Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-11-28
From The Athenmum and Visiter.
FOR THOSE THAT WOULD GRIND THE
POOR-AN EXTRACT.

In so large a family as that OF Mr. - iherc
was a good deal Of sewing to do, and out of charity
he work was taken from a seamstress who had sew
ed for the family some time, and given to q poor
v idow woman with several small chiideen. Osten.
sibly only was this charity. Really, ii was to save
a few more pennies. How could this be 2 some
one win ask. Let me sketch a little scene; premi-
sing that this poor wonan's husband was just dead,
and she left helpless and fIiendlcss, with no appa-
rent means Of support. Besides she was in feeble
health. BY accident Mr.. T had heard of her
distressed situation, and at the sug gestion Of The in
dividual who named her case to him, told his wife
that he ~thoughtit would be charity to give her some
sewing.
al think it would, indeed" says Mrs. T
sOur sewing costs us a great deal" responds the
careful husband, " and in this thing we may benefit
ourselves, as well rs do n deed of charity. No
doubt this woman is rather an Indifferent sewer, in
comparison to Miss R, and therefore her work
will not Of course be worth so much. And she will
no doubt think one half the price Miss R gets
a good one."
aNo doubt" chimes in the frugal partner.
Mis- was sent for. After she is seated, the
following conversation ensues.
"Can you do plain sewing2"
ayes ma'am, as well as most persons"
"What is your price for fine shirtsf"
81 hav'nt set any price yet, but | will work as
low as any one"
"But you know tina, to get work you will have
to do il a little lower than ordinary. People don't
like IA change"
"Well ma'am, | am in want, and | will work al
almost any price for my children"
AZ suppose you will make fine shirts for a quar-
teri"
ayes ma'am."
"And calico dresses for the same
eyes ma'am."
"Well that's reasonable. Boys common shirts
you will not charge over eleven pence forf'
"No ma'am.'
"That's reasonable. and III do all I can for you.
It gives me pleasure TO help the poor. Come down
tomorrow, and III have some work ready for you"
The widow departed.
"Well. wife" says Mr.. T, bustlipg in when
he saw the woman depart, "at what price will she
work"
"a just half what Miss R-- charges"
"Well, that's something like. 1t gives me plea
sure TO befrlend any one who is willing to work at
a reasonable price. Why this will snve US almost a
dollar a week the year round Z"
yes, il will SO; and if | keep her a, it, or some
one else, at the same price for a year. you'll let me
have . fifty dollar shawl, wont your
Eyes, if sou want it,"
"Well, in do my best. It's shameful what
Some of those seamstresses do charge"
IL is often well to reverse a picture. Suppose
we look at the other side of this.
Mrs. - had always oeen ueicate. ueh u
girl she could never sew long at a time without get
ling a main in her side. She married a hard work
Ing Industrious mechanic, whose trade was not We
nv lucrative, yielding barely enough for support
Her health after the marriage was but little impro-
we'd. aud when with several small children, she was
left a widow, she yielded 10 her first keen anguish
Of bereavement to despair. But a mother cannot
long sit in idleness VIXEN her dear babes are about
her. She could think Of no way Of getting a living
for them bat by her needle, and, as she was a neat
sewer, she hoped to get work, and earn food and
scaut clothing at least. But she could get no work.
No person knew her, who wanted sewing done
She applied TO several, and was still without the
means Of earning a dollar when her last one was
spent. Just at this sad moment, the fact of her de-
siitution becoming more known, Mrs. T sent
for her.
As she carried home her work, the day after the
interview, she was glad at heart with the thought
that now there was a way Of escape at least from
starvation. But little more her yearaing heartcould
promise her. Boys shirts, at twelve and a half
cents. were her first pieces of work Two Of these
by hard work she managed TO get done in a day
Had they been made plain, she could have finished
them early, and had time TO give many necessary
attentions TO her children. But the last words Of
Mrs. 2 had robbed her Of that chance. "lou
can stitch the collars OF these, any how-you can al
ford to do it, I suppose, and they iron better when