Litchfield enquirer., 1840-01-23


a seamsiress who had Sewed for the family
some time and given to poor woman with
several chItdren. Ostensibly only was this
charity. Really, it was to save few more
pennies. How could this be some one will
ask. Let me sketch little scene; prcmis-
ing that the poor wonlan's husband was lust
dead,and she left helpless and friendless,with
no apparent means Of support. Besides she
was in very feeble health. By accident Mr..
i, heard OF her distressed situation, at the
suggestion of the individual who named her
case TO MIN, told his wife that he thought it
would be charity to give her some sewing,
~ think it would, indeed" says Mrs. i.
| sour sewing costs US great DEAL" re-
| spends the careful husband, "and IN this
thing we may benefit ourselves as we'll as do
deed OF charity. No doubt this woman is
rather an Indifferent sewer, in comparison to
MISS H., and therefore her work will net of
course De worth SO much. And she will no
doubt think one half the price Miss r. gets
good one"
Mrs. - was sent for. Alter she is seat.
Ga Inc following x6's eonyersation ensues.
ayes lna'am, as well as most persons"
"Wha, is your price for fine shirts!"
IL haven't set any price yet, but Ill work
as low an any one"
!" But you know that to get work you will
have to do it a little lower than ordinary
People don't like TO change"
"Well, ma'am, / am in want. and will
work at almost any price for my children"
IL suppose you will make shirts tor quar-.
ter?" a
Sand calico dresses for the same! g.
ayes, ma 'amw ss.. . s{
swell, that's reasonable"
Boys common shirts you will not charge
over eleven pence for!" ..sa
"No. ma ami"
"That's reasonable, and I'll do all can
for you. 1t gives me pleasure to help the
poor. Come down tomorrow. and I'll have
some work ready for you." The widow de-
parted.
i Well,wife," said MIR. T., busting in when
he saw the woman depart, "At what price
will she work - z~- s~.3
"At just half what Miss R. charges"
"Well, that's something like. 1t gives me
f pleasure to befriend any one who is willing
/ TO work at a reasonable price. Why this
| will save us almost dollar a week the year
round" .,. -..,
ayes, it will so Z; and # I keep her a, it, OF
some one else, at the same price for year
you'll let me have fifty dollar shawl, won
you?" - @'
"Yes, ifyou wantit.'
"Well, I'll do my best. It is shameful
what some of those seamstresses do charge"
1t is often we'll to reverse picture. Sup
pose we look at the other side OF this. e"
Mrs. 49, had always been delicate.
When girl she could never sew long at
time without getting pain in her side. she
: married q hard working industrious mechan-
e ic. whose trade was not very lucrative, yield
ing barely enough for q support. her health
i after her marriage was but little improved
and when with several small children she
was left widow,she yielded in her first Keen
anguish of bereavement to despair. But q
mother cannot long sit in idleness when her
babes, are about her. She could think Of
. no way of getting living for them but 10y
! her needle, and as she was neat sewer
: she hoped to get work, and earn food ant
, scant clothing at least. But she could get ~
work. No person knew her who wanted
sewing done. She applied 10 SEVERAL anc
was still without the means OF earning dol
lar when her last one was spent. just at this
sad moment,the fact of her destitution becom-
ing more known, Mrs. r. sent for her,.
As she carried home her work the Gay of.
ter the interview, she was glad at heart with
1.-The thought that now there was a way to es-
cane at least from starvation. But little more
her warming heart could 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 day
Had they been made plain, she could have
finished them early, and had time 70 give ma.
ny necessary attentions to her children. bu.
the last words of Mrs. +. had robbed her o.
that chance. "You can stitch the collars Of
I these any how-you can afford il, suppose,
and theyiron much better when that is done.
The simple and touching Yes, ina'am, out
In sadder tone than usual, was the only res
ponse.
/ Next morning she was up curly, though
her head acbed badly, and she was faint and
weak from having sat so steadily. through
the whole of the preceding day. Her child
rem were all taken and washed and dressed ;
her rooms cleaned and scanty meal OF mush
and milk prepared for the little ones, and .
cup Of tea for herself; her own stomach re-
; fused the food of which her children partook
with keen appetites,and she could only swal.
low few mouth fullS of dry stale bread.
II was nearly ten O'clock when she got
fairly down to work. her head still aching
and almost binding her. Somehow or other
she could NOT get on at all fast, and X was
long past tie dinner hotr before she had fin
! shed the first garment. The children were
;mnatient for the dinner, and. she had to make
oreat haste in preparing it, az we'll for their
satisfaction as to gain time.
.Mother we are getting tired Of musii and
.,;,k " Mid one of the little ones. "YOu, don't
have all the good thiags now you used to-
No MES. ncr pudding, or meat"
4 .Never mind, dear. we'll have some nice
corn cakes for supper"
aYou'll have supper soon, won't you moth
or =" said another little one coaxingly, her
thoughts busy with the corn cakes.
- And sha'n't we have m0lasseS on them.
said another, pushing away her bowl OF musn
and milk.
have son,e."