Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE YANKEE GIRL,

" Martha" said an infrm lady of some three
score years, who was confined to her bed from
recent fall, which had seriously fractured limb,
j." am sorry that we ever left New England. 1t
has been bad luck with since we came here.
Winter is approaching, and we are lily prepared
for it. No wood nor food, and no money to pro-
cure them with. And am sure that you cannot
support me and yourself with the small sum you
get for binding shoes"
&c Don't be troubled, dear mother,' said Mar
tina; &c if find this employment insufficient, can
try some other. 1t is no part Of a New England
er's education to yield to adveHitIes. You forget
that a Yankee never starved while his head and
heart were sound"
This pleasant retort, archly expressed, brought
fearful smile from the old matron as she replied
"Well, yours must be the Yankee head and heart
for the present."
A short time after this conversation, Martha
might have been seen with the few shillings she
had just received for her work, hastily proceeding
to an auction sale of dry goods. There were few
bidders present, and the sales were slow. Pres
emily large quantity of cotton threads were offer
ed. One or two small bids were made, much be-
low the wholesale price. twenty-five cents"
was heard from sweet female voice. "Twenty
five cents" responded the man Of the mallet.-
"That is not one eighth of its value. Here is
thread enough for fish net across the Atlantic
and only twenty-five cents. Gentlemen bid, or lll
knock it down to the miss in revenge upon ye.-
Twenty, twenty, twenty five, FIVE, only for that
peck measure full of irst-rate thread. Going, 60
ing, gone. Here, madam, you have made your
fortune and no mistake" Martha hastily seized
the thread, ami with light heart bounded like a
young fawn to her humble yet neat abode.
Lord save us, child; what are you going to dc
with that heap of threadN' exclaimed the astonish-
ed mother. "Yankee head and Yankee heart
mother" replied the cheerful girl.
Night after night, after having finished her uSua
number of shoes, Martha was found at her new
vocation, until at the expiration Of one month, she
had worked up her thread. This done, she wen
to one of the best stores in town, and offered siA
dozen of the most beautiful thread caps for ladies
informing the merchant that they were worth hal
a dollar apiece at wholesale, and would readily
sell for six shiIlings or dollar. The merchant
being Yankee and well versed in his business
soon saw that the articles would sell quick, ant
without hesitation paid the price of them.
In few days a notice appeared in the paper
Offering "new aud beautiful specimen of thread
caps from London, Of the Victoria pattern-Worl
by the ladies of the nobility" Such was the rusl
for them, that in one week not pattern was left
and an order was sent to the successful Martha TO
six dozen more, at an advance of two dollars on
Dozen No other person being able to manufac
ture them, the entire supply rested with her, an
under an imposition of the strictest secrecy, sh
was promised high price for any quantity tina
might be required. Her fortune was made.
snort tline, a demand was created Tor tnem
the city by the shrewd merchant, and the hnmbl
'shoe-binder and her mother were enabled to rel
neat dwelling aud to employ several apprentice
in the business, so that la less than two years, lh
house in which they lived was purchased and pal
for, and joy and plenty smiled around them.
Fire, fire, fre" broke upon the stiffness of
dark, cold night in November. The distant hill
echoed the ringing of bells, and the heavy engine
Numbered over the pavement. Multitudcs crowC
ed the streets, aud rushed to the fatal scene I'll
fire had broke out in the basement, and the lowe
part of the building was wrapped in flames! Hell
help! save my poor old mother, cried temal
pale aud frantic, from window in the secor
story Of the building All was confusion and e.
ertion. To cStingush the flames appeared hop
less. ladder was seized by one who had just "A
rived, and placed against the side of the hous
upon which he rapidly assembled to the windo,
and sezing the lantng GIRL bore her senseless
the ground and returned amid the outstreakiI
flames and dense smoke to the window, and we
in, bringing out the crippled mother. When
feet had touched thJ lat Ter, the d11r fell with