by her aunt; my mother being unwilling to recall me from school, if it
were possible to avoid it; and she had been obliged, on account of her
illness, to withdraw most of the sum remaining in the Savings' Bank. On
my return home I found her enjoying a tolerable degree of health, but I
feared that such close application to her needle had been too much for
one whose constitution was naturally delicate. She seemed like one weary
both in mind and body. After my arrival, however, she seemed to regain
her usual cheerfulness, and in a short time seemed quite herself again.
It was now I felt it my duty to turn the education which my mother had
been at so much pains to give me to account by teaching, in order to
assist her, and also to obtain a support for myself. We had decided to
offer Aunt Patience a home for the remainder of her life, indeed I felt
that I owed her a debt of gratitude for her past kindness to my mother.
We therefore told her that so long as we possessed a home, we would
gladly share it with her, provided she felt contented to remain with us.
She at first demurred a little, as she was aware that our means were
limited; but when my mother told her that she would not know what to do
without her, it seemed to set her mind at rest, and she gladly assented
to our proposal, and it was settled that for the future her home was to
be with us.

I had as yet settled upon no definite plan in regard to teaching. My
mother wished me to apply for the situation of governess in a family, as
she thought that position would command a higher salary, and would prove
less laborious than a situation in a school. About this time we noticed
in a daily paper an advertisement for a governess, wanted in the family
of a Mr. Leighton, residing in the suburbs of the city; the salary
offered was liberal, and I thought, with my mother, that I had best
apply for the situation.