next door, who lost as many pence every week by that bun and biscuit shop, as if she had been in the habit of treating herself with biscuits and buns; which, though she would have liked very much, she could not afford to purchase. It was the case here, as in most other towns, that there were a great many idle people who had nothing to do in a morning, but to walk about: and who, when they were tired, would turn into the pastrycook's, or this biscuit shop, to refresh themselves with something good. Now this young girl had so much idle curiosity, that she could not refrain, or rather she did not refrain, from looking off from her work all the time that any ladies or nursemaids were there, to observe how they were dressed, how long they stayed, and then to see whether they went up town or down town, or turned into the church-yard. The foolish girl did not consider that as a penny saved is a penny gained, so, a penny not earned is a penny lost.

But to return to Rachel: it was not long before she reaped the reward of her diligence. After having been employed about a twelvemonth at her trade, it appeared, besides having furnished herself with decent clothing during that time, thus relieving her parents of the burden of providing her dress, she had realized no less a sum than nineteen shillings and sixpence, sterling. Industrious people are generally frugal also. This was the case with Rachel. Indeed, she

would never have been able to save up all this money, if she had spent half as much as most young girls do, in ribbons and bobbin-net, and beads, and other trifles, which, after all, only give them a tawdry and vulgar appearance; and she now felt very glad that she was not prevailed upon to purchase that pair of gold drops, which the old pedlar tempted her with so much in the spring.

"I should like for once," said Rachel to herself, "to have a real bank note of my own. I have only to earn one sixpence more, and then I will get it changed for a one pound note." So she resolved to set to work very diligently: but as she was somewhat too eagerly shuffling the shillings and half-crowns out of her lap into her money box, her silver thimble rolled off on to the floor, and disappeared. Rachel searched for it in every corner to no purpose; till she was at last obliged to conclude that it had found its way into a well-known mouse hole under the window seat, which, by the by, ought to have been stopped up long ago. Here Rachel first poked in her scissors, then a fork, and then a skewer; but she found it a fathomless abyss, from which nothing came forth but tufts of cobweb. She now attempted to work without a thimble, but soon found she should lose time by that: then she borrowed her mother's, winding a piece of paper round her finger to make it fit: but in spite of this, it slipped off continually; besides, her mother wanted it.

So she was obliged to go out, much against her will, and buy a new one, which cost her eighteenpence; and thus she had to wait some time longer before she could make up the desired sum.

It was not till old Michaelmas-day (and Rachel thought it was very particular that it should happen just on that day) that she realized her wishes, and placed a bank of England one-pound note at the bottom of her money-box. This treasure she surveyed with considerable satisfaction, and soon began to calculate how many useful things she might purchase with all that money. At first, indeed, she thought of several things that were not useful; but after a little reflection, she resolved not to think of them any more; but determined that her principal purchase should be a warm cloak, to go to the Sunday school in, this next winter; which she was in the habit of regularly attending through all weathers. This decision, which she knew to be wise and prudent, because she could have pleased her fancy much more by other things, made her feel that pleasantest of all sensations, self approval; and as she took up her work again she began to sing. The lines she happened to think of were very suitable—

"Whene'er I take my walks abroad," &c.

But when she came to that part

"Not more than others I deserve,

66

she chanced to cast her eyes on her bank note; when the large word "ONE," caught her attention. "It is but one pound after all," thought she, and she stopped singing. "Ah, if I am so happy because I have one, what should I be if I had hundreds or thousands, like some people! Let me see; if I had ten thousand pounds, for instance, I should be just ten thousand times happier than I am now.". And now it appeared to Rachel, that to be ten thousand times less happy than it was possible to be, was scarcely to be happy at all; this thought made her feel a little discontented.

Some days afterwards she was sitting at her work as usual. The little parlor which her mother allowed her to occupy, was neat and pleasant. A bright yellow canary bird, which sang sweetly, together with a fine box of mignionette, and some pots of beautiful balsams, ornamented the window where she worked; and she thought it very pleasant to sit there on a fine day, like this, with these pretty flowers before her, and her canary singing his lively tunes. Just as she was thinking so, some ladies came in to look at the different kinds of straw that she used to plait. Rachel displayed specimens of all the various sorts; but the young lady who wished to choose some was very difficult to please. She seemed dissatisfied with them all and complained of "the impossibility of getting any thing in the world in the country."

Rachel could not help thinking that this fine lady looked cross and discontented: she also thought that she must be selfish and inconsiderate; for she hindered her from her work the best part of half an hour, looking first at one pattern, and then at another-now seeming inclined to order some-then hesitating again, and at last going away without either choosing any, or making the least apology for giving her so much trouble.

When the ladies were gone, Rachel's mother came in to inquire whether they had bespoke any straw. Rachel told her, and added, Mother, do you know I was thinking that I had rather sit here all my life, plaiting of straw, than be that lady that had on the purple velvet pelisse; for I am sure she cannot be happy." Child," replied her mother, "you don't know what you are talking about! that young lady has got ten thousand pounds to her fortune."

"Ten thousand pounds!" exclaimed Rachel, she said no more, but the words struck her: They brought forcibly to her mind what she had lately been thinking, about her one pound note; and she wondered how it could be, that instead of being ten thousand times happier, the lady did not appear to be nearly so happy as she herself was. In the midst of these thoughts, she was interrupted by the entrance of a young lady whom Rachel was always glad to see. It was her