I

NUMB. 26. SATURDAY, October 14, 1758.

Mr. IDLER,

NEVER thought that I should write any thing to be printed; but having lately feen your first effay, which was fent down into the kitchen, with a great bundle of gazettes and ufelefs papers, I find that you are willing to admit any correfpondent, and therefore hope you will not reject me. If you publith my letter, it may encourage others, in the fame condition with myfelf, to tell their ftories, which may be perhaps as ufeful as thofe of great ladies.

I am a poor girl. I was bred in the country at a charity-fchool, maintained by the contributions of wealthy neighbours. The ladies, or patroneffes, vifited us from time to time, examined how we were taught, and faw that our clothes were clean. We lived happily enough, and were inftructed to be thankful to thofe at whofe coft we were educated. I was always the favourite of my miftrefs; the used to call me to read and fhew my copy-book to all ftrangers, who never difiniffed me without commendation, and very feldom without a fhilling.

At last the chief of our fubfcribers, having paffed a winter in London, came down full of an opinion new and strange to the whole country. She held it little lefs than criminal to teach poor girls to read and write. They who are born to poverty, she said, are

born

born to ignorance, and will work the harder the lefs they know. She told her friends, that London was in confufion by the infolence of fervants; that scarcely a wench was to be got for all work, fince education had made fuch numbers of fine ladies, that nobody would now accept a lower title than that of a waiting-maid, or something that might qualify her to wear laced fhoes and long ruffles, and to fit at work in the parlour window. But she was resolved, for her part, to spoil no more girls; those who were to live by their hands, fhould neither read nor write out of her pocket; the world was bad enough already, and he would have no part in making it worse.

She was for a fhort time warmly oppofed; but she persevered in her notions, and withdrew her fubfcription. Few liften without a defire of conviction to those who advise them to fpare their money. Her example and her arguments gained ground daily, and in less than a year the whole parish was convinced, that the nation would be ruined, if the children of the poor were taught to read and write.

Our school was now diffolved; my mistress kissed me when we parted, and told me, that, being old and helpless, she could not affift me, advised me to feek a fervice, and charged me not to forget what I had learned.

My reputation for scholarship, which had hitherto recommended me to favour, was, by the adherents to the new opinion, confidered as a crime; and, when I offered myself to any mistress, I had no other anfwer than, Sure, child, you would not work; bard.

work is not fit for a pen-woman; a scrubbing-bruh would spoil your hand, child!

I could not live at home; and while I was confidering to what I fhould betake me, one of the girls, who had gone from our fchool to London, came down in a filk gown, and told her acquaintance how well fhe lived, what fine things fhe faw, and what great wages fhe received. I refolved to try my fortune, and took my paffage in the next week's waggon to London. I had no fnares laid for me at my arrival, but came fafe to a fifter of my miftrefs, who undertook to get me a place. She knew only the families of mean tradefmen; and I, having no high opinion of my own qualifications, was willing to accept the first offer.

My first mistress was wife of a working watchmaker, who earned more than was fufficient to keep his family in decency and plenty, but it was their conftant practice to hire a chaife on Sunday, and spend half the wages of the week on Richmond Hill; of Monday he commonly lay half in bed, and ipent the other half in merriment; Tuesday and Wednesday confumed the rest of his money; and three days every week were paffed in extremity of want by us who were left at home, while my mafter lived on truft at an alehoufe. You may be

fure, that of the fufferers the maid fuffered moft, and I left them, after three months rather than be itarved.

I was then maid to a hatter's wife. There was no want to be dreaded, for they lived in perpetual

luxury.

1

luxury. My miftrefs was a diligent woman, and rofe early in the morning to fet the journeymen to work; my mafter was a man much beloved by his neighbours, and fat at one club or other every night. I was obliged to wait on my mafter at night, and on my mistress in the morning. He feldom came home before two, and fhe rofe at five. I could no more live without fleep than without food, and therefore entreated them to look out for another fervant.

My next removal was to a linen-draper's, who had fix children. My miftrefs, when I first entered the house, informed me, that I must never contradict the children, nor fuffer them to cry. I had no defire to offend, and readily promised to do my best. But when I gave them their breakfaft, I could not help all first; when I was playing with one in my lap, I was forced to keep the rest in expectation. That which was not gratified always resented the injury with a loud outcry, which put my mistress in a fury at me, and procured fugar-plums to the child. I could not keep fix children quiet, who were, bribed to be clamorous; and was therefore difmiffed, as a girl honest, but not good-natured.

I then lived with a couple that kept a petty shop of remnants and cheap linen. I was qualified to make a bill, or keep a book; and being therefore often called, at a busy time, to serve the customers, expected that I should now be happy, in proportion as I was useful. But my mistress appropriated every day part of the profit to fome private use, H 4

and,

and, as he grew bolder in her theft, at laft deducted fuch fums, that my mafter began to wonder how he fold fo much, and gained fo little. She pretended to affift his enquiries, and began, very gravely, to hope that Betty was honeft, and yet thefe fharp girls were apt to be light-fingered. You will believe that I did not stay there much longer,

The rest of my story I will tell you in another letter, and only beg to be informed, in fome paper, for which of my places, except perhaps the laft, I was difqualified, by my skill in reading and writing.

I am, SIR,

Your very humble fervant,

BETTY BROOM.