ready to be wiped, standing near her. Throwing aside her bonnet and
seizing the coarse dish towel, Jenny exclaimed, "I'm going to wipe
dishes Mary, I know how, and when they are done, if Miss Grundy won't
let you go up stairs a minute, I'll ask Mr. Parker. I saw him under
the woodshed grinding an axe."

It was a rare thing to see Jenny Lincoln in the kitchen at the
poor-house, and now the fact that she was there, and wiping dishes
too, circulated rapidly, bringing to the spot the sour-faced woman,
the pleasant-looking woman, the girl with the crooked feet, and half a
dozen others, each of whom commented upon the phenomenon after her own
fashion.

"Do see the little thing," said one; "handles the wiping rag just like
any body!"

"And look there," cried a second; "setting them up in the cupboard!
Did you ever!" While a third remarked that she wore silk stockings,
wondering whether they were bought on purpose for her, or had been cut
over from a pair of her mother's.

Thus noticed and flattered Jenny worked away, assisting in scouring
knives and washing spiders, until her dress was splashed with
dishwater, and her white apron crocked by the kettles.

"Won't your marm scold you for getting so dirty?' asked the girl with
the crooked feet.

"I s'pose so," said Jenny, carelessly; "but then she scolds most all
the time, so I don't mind it!"