and something made me go. It seemed as if I
was being pulled away, and every time I heard any of the girls say
'mama,' it came to me that you wasn't my mama, that the girls were not
my sisters, then my head ached harder than ever and I couldn't cry. I
thought God must surely feel sorry for me, and that he sent the lady on
purpose--" and as Ernestine paused to cough and get breath, several
tears were smuggled out of sight by her listeners, and Mrs. Dering's
voice trembled, as she kissed the speaker, and said:

"He did, dear; believe it, I asked Him to care for and watch over you,
wherever you might be, and I knew that He would."

"I went on to Boston with her," continued Ernestine, after a moment's
rest. "I knew you would never find me there, and I didn't want to know
that you ever looked for me; I knew you would, but I didn't want to hear
about it. For awhile the lady watched me very closely, and I knew she
was a little distrustful, but the children liked me, and though the work
nearly killed me, I kept up. I was with the children constantly, slept,
ate, and went out with them, washed, dressed and took care of them from
morning 'till night; and sometimes I wished I could die, I was so tired
and unhappy. I did not intend to stay with her, but meant to go on the
stage just as soon as possible, though I never saw the papers, and had
no chance of finding the names of companies. Once I asked to see the
papers, but she didn't like it; she was never unkind really, but she
always seemed a little suspicious, and when I asked for the paper, she
asked what I wanted it for? I had a good place, and no need of the
papers. I didn't want to tell her, for fear she would turn me off, so I
just waited. One day I was singing the baby to sleep; it was the first
time I had ever sung in her house, and she happened to hear me, and came
in and complimented my voice, said how beautiful it was, and why didn't
I use it, instead of wearing my life out nursing babies. I said right
away that I wanted to, and meant to go on the stage as soon as I could;
then she was angry, and threatened to find another girl if I did not at
once give up such a notion. I promised I would, but I didn't and a few
days later, I was out with the children, and saw an advertisement for
fifty girls wanted at a play, and as soon as I got back, I told her I
was going to leave. She was very angry, and kept that week's wages, but
I went, and the next day I answered the advertisem