I next lived with a family named Manus. There were two girls, or rather young women, in the family. I began to get some light on the many things that had puzzled me by listening to them when they did not suppose I was paying any attention. I got an idea of the difference in the sexes, and some ideas, albeit confused, about sexual intercourse. The girls each had a beau. They used to tell each other about them, but they said many things I didn't understand. In the next place that I lived were two girls, orphans, one about my own age, the other about two years older. I lived there about three years. The girls were both well informed in regard to sexual matters and they soon imparted their knowledge to me.

Not far from where we lived was a neighbour who had a dairy. Among other employees were a couple of boys, two or three years older than we were. We were quite intimate with them, but there had been no grievous improprieties when I again had to change my residence, this time to live with an old couple who had a house adjoining the dairyman's. The girls used to visit me quite often, and we almost always managed to meet the boys when we were together.

Julia was almost old enough now to put on long dresses, while Lizzie and I had begun to feel a strong attraction for the male sex. Julia was really the most amorous, but Lizzie was the most reckless in words and deeds. One day we girls were out in the barn where we had had an exciting conversation, so that we felt in a mood for anything almost. Julia had taken off her drawers and pulled up her skirts to show that the hair was beginning to grow on hers. Lizzie took her drawers off then and was diligently hunting for some sign of hair when the barn door opened and in came one of the boys. We had spread some blankets on the floor and had been lying on them. Julia jumped up when she heard the door open, but Lizzie and I remained on the blanket. Abner came in and, seeing us on the blanket, he got down with us. Julia did the same. I know we were all glad he had come in.