MyfirstquarteratLowoodseemedanage;andnotthegoldeher;itprisedanirksomestrugglewithdifficultiesinhabituatingmyselftonewrulesandunwoasks.Thefearoffailureinthesepointsharassedmeworsethanthephysicalhardshipsofmylot;thoughthesewerenotrifles.

    DuringJanuary,February,andpartofMarch,thedeepsnows,and,aftertheirmelting,thealmostimpassableroads,preventedourstirringbeyondthegardenwalls,excepttogotochurch;butwithintheselimitsassanhoureverydayintheopenair.Ourclothingwasinsuffittoprotectusfromtheseverecold:wehadnoboots,thesnowgotintoourshoesaedthere:lovedhandsbeumbedandcoveredwithchilblains,aswereourfeet:IrememberwellthedistragirritationIenduredfromthiscauseeveryevening,wheinflamed;aureofthrustingtheswelled,raw,andstifftoesintomyshoesinthem.Thenthestysupplyoffoodwasdistressing:withthekeeesofgrowingchildren,wehadscarcelysuffittokeepaliveadelicateinvalid.Fromthisdefiourishmeedanabuse,whichpressedhardlyontheyoungerpupils:whehefamishedgreatgirlshadanopportunity,theywouldehelittleooftheirportion.ManyatimeIhavesharedbetweentwoclaimantsthepreorselofbrownbreaddistributedattea-time;andafterrelinquishingtoathirdhalfthetentsofmymugofcoffee,Ihaveswallowedtheremaihanapaofsecrettears,forcedfrommebytheexigencyofhunger.

    SundaysweredrearydaysinthatwintryseasoowalktwomilestoBrocklebridgeChurch,whereourpatronofficiated.Wesetoutcold,wearrivedatchurchcolder:duringthemservicewebecamealmostparalysed.Itwastoofartoreturntodinner,andanallowanceofeatandbread,inthesamepenuriousproportionobservedinouror