To me Sunday was a day of rejoicing; I was so glad to throw off my ragged apparel of “Poor Jack” and put on my best clothes, that I might walk with my sister, for my mother gradually softened down her asperity (perhaps out of prudence), as she could raise no objection to Virginia walking with her brother when he was clean and well dressed, and Virginia was very firm in supporting me when I requested permission.  Indeed, latterly my requests were more like demanding a right than a favor, and my mother appeared to wish to avoid a contest with me.  She knew that I was a good scholar, very independent of her, and very much liked.  The favorable opinion of others induced her to treat me with more consideration; but we had no regard for each other, only preserving a sort of armed neutrality.

There are grades in all classes of life; and the young ladies’ seminary, to which Virginia went as a day scholar, had its distinctions of rank.  The first in consequence among the young ladies were the two daughters of Mr. Tippet, the haberdasher; then came the hatter’s daughter, Miss Beaver.  The grades appeared to be as follows:  manufactures held the first rank; then dry goods, as the tea-dealers, grocers, etc.; the third class consisted of the daughters of the substantial butchers and pastrycooks.  The squabbles between the young ladies about rank and precedence were continual:  what then must have been the position of poor little Virginia, whose mother was a clear-starcher and getter-up of fine linen?  At first they called her the washerwoman’s daughter, and would not associate with her, which made her very uncomfortable; and she used to tell me on the Sundays when we walked out how she had been treated during the week.  But it was all for her advantage, and tended to correct the false pride and upstart ideas which in time must have been engendered by my mother’s folly.  Neither, after a few weeks, was my sister unhappy.  She was too meek in disposition to reply, so that she disarmed those who would assail her; and being, as she was, of the lowest rank in the school, there could be no contest with the others as to precedence.  Her mildness, humility, and sweetness of temper soon won upon both the schoolmistress and the scholars; eventually the Misses Tippet took Virginia under their protection, and this magnanimity on their part silenced all opposition.  My mother had desired my sister to take lessons in dancing.  At first the girls would not stand up with her; but, when the elder Miss Tippet took her as a partner, my sister became quite the fashion, and, what was better, a great favorite and pet with everybody; and they all patronized her as “little Virginia.”

I very soon paid off my debt to old Nanny, without having to apply to Peter Anderson.  I had assistance (but without asking for it) as follows:  The second Sunday after I had obtained my clothes I called, with Virginia, upon the widow of St. Felix.  She was in the back parlor, and the doctor, as usual, sitting with her.  She received us very kindly, spoke a deal to Virginia, and told me that I looked very handsome for “Poor Jack.”