MARIA DEAR : Since you received the latest news of me,

I 've got a situation, which, I think, will somewhat better

Agree with me than that I spoke of in my former letter.

I 'm waiter at a boarding-house, near Harvard's classic halls,

And there serve famished students with diminutive fish-balls.

The work is light; the Cambridge air, I think, agrees with me;

These students come and eat their meals with regularity.

There are about a dozen girls; a matron's o'er us set;

Our wages is four-fifty, and whatever we can get.

The first day that I waited here was like to be my last;

However did I stand it then, I wonder, now it's past.

The floors were scrubbed, the cloths were laid, the napkins put in place,

The joints were on the table, and the matron had said grace

I stood beside my table, at the place I was to fill.

Full many a shout arose without, but all within was still.