, grasping the situation in a minute, +bade his wife fly down to the bedroom, off the drawing-room, rouse their +two boys, who slept there, and tell the women-servants to leave the +house instantly, as he already judged the fire to be of considerable +dimensions. He, meanwhile, would rush upstairs to fetch Charlie, who +slept in the nursery. + +Sir Alfred very soon found this to be utterly impossible, as when he +opened the door he was met by volumes of smoke, and found the nursery to +be one mass of flames. In a minute all was confusion, men-servants +rushing about trying to save what valuables they could from the +bedrooms, which were still untouched. The inmates were now assembled in +front of the house, gazing horror-struck at the flames, as they +illumined the darkness and filled the upper windows with their glare. Of +course the whole neighbourhood was roused, and the wildest excitement +prevailed. + +The policemen were shouting directions, which were as far as possible +obeyed, and the suspense was at last broken by the cry of, "Out of the +way; here come the fire engines." The horses dashed up, panting and +foaming, and all was instantly discipline and order, the walls in a +minute were swarming with firemen, and water was flooding the street. +But who can describe the feelings of Sir Alfred, who dared not tell his +wife of his unsuccessful attempt to rescue Charlie. Hardly master of his +senses, he rushed madly from room to room in the vain hopes of +discovering the child, until with difficulty, for the whole staircase +was now rapidly becoming one mass of flames, he escaped into the street. + +Suddenly there was a universal murmur, and a voice shouted out, "Hold +on, miss. Don't look down; we'll get you." + +These words were addressed to Sarah, who had suddenly appeared on the +drawing-room balcony, with Charlie peacefully sleeping in her arms. + +Suddenly he awoke and began to cry, but poor Sarah was in no state of +mind to comfort him. What ages it seemed! How slowly help came towards +her, and how very heavy Charlie was getting! + +Her brain seemed reeling, and her thoughts surged up, reproaching her +for many a thing she had never thought twice about. + +She uttered a prayer for help, and clenched her teeth, determined to +hold out till relief came; and relief came but slowly. At last, when she +felt it impossible to hold this heavy burden any longer, a man's voice +called out to her, "Let him down, miss; it's all right now." But Sarah +would not let Charlie out of her arms, fearing the effects which the +awful sight of the flames might have on his already highly excitable +brain; so she clutched him tighter, and the only thing to be done was to +lift them over the balcony down together. + +The crowd--for where is there ever a greater crowd than near a +fire?--cheered loudly; but Sarah had fainted away, and never heard how +heartily it sympathized. + +Sir Alfred, who had gazed up horror-struck at the brave girl, was +jealously holding the boy in his arms, evidently looking for the marks +of fire which he was certain must be upon him. Charlie was, however, +quite unhurt, and after giving him to a friend to hold, he knelt down by +Sarah, who was still insensible, and began trying to restore her. A +neighbour offered to take her into their house, and gratefully accepting +this kindness, Sir Alfred and a fireman carried her indoors. + +The fire was, by now, gradually getting under control, and it only +remained to house the inmates, who, having fortunately not gone to bed, +were still in their everyday clothes, Lady James and her little one +being the only exceptions. Everybody was anxious to do their best for +the James family, who were great favourites with all who knew them, and, +by half-past one, all were settled somewhere for the night. + +Now we must go back to the origin of the fire. + +Master Charlie, "Baby Charlie," as he was called, being the youngest, +had determined to have a little fun; so, after dinner was served, and +his nurse was safely downstairs at her supper, he got out of bed, lit a +candle, and began reading a book his father had just given him, which +was very exciting. Curiously enough he came to a part of the book where +there had also been a dinner-party, and the children of the house had +gone down to dessert. Charlie began thinking it was rather hard luck he +had not been allowed to see something of the party, and he wondered in +his little brain whether he could not manage it, so he put the candle +and the book on the floor near the table, as he knew he was doing wrong, +and did not want them to be seen, and crept stealthily downstairs. + +He found to his surprise that the drawing-room door was open, and the +room itself was empty, as Sir Alfred and Lady James, whose guests had +just left, were playing a game of billiards in the billiard-room, so as +he had no idea how late, or how early it was, he went behind a screen +near the balcony window and sat down to wait. But it was in reality +about eleven, all the ladies had left, and the servants were very busy +downstairs. As it was long past Charlie's bedtime he fell soundly +asleep. Now, the nurse, who had only been a short time in Lady James's +family, was most unscrupulous, and when she came down for her supper, +she found it so much more amusing than sitting alone in the nursery, +that, trusting Charlie was sound asleep, she remained downstairs +chatting quite happily with the servants. The fire had now been +smouldering some time, and had been caused by the candle