never had there come a
child more swift to learn than Maid Sally Dukeen. She learned in fact as
though her beautiful little ringlets held each a cell in which to hide
the things she was all the time finding out.

Before the winter term of school began she could read well, and also
write and spell. No need to urge attention with the little maid; the
only thing needed was to hold her back.

Every evening except Wednesday and Saturday, as soon as her supper was
eaten, over to Mistress Kent's raced Sally, the books the mistress had
lent her under her arm, and her lessons so perfectly learned that the
good teacher wondered when she found time for so much study.

Had she peeped into Mistress Brace's house almost any day she would have
known. When Sally went to bed a book was under her pillow, for there
would be a little time for study before she got up in the morning. While
dressing, she was busy spelling as well. And while the dishes were being
washed, a book was before her on shelf or window-sill.

Sally managed to study midst the clattering of dishes and the swish of a
broom. For Mistress Cory Ann thought not much of the books, and minded
not how much noise she made while the poor child was conning a lesson,
but she dared not stop her. Sally had found out that the parson would be
her friend should trouble arise, and the parson and the burgesses were
powers that Mistress Cory Ann dared not trifle with.

When it grew chilly, muddy, or it might be a little frosty, Sally bought
herself a pair of gum shoes, for with all her extra studying she yet
found time for mending and darning, so earning a little all the time.
She also bought a good shawl, which kept her nice and warm.

And when she said, "I need a decent hat; I wonder would the parson help
me to get one," Mistress Brace bade her keep away and not go bothering
the parson. Then before the next week she got for Sally a poke bonnet
that was both warm and sightly.

Keen little Sally would not have gone to the parson; she was too proud
to beg a single penny's worth, but she had found a new way of getting
around Mistress Cory Ann since she had seen all that curtseying to the
parson.

Then something else that was beautiful happened to Sally, that filled
the little maid's heart with joy and gladness.

She had gone one afternoon in January, soon after the beginning of the
year, to run about in the pine woods, for what with work and study she
had grown tired and felt stupi