Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-02-27
MISCELLANY.
THE WIDOW-A PICTURE OF LIFE


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
some time, and given to poor widow woman
with several small children. Ostensibly on
~ was this charity. Really it was to save
few pennies. How could this be! some one
Will ask. Let me sketch little scene: pre-
missing that this poor woman's husband was
Just dead and she left helpless and friend
icss' With no apparent means of support.-Be-
sides she was in feeble health By accident
MIR: l. had heard Of her distressed situation.
and at the suggestion Of the individual who
named her case to him, told his wife that he
thought it would he charity to give her some
sewing.
Il think it would, indeed said Mrs. r
Our sewing costs us a great deal.' res
ponds the careful husband, sand in this thing
we may benefit ourselves, and do a deed NJ
charity. No doubt this woman is rather an
indifferent sewer in comparison to Miss r.
ana therefore her work will not of course he
worth so much. And she will no doubt think
one nan the pnce Miss II. gets 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 persons
what Is your price for fine shirts
hav'nt 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
We'll ma'am, Pm in want, and will worl,
AT almost any price for my children
Il suppose you will make fine shirts for y
quarter q
'ies ma'am.'
And calico dresses for the same9'
yes ma am
wen, that's reasonable. Bows common
shirts you will not charge over eleven pence
for1' ponce
NO maam.'
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 Tor YOU The widow departed.
well. wife, says Mr.. T. bustlinu in
will she work?'
at just half what Miss r. charges
'Weii that's something like. II gives me
p!easureto beiriend any one who is wiIIinr
to work at reasonable price. WHY this will
save us almost dollara week the year rounds
'fes, 1t will so; and ifI keep her att, or
some one else, you'll let me have a fifty dollar
Shawl, won't you g
y es, lfyou want it,
"eii' L IL no my pest. It's shameful what
some OF these seamstresses do charge
it's often well to reverse picture. Sun
pose we look at the other side of this picture.
Mrs.-had always been delicate. When
aglrl she could never sew long at a time with
out getting pain in her side. She married
Woodworking, Industrious mechanic. whose
trade was not very lucrative, yielding hardly
enough for support. Her health after mar
. rlage was butlittle improved, and when. with
several small children, she was left a widow.
she yielded in her first keen anguish of he
reavement to despair. But a mother cannot
long SIT In idleness when her dear babes are
about her. She could think Of no way ofpet-
ting living for them but by her needle. and
as she was neat sewer, she hoped to Get
work, and earn food and scant clothing at
least. But she could get no work. No6er-
son knew her, who wanted sewing DONE
she applied to several, and was still without
the means OF earning dollar when her last
one was spent. Just at this moment. the fact
other restitution becoming more known. Mrs
Il sent for her,
AS she carried home her work, the dav 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
yearning heart could promise her. Bows
shirts at twelve and a half cents. were ber e.
piece Of work. Two of these bv hard ,yorI'
she managed to get done in day. Had tbty
been made plain, she could have finished them
early, and had time to give many necessary at
tentIons to her children. But the last words
OF Mrs. had robbed her of that chance.
y on can stitch the collars of these, anv how
-you can afford to do it I suppose, and thew
iron better when that is done.'
The simple and touching Eyes ma'am. but
In sadder tone than usual was the only re-
sponsc.
Next morning she was up early, though her
mead acbed badly, and she was faint and
weak from having sat so steadily through the
whole OF the preceding day. Her children
were all taken up, washed and dressed her
rooms cleaned, and scanty meal of Inpsh
and milk prepared for the little ones. and
cup of tea for herself. Her own stomach 70.
fused the food of which her children partook
with Keen appetltes, and she could only swal-
low few mouthfuls of dry stale bread.
III was nearly ten O'Clock when she pot fair
" down to work, her head still achinG and
almost binding her. Somehow or other she
could not get along at all fast, and it was lone
past the usual dinner hour before she had fin
ished the hrst garment. The children wore
impatient Tor their dinner, and she hadL 70
I MAKE great haste In preparing it, as wei ~
thelr satisfaction, as to gain time.
Mother, we are getting tired of II ush M
mix, SAID one ofthe little ones. You don't
have all the good things now, you used to. No
pies, nor buildings, nor meat
Never mind, dear ,we'll have some nice corn
cakes for supper
You'll have some soon, won't YOU moth
er 2 said one of the little ones, coaxinolv. her
thoughts busy with the nice corn cakes.
And Shan't we have M oI..eoo -. Il