UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 195 



place I shall never forget, though I was then very 

 young, we have been obliged to employ ourselves 

 in what was useful only ; and, until very lately, 

 to assist mamma even in the menial work of the 

 house. I do not feel ashamed to mention this," 

 she added ; " for it is really gratifying to think 

 and speak of all that my dear mamma was able 

 to do ; I only wish you could have witnessed 

 the cheerfulness that accompanied all her exer- 

 tions." 



She described their little cottage as it was at 

 first, and their way of living ; and then continued 

 " We were anxious to save mamma from some 

 of the drudgery there must be, even in the smallest 

 family ; and, though often against her will, my 

 sister and I shared, as much as children could, in 

 her laborious occupations. 



11 She and my father gave us the best of all 

 knowledge, that of religion they taught us to 

 feel well the weakness of our nature, and to 

 look up with trust to that Power, who gives as- 

 sistance to the humble. Their leisure was de- 

 voted to giving us solid instruction, to the culti- 

 vation of our minds, and even to directing our 

 taste to literature. 



" If sometimes we amused ourselves with a 

 pencil, or tried to sing one of Mamma's songs, 

 she was delighted to encourage and assist us 

 and instead of lamenting that we could not do 

 more, it raised her spirits to see even our child- 



s 2 



