The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-02-18
MHSCELHA NHIDUS.
A TALE FOR THE SEASON.
TRUE AND FALSE cHARrrY-ExrRAcr.

"A ALE Oh The SEASON.
TRUE AND FALSE CHARrrY-ExrRAcr.
In so large famiy as that Of Mr.. L. there
was good deal OF sewing to do, and out of
charity The work was taken from n seamstress
who had sewed for the family sometime, and
gwen TO poor woman with several small chill
dren. Ostensibly only was this charity. Really,
It was to save few pennies. How could this
be? some one will ask. Let me sketch u little
scene promising that this poor woman's hus.
band was ust dead, and she left helpless and
frlendless, with no apparent means of support
Besides she was in very feeble health. BY acct
dent MIR, T. heard of her distressed situation, 81
| AT the suggestion of the individual who named
her 10 him, told his wife that he thought il
would be charity to give her some sewing.
u think it would indeed, says Mrs. T.
Our sewing costs us a great deal responded
the careful husband, 'and in this thing We may
benefit ourselves, rs well as do deed of charity.
No doubt this woman is rather indifferent
sewe r, in comparison to Miss X. and therefore
her work will not of course be worth so much
And she wiIl no doubt think half the price Miss
X. gets II good one
mo Doubt chimes in the frugal partner.
Mrs. - was sent for. Alter she is seated
the following conversation ensues.
Can you do plain sewing?'
yes ma am, as well as most persons
what is your price tor fine shirIs?'
Il hav'nt set any price as yet; will work MS
low as any one.'
But you know that to get work you will have
TO do little lower than ordinary. People don
like 10 change
We'll, ma'am, am in want, and will work
at almost any price for my children
Il suppose you will make shirts for quarter?
yes mn'amn
'And Calico dresses for the sane?'
Yes ma'amn
well that's reasonable.
Boys common shirts you will not charge o.
yer eleven pence for?'
mo maum!,
That's reasonable, and III do all that | can
for you. 1t does me pleasure TO help the poor
Come down to. morrow, and III have some work
ready for you.' The widow departed.
well, wife, says Mr. Il. bursting in when he
saw the woman depart AT what price will she
work?'
AT jus. half what Miss r. charges
'WelI, that's something like. 1T gives me
pleasure to befriend any one who is willing to
work at n reasonable price. Why this will save
us almost "A dollar week the year round
Yes, it will SO; and if l keep her at that, or
some else, at the same price for year, you'll
let me have a fifty dollar shawl, WON'T you?'
Yes If you want it,
well, III do my best. 1t is shameful what
some of these sea'nstresses do charge.
1t is often well to reverse the picture. Sup
pose we look at the other side OF this.
Mrs. - had always been delicate.
When a girl she could never sew long at n
time without getting n pain in her side. She
married hard working industrious mechanic,
whose trade was not very lucrative, yielding
barely enough for support. Her health after
her marriage was hut little improved; when
with several small children she was left II Wild
ow, she yielded in her first keen anguish of be-
renvement to despair. But mother cannot
long sit in dleness when her babes are about
her. She could think of no way OF getting a
Twin for tbep hint hN bpr 10 ~ Shp
neat sewer she hoped 20 get work, and
earn fool and scant clothing at least. But she
could get no work. No person knew her who
wanted sowing done. She applied to several,
and was still without means to earn dollar
when her last one was spent. Just at this sad
moment, the fact OF her destitu,ion becoming
more known, Mrs. Il. sent for her.
As she carried home her work the day after
the interview, she was glad nj heart with the
tho that now there was "a way TO escape star
vatoH. But little more her yearniDg heart
could promise her. Boys shirts at twelve and
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 PLAN, she could
have finished them early, and hal time to give
many necessary attentions to her chlldren-But
the last words of Mrs. II. had robbed her of that
chance. You can stitch the collars OF these,
any how-You can afford it, suppose, and they
iron much better when that is done.
Ihe SIMPLE ana touching es III" "ui' ""'
in sadtier tone tllan usual, was the only res
ponse. ..
Next morning she was up early, though her
head ached badly, and she was ia' ut. ana weak (
from having sat so sendy through the whole OF
the preceding dav. Her children were all la.
ken and was ED and dressed; her room cleuned,
and scan,y meal of mush and milk prepared
for the little ones, and cup of ten for herself;
her own stomach refused the food OF which her
children partook with keen arpettes, and she
could only swallow a few inoutht"'s OF "ry stale
bread.
1t was nearly ten o'clock when she got fairly
down at work her head still aching and almost
binding her. Somehow or other, she could not