Well, well, I call her ‘little’ because her mother’s name…
““Well, well, I call her ‘little’ because her mother’s name is Mary. But, as I was saying, she takes Mary in a coaxing sort of way, and ‘Mary,’ says she, ‘what should you think if I sent for you some day and made a lady of you?’ So I could not stand such talk as that to my girl, and I said, ‘Thou’d best not put that nonsense i’ the girl’s head I can tell thee; I’d rather see her earning her bread by the sweat of brow, as the Bible tells her she should do, ay, though she never got butter to her bread, than be like a do-nothing lady, worrying shopmen all morning, and screeching at her pianny all afternoon, and going to bed without having done a good turn to any one of God’s creatures but herself.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A critique of gender expectations, urging women to earn their livelihood rather than be idle.
In simple terms: Women should work and be independent.
Key Takeaway
Promote self‑reliance and dignity of labor.
Themes
gender roles
work ethic
independence
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- employment programs
- education
- women’s rights activism
- family discussions
Key Concepts
feminism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What barriers still limit women’s economic freedom?
- How can societies value all forms of work?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may differ from modern values.