When I returned, which might have been in six months, I found a great improvement, and every appearance of my mother succeeding well in her speculations.  She had now a maid-servant, and her apprentices were increased to twelve, and there was every appearance of brisk and full employment.

In 1803 I found that Virginia, who was then fourteen years old, had left school.  She had told my mother that, during the last half-year, she had only repeated over again what she had learned the half-year before, and that she thought she could employ her time better at home in assisting her.  My mother was of the same opinion, and Virginia now superintended the cutting-out department, and was very useful.  She said that the increase of business had been very great, and that my mother could hardly execute the orders which she received.  There were now two servants in the house, and additional workwomen.  My mother also had very much altered in appearance:  before, she was usually clean and neat, now she was well if not elegantly dressed, and appeared much younger and better looking.  I must do her the justice to say that prosperity had not spoiled but improved her:  she was more kind and more cheerful every time that I went to see her; and I may add that, with the exception of a little necessary castigation to Miss Amelia and her companions, she never scolded, and was kind to her servants.  The last year she had been even more successful, and was now considered the first milliner in the town.  I believed that she deserved her reputation, for she had a great deal of taste in dress; and when she had gone upstairs to decorate previous to the hour of arrival of her customers, and came down in a handsome silk dress and an elegant morning cap, I would often look at her with surprise, and say to myself, “Who would think that this was my mother, who used to shove the broom at me in the little parlor at Fisher’s Alley?”

The reader may inquire how my father and mother got on after such an alteration in her circumstances.  I can only reply that they got on better than they did before; for my mother, who did not wish my father’s company in the house, pointed out to him that, with so many young people living with her, it would be very inconvenient if he came there in the evenings to smoke his pipe, and that it would be better if he could smoke and drink his beer anywhere else.  My father perceived the propriety of this, and assented with a good grace:  my mother was very liberal to him, and he was now enabled, when he chose, to ask a companion or two to join him, so that it suited both parties.  My father, therefore, never came to the house, except after the hospital supper, when he remained a few minutes to see Virginia, and then departed.  On Sundays he spent the whole day there, and was kindly welcomed, but he always left in the evening to smoke his pipe elsewhere.  As for me, when I did come I was always kindly received, and slept in a spare bed on the same floor with my mother and Virginia.  Before my time was out I was too well supplied by Bramble ever to want anything, and afterward I made plenty of money, and seldom came home without bringing a present both to my mother and Virginia.