Still, she managed to support herself and Tom and Susy;
but it was a scraping along all the time. She had to count every penny,
and, above all things, to avoid going in debt. She was only in debt for
the one hundred pounds, which had been lent to her by an aunt of her
husband's, an old woman of the name of Church, who lived in a
neighboring village about four miles away.
Mrs. Church was quite rich, according to the Hopkinses' ideas of wealth.
She lived alone and hoarded her money. She had not been at all willing
to lend Mrs. Hopkins the hundred pounds; but as she had really been fond
of Mr. Hopkins, and had at one time meant to make him her heir, she had
listened to Mrs. Hopkins's lamentations, and desired her to send Tom to
her to inspect him, and had finally handed over the money, which was to
be paid back by monthly installments within the space of three years.
Mrs. Hopkins was so relieved to get the money that she never thought at
all of the terrible tax it would be to return it. Still, by working hard
morning, noon, and night--she added to her gains by doing fine
needlework for several ladies, who said that no one could embroider like
Mrs. Hopkins--she managed to make two ends just meet together, and she
always continued to send Mrs. Church her two pounds fifteen shillings
and sevenpence on the first of every month. Tom was the one who
generally ran across to the old lady's with the money; and so fond was
she of him that she often gave him a piece of cake, and even on one or
two rare occasions kept him to dinner.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159