{"id":631,"date":"2016-10-06T14:06:05","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T14:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishlitvictorianmodern\/?post_type=chapter&p=631"},"modified":"2016-10-06T14:06:05","modified_gmt":"2016-10-06T14:06:05","slug":"the-ruined-maid","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-englishlitvictorianmodern\/chapter\/the-ruined-maid\/","title":{"raw":"The Ruined Maid","rendered":"The Ruined Maid"},"content":{"raw":"

\"O 'Melia[footnote]Short and familiar form of Amelia.[\/footnote], my dear, this does everything crown!\nWho could have supposed I should meet you in Town?\nAnd whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?\" \u2014\n\"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?\" said she.\n\n\u2014 \"You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,\nTired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks[footnote]Weeds.[\/footnote];\nAnd now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!\" \u2014\n\"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined,\" said she.\n\n\u2014 \"At home in the barton[footnote]Farmyard.[\/footnote]\u00a0you said thee' and thou,'\nAnd thik oon,' and the\u00e4s oon,' and t'other'; but now\nYour talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!\" \u2014\n\"Some polish is gained with one's ruin,\" said she.\n\n\u2014 \"Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak\nBut now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,\nAnd your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!\" \u2014\n\"We never do work when we're ruined,\" said she.\n\n\u2014 \"You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,\nAnd you'd sigh, and you'd sock[footnote]Sigh.[\/footnote]; but at present you seem\nTo know not of megrims[footnote]Low spirits.[\/footnote]\u00a0or melancho-ly!\" \u2014\n\"True. One's pretty lively when ruined,\" said she.\n\n\u2014 \"I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,\nAnd a delicate face, and could strut about Town!\" \u2014\n\"My dear \u2014 a raw country girl, such as you be,\nCannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined,\" said she.\n\n\u2014 1901<\/p>","rendered":"

“O ‘Melia[1]<\/sup><\/a>, my dear, this does everything crown!
\nWho could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
\nAnd whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?” \u2014
\n“O didn’t you know I’d been ruined?” said she.<\/p>\n

\u2014 “You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
\nTired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks[2]<\/sup><\/a>;
\nAnd now you’ve gay bracelets and bright feathers three!” \u2014
\n“Yes: that’s how we dress when we’re ruined,” said she.<\/p>\n

\u2014 “At home in the barton[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0you said thee’ and thou,’
\nAnd thik oon,’ and the\u00e4s oon,’ and t’other’; but now
\nYour talking quite fits ‘ee for high compa-ny!” \u2014
\n“Some polish is gained with one’s ruin,” said she.<\/p>\n

\u2014 “Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak
\nBut now I’m bewitched by your delicate cheek,
\nAnd your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!” \u2014
\n“We never do work when we’re ruined,” said she.<\/p>\n

\u2014 “You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
\nAnd you’d sigh, and you’d sock[4]<\/sup><\/a>; but at present you seem
\nTo know not of megrims[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0or melancho-ly!” \u2014
\n“True. One’s pretty lively when ruined,” said she.<\/p>\n

\u2014 “I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
\nAnd a delicate face, and could strut about Town!” \u2014
\n“My dear \u2014 a raw country girl, such as you be,
\nCannot quite expect that. You ain’t ruined,” said she.<\/p>\n

\u2014 1901<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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