Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/62

54 and light-hearted? Poor Sally Baker did not do as much work as you, and yet the doctors said it was sitting so steadily that brought on her dyspepsy; and only see Jane Mills, she is a sight to behold! and nothing but sewing, the doctors say."

"Nothing but sewing, they may say, Adeline Sally Baker used to sit in her little stove-room from morning till night, and never let in any fresh air any more than if it were poison: poor Jane did get a little walk when she went to her place in the morning, but she was always behindhand with her work; never could say no, and would set up half the night to oblige her customers; and, after all, was tormented to death with reproaches for broken promises; and then, when her appetite failed, she used to live on pies, and cakes, and such trash. As Lottie's doctor told her, God has written laws in our constitutions, and if we break them we must pay for it."

"But how do you manage, Susan—your cheeks are as fresh as roses?"

"I began, Adeline, with an excellent constitution; and Lottie, knowing the value of health, watched over it. She made me follow her New-York doctor's rules about washing myself."

"Washing yourself! I should like to know if everybody don't wash themselves; I am sure Sally Baker, and Jane Mills too, were neat as pinks."

"So they were, Adeline; but few even of neat people know the importance of daily bathing the whole person, and rubbing it smartly with a coarse cloth."

"That's what I call superstition."