The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-12

THE WIDOW-A I'lCTURE OI
LIFE.
: lniso large a family as that Of M
tt there was a good deal 8
sewing to do, and out Of charity Tho
work was taken from seamstres.
who had sewed for the family some
time, and given to a poor widow wo.
man with several small children. Os
tens'bly only was this charity. Real
ly,lt was to save fewpennies. How
could this be? some one will ask. LIE,
[ me sketch little scene; premisin.
that this poor woman's husband was
Just dead and she left helpless and
fflendless, with no APPARENT means Of
support. By accident Mr. T. had
heard of her distressed situation, and
at the suggestion of the individual
who named her case te, him, told his
wife that he thought it would be
charity to give her some sewing.
4 think it would indeed said Mrs
Our sewing costs us a great DEAL
responds the careful husband, sand in
tins thing we may benefit ourselves
as well as do a deed Of charity. No
doubt this woman is rather an indilfer-
ent sewer in comparison to Miss r..
and therefore her work will not of
course be worth so much. And she
will nodoubt think one half the price
Miss b. gets, a good one
No doubt chimes in the frugal
partner.
Mrs was sent for. After she
IS seated, the following conversation
ensues:
Can you do plain sewing?'
Yes ma am, as well as most per-
sons
'What is your price for fine shirtsr
4 havnt set any price yet, but |
will work as low as any one
''But you know that to get work
you will have to DO it little lower
than ordinary. People don't like to
change
well ma'am, I'm in want, and |
will work at almost any price for my
Children
i suppose you will make fine shirts
fora quarterp
sYes ma'am.'
'And calico dresses for the same'
'Yes madam
well that's reasonable. Boys com
mon shirts, you will not charge over
eleven pence for?'
mo madam
Chats reasonable, and I'll do all
| can for you. 1t gives me pleasure
to help the poor. Come down to-
morrow, and will have some work
ready for you.
The widow departed.
We'll wife, says Mr. 4. busting in
when he saw the woman depart, at
what price will she work?
ADJUST halfwhat Miss R. charges
Well that is something like. 1t
gives me pleasure to befriend any
one who is willing to work at rea-
sonable price. Why this will save
us almost dollar week the year
round.
Yes, it will SO; and if | keep her at
ii, or some one else, You'll let me have
a fifty dollar shawl, won't you?
Yes if you want it.
Well | will do my best. 1t is
shameful what some of these seam
stresses do charge.
It's often well to reverse picture.
Suppose we look at the other side Of
this picture.
Mrs - had always been delicate.
When girl she could never sew long
at a time without gettinga pain in her
side. She married 4 Woodworking in
dustrious mechanic, whose trade was
not very lucrative, yielding hardly
enough for support. Her health af-
ter the marriage was but little inn
proved, and when with several small
children, she was left a widow, she
yielded in her 6rstkee anguish of be-
reavcment to despair. But another
cannot long sit in idIeness when her
dear babes are about her. She could
think of no way ofgetting a living for
them but by her needle, and as she
was neat sewer, she hoped to get
work, and earn food and scant cloth
ing 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 mo-
ment, the fact of her restitution be-
coming 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