Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-10
THE QUAKER GIRL.

IL was along time before Clementine could
find utterance, and at last she said-"Oh
Lydia-I do not expect you to forgive me
so kind as you have been, and for me 10
make such return for all your goodness as
to steal secretly into your room to find out
whs. you have been doing for the last three
days."
my impotence to see my grandfather as
soon as heard Of his arrival" said Lydia,
"made me run down stairs without taking the
precaution Of putting my work in drawer,
which for several days have been in the
practice ofdoing, lest some Of the servants
should happen 10 come in and see it."
"Oh!" exclaimed Clementine, II am
worse than the servants. do not believe
any Of them would have done so mean an act
as have just been guilty Of"
She was still crying when Mrs. Ellsworth
entered the room, and Immediately said
twill it be unpleasant 10 Clementine 10 tell
a friend the cause Of her grief1"
"Oh !" cried Clementlne, II deserve to be
humbled, and I ,ciN humble myself"
If thou hast committed fault said Mrs.
Ellsworth, ''the shame is in the act itself and
not in the confession Of it. Nevertheless, as
thou art guest in my house, hope thou
wilt do nothing that is painful or unpleasant
TO thee"
"Dear, kind Mrs. Ellsworth" exclaimed
1Clementine, II feel now as if l cannot be at
peace till acknowledge the whole. In
short, my curiosity, Of which l own have
far 10 large portion, has been much excited
by the unusual circumstance Of Lydia seclud-
ing herself in her chamber: and this MORN
ing, while she was with her grandfather,
determined to enter her room privately, for
the purpose of discovering in what manner
she had been engaged for the last three days."
"And you found the rufflcd shirt on the
bed" said Mrs. Ellsworth.
offer no excuse for having taken so unworthy
a method Of gratifying my desire to know
what could in no way concern me-"
LYDIA" said Mrs. Ellsworth, "as thy
grandfather will dine with US, wish thee to
go down and make his favorite pudding"
Lydia Immediately left the room, evidently
glad of an opportunity to escape being pre-
sent at the explanation which she knew was
coming and Mrs. Ellsworth, turning to
Clementine, SAID 10 her,-"Since thou hast
already discovered so much, must now tell
thee the whole. We know poor semp-
stress, in whom we take considerable inter-
est. She has recently made up two dozen
shirts for gentleman who is said 10 be very
vain and frivolous, and apt to talk too much
about every triAing thing that comes within
his knowledge. The cambria for the ruflles
was not sent to Margaret Warner till every
other part of The shirts was completed, and
she sewed the linen with great difficulty on
account of whitlow which was coming on
her fore finger. By the time the cambria
impossible for her to sew at all. Lydia, who
often goes to see her, and carry her assist
ance, felt much compassion. The shirts are
wanted as soon as possible, as the gentleman
is shortly to embark for South America.-Nt
d. other semsptress could be engaged to fnisl
s. them, as all the women we know of that tax,
3, in work, happen just at this time to have a
y much as they can possibly do. Lydia at las
o. determined TO ruffle the shirts herself, know
y, y, ing that she could do them WE'LL and exactl,
in according 10 the directions given to Margare
n. Warner by the gentleman, who was particu
as larly DESTROYS of having the friIls nicely tuck
of ed. By this means they will be done in time
pc and the sooner they are completed the soon
ng er poor Margaret will be paid for them.
was planned that Margaret should bring tn
shirts under her cloak, few at time, an
lls take them away as they are finished. O
:; course Lydia does not wish this business t
M, nd be made public, and therefore she canno
to sew at them down stairs, as her doing s
would excite curiosity, and cause questions
If. be asked: it being we'll known that neithe
10, her father nor any of her connections wea
ruf1ed shirts. regret that my eyes are nc
oh good enough to help her. need not tie
thee. my dear Clementine, that this little sc
nd cret, which thou happenest to have discover
ne cd, must still remain one."
"Oh! my dear Mrs. Emsworth," sal
IS. Clemeniine, 'though was so mean as I
Ia take such dishonorable method of 6ndin
it out, am not quite so bad as TO tell it,
zee Do let me finish sewing on this ruffle, Will
y. -. Lydia is making the pudding. Indeed ! ca
e. sew very well.
Mrs. Ellsworth, after some hesitation, a
ss scented, and left her to 60 down to the old gel
lleman. In a short time Lydia returned, ar
and found that Clementine had sewed on Il
;. remainder of the ruflle as neatly as possible
NO. NO. "Dear LYDIA" said Clementine, ~ sha
and not be sure that you forgive me, unless "
allow me to help you with these frills. If
ON cannot tuck them as nicely as yourself, c.
&c at least gather them and sew them on Il
l. shirt. Thus they will be done the soone
om and the poor woman can got the none
nu- which no doubt she is in want Of
"Thou art extremely kind and conside
oil ate," replied Lydia, "but shall be sorry
er'- see thee conhne myself closely to this SO,
:. ing"
IRE; ;'r 1.-THE pleasure Of being with you," sa
''"' Clementine, twill make me consider It
-. confinement at all and five both work q
:r siduousy, the business will soon be accor
res. plished."
Lydia, seeing that Clementine would f