New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-27
THAT reasonable Boys common shirts you Il
not CHARGE over eleven pence for?

THAT $ reasonable. Boys common shirts you Il
not CHARGE over eleven pence for
No, maaIn J.
Tha, 3 reasonable. and II do all can for You
II gives me pleasure 10 help the poor Tome 90" II
10 morrow aud II have some work ready LOT you
| The widow departed.
well wife. saws Mr.. T.. busting IN when
he sas the woman depart-"a at what price VIII she
work !" ,,
Al Just half what Miss r.. charges!
| well that's something like. 1t gives me
Measure 10 befriend any ono who Is willing 10
work nj q reasonable price. Why this VIII save
ms almost 4 dollar week the year round.
Yes. ii will so and if keep her at it, or some
one else at the price for year, you Il let me
have fifty dollar shawl wont you I!
Yes, if you want it..
We'll, III do my best. Ii $ shameful what some
of these seamstresses do charged
1t is often well to reverse picture. Suppose we
look al the other side Of this.
Mrs. ...-.. had always been delicate. When
girl she could never sew long at time without get
ting pain in her side She married hard-worklng,
industrious mechanic, whose trade not very lu-
crative yielding barely enough for support. Her
health after her marriage was but little improved,
and when with several small children she was lett
widow she yielded in her first keen anguish OF be-
reavement to despair. But mother cannot long
sit in idleness when her dear babes are about her
She could think OF no way OF getting living LOT
them but BY her needle. and as she was a neat
sewer she hoped TO get work. and earn food and
scnntv clothing at least But she could get no
work Noperson 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 sad moment, the TACT OF her des-
ttuon becoming more known, Mrs. t. sent
for her.
AS she carried home her work, the day after the
interview she was glad at heart with the thought
that now there was way of escape at least from
starvation. But little her yearning heart could
promise her. Boys shirts at twelve and half cents
were her first pieces of work Two these, by close
application, she managed TO get done IN a day
Had they been made perfectly plain, she could have
finished them earlier, and had time TO give many
necessary attentions her children but the last
words of Mrs T.. had robbed her OF that chance:
You can stitch the collars and wristbands of those,
any how-you afford 1t, | suppose-they iron
better when that is done" The simple and touch
ing" Yes. ma'am!' but IN sadder tone than
usual was the only response.
Next morning she was up early, though her head
ached badly and she was faint and weak, from
having sat so steadily through the whole OF the pre-
ceding day. Her children were all taken up, washed
and dressed her rooms cleaned, scanty meal OF
mush and milk prepared for the little ones, and
cup OF tea for herself.-Her own stomach refused
the food of which her children partook with keen
appetites and she could only swallow few mouth
fuls Of dry, stale bread.
1t was near ten o'clock when she got fairly down
to work her head still aching intensely as almost
to blind her. Somehow or other she could not get
on fast and it was long past the usual dinner hour
before she had finished the first garment. The
children were impatient for their meal, and she had
TO make great haste in preparing it. as well for their
satisfaction as 10 gain time.
Mother, we re getting most tired Of mush and
mill" said one of the little ones. You don't have
all the good things now you used to-No pies, nor
buildings, nor meat"
Never mind, dear, we ii have some nice corn
cakes for supper
"You II have supper soon, wont you, mother y
said another little one coaxingly, her thoughts busy
with the nice cakes.
And sha' mt We have moasses on them?" said
another pushing away her bowl Of rnush and milk.
mo, dear, not tonight; but tomorrow we IL
have some
WHY not tonight mother7 ! want some to-
night
Mother has no money to buy it with tonight,
but tomorrow she will have some" said the mother,
soothing y
%, we II have 'lasses tomorrow for our cakes,
cried little girl who could just speak plainly.
clapping her hands in great slee.
After dinner Mrs. worked hard, and in
much bodily pain finish the other shirt. in which
the last stitch taken al nine o'clock at night
Soon after breakfast the next day she took the
four shirts home 10 Mrs t., her thoughts
mostly occupied with the comfortable food she
TO buy for her children with the haldollar she had
earned For it was sad truth that she had laid
out her last cent.
After examining every scam, every hem and
every line of Stitching Mrs. T. expressed APP
probation of the work and handed the poor widow
q couple of fine shirts TO make Tor Mr.. T.. and
a calico dress for herself She did not offer to pay
her for the work she had done. After lingering a
few moments, Mrs. vcntured TO hint that she
would like TO have part OF what she had earned,
ha-
bill to five doars-lt IS so troublesome to
keep account of small sums. When you have made
five dollars l will pay YOU.
Mrs. 49,. retired, but with heart that seemed
like lead in her bosom. "When shall earn five
dollars Not for whole month at this rate were
the words tina: formed themselves in her thoughts.
1--WE shall have the molasses now, mother, sha' II
WEI" said three glad little voices as she en-
tered her home.
For q few moments she knew not what answer 10
make. Then gathering them all about her, she OK
planned TO them as well as she could make them an
dcrsand, that the lady for whom she had made Tie
work did not pay her, and she was afraid It would
be good while before she would; and that until
she was paid she could not get them any thing bet
ter than what they had.
The little things all stole silently and without n
murmur away, and the mother again sat down 10
her work. y tear would often gather in her eye as
she looked up from the bright needle glisening in
her fingers. and noted the sadness and disappoint-
ment pictured in their young faces From this state
OF gloomy feeling she was reused by knock at the
door, and pleasant looking lady, somewhat gaily
dressed came in with small bundle in her hand,
She introduced herself by saying that she had
just seen some very neatly -made shirts at Mrs.
T..'s, and that she was so well pleased with
the work that she had inquired for the maker
And now having found YOU she said AZ want
you to make and hit this calico dress for me, if you
do such work
i shall be glad TO do it for you said she. en-.
couraged by the kind and feeling manner of the lady.
And what will you charge?
Mrs $3.50. hesita,ed qoment and then said
Mrs. r.. gives me quarter off, dolar!'
There was bright spo, for moment on the check
Of the lady.
4" Then l will give you three" said she, with
warmth.
Mrs. burst into tears she could not help it.
Are you in need 7" inquired the strange lady,
hesitetiney bat with air Of kindness that could
not be mistaken
For a moment the widow paused, but the sight OF
her children conquered the rising emotion OF pride
have nothing but little corn meal In the house
and have money
A tear giistened in the strangers cye-hcr breast
heaved with strong emotion. Then again all was