Whether all these obligations will be met without lawsuits, I cannot tell; but I know by the masterly manner in which I have fought my way through these intricate affairs with the loss of only four dollars in four weeks, that I possess decided business ability, and this gives me courage to struggle on.

        December 30, 188-.

. . .  We are having hard times, dear old Margery, though I do not regret coming to San Francisco, for mamma could not bear the slightest noise or confusion, nor lift her hand to any sort of work, in her present condition.  At any rate, we came by Dr. George’s orders, so my conscience is clear. . . .

Mrs. Chadwick has sent us only sixty-five dollars this month, instead of eighty-five.  Some of the boarders are behind in their payments.  The Darlings have gone away, and “she hopes to do better next month.”  Mamma cannot bear to press her, she is so kind and well-meaning; so do not for the world mention the matter to Dr. George.  I will write to him when I must, not before.

Meanwhile I walk to school both ways, saving a dollar and a quarter a month.  Have found a cheaper laundry; one dollar more saved.  Cut down fruit bill; one dollar more.  Blacked my white straw sailor with shoe-blacking, trimmed it with two neckties and an old blackbird badly molted; result perfectly hideous, but the sugar-bowl, clothing, and sundry fund are out of debt and doing well.  Had my faded gray dress dyed black, and trimmed the jacket with pieces of my moth-eaten cock’s-feather boa; perfectly elegant, almost too gorgeous for my humble circumstances.  Mamma looks at me sadly when I don these ancient garments, and almost wishes I had n’t such “a wealthy look.”  I tell her I expect the girls to say, when I walk into the school-yard on Monday, “Who is this that cometh with dyed garments from Bozrah?”

Mamma has decided that I may enter a training-school for kindergartners next year; so I am taking the studies that will give me the best preparation, and I hope to earn part of my tuition fees, when the time comes, by teaching as assistant. . . .

I go over to Berkeley once a week to talk Spanish with kind Professor Salazar and his wife.  They insist that it is a pleasure, and will not allow mamma to pay anything for the lessons.  I also go every Tuesday to tell stories at the Children’s Hospital.  It is the dearest hour of the week.  When I am distracted about bills and expenses and mamma’s health and Mrs. Chadwick’s mismanagements and Yung Lee’s mistakes (for he is beautiful as an angel and stupid as a toad), I put on my hat and go out to the children, poor little things!  They always have a welcome for me, bless them! and I always come back ready to take up my trials again.  Edgar is waiting to take this to the post-box, so I must say good-night.  He is such a pleasure to us and such a comfort to mamma.  I know for the first time in my life the fun of having a brother.