and hunger till I was weary, and sleep without ever being prepared by exercise, or lulled by kindness to rest; could I be expected to become any thing but a weak and rickety babe?  Still, in spite of neglect, I continued to exist, to learn to curse existence, [her countenance grew ferocious as she spoke,] and the treatment that rendered me miserable, seemed to sharpen my wits.  Confined then in a damp hovel, to rock the cradle of the succeeding tribe, I looked like a little old woman, or a hag shrivelling into nothing.  The furrows of reflection and care contracted the youthful cheek, and gave a sort of supernatural wildness to the ever watchful eye.  During this period, my father had married another fellow-servant, who loved him less, and knew better how to manage his passion, than my mother.  She likewise proving with child, they agreed to keep a shop:  my step-mother, if, being an illegitimate offspring, I may venture thus to characterize her, having obtained a sum of a rich relation, for that purpose.

“Soon after her lying-in, she prevailed on my father to take me home, to save the expense of maintaining me, and of hiring a girl to assist her in the care of the child.  I was young, it was true, but appeared a knowing little thing, and might be made handy.  Accordingly I was brought to her house; but not to a home—­for a home I never knew.  Of this child, a daughter, she was extravagantly fond; and it was a part of my employment, to assist to spoil her, by humouring all her whims, and bearing all her caprices.  Feeling her own consequence, before she could speak, she had learned the art of tormenting me, and if I ever dared to resist, I received blows, laid on with no compunctious hand, or was sent to bed dinnerless, as well as supperless.  I said that it was a part of my daily labour to attend this child, with the servility of a slave; still it was but a part.  I was sent out in all seasons, and from place to place, to carry burdens far above my strength, without being allowed to draw near the fire, or ever being cheered by encouragement or kindness.  No wonder then, treated like a creature of another species, that I began to envy, and at length to hate, the darling of the house.  Yet, I perfectly remember, that it was the caresses, and kind expressions of my step-mother, which first excited my jealous discontent.  Once, I cannot forget it, when she was calling in vain her wayward child to kiss her, I ran to her, saying, ’I will kiss you, ma’am!’ and how did my heart, which was in my mouth, sink, what was my debasement of soul, when pushed away with—­’I do not want you, pert thing!’ Another day, when a new gown had excited the highest good humour, and she uttered the appropriate dear, addressed unexpectedly to me, I thought I could never do enough to please her; I was all alacrity, and rose proportionably in my own estimation.