Third Grade
Worksheets
Betsy's Christmas
Betsy's Christmas
Reading Comprehension for December 26
Betsy bent into the cold fireplace. Using a small shovel, she scooped up the cold, gray ash and put it in the bucket beside her. Then she swept up the remaining ash in the fireplace and on the hearth with the whisk.
When it was clean, she laid the fuel for a new fire. Then she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. The room's occupant was downstairs eating Christmas breakfast, so Betsy took a moment to rest.
She straightened her back where she sat and rolled her shoulders. She watched Lily, the lady's maid. The young woman was laying out some clothes on the bed and then putting others away. She made sure everything was neat for when her lady returned to dress for church.
Betsy sighed. She knew she could never be in a position to need a maid herself. Maybe if she worked hard, though, she could be promoted. It might be nice to be a lady's maid someday.
Normally, Betsy wouldn't go upstairs at all. Today Millie was sick in bed, so Betsy was doing some of her work. Betsy was a scullery maid, a kitchen drudge. It was her job to fetch the water for the cook and scrub up the dishes and pots after every meal. If there was a dirty job to do, she got it.
