are, with hard, toil-worn hands, and large feet, showed that labor
and sorrow had been her constant companions. And how unjust had been
our hasty judgment of her--for so far from proving to be the
troublesome, fault-finding, airs-taking, lady-help I had fearfully
anticipated, I found her amiable, yielding and patiently industrious.
She had no regular set ways about her, but worked unceasingly from
morning till night in every department in the house. Not a week passed
before I heard Biddy, with her Irish enthusiasm, calling on Heaven to
bless the "darlint." She was always ready to excuse Biddy's
thriftlessness and Ike's mischief, helping them on in their duties
constantly. Good Lizzie Hall! every one in the house loved her. Yes,
indeed, my dear housekeeping reader, all doubtful as you look, I had
at last obtained that paragon, so seldom met with--a good, efficient
servant. Lizzie lived with me many years, and when I parted with her,
as I had to at last, I felt certain, I had had my share of good
"help"--that her place would never be supplied.

Lizzie grew very fond of me, and ere she had lived with us many months
told me her whole history. Poor girl, without beauty, without mental
attractions, of an humble station, and slender abilities, her
life-woof had in it the glittering thread of romance--humble romance,
but romance still it was. Lizzie's father was a farmer, owning a small
farm in the part of the country where my Aunt Lina resided. His first
wife, Lizzie's mother, was an heiress according to her station,
bringing her husband on her marriage some hundreds of dollars, which
enabled him to purchase his little farm, and stock it. They labored
morning, noon, and night, unceasingly. Lizzie's mother was a thrifty,
careful body; but, unfortunately, she had more industry than
constitution; and when Lizzie was seventeen, her mother was fast
sinking into the grave, a worn-out creature, borne down by hard labor
and sickness. Nine children had she, and of them Lizzie was the eldest
and only girl. What sorrow for a dying mother! Before her mother's
last sickness, Lizzie was "wooed and won" by the best match in the
place. James Foster, her lover, was a young farmer, an orphan, but
well off in life. He owned a handsome, well-stocked farm, and was a
good-looking, excellent young man. Both father and mother cheerfully
gave their consent, but insisted that their engagement should last a
year or so, until Lizzie might be older. As Mr