SUSAN GRAY. 97

stirred myself very much, to get every thing in
the nicest order for them.

I rubbed the tables and chairs as bright as
a looking-glass, and dressed the mantle-piece
and the shelves with primroses, and cowslips;
and violets, and such sweet flowers as 1 could
gather in the garden, and on the sunny bank
above the house; and when I had put on the
tea-kettle to boil, and placed my mistress's best
china cups and saucers upon the little round
table, I dressed myself as neatly as I could, in
my cotton gown, with a clean cap, and my
best white apron and handkerchief.

Just as I had finished dressing myself, my
mistress came into my room, and seemed to
be in so good a humour, that I could not but
feel very much pleased with her at the time,
although I have since been shocked to think
of her wicked arts.

She praised me for looking neat; (she knew
that I loved to be called neat;) and said that I
had been an excellent housewife of my clothes.
She then took out of her pocket a new pink
ribbon, which she said her cousin had given
her as a fairing.

«But | am too old, Susan,” added she, ‘to
wear pink ribbon; and as you have been a good
girl Jately, I believe I must present it to you.”
She then made me sit down, while she tied the
ribbon round my head, and fastened it with a
very smart knot in front.

As I had had, lately, so many disagreements
with my mistress, 1 thought that I would not
refuse to wear the ribbon, although I could not

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