She was, however, a better caterer than
the circumstances required or permitted. She liked to make nice
things for the table, and, having been accustomed to an abundant
supply, could never learn to economize. At a dollar and a quarter
a week for board,(the price allowed for mill-girls by the
corporations) great care in expenditure was necessary. It was not
in my mother's nature closely to calculate costs, and in this way
there came to be a continually increasing leak in the family
purse. The older members of the family did everything
they could, but it was not enough. I heard it said one day, in a
distressed tone, "The children will have to leave school and go
into the mill."
There were many pros and cons between my mother and sisters
before this was positively decided. The mill-agent did not want
to take us two little girls, but consented on condition we should
be sure to attend school tile full number of months prescribed
each year. I, the younger one, was then between eleven and twelve
years old.
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