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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 Excerpt:...now pushed back his chair, while his "wifey," as he always called her, took a large white-lipped bason out of the cupboard, and pouring into it the remainder of the water from the kettle prepared to wash the cups. I had been accustomed to do this; so I said--"If you please, ma'am, I can wash the cups, if you will let me; I won't break one." "So you shall then," said she in a pleasant tone, giving me the cloth; "and I will sit down and see how well you do it." So I washed everything carefully, she and the old gentleman watching me all the time. When I had finished, and carried away the water and the cloth, as she told me, into the kitchen, she said that she was much pleased with me, and that I had washed the cups as well as she could have done them herself. The old gentleman then took up his hat and said to me, "Now, Ellen"--I had told them my name--" you must tie on your bonnet again, and we will go and look after this naughty aunt of yours." I don't know what I had been thinking about for the last hour, certainly no thought of ever returning to my wretched home had once entered my head; and his words caused me a thrill of agony which it would be impossible to describe. I threw myself down at the old man's feet, and clinging to his knees I exclaimed, " Oh, don't take me back, don't take me back, she'll kill me if you do. Oh, do let me stay with you; I'll do anything, I'll work very hard." Then I turned to the old lady: " I can scrub the house," I said,' and wash the clothes, and I will try to do whatever you tell me. I will eat a very little bit," I continued, "not nearly so much as I did to-night. Do let me stay; I will be your little servant, and live in the kitchen;...