falling out of +the candlestick on to the open book, which blazed up in a few minutes, +and quickly set the tablecloth alight. Edith and Sarah were the first to +go upstairs and to discover the flames. Sarah at once thought of the +stone staircase which led up to Charlie's room, and which could not +catch fire; but she had scarcely reached the top floor, when she saw the +walls of the night nursery fall in, and, through a rift in the flames, +saw, to her horror, that Charlie's bed was empty. Thinking that the +child had got frightened by the flames, and had probably strayed into +some of the lower rooms, she searched carefully into every cupboard and +corner of the bedrooms and dressing-rooms. But all this took a long +time, and the flames were gaining rapidly upon her. Sarah soon +remembered that the stone staircase ended on the drawing-room floor, +being continued in wood, which had already caught fire from the flames +of the front staircase. She was still searching frantically in Lady +James's boudoir, which was next to the drawing-room, for Charlie, when +she saw, to her horror, that all exit from downstairs was now +impossible. She bethought herself of the drawing-room balcony, which was +of stone, and in opening the window which led on to it, she saw, to her +mingled horror and relief, the form of little Charlie peacefully +sleeping behind the big screen. Her thankfulness can better be imagined +than described, and seizing the child in her arms she ran out, thankful +to get in the air and to leave the suffocating rooms, now filled with +smoke, behind her. + +Poor Sarah was very ill for a week, but in reality it was more the shock +which had upset her than the actual burns, although she had several +rather bad ones on her arms. However, after these had been carefully +dressed with lint and croton oil, she felt fairly like herself again. + +Poor Lady James had suffered from the disaster terribly, and was obliged +to go abroad for her health, which the doctor feared would only with +great difficulty be re-established; so one day Sir Alfred sent for Sarah +to come to his study, and when she had arrived, he began by telling her +how unutterably grateful they were to her, and little Charlie, who was +close at hand, thanked her also in his pretty childish manner. Sir +Alfred then went on to say how sorry they all were to lose her, but as +it was impossible to take her abroad with them she must look out for +another place. Here poor Sarah, who had been very happy in their +service, completely broke down. Sir Alfred soothed her as best he could, +and assured her that their gratitude was much too great ever to allow +them to forget her. He also gave her a purse with fifty pounds in it, +forty of which he begged her to put at once into the savings bank, and +he also promised to add one pound to it every Christmas. + +Sarah was surprised and greatly overcome at this great generosity and +gratitude, saying that anybody else would have done the same in her +place. She said good-bye to her mistress, whom she felt very sorry to +see looking so ill, took a still sadder leave of her fellow-servants, +and went for a few days to her father's home. + +She soon received a letter from Lady James telling her that she had a +friend who was going to Ireland, and being badly in want of a +kitchen-maid had promised to take Sarah if she did not mind going so far +off. Of course Sarah was only too delighted to go anywhere, not liking +to be idle longer than was necessary, and really she had been so happy +in her experience of service that she was quite anxious to begin work +again. She went to see Mrs. Sinclair, who was a bright fashionable lady, +but very unlike Lady James. She quite approved of Sarah, not really +troubling herself much as to her character or abilities, so it was +decided that they should start in two days. + +Sarah wrote a long letter to Dick, telling him all about her adventures +and forthcoming journey; but, not knowing what her address would be, she +was unable to say where he should write to her. + +The two days passed quickly, and Sarah went to Mrs. Sinclair's London +house to make acquaintance with her fellow-servants, with whom she was +to go over to Ireland immediately. She had not travelled much by train +before, so the whole sensation was new to her, and when they arrived in +the evening at Fleetwood, her excitement was very great. The luggage was +all put on board, together with the young lady's bicycle, and she had a +little time to look about her. + +The sea was very rough, and Sarah, who had never been on it before, +thought the waves looked mountains high. Sailors were rushing to and +fro, and when Sarah heard the funnel blow out its signal of departure, +she did not quite understand what had occurred or what was going to +happen; but she soon felt the steamer rolling and pitching, and, in +spite of the other servants trying to persuade her to go and lie down, +Sarah stayed on deck much too excited to think of feeling ill. She sat +down under cover, and presently one of the sailors came up to her. He +looked very odd to her eyes, all done up in his oil-skins and huge +boots, but he also looked so very jolly that she thought he must be +nice. He asked her if she would like a rug; and Sarah, who was beginning +to feel very cold, accepted his offer gladly. Away he staggered, for by +this time the moon looked as if she was playing hide and seek with the +ship, now looking full at Sarah and then shyly hiding her round face +again. Back came the