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want of education in Mrs。 and indeed I may add Mr。 Flail； rendered
absolutely necessary。
'But I am afraid； Mrs。 Sally and Mrs。 Nelly； you will be tired； as I have
but half told my story； but I will endeavour to make short work of it；
though indeed it deserves to be noticed； for it will teach one a great deal；
and convince one how little the world's riches are to be depended on。
'I have said； you know； that Mr。 Speedgo was a merchant； and a very
rich one too。 It is unknown what vast sums of money he used to spend！
when； would you think it； either through spending it too fast； or some
losses he met with in trade； he broke all to nothing； and had not a farthing
to pay his creditors。 I forgot how many thousand pounds it was he owed；
but it was a vast great many。 Well！ this you may be sure was a great
mortification to them； they begged for mercy from their creditors； but as in
their prosperity they had never shown much mercy themselves to those
they thought beneath them； so now they met with very little from others：
the poor saying they deserved it for their pride； the rich condemning them
for their presumption； in trying to vie with those of superior birth； and
those who had been less successful in business； blaming them for their
extravagance； which； they said； had justly brought on them their
misfortunes。
'In this distress； in vain it was they applied for assistance to those they
had esteemed their friends； for as they never had been careful to form their
connections with people of real merit； only seeking to be acquainted with
those who were rich and prosperous； so now they could no longer return
their civilities； they found none were ready to show them any； but
everyone seemed anxious to keep from them as much as possible。 Thus
distressed； and finding no one willing to help them； the young squire；
Master James； was obliged to go to sea： while Miss Betsy and Miss
Rachael were even forced to try to get their living by service； a way of life
they were both ill qualified to undertake； for they had always so
accustomed themselves to be waited on and attended； that they scarcely
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
knew how to help themselves； much less how to work for others。 The
consequence of which was； they gave so little satisfaction to their
employers； that they staid but a little time in a place； and from so
frequently changing； no family； who wished to be well settled； would
admit them； as they thought it impossible they could be good servants
whom no one thought worthy of keeping。
'It is impossible to describe the many and great mortifications those
two young ladies met with。 They now frequently recollected the words
of Molly Mount； and earnestly wished they had attended to them whilst it
was in their power； as by so doing they would have secured to themselves
friends。 And they very forcibly found； that； although they were poor and
servants； yet they were as sensible of kind treatment and civility； as if they
had been richer。
'After they had been for some years changing from place to place；
always obliged to put up with very low wages； upon account of their being
so ill qualified for servants； it happened that Miss Betsy got into service at
Watchet； a place about three miles distant from Mr。 Flail's farm。 Here
she had a violent fit of illness； and not having been long enough in the
family to engage their generosity to keep her； she was dismissed upon
account of her ill health rendering her wholly incapable of doing her
business for which she was hired。 She then； with the very little money
she had； procured a lodging in a miserable little dirty cottage； but through
weakness being unable to work； she soon exhausted her whole stock； and
was even obliged to quit this habitation； bad as it was； and for some days
support herself wholly by begging from door to door； often meeting with
very unkind language for so idle an employment； some people telling her
to go to her parish； when； alas！ her parish was many miles distant； and she；
poor creature； had no means of getting there。
'At last she wandered； in this distressful situation； to the house of Mr。
Flail； and walked into the farm yard just at the time the cows were being
milked。 She； who for a long time had tasted nothing but bits of broken
bread； and had no drink besides water she had scooped up in her hands；
looked at the quantity of fresh milk with a most wishful eye； and； going to
the women who were milking； she besought them in a moving manner to
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THE LIFE AND PERAMBULATIONS OF A MOUSE （1783…1784）
give her a draught； as she was almost ready to perish。 〃For pity's sake；〃
said she； 〃have compassion upon a poor wretch； dying with sickness；
hunger； and thirst； it is a long time since I have tasted a mouthful of
wholesome victuals； my lips are now almost parched with thirst； and I am
so faint for want； that I can scarcely stand； my sufferings are very great
indeed； it would melt a heart of stone to hear the story of my woes。 Oh！
have pity upon a fellow…creature then； and give me one draught of that
milk； which can never be missed out of so vast a quantity as you have
there； and may you never； never； know what it is to suffer as I now do。〃
To this piteous request； she received for answer； the common one of 〃Go
about your business； we have nothing for you； so don't come here。〃 〃We
should have enough to do indeed；〃 said one of the milkers； 〃if we were to
give every idle beggar who would like a draught of this delicious milk； but
no； indeed； we shall not give you a drop； so go about your business； and
don't come plaguing us here。〃 Mrs。 Flail； who happened to be in the yard；
with one of her children who was feeding the chickens； overheard enough
of this to make her come forward； and enquire what was the matter。
〃Nothing； ma〃am；〃 replied the milk…maid； 〃only I was