mother, as soon as she was seven years old, sent her as a day scholar to
a young ladies' seminary, where she was well taught, although the style
of the school was much above my sister's situation in life; but my
mother would not allow her to go anywhere else, although there were
several schools more appropriate. She declared that Virginia should not
mix with the vulgar, ungenteel girls of the place, and that, if _she_
had demeaned herself by marrying below her rank, at all events _her_
daughter should be brought up as she ought to be. The neighbors laughed
at her, but my mother did not care. She worked hard, and always was
ready to pay the quarter's bill for schooling whenever it was due.

To me Sunday was a day of rejoicing; I was so glad to throw off my
ragged apparel of "Poor Jack" and put on my best clothes, that I might
walk with my sister, for my mother gradually softened down her asperity
(perhaps out of prudence), as she could raise no objection to Virginia
walking with her brother when he was clean and well dressed, and
Virginia was very firm in supporting me when I requested permission.
Indeed, latterly my requests were more like demanding a right than a
favor, and my mother appeared to wish to avoid a contest with me. She
knew that I was a good scholar, very independent of her, and very much
liked. The favorable opinion of others induced her to treat me with more
consideration; but we had no regard for each other, only preserving a
sort of armed neutrality.

There are grades in all classes of life; and the young ladies' seminary,
to which Virginia went as a day scholar, had its distinctions of rank.
The first in consequence among the young ladies were the two daughters
of Mr. Tippet, the haberdasher; then came the hatter's daughter, Miss
Beaver. The grades appeared to be as follows: manufactures held the
first rank; then dry goods, as the tea-dealers, grocers, etc.; the third