Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-16
The Poor Widow /;
OR, DON'T GRIND THE POOR.

work was taken lrnm seamStress who had sewed
for the family some time and given TO poor widow
woman with several small children. Ostensiby only
was this charity Really, it was to save few pennies.
How could this be? some will ask. Let me sketch
little scene: promising this poor woman's husband
was Dead and she left epess and friendless, with
no apparent means of support. Besides she was in
feeble health. BY accident Mr. - had heard of her
distressed situation and at the suggestion of the ind
vidual who named her case to him, told his wife that
he thought it would be charity to give her some sew
ing.
4 think it would indeed, said Mrs T.
Our sewing costs US great DEAL responds the care
full husband, and in this thing we may benefit our
selves, as well as do deed of charity. No doubt
this woman is rather an Indifferent sewer, in compar
son TO Miss R, and therefore her work will not
of course be worth so much. And she will no doubt
think one half the price Miss RI gets a good
one.'
mo doubt, chimes in the frugal partner.
Mrs - was sent for. After she is seated, the
following conversation ensues
Can you do plain sewing
Eyes maam, as well as mosr-persons.'
Wndl is your price LOT me SnlrtS!
4 havn't 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 maam, am in want, and will work at
almost any price for my children.
4 suppose you will make fine shirts for quarter?'
Yes ma'am.
And calico dresses for the same?'
| yes ma'am.'
well, that's reasonable. Boys common shirts yo u
will not charge over II pence tor?'
mo ma'am.A
That's reasonable, and I'll do all l 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.. -, bustling in when he
saw the woman depart, at what price will she work?
AT Just half what Mis- R charges.
We'll, that's something like it. 1t gives me pleas
ure to beirend any one who is willing to work at
reasonable price. Why this will save US almost q
dollar week the year round
Yes, it will so and if l keep her at it, or some
one else, at the same price for year. you'll let mt
have fifty dollar shawl won't you?'
Yes, if you want it,
well, I'll do my BEST It's shameful what some o
those seamstresses do charge
1t is often well to reverse picture Suppose w
look at the other side of this.
MrsA-had always been delicate. When girl sh
could never sew long at time without getting pail
in her side. She married hard working industrou
mechanic whose trade was not very lucrative, yield
ing barely enough for support. Her health afte
her marriage was but little improved, and when wit
several small children she was left widow, she weld
ed in her first keen anguish of bereavement TO despair
But mother cannot long sit in idleness when he
dear babes are about her. She could think of no wal
of getting living for them but by her needle, and a
she was neat sewer, she hoped 10 get work, an
earn food and scant clothing at least But she coul
get no work. No one knew her who wanted SEWN
Y done. She applied to several, and was still withor
the means oil earning dollar when her last one wa
: spent. Justat this sad moment the fact of her des
? ttuon became more known. Mrs T sent fc
e her.
As she carried home her work the next day alte
" the interview she was glad heart with the though
- that now there q way of escape at least fro
= starvation But little more her yearning heart cou
O promise her. Boys shirts at twelve and half cen
= were her first pieces of work. Two Of these by hal
d work she managed to get done in day. Had TIT
been made plain, she could have finished them earl
IS and had time to give many necessary attentions to h
e children. But the last words of Mrs + had no
d" bed her of that chance. you stitch the cola
OF these, any how-you can afford to do it, suppos
and they iron best when that is DONE. The simp
,e and touching Yes ma'am, but in a sader tone tina
e usual, was the only response.
of Next morning she was up early, though her he
ached badly and she faint and weak from havlr
OF sat so steadily through the whole of the preceding da
Is Her children were all taken up, washed and dresse
q her room cleaned and scanty meal of mush a
VI milk prepared for the little Ones ard cup OF tea
~ herself. Her own stomach refused the food viii
~ her children parook with keen appetes and S
to could only swallow few mouthfus of dry st'
,st bread.
lat 1t nearly ten o'clock when she got fairly doN
as 10 work, her head still aching and almost blind
ne her. Some how or other she could not get on at
an fast and was long past her usual dinner hour belc