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26 soon to save a small sum, which being laid out in the purchase of lint, they began to carry on business in a small way.

Still this excellent lady had no idea of spending the whole of her remaining days in this state. She anticipated better times, if not restoration to her former prosperity, so as to enjoy in the autumn of her days a portion of the sunshine which had enlivened the spring. Nor was it only an idle dream: it was founded on reasonable calculation; on the growing evidence of her daughter’s charms, now fast ripening into womanhood, like a full blown rose, but not quite so soon to fade. She joined modesty and virtue to her beauty, with so many other excellent qualities, that her mother already derived consolation and pleasure from her society. With the view of conferring upon such a daughter every accomplishment, she almost deprived herself of the necessaries of life, being convinced that if a young woman could only be brought to answer the description given by Solomon, that royal friend of women, of a good wife, the costly jewel would be sure to be sought for, as the cheapest ornament a wise man could ever possess.

For in those good times, virtue added to beauty was in as much request among young men, as grand connexions and a vast fortune in the present age. There were far more rivals too for such a lovely