"She took no pleasure in anything but family affairs and remained in the house for weeks together ... then pots and pans looked like polished silver, and she looked after them herself: everything had to be, and kept, clean and in order.... being poor and having to work for money, there were no luxuries, excepting on Sundays...

If we complained, the answer came, it is harder when there is none, and were compelled to eat the fare before leaving table... I know now that it took no small means to keep eight children in food, clothing &c., but she managed to do it and do it well on very small means ...waste there was none - waste not want not the motto ... and the frequent, ‘I hope you may never want for that which you now turn up your nose at.’" John Helmcken (BCARS: ADD.MSS.505, V.12)

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