companions, who were, as it seemed to her, most unblushingly familiar with the young men. Shocked and disgusted with all this, she ventured no more into such company, contenting herself with reading alone, when not at work, or in congenial intercourse with Florence, and one or two others more like her than the rest.
After having learned her trade, the next business of Ann was to go out and sew for her living. Modest in her deportment, quiet, and what might now be called lady-like in her manners, industrious and capable, Ann soon had as much, and more than she could do in families of good standing, in all of which she was respected and treated as she deserved. She continued in this capacity for about three years, during which time both mind and person steadily improved, until she became a really interesting and quite intelligent young woman. But, withal, she was exceedingly modest and retiring. A very fine young man, a clerk in the store of the husband of one of the ladies for whom she worked, had noticed Ann for more than a year. Her appearance, manner, and conversation, whenever he did hear her speak, which was seldom, pleased him very much. At last, encouraged by the lady just alluded to, who spoke in the highest praise of Ann, he formally addressed her, and
