Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-09-26
SSiistecCatteous.
CHANGE OF FORTUNE.


The following illustrates one of the
many instances OF distress existing among
the poor seamstresses of the city, and the
lady who has communicated il for publ.
cation IN the New York Mirror, youches
Tor its authenticity.
"Do you give out work here 7" said a
voice, so soft, so lady like, that | irvolun-
tarily looked up from the purse | was
about purchasing for my darling boy, a
birthday gift from his papa.
ado you give out work here :"
"Not TO Strangers" was the rude re-
ply.
The stranger" turned and walked
away.
"'fhat purse is very cheap, ma'am."
81 do not wish ii now" said /, as taxi
ing up nv paraso, left the shop and
followed the strange lady.
Passing Thompson's she paused--wen!
in--hesltated--then turned and came out.
| now saw her facet was very pale
her hair black as night, was parted on her
forehead her eyes too were very black 4,
and there was a wlldHess in them that
made me sbudder. She passed on up
Broadway to Grand street, whore she en-.
tered miserable looking dwelling. |
paused should follow farther? She was
evidently suffering much--l was happy
blessed with wealth, and o, no" bes-
sed in husband, children, friends !! |
knocked-the door was opened by a
ross-looking woman.
"ls there any person here that does
plain sewing?"
al guess not" was the reply: There
is woman up stairs, who used to work,
but she can't get any more TO do--and |
shall turn her ont to morrow"
"Let me go up" said |, passing the
woman with q shudder, as assembled
the stairs.
"You can keep on up to the garret,"
she screamed after me--and SO | did, and
there saw sight Of which |, the child
of afIluence, had never dreamed The
lady had thrown off her hat, and was
kneelng by the side Of a poor low bed.
Her hair had fallen over her shoulders
she sabbed not--but seemed motionleSs,
her faced buried in the covering Of the
wretched, miserable bed whereon lay
her husband. He was sleeping. ! looked
upon his high, pale forehead, around
which chung masses Of damp brown hair
it was knit, and the pale hand clenched
the bed clothes words broke from his
lips II cannot pay you now" heard him
say, poor fellow could bear it no lon.
ger, and knocked gently on the door.
The lady raised her head, threw back
her long hair, and gazed wildly upon me.
1t was no time for ceFemonies-slckness,
sorrow, want, and perhaps starvation,
were before mel come to look for a
person to do plain work, " was all could
say.
30, give it to me-" she sobbed. 1.-TWO
days we have not tasted food and to-
morrow" She gasped, and tried to
finish the sentence but could not. She
knew that to morrow they would be
homeless and starving
"Be comforted you shall want no
more"
kept my word. In a few days she
told me all Of days Of happiness in the
sunny West Indian isle her chlldhood's
home ofthe death Other father and moth
er; of cruel sister and brotherin law ;
how she lett that home, hoping to find a
brother in America how she sought N
Wan, but found instead, husband; he. too,
an Englishman, gentleman and a scholar,
had been thrown upon the world. Sym
pathy deepeneG into love ; alone in a
crowd, all the world to each other, they
married he procured employment in a
school she, plain needle work. Too
close attention to the duties of his school,
long walks and scanty fare, brought i'll
health, and confined him at length 10 his
bed.
The Shop from which his wife obtain
ed work, failed, and their resource was
cut off. She had looked long, weary
DAYS for employment; many had none to
give; others ''g,ve no work to strangers. "
| Thus | found them; TO comfort them Tor
/ lltle time when trust, they found IN
deed comforter in Heaven.
The husband died first; placing the
hand of his poor WIFE in mue ! need
ed no, the mute, appealing look ne gave
M" t,ok her to my own happy home
1t was too late
IL IS avery little time ago, | went oul
one morning to her room she had passed
a restless n ghl had dreamed, she SAID, o.
her Geotge called me the kind ano
only friend, begged me- 10 sit a little VIII IL
best ie her, and looked so sadly 10 my
face, that my own heart seemed well
nigh breaking. left her not again.
10 the still deep night heard her muir