 She and her sister visited the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879, but when their money ran out they were forced to work as domestic servants.In 1880 the family settled at Marrickville and Mary became a nursemaid to the children of Colonel Charles Roberts.She married postal clerk Henry Hill Ling on 3 September 1889 at the Salvation Army barracks in Burwood; they separated in 1897 and divorced in 1906.