Ann Smith 
I got the habit of playing a game at cribbage with 
her before going home. I didn’t altogether like 
going away and leaving her to a lonely evening. 
The cribbage lasted just long enough. The end 
of a game was a signal that 1 must go now. More- 
over, I had often nothing to say and I welcomed 
the cards. 
Another great point about this cottage was that 
it was her very own home. Never before had 
she been mistress in her own place; but now.... 
Yes, she enjoyed it. Once or twice she hired a 
small girl or boy to help at her rougher work, but 
as far as her strength allowed she did all the work 
herself. Sometimes I fell in with her along the 
Street. Being a little near-sighted, she walked 
peeringly with her head bent slightly down to see 
the pavement better 3 and, whether or no the shop- 
keepers liked her, she certainly liked them, talk- 
ing appreciatively of Mr. Hawkins, the butcher, 
Mrs. Vass, who sold tea at a little sweet-shop near 
her, and of others. It was her way to like people. 
I remember her laughing about a certain farmer 
who delivered a fowl at her door. Mrs. Smith, 
he called her. She told him she was Miss. 
“Oh ! You be one of ’em?” he said, and then 
took pains to reassure her: he knew numbers of 
eStimable single women, and thought none the 
worse of her for being unmarried. 
One of her delights at this cottage was in being 
able to give parties herself. Now and again the 
IgI 
