CHAPTER VI.

The next day commenced as before, getting up and dressing by rush-light.

But this morning we were obliged to dispense with the ceremony of washing.

The water and the pitchers was frozen.

A change had taken place in the weather the preceding evening, and a keen, northeast wind,

whistling through crevices of our bedroom windows all night long had made us shiver in

our beds, and turned the contents of the ures to ice.

Before the long hour and a half of prayers and Bible reading was over, I felt ready to

perish with cold.

Breakfast time came at last, and this morning the porridge was not burnt.

The quality was eatable, the quantity small.

How small my portion seemed, I wish it had been doubled.

In the course of the day I was enrolled a member of the fourth class, and regular tasks

and occupations more assigned me.

Hither too I had only been a spectator of the proceedings at Lowwood.

I was now to become an actor therein.

At first being little accustomed to learn by heart, the lessons appeared to me both long

and difficult.

The frequent change from task to task two be wildered me.

When I was glad when, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Smith put into my hands

a border of muslin, two yards long, together with needle, thimble, etc., and sent me to sit

in a quiet corner of the schoolroom, directions to hem the same.

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