Chapter VII.

My first quarter at Lowwood seemed an age, and not the Golden Age, either.

It comprised an irksome struggle with difficulties in habituating myself to new rules and unwanted

tasks.

The fear of failure in these points harassed me worse than the physical hardships of my

law, though these were no trifles.

During January, February and part of March, the deep snows, and after their melting,

the almost impassable roads, prevented our stirring beyond the garden walls, except to

go to church.

But within these limits we had to pass an hour every day in the open air.

Our clothing was insufficient to protect us from the severe cold.

We had no boots.

The snow got into our shoes and melted there.

Our unglobbed hands became numbed and covered with chill blanes, as were our feet.

I remember well the distracting irritation I endured from this cause every evening, when

my feet inflamed, and the torture of thrusting the swelled, raw and stiff toes into my shoes

in the morning.

Then, the scanty supply of food was distressing, with the keen appetites of growing children

we'd scarcely sufficient to keep alive a delicate invalid.

From this deficiency of nourishment resulted an abuse, which pressed hardly on the younger

pupils.

Whenever the famished great-girls had an opportunity, they would coax or menace the little ones

...