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

cedlng day. Her children were a
taken up, washed and dressed; he
rooms cleaned, and scanty meal {
!. mush and milk prepared for the littl
ones, and 3 cup Of tea for herself
Her own stomach refused the foo
OF which her children partook wit
keen appetites, and she could onl,
swallow few mouthfuls of dry stall,
) bread.
: Il was nearly ten O'clock when sh,
get fairly down to work, her hea,
still aching and almost binding her
somehow or other she could not ge
along at all fast, and it was long pas
the usual dinner hour before she hae
finished the first garment. The chill
I dren were impatient for their dinner
and she had to make great haste ii
preparing il, as well for their salts
faction as to gain time.
Mother we are getting tired O
mush and milk, said one Of the little
ones. You don't have all the good
things now you used to. No pies.
nor buildings, nor meat.
I Never mind, dear, we will have
some nice corn cakes for supper.
! You'll have some soon. won't Won
mother? said one Of the little ones
coaxingly, her thoughts busy with
the nice corn cakes. '.ti
And shanst we have molasses on
them, said another, pushing away
her bowl of mush and milk.
No dear, not tonight, but tomor-
row we'll have some.
Why not to night, mother, | want
some to night.
/ Mother has no money to buy it
with tonight but tomorrow she will
have some said the mother soothinalv.
0 we'll have 'lasses tomorrow for
our cakes, cried little girl who could
just speak, clapping her hands in
great glee.
After dinner Mrs. 49, worked
hard and in much bodily pain and
misery, to finish the other shirt. in
which the last stitch was taken by fire
light at nine O'Clock at night.
! Soon after breakfast the next dav,
she took the four shirts home to Mrs.
T., her thoughts mostly occupied
with the comfortable food she was to
buy her children, with the half dollar
she had earned. For it was a sad
truth, she had laid out her last dollar
for the meal with which she was ma
king mush for her little ones.
After examining every seam, every
hem, and every line of stitching, Mrs
II. expressed appreciation Of the
work, and handed the poor woman a
couple of fine shirts to make for Mr.
--, and calico shirt for herself.
She did not offer to pay her for the
work she had done; after lingering a
few moments, Mrs ventured to
hint that she would like to have a
part of what she had earned.
Odcar +! | never pay seamstresses
until their bills amount to five dollars.
1t is so troublesome to keep an &C
count of small sums. When you have
made five dollars | will pay you.
Mrs turned, but with heart
that seemed like lead in her bosom.
When shall | earn five dollars?not for
!; a whole month at this rate, were the
words that formed themselves in her
thoughts.
We shall have molasses, mother,
shasnt we, said two or three little voic-
es as she entered her home.
! For a few moments she knew not
what answer to make. Then gather
! ing them all about her, she explained,
that the lady for whom she had done
the work did not pay her, and she was
afraid it would be a good while before
she would and that until she was paid
she could not get them any thing bet
ter than what they had.
The little things all stole silently
and without a murmer away, and the
mother again sat down to her work.
A tear would often gather in her
teyesas she looked up from the bright
needle glistening in the fingers, and
noticed the sadness and disappoint-
iment pictured in their young faces
From this style Of gloomy feeling she
was reused by a knock a: the door,
and a pleasant looking lady, somez
what gaily dressed, came in with a
small bundle in her hand.
She introduced herself by saying
that she had just seen some pretty
shirts at Mrs. TITS, and that
she was so we'll pleased with the.work.
that she had inquired for the maker.
And now, having found you, said she,
i | want you to make and fit this cali
co dress forame, if you do such work.
shall be glad to do it for you, sail
she, encouraged by the kind and feel
ing manner of the lady.
And what will you charge.
j Mrs. hesitated a moment
and then said-Mrs. Tt gives
me quarter Of a dollar.
i There was a bright spot for mo-