sailor quickly with a nice warm rug, and after +having tucked Sarah up all round in it, he sat down and began to talk to +her. Now, she did not quite like this, but as he had been so kind she +could not exactly tell him to go, so they talked away for a good long +time, and Sarah began telling Mike, as she found out his name to be, all +about her first place, and how she was going to Ireland to begin life in +another situation. Mike was very interested, and now became so friendly +with her that she at last said she must go below, as she was beginning +to feel rather ill. Mike would not believe this, and tried hard to +prevent her; but Sarah was a very determined little person and would +have her own way, so she went downstairs to join the other servants, but +they were all suffering so much that she was obliged to look at a paper +and not talk. + +At last they arrived at Belfast, and Sarah was very glad, as she thought +the cabin so stuffy, and Mike having been so tiresome, Sarah had not +liked to go up on deck again, the consequence being that her head was +aching violently. After landing, they all went to the Northern Counties +Hotel, where a good breakfast was ordered, consisting of fresh herrings, +coffee, eggs, fadge and honey. Sarah, who sat next the window, could +hardly take her eyes off the street, filled as it was with a motley +crowd of small fish carts, ragged newspaper boys, and factory girls +hurrying to their work, with their bright shawls pinned carelessly over +their heads, and their short skirts and bare feet all looking very +different to any London crowd she had ever seen. Soon the time arrived +to start for Ballycastle, which was their destination, and after two +hours' journey by train they arrived. + +The luggage was left at the station, where it would be well guarded till +called for, and the servants all got up on outside jaunting cars, which +were waiting for them. Sarah thought these cars looked very odd, as +there was a kind of long box in the middle and two seats on either side, +which, if you were a novice, were apt to jog you off. She mounted with +some difficulty, and held on very tight. They drove at a very great +pace, and, as Sarah thought, very recklessly round the corners. After a +time, however, she quite enjoyed the motion, and was much surprised to +see all the children with their feet quite bare, generally driving a fat +pig or two; and when she, by chance, looked into the cabins and saw pigs +and fowls happily making themselves quite at home, her astonishment knew +no bounds, but on asking the other servants, she was told this was quite +usual, and nobody thought it even extraordinary. + +They passed a great many bogs on their way, and Sarah had no idea what +these were till she was told, and even then she thought they looked very +dull and dirty, and did not understand how people could use the peat, +which was piled up in large stacks to keep it dry, in any way. At last +they turned in at the avenue gate, and came up to a very pretty house +which was covered with creepers, the lawn in front being bright with +flower-beds, where masses of geraniums, begonias, mignonette, etc., were +blooming, as flowers only can bloom on Irish soil. Behind the lawn was a +long row of tall scarlet pokers, "tritomas," as the footman was very +proud of calling them when he told Sarah that in October he had counted +as many as four or five thousand in bloom. The green fields and trees +behind making a most beautiful background. + +Of course, during the next few days there was a great deal to do, and +Sarah had not only her kitchen work, but was also asked to help the +housemaid, who was a cheerful Irish girl, whose peculiar brogue amused +her very much. Sarah's mistress was most of the time lying on a sofa in +the drawing-room, as she still felt the effects of the journey from +London, and her only daughter was bicycling all over the country +visiting her various friends. Any spare time that Sarah had she spent in +exploring the beautiful neighbourhood of Ballycastle, which lies near +the sea. + +Several months passed, during which time Sarah was very happy in her +beautiful home; she wrote to Dick every fortnight, and told him how she +was getting on, and he answered her letters regularly. One day he wrote +saying that he had a great piece of news to tell her, which was, that +his master had given him a place as upper servant, and had also raised +his wages. His letter was written in great spirits, and Sarah only felt +sorry she was not on the spot to tell him at once how delighted she +felt. His letter went on to say that his master was thinking of paying +some shooting visits in the north of Ireland, and Dick hoped they might +meet, as he was to be valet for the occasion. Sarah was greatly excited +at this prospect, and could only relieve her feelings by taking a good +walk along the headlands. Sarah was one of those people who cannot do +without sympathy, and she knew that great joy likes to be shared to make +it complete, therefore she felt very sad at not being able to talk over +every detail of this great excitement with Dick, as a letter seemed to +her quite inadequate for the occasion. + +Mrs. and Miss Sinclair were going to pay a few visits in the country, +and had told the housekeeper to give the servants a day's outing in +Belfast. After their departure the house was very quiet, and there was +naturally not much work to do, but Sarah felt that with such a beautiful +garden and such perfect scenery, she could never be