The Story of My Childhood
105
most highly embellished schoolroom. I observed that the help all looked at me as I went in, and McDonald, the overseer, always raised his Scotch cap a bit by the tassel, or touched his finger to the rim, fitting so closely to his high forehead. I thought I ought to make some acknowledgement of this, and always did so, but could not understand it. I told my mother about it and asked her what he did it for? She said that it was probably because I was "so little." That perhaps if I were as large as the other girls he might not do it. I thought this a reasonable solution and was satisfied.
I finished my first week, commenced my second, and went through with no assistance. On Saturday my webs were cut from the looms, examined
