"There was once a washerwoman whose name was Mrs. Brown. She had a daughter called Lucy, who was a quick clever child, and who, though only ten years old, was already of some use to her mother, in helping her to wash and iron. As the common irons were too heavy for her, her mother bought her a small one. Lucy was very proud of it, and with it she used to iron children's pocket-handkerchiefs and nightcaps, and other things which were small, and easily ironed. She also went with her mother to gentlemen's houses to fetch the linen to be washed. "One day, while they were at a gentleman's house, counting out the linen they were to take away, two little girls ran into the room. The elder, who was eight years old, was called Anne, and the name of the younger, who was only six, was Susan." "Why that is just like Sophy and Cary," said Willy, "but go on." The lady then continued. "'Oh, Mrs. Brown!' said Anne, 'I am so glad you and Lucy are come, for we want our doll's clothes to be washed. Cannot you wash them for us?' "'To be sure I can, Miss,' answered Mrs. Brown; 'but I thought you always washed them yourselves.' "'Yes, we do in general,' said Susan, 'but we are going to have a little party of friends, so we want the doll to be very nicely dressed, and I am sure you would wash her clothes much better than we could.' "'But, perhaps,' added she, 'Lucy can wash them; for I know you have taught her to wash; and then she has a nice little iron of her own, which I think would iron dolls' clothes better than a large one. Do you think you could, Lucy?' "Lucy coloured up with pleasure that the young ladies should trust their doll's clothes to her, and timidly answered 'Yes.' Anne then asked on what day Mrs. Brown brought the linen home, and when she heard it was not till Saturday, she exclaimed, 'Oh dear! that will never do, for our little party is to-morrow evening.' "'I can wash them out to-day,' said Lucy, 'iron them to-morrow morning, and bring them home in good time.' "'That will do very well,' said Susan, 'and I will tell you what, if they are nicely done, I will give you one of the cakes that we are to have to treat our friends with. Then you must take particular care of this frock. Only look how pretty it is,' said she, holding up the doll's frock; 'it is covered all over with little worked sprigs, and the muslin is so clear, that you can see quite through it, and the doll has a beautiful pink slip to wear underneath it. But we do not send that to be washed, because it is made of satin, and satin does not wash. This white petticoat,' said she, 'is only an under one, and then, here is her shift, for Miss Dolly must be clean from top to toe, that the company may admire her.' "Anne also desired that great care should be taken of the frock; 'for,' said she, 'it is so thin, that, if you were to rub it hard, you would be sure to tear it.'