TALEV.As Mary Atkinswas one day going to fetch some turnips for dinner, she saw, at the corner of Poverty Lane, a second-hand shop, at the door of which hung a great deal of ragged finery. There was a tawdry flowered gown: to be sure, it had some holes in it, but it was well starched, and made a show: there was, likewise, an old muslin cap, with a pleated border, and a fine red ribband round it. Mary went home, and told her mother she wished her to go with her to Poverty-lane, to buy something at the second-hand shop, for she had seen some very pretty things there; and Sally Idle had bought a white apron for six-pence, and a muslin handkerchief for two-pence. My dear, said her mother, there is not a place in the town I have so great a dislike to as a rag-shop, for such it may properly be called; and,it is one great cause of the ruin of poor people, that they lay out their money at these shops. The apron and handkerchief which Sally Idle bought, would, probably, be in rags the first time they were washed, and she would then find that she had laid out her money in a very wrong manner. The pleated bordered cap you saw, was, I dare say, already in holes; and, perhaps, after once washing it, could be pleated no more: besides, such a thing would take a great deal of time, which poor people have not to spare. I would rather see a plain cloth cap, with a strong lawn border, set strait on, which would wear well for years, than such fine ones which would not last a month. The cotton gown, perhaps, I could buy for half what I gave for my new stuff one; but it would often want washing, and that would take a great deal of time, which would very much hinder my work atthe wheel. Soap too, is very dear, so that it would soon cost me more than that I have: besides, I think it very untidy to see a poor woman with a dirty bit of a cotton gown all in rags, when she might, by a little contrivance, have a comfortable stuff one. Poor people, in general, find it difficult to raise money enough at a time to go to the shops and buy a new garment: but my way is to put by, weekly, a little out of what every one gets. You know you have each a place to put your own in, and, by many a little being often put together, it soon becomes a good deal. When I want a new garment for any of us, I go and see how much is in the drawer, and if there is not enough, your father and I endeavour to make it up out of our own earnings. I should think it a shameful waste, indeed, to spend my money and my children’s at a rag shop. I neverhave done it, nor do I ever mean to do it; but, if you think it a better way, you are very welcome to try. But, as I think it a disgrace for an industrious woman to be seen there, you will excuse my going with you. O, said Mary, I will not go, I am convinced that your way is best; and, now I think of it, Sally Idle had a great many rents in the linen gown, which I know she bought there but a little time since, and it looked very dirty and untidy too. Some people, said her mother, may laugh at my putting by the six-pences and the penny’s every week, but I am sure we have a great deal of comfort from it; and, it matters not who laughs, so long as we are certain that we are doing right. I do not think that I should hoard up a great many shillings and guineas as if I could get them, for they are only desirable to make use of; but I know it to be myduty to do the best I can with my little, and, while I do that, you may be sure I shall not go to the rag-shop.Ruin within the rag-shop stands,And all who dare to enter,With tattered bargains in their hands,Repent so rash a venture.leaf design
As Mary Atkinswas one day going to fetch some turnips for dinner, she saw, at the corner of Poverty Lane, a second-hand shop, at the door of which hung a great deal of ragged finery. There was a tawdry flowered gown: to be sure, it had some holes in it, but it was well starched, and made a show: there was, likewise, an old muslin cap, with a pleated border, and a fine red ribband round it. Mary went home, and told her mother she wished her to go with her to Poverty-lane, to buy something at the second-hand shop, for she had seen some very pretty things there; and Sally Idle had bought a white apron for six-pence, and a muslin handkerchief for two-pence. My dear, said her mother, there is not a place in the town I have so great a dislike to as a rag-shop, for such it may properly be called; and,it is one great cause of the ruin of poor people, that they lay out their money at these shops. The apron and handkerchief which Sally Idle bought, would, probably, be in rags the first time they were washed, and she would then find that she had laid out her money in a very wrong manner. The pleated bordered cap you saw, was, I dare say, already in holes; and, perhaps, after once washing it, could be pleated no more: besides, such a thing would take a great deal of time, which poor people have not to spare. I would rather see a plain cloth cap, with a strong lawn border, set strait on, which would wear well for years, than such fine ones which would not last a month. The cotton gown, perhaps, I could buy for half what I gave for my new stuff one; but it would often want washing, and that would take a great deal of time, which would very much hinder my work atthe wheel. Soap too, is very dear, so that it would soon cost me more than that I have: besides, I think it very untidy to see a poor woman with a dirty bit of a cotton gown all in rags, when she might, by a little contrivance, have a comfortable stuff one. Poor people, in general, find it difficult to raise money enough at a time to go to the shops and buy a new garment: but my way is to put by, weekly, a little out of what every one gets. You know you have each a place to put your own in, and, by many a little being often put together, it soon becomes a good deal. When I want a new garment for any of us, I go and see how much is in the drawer, and if there is not enough, your father and I endeavour to make it up out of our own earnings. I should think it a shameful waste, indeed, to spend my money and my children’s at a rag shop. I neverhave done it, nor do I ever mean to do it; but, if you think it a better way, you are very welcome to try. But, as I think it a disgrace for an industrious woman to be seen there, you will excuse my going with you. O, said Mary, I will not go, I am convinced that your way is best; and, now I think of it, Sally Idle had a great many rents in the linen gown, which I know she bought there but a little time since, and it looked very dirty and untidy too. Some people, said her mother, may laugh at my putting by the six-pences and the penny’s every week, but I am sure we have a great deal of comfort from it; and, it matters not who laughs, so long as we are certain that we are doing right. I do not think that I should hoard up a great many shillings and guineas as if I could get them, for they are only desirable to make use of; but I know it to be myduty to do the best I can with my little, and, while I do that, you may be sure I shall not go to the rag-shop.
Ruin within the rag-shop stands,And all who dare to enter,With tattered bargains in their hands,Repent so rash a venture.
Ruin within the rag-shop stands,And all who dare to enter,With tattered bargains in their hands,Repent so rash a venture.
Ruin within the rag-shop stands,
And all who dare to enter,
With tattered bargains in their hands,
Repent so rash a venture.
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