dull. + +One morning she went down to bathe, a thing she had never done before; +at first she would only let the water ripple over her feet, then come up +to her knees, which she thought very brave of her, but Peggy, the +housemaid, who was also there, laughed so heartily, that she ventured +quite in, and enjoyed herself so much that she determined to repeat the +operation whenever she had time. + +At last the housekeeper announced in a very grand manner that in two +days the servants might go to Belfast for their trip. They were all very +much pleased, and the maids busied themselves in mending their dresses +and putting new ribbons on their hats. They were determined to enjoy +themselves, and knew that a smart appearance would greatly help this +object. The day soon came, and at an early hour everybody was assembled +in the hall waiting for the cars which Mrs. Sinclair had kindly ordered +for them. This time Sarah had no difficulty in seating herself, and +enjoyed the drive in the fresh morning air and lovely sunshine very +much. + +Arrived at the station, they only just had time to take their tickets +and jump into their places, when the train was off, they laughed a great +deal, and were all very light-hearted when Belfast was reached. At first +they were not sure what they would do, but Sarah unconsciously solved +the difficulty by exclaiming, "Oh, I _am_ hungry!" so they all trooped +off for breakfast at an inexpensive hotel. + +Mrs. Sinclair had given the footman a letter to the manager of a flax +mill, and they thought they would go there after they had finished their +meal. The manager sent his foreman to show them over the mill, and Sarah +had as much as she could do to hear his explanation of the various +processes used for spinning flax. The noise was terrible, and quite +deafened Sarah, who could not help feeling very thankful that she was +not one of the poor factory girls, whose pallid faces predicted an early +death. She said something about this to Peggy, who told her that they +seldom lived long, as the air being full of dust atoms, which they +inhaled all day, gradually affected their lungs. Sarah came away feeling +very sad, but she had not much time to think, as she was again hurried +on to some new sight. + +They spent a very happy day, and ended up with a good tea of scones, +oat-cake, bread and butter and jam. + +At the station they still had half an hour to wait for the train, so +they sat down on one of the benches and talked. Suddenly Sarah uttered a +half cry, but on seeing Peggy looking at her, she quickly gained her +composure. Near a train which had just arrived, stood two girls and a +man. The man was very like Dick, and as he half turned round, Sarah saw +that it was really he. One of the girls, who was very pretty, was +talking to him with her hand on his arm, and Sarah thought he looked at +her very affectionately. They chatted and laughed for some little time +till the guard came round for the tickets, then the pretty girl, to +Sarah's horror, gave Dick a kiss which he seemed fully to expect, and +she jumped into the train, waving her handkerchief repeatedly to him. + +Dick and his companion now left the station, and, passing close to +Sarah, she heard her say, "My! how fond you two are of each other, she +certainly is very pretty, just your style." Sarah meanwhile was choking +with rage, hardly believing her ears, and feeling beside herself with +jealousy. + +In a few minutes she asked Peggy to take a turn outside the station, as +they still had ten minutes before their train left. Sarah did not feel +inclined to talk, and Peggy, being Irish, was only too glad to use this +opportunity of letting her tongue run on. After they had gone some +little distance they retraced their steps, when Sarah suddenly saw Dick +and his friend, who had left the station by another way, coming towards +them. He saw her some distance off, and quickened his steps, when, to +his astonishment, Sarah blankly looked at him, and, half bowing, passed +over to the other side of the road. Dick was dumb with surprise, and +would have followed her, but seeing that she was determined to avoid +him, he changed his mind. + +Now, Dick had no idea that Sarah had been in the station, and could not +imagine what had happened, but he expected some letter of explanation, +and thought he would wait. + +Sarah meanwhile had taken a corner seat in the train, and was tormenting +herself with all sorts of uncomfortable thoughts. + +The return journey was very different for the whole party from the +morning one, the others finding her very much of a wet blanket. Arrived +home, she felt as miserable as possible, and did not know what to do to +get at the rights of the matter. + +Meanwhile Dick, who was very proud, determined to wait for Sarah's +explanation, and she had made up her mind to act in the same way, so the +estrangement seemed likely to go on indefinitely. + +"Oh, Peggy," said Sarah one day, "what a sweetly pretty dress you are +making! When are you going to wear it? Why, I shan't know you when you +have it on." + +"Oh," said Peggy, "this is not for myself, it is for a great friend, +and, as she is very pretty, sure I am making her a pretty dress for +Christmas." + +The gown in question was pale blue, trimmed with black ribbons, and the +sleeves were all tucked, so Sarah might well admire it. + +"Well," she asked, "what is this beauty's name? Do tell me." + +"No," said Peggy, "I shan't; it's a secret, and you might tell, as I +believe you know her brother." + +"Oh, I