This club consists of twenty members, who "draw" for choice.

Thus once in twenty weeks, sooner or later, Mrs.Jones is passing rich, for she is in possession of twenty shillings all at once.
There is some discussion between Sally and her mother as to the spending of it; Tom's first suit was bought by this means, and Jones himself is not forgotten; but for Mrs.Jones no thought is given.
The planning, scheming and contrivance it takes to run a working man's home, especially when the husband has irregular work, is almost past conception, and the amount of self-denial is extraordinary.
But it is the wife who finds the brains and exercises the self-denial.
Her methods may be laughed at by wiser people, for there is some wastage.

The friendly club-keeper must have a profit, and the possession of wealth represented by a whole sovereign costs something.

But when Mrs.Jones gets an early "draw," she exchanges her "draw" for a later one, and makes some little profit.
Oh, the scheming and excitement of it all, for even Mrs.Jones cannot do without her little "deal." But what will Sally settle down to?
Now comes the difficulty and deciding point in her life, and a critical time it is.
Mrs.Jones has not attended a mother's meeting, she has been too busy; church has not seen much of her except at the christenings; district visitors and clergymen have not shown much interest in her; Jones himself is almost indifferent, and quite complacent.
So Sally and her mother discuss the matter.

The four shillings weekly to be obtained in a neighbouring factory are tempting, but the girls are noisy and rude; yet Sally will be at home in the evenings and have time to help her mother, and that is tempting too! A neighbouring blouse-maker takes girls to teach them the trade, and Sally can machine already, so she will soon pick up the business; that looks nice too, but she would earn nothing for the first three months, so that is ruled out.
Domestic service is thought of, but Sally is small for her age, and only fourteen; she does not want to be a nurse girl; she has had enough nursing--she has been a drudge long enough.
So to the factory she goes, though Mrs.Jones has her misgivings, and gives her strong injunctions to come straight home, which of course Sally readily promises, though whether that promise will be strictly kept is uncertain.