Page:Life and transactions of Jane Shore, concubine to King Edward IVth.pdf/16

16 she had a cousin who took care of her, and brought her up as one of his own family. With this relative she removed, while yet a child, into Ayrshire, where she received such an education as is usually bestowed on the children of the labouring classes in Scotland. She could read English, and repeat the shorter Catechism.

While very young, she engaged as servant in the house of a farmer near the Troon. Here she was seduced by a fellow-servant, who had deceived her by professions of attachment, and a promise of marriage. Alas! how many poor young creatures fall into this shared and are thereby reduced from a state of honour and happiness, to misery and shame. The young man, as is very common in such cases, having disgraced the woman whom he professed to love, abandoned her to suffer all the misery of her degraded condition. She felt so much ashamed, that she could not live with those among whom she had formerly maintained a good character. She, therefore, left her service, and with a bundle, containing a few articles of clothing, set out to seek employment where she was unknown. With this view she came to Glasgow, about the period of hiring servants for the Martinmas term, in 1816. Having no person to recommend her, and not knowing one to whom she could apply for assistance or advice, she went on the market-day to take her chance at the Old Bridge, the place of resort for country servants out of employment, or those who wish to engage themselves for the following halt year. She was not so forturate as to obtain a place and her little