1S5G.] ^' Royal Families'' — Whence Came They? zigl 



" Upon thy prophecy and assurance then, hostess, I will take her 

 into my service ; for my housekeeper, but yesterday was complaining 

 of the want of help in the house since this new Deputyship brought 

 me more in the way of entertaining the people of my ward." 



Before leaving the "Goat and Compasses," the wealthy Brewer and 

 Deputy made arrangements for sending the poor country girl to his 

 house in the city on the following day. Proud of having done a 

 good action and indeed pleased with the pretty rustic before her, the 

 garrulous hostess took advantage of the occasion to deliver a length- 

 ened harangue to the young woman on her new duties and responsi- 

 bilities, and on the dangers to which youth were exposed in the great 

 city. The girl heard her worthy benefactress with modest and si- 

 lent thankfulness, but a more acute observer of character than was our 

 good landlady might have observed in the steady eye, and calm coun- 

 tenance of the girl a quiet firmness of expression and rectitude of 

 purpose that might have induced an abreviation of the good woman's 

 homily. The day, however, had an end, and so had the lecture ; and 

 strangely enough, the terminations of each were simultaneous ! And 

 on the day following her arrival, barefooted and alone, at the " Goat 

 and Compasses," the youthful rustic found herself installed as house- 

 maid in the family of the rich London Brewer. 



The fortunes of this obscure country girl we propose to follow in 

 illustration of the theme commenced in our caption. The first 

 change of condition that awaited her was her elevation in due time 

 to the vacated post of housekeeper in the brewer's household. In 

 this situation her duties brought her more frequently and familiarly 

 in company with her master, who found ample reason for admiring 

 her sound sense, her propriety of conduct, as well as her faithful 

 management and skillful economy. She was moreover healthful and 

 handsome. By degrees he found her presence necessary to his 

 home comforts and happiness ; he was a bachelor, a man of honorable 

 sentiments and independent mind, and at length ofiered his hand in 

 marriage. It was accepted ; and she who five years before had en- 

 tered London barefoot, and alone, became the wife of one of the richest 

 citizens of that great metropolis. For many years Mr. Aylesbury, — 

 such was the brewer's name, — and his wife lived in quiet happiness 

 together. He was a man of good family connections, of a fair educa- 

 tion for the times, had mingled somewhat in genteel society, and 

 consequently had advantages as to manners and breeding, greater 

 than his wife could boast, but on no occasion had he to blush before 

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