Perhaps I'll earn a lot of money some day, and buy the place, and make it just as we like it." "You earn money, child!" said Mrs.Carr, in a tone of unqualified wonder.
"How could you earn money, I'd like to know ?" "Oh, make bonnets or gowns, dear little mother, or teach school," said Mercy, coloring.

"Mr.Allen said I was quite well enough fitted to teach our school at home, if I liked." "But, Mercy, child, you'd never go to do any such thing's thet, would yer now ?" said her mother, piteously.

"Don't ye hev all ye want, Mercy?
Ain't there money enough for our clothes?
I'm sure I don't need much; an' I could do with a good deal less, if there was any thing you wanted, dear.
Your father he 'd never rest in his grave, ef he thought his little Mercy was a havin' to arn money for her livin'.

You didn't mean it, child, did yer?
Say yer didn't mean it, Mercy," and tears stood in the poor old woman's eyes.
It is strange what a tenacious pride there was in the hearts of our old sea-faring men of a half century ago.

They had the same feeling that kings and emperors might have in regard to their wives and daughters, that it was a disgrace for them to be obliged to earn money.