Before I knew the Housekeeper's hour of rising, I went into her kitchen, on an errand, several times before she was up.
I always found the women working on nice embroidery. They could not attend to their housework because the Housekeeper had the keys, and was not up to unlock the stores and give out the things to work with. But there could be no relaxation of their labor on that account. They must be up and at work.
One morning, Mary Hartwell asked me to look on the list, and see if her name were there.
The names of the women who were going out during the month, with the date of the day that they were to be discharged, was handed to the Receiving Matron, the first of the month.
The women were very accurate, usually, in keeping account of their own time, still they were anxious to have their own calculations confirmed by knowing that their names were entered on the discharge list.
"If you will please look for me, I will do something for you after I go out."
"Something for me, Mary! O no! I will look for you when I go to the wash-room to-day."
Her remark called my attention to her work. I saw that she was doing a beautiful piece of embroidery. When she saw that I noticed it, she held it up and exhibited it with a great deal of pride.
It was a night-gown yoke, in linen, of an elegant and elaborate pattern.
"Who are you doing this for?" I asked.