k is the first
consideration. The born teacher, like the born doctor, is happier in her
own employment. An income is a necessary possession, but it does not give
that happiness which work alone can give. Very few of us work for money
altogether, while many of us work to earn a living, which is a different
thing. To be self-supporting through work which we enjoy is one of the
greatest blessings of our existence.

It is impossible to state an amount which will represent accurately a
living wage for girls who are beginning work in all the towns, cities or
country districts of Canada. At present a living wage in a city may be
nine, ten, eleven or twelve dollars a week; in places outside cities it
may vary as greatly. Girls at work should look for an employer who
recognizes reasonable standards and pays such wages as far as possible.
The more loyal girls are to such employers the better working conditions
will be for everyone.

Skilled and highly trained workers require, and receive, wages far above
the sums mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

The girl should estimate the value of her yearly income. This is important.
She may be a milliner and have steady employment for only thirty or
thirty-five weeks in the year. If she is paid a weekly wage of twelve
dollars, her yearly income will amount to three hundred and sixty or four
hundred and twenty dollars. She must find some other occupation for the
rest of her time or her total income will amount to three hundred and
sixty dollars, or four hundred and twenty dollars and no more.

The trained nurse who is paid twenty-five or thirty dollars a week when she
is on a case, will make a mistake if she forgets that she will not be able
to work without intermission throughout the year. She may be engaged in her
employment only forty weeks in the year. Nurses may earn no more than eight
or nine hundred dollars in twelve months. Even the most capable factory
worker does not earn her highest wage every week in the year. She should
be careful to reckon her income by the year, not by the week.

The girl at work exchanges her yearly income for food, shelter, clothing
and a number of other requirements, such as doctor's and dentist's fees,
carfare, and washing, holidays, recreation, savings, etc. If she earns
twelve dollars every week in the year her income will be six hundred and
twenty-four dollars. Out of this she may pay five dollars each week for
board, or two hundred and sixty do