Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-01-04
MlSCEEIA NV.
From The Nelo York Mirror.

[ The following tale illustrates one of the ma.
ny instances of distress existing among the
poor seamstresses OF The city, and the lady
who has communicated 1t fer publication
in the Mirror vouches for its authenticity i
DO you give out work here said voice
so soft, so low, so ladylike that involunta-
r'iy looked up from The purse was abou.
purchasing for my darling boy, birthday
gill from his papa.
do you give out work here?
Not TO strangers, was the rude reply.
The stranger turned and walked away.
That purse is very cheap, ma am
Il do not wish il now, said l. as tax ing up
my parasol, left the shop, and followed the
stranger lady.
Passing Thomson's, she paused-went in
'-hesiialed-thent turned and came out.
now saw her FACET was very pale-her
mir, black as night, was parted on her fore
hcad-her eyes, too, were very black, and
/ there was a wildness in them that made me
shuhder.-She passed up Broadway To Grand
street, where she entered a miserable look I'M
dwelling. professionally fellow farther.
! She was evdenlly suffering much-I was
happy blessed with wealth and oh, how bles.
sed IN husband, children, friends knock
ed-the door was opened by cross look in q
! woman
! SIS there pcrsan living here who does plain
sewing" | inquired.
Il guess not was the reply There is a
woman up stairs, who used TO work, but she
cant get no more 10 do-and shall turn her
cut TO morrow
Let me 60 up said l, as, passing the O.
man with shudder, assembled the stairs.
| You Can keep on up TO The garrett she
screamed after me-and so did and there
saw eight Of which |, the child Of afiluence,
bad never dreamed the lady had thrown
of her hat and was kneeling by the side Of a
poor low bed. Her hair had fallen over her
shoulders-she sobhed not-breatbed not
but seemed motioniess, her face buried in
The covering of the wreiched, miserable bed
wherein lay her husband He was sleeping.
looked upon bis high pale forehead, around
which chung masses of damp, brown hair
il was knit, and the pale hand cIenched the
bedclolhes-words broke from his iips-'I
cannot pay you now heard him say Poor
fellow even in his dreams his poverty haunt
ed him could bear i, no longer, and
knocked gently on the door. The lady rails,
ed her head, threw back her long black hair,
and gazed mildly upon me. 1t was no time
Tor ceremony sickness, sorrow, want, per-
haPs Starvation, were before mel came 10
look Tor person TO do plain work. was all
| could say.
! Ooh, give it me- she sobbed. Two DAYS
we have not tasted food and Tomorrow
! She gasPed and tried TO finish the sentence,
hut could not. She knew that to- morrow
they would he both homeless and siarvingl
! BE comforted-you shall want no more -
| kept my word. 10 a few days she told
me ai'--of days of happiness in sunny West
Indian isle, her childhood's home o. the
deaths Of her father and motber--of q cruel
sister and brother-in- law--how she left that
home, hoping to find brother in America
how she sought in vain, but found, instead a
husband he, too, an Englishman, a gentle,
man and scholar, bad been thrown upon the
world. Sympathy deepcned into love-alone
in crowd, all the world TO each other they
married-he procured employment in a
school, she PLAIN needle work Too close at
leniion TO the duties of his school, long walks.
and scanty fare, brought, i'll health and con-
flred HIM nj length 10 his bed.
The shop from which his poor wife obtain
| Ell work failed, and their resource was cut off.
She had looked long, weary days for employ
ment-many had none 10 give-others gave
no work 10 strangers Thus found the m
10 comfort them for little tme-then /
| trust they found indeed comfort in heavenl
The husband died frst-died, placing the
hand Of his poor wife in mine | needed no,
the mute, appealing look he gave me took
her to my own happy home-it was too latel
Ii is very little time ago, went one NOR
ning to her room; she had passed restless
night; bad dreamed she said Of her dear
Gesrge-she called me her kind aed only
iFiend-begged me TO sit little while be-
SIDE her, and looked up so sadly in my face,
that my swn heart seemed well nigh breaks
ing leh her not again.
In the still deep night heard her mur-
muF--' Sister Anne, do not speak 80 harshIy
10 me oh mamma, why did you leave me =