The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-12-20
mo doubt chimes in the frugal partner.


any one
But you know to get work. you will have to do it
little lower than ordinary. People don't like to
CHANGE
'We, ma'am, am in want,I will work at almost
any price Tor my children
Il suppose you will make fine shirts for quarler?
Eyes, nla'am.'
'And calico dresses for the samef'
yes, ma ami
That's reasonable. Boys common shirts you'll
not charge eleven pence for?'
mo, ma ami
That's reasonable, and I'll do all can for you. 1t
gives me pleasure to help the poor. Come down to-
morrow, and I'll have work ready for YOU Tho
widow departed.
well, wife, says Mr. T; busting in when he
saw the woman depart, at what price will she work.
AZ just half what Miss R--charges!
well, that's something like. 1t gives me pleasure
to be(rcnd any who is willing work at
able price. Why. this will save US almost dollar
week the year round
Yes, it will so; and If keep her at it,
one elsa at the price for year, you let me
have fifty dollar shawl, wont your
'Yes If you want it,
'WeIl. | will do my best It's shameful what
some ofthese seamsuesses do charged
II is often well to picture Suppose we
look at the other side Of this.
Mrs--had always been delicate. When gIrl
she never could sew long at time without getting
pain in her side. She married hard working indus
trous mechanic, whose trade was not very lucrative,
her marriage, was but little improved and when with
several snallchlldren, she left widow she yield
ed ia her first keen anguish of bereavement, to des-
pair. But mother cannot long sit in ideness when
her dear babes about her. She could think OF no
way OF getting living for them but by her needle;
and rs she neat sewer, she hoped to get work,
and food and scanty clothing at least. But she
could get work. No person knew her who want
ed sewing done She applied to several, and was
without the means Of earning dollar when her last
spent. Just at this sad moment the fact Of
! her destnutlon becoming known more, Mrs t
! sent for her.
As carried home her work, the day after the
interview she glad at heart with the thought that
now there way of escape at least from starva-
ton. But little moro her yeaning heart could prom
Use her. Boys shirts at twelve ana half cents were
her first pieces Of work Two of these by close APP
| plcaon' she managed TO get done in day. Had
they been made perfectly plain, she could have finish
ed then earlier End hud time 10 give many necessa.
~ attentions to her children: bat the last words Of
Mrs T---had robbed her Of that chance: y GU
stitch the wrist bands and collars OF those, any
how-you afford it, suppose, they iron better
when that's done The simple aud touching
'Yas, ni"'an! nat in a sldder tone than usual, was
the only response.
Next morning she was up early, though her head
ached badly and she faint and weak, Tor having
sat 50 steadily through the whole of The preceding
day Her children all taken up, washed aud
dressed: her cleaned, scanty meal OF muSh
and milk prepared for the little one, and cup of tea
for herself. Her own slomaSh refused the food oi
which her children partook with keen appstites and
she could only swallow a few mcuthfuls of dry, stale
bread
|, was nearly ten O'Clock when she got fairly down
to work, her head still aching intensely almost
10 blind her. Somehow other she could not get
fast, and it was long past the usual dinner time
before she had finished thu first garment The chill
dren were impatient for their meal and she had
make great haste in preparing it, well for their sat
! isiactiUn as to gain slime.
Mother we're getting most tired Of mush and
milk said one Of the little You don't have
all the good things now you used to. No pies, Eor
buildings, nor meat
'Never mind dear, we II have some nice corn cakes
for supper
You'll have supper soon, wont you, moiher'' said
another little one, coaxingly, her houghls busy with
the nice cakes,
And shan't have molasses on ? said another,
pushing away her bowl of mush and milk
no. dear, not to night; but to morrow we'll have
some.'
why not tonight, moher3 want some to night
Mother has no money 10 buy it with to nighH but
20 morrow. she will have some,' said the mother
soothingly.
%. ven have 'lasses To- FOR our cakes
cried ont little girl who could just speak plainly,
clapping her hauds in great glee.
Aner dinner worked hard and in much
bodily pain to finish tho other shirt, in which the last
! stitch was taken nine O'Clock at night.
Soon after breakfast the next day she took the -four
shirts home to Mrs T, her thoughts mostly
for her children with the half dollar she had earned
For II was sad truth that she had laid out her last
cent
| After examining every seam, every hem, and
cry line of Stitching Mrs. p expressed oppro-
baton of the work and handed the poor widow coup
| Ie Of fine shirts TO make for Mr. 7. and a calico
dress for herself She did not offer to pay her for-
| tho work she had done. After lingering few
| ments. Mrs. - ventured 10 hint that she would
| like n part of what she had earned.
| oh dear! never pay seamstrcss until her bill
amounts to five dollars 1t is so trouberome to keep
| an account. of small sums. When you have made
| five dollars will pay YOU
! Mrs. - retired, but with heart that seemed
| like lead in her bosom. 'When SHALL earn five
! dollars Not for a whole month at this rate, were
| the words tina, formed themselves in her thoughts.
we shall have the moIasses now, mother, sha mt
we?' said three glad little voices, she en-
| tered her home
| For a few moments she knew not what answer to
| make Then gathering them all about her she ex-
| blamed to them, we'll as she could make them un-
| derstand that the lady for whom she had made the
work did not pay her, and she afraid would be
good while before she would;and that until she
paid, she could not get them any Thing better than
what they had,