so prudent a mother.

Mrs. Teachum, though exceedingly afflicted by such a loss, yet
thought it her duty to call forth all her resolutions to conquer
her grief, in order to apply herself to the care of these her dear
husband's children. But her misfortunes were not here to end:
for within a twelvemonth after the death of her husband, she was
deprived of both her children by a violent fever that then raged
in the country; and, about the same time, by the unforeseen
breaking of a banker, in whose hands almost all her fortune was
just then placed, she was bereft of the means of her future
support.

The Christian fortitude with which (through her husband's
instructions) she had armed her mind, had not left it in the power
of any outward accident to bereave her of her understanding, or to
make her incapable of doing what was proper on all occasions.
Therefore, by the advice of all her friends, she undertook what
she was so well qualified for; namely, the education of children.
But as she was moderate in her desires, and did not seek to raise
a great fortune, she was resolved to take no more scholars than
she could have an eye to herself without the help of other
teachers; and instead of making interest to fill her school, it
was looked upon as a great favour when she would take any girl.
And as her number was fixed to nine, which she on no account would
be prevailed on to increase, great application was made, when any
scholar went away, to have her place supplied; and happy were they
who could get a promise for the next vacancy.

Mrs. Teachum was about forty years old, tall and genteel in her