don't know anybody," cried Sarah, "as for a man, I only know +one." + +"Well, then," said Peggy, "I'll tell you; it is Maggie Bream, and she is +in service near Belfast." + +"What!" cried Sarah, "is her name Bream?" + +"Well, and why shouldn't it be? I suppose you've no objection?" + +"Oh no; but tell me more about her. Has she any sisters?" + +"No, not one, nor half a one; but she has lots and lots of brothers, and +she often tells me she is right glad there are no more girls in the +family, as they are none too well off as it is. Of course, her eldest +brother earns a power of money, as his master just thinks a heap of him; +but there, he's engaged, so what's the use of him? He saves and stints +just because he wants to marry soon." + +Sarah was now all excitement, and could hardly command her voice to ask +this wonderful brother's name, however, Peggy volunteered it by saying-- + +"Maggie has just met Dick in Belfast--in fact, they were there the same +day that we were. Maggie wrote to tell me yesterday. I'm right sorry I +missed her, but her train went just before ours." + +Peggy noticed (for who so sharp as Peggy?) Sarah's restlessness and her +flushed face, and wanted to know what was the reason. + +"Well," said Sarah, "I am the girl Dick's engaged to, and I have made a +horrible mistake." + +Peggy naturally wanted to know what the mistake was; but Sarah would not +tell her, as she now felt she had been very silly, and she did not want +to be laughed at. + +Sarah now thought the best thing she could do was to write to Dick and +tell him why she had behaved in such an extraordinary way at Belfast. He +was very glad to get this letter, as he had been thinking a great deal +about her, trying to understand how he had offended her. He wrote off at +once and asked if she could possibly get another outing, in order to +arrange about their wedding, as he had now saved quite enough and would +not wait any longer. + +Sarah had to be patient till Mrs. Sinclair came back, and when her +mistress heard why the day was wanted she gladly gave the required +permission. Sarah wrote to her former mistress telling her that her +marriage would soon take place, and she would have to leave her present +situation. Lady James answered her letter most kindly, and said that she +and Sir Alfred were thinking of returning to their Scotch home, and +offered her the place of lodge-keeper and Dick that of butler. + +Sarah was perfectly delighted, and not less so when she found in the +envelope a present of ten pounds, with which to buy herself some nice +wedding clothes. She then went up to Mrs. Sinclair and told her about +the offer Lady James had made them, and gave a month's notice, which she +said she was really sorry to be obliged to do, but as Dick had done the +same to his master, she hoped Mrs. Sinclair would not blame her. She +then went to Belfast and told Dick about all the plans suggested. He was +quite delighted, and as he had already given his master a month's +notice, felt no compunction in leaving. + +Dick made her promise to marry him in a month, and they then went to see +his sister, Maggie, who was to be bridesmaid, and wear the wonderful +dress. + +The month soon passed, and with Peggie's help, Sarah was able to make +three new dresses, and various other things. Mr. Brown was very pleased +to hear of his daughter's marriage, and was only sorry he was unable to +be there himself, but he sent her six plated spoons and forks, and a +small locket which her mother had left to her. + +The servants were all sorry to lose Sarah, they gave her a silver +tea-pot as a wedding gift, and saw her off at the station. + +Dick and Sarah met at the door of St. Anne's church on this auspicious +day. She was dressed in a blue alpaca gown, trimmed with white lace, and +a hat to match. After the service was over, Mr. and Mrs. Bream went away +in a brougham Dick had ordered for the occasion, and they had their +wedding breakfast in the same hotel where Sarah had spent part of that +eventful day, when she and her fellow-servants had come to Belfast for +their holiday. + +They both had a very happy time and went straight across to England, +where they were to spend a few days with Sarah's father and his wife, +till Lady James arrived from abroad. + +Mr. and Mrs. Brown met them at the door of her old home, her father +having taken a holiday for the occasion. During the following week, Dick +and Sarah were mostly out of the house, visiting the Crystal Palace, and +many other places which Sarah had never been able to see. When the week +was over, they went together to see Lady James, and finding that she +wished them to begin work at once, they packed up their belongings and +set off for Scotland, where we will now leave them with many good wishes +for a long and happy life. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sarah's First Start in Life., by +Adelaide M. G. Campbell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SARAH'S FIRST START IN LIFE. *** + +***** This file should be named 35053.txt or 35053.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/0/5/35053/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Mary Meehan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/35053.zip b/35053.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5286adb --- /dev/null +++ b/35053.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f332a49 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #35053 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35053) |
