Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-12

err, she hoped to get work, and earn food and
scanty clothing at least. But she could get
no work. No person knew her who wanted
sewing done. She applied to several, and
was still without the means of earning a dol
lar when her last one was spent. Just at this
sad moment, the fact of her destitution be-
coming more known, Mrs. r sent for
her.
AS she carried home her work, the day af-
ter the interview, she was glad at heart with
the thought that now there was a way of es-
cane at least from starvation. But little more
her vearninp heart could promise her. Boys
shirts at twelve and a half cents were her
first pieces of work. Two of 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 atten-
tons to her childran;-brt the last words OF
Mrs. r had robbed her OF that chance.
- You can stitch the collars and Wristbands
of those, any how-you can afford 1t, sup
pose,-they iron better when that Is done.
The simple and touching Yes, ma'am y
but in a sadder tone than usual, was the on
y 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 proceeding day. Her children
were all taken up, washed and dressed; her
rooms cleaned, a scanty meal of mush and
milk prepared for the little ones, and a cup
of ten for herself.--Her own stomach refused
the food of which her children partook with
keen appetites, and she could only swallow
a few mouthfuls of dry, stale bread.
1t was near ten o'clock when she got fairly
down to work, her head still aching so in
tensely 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 fnis he'd 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 to gain time.
Smother, we're getting most tired of mush
and milk 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'll have some nice
corn-cakes for supper
"YouT have supper soon, won't you,
mother! "-said another little one coaXingly,
her thoughts busy with the nice corn-cakes
'And sha'nt we have molasses on then!'
said another, pushing away her bowl Of mush
and milk.
"No, dear, not to night; bat tomorrow
we'll have some.
why not tonight, mother! want som
tonight
Mother has no money to buy it with to-
night, but to morrow she will have some,"
said the mother.
80, we'll have '~lasses tomorrow for our
cakes cried out a little girl who could just
speak plainly, clapping her hands in great
glee.
After dinner Mrs. 10y worked hard, and
in much bodily pain, to finish the other shirt,
in which the last stitch was taken at nine o.
clock at night.
Soon after breakfast the next day she took
the four shirts home to Mrs. =, her
thoughts mostly occupied with the comfort
able food she was to buy for her children
with the half dollar she had earned. For it
was a sad truth that she had laid out her last
cent.
After examining every seam, every hem,
and every line of stitching, Mrs. T ex-
pressed her appreciation of the work, and
handed the poor widow a couple of fine shirts
to make for Mr.. =, 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. -- ventured to hint
that she would like to have a part of what
she had earned.
sob, dear | never pay a seamstress UNI
til her bill amounts to five dollars.-It is so
troublesome to keep account of small sums.
When you have made five dollars | will pay
you"
Mrs. - retired, but with a heart that
seemed like lead in her bosom. when
shall I earn five dollars?-Not for a whole
month at this rate,'' were the words that form
ed themselves in her thoughts.
ave shall have the molasses now, moth
err, shan't wei" said two or three glad little
voices, as she entered her home.
For d few moments she knew not what an
swer to make. Then gathering them all a.
bout her, she explained to them, as well as
she could make them understand, that the la.
dy for whom she had made the work did not
pay her, and she was afraid it would be a
good while before she would; and that until
she was pail, she could not get them any
thing better than what they had.
The little things all stole silently and with
out a murmur away, and the mother again
sat down TO her work. A tear would Otter
t gather in her eye as she looked up from the
bright needle glistening in her fingers, and
noted the sadness and disappointment pictur-
) ed in their young faces. From this state Of
gloomy feeling she was reused by a knock
at the door, and a pleasant looking lady, some
, what gaily dressed, came in with a small
bundle in hel hand.
r She introduced herself by saying that sht
, had Just seen some very neat.y-made shirt:
at Mrs. T--'s and that she was so well
pleased with the work that she had inquired
for the maker. sand now having founC
! you," she said, 81 want you to make and fl
; this calico dress forme, if you do such work.
= Il shall be glad to do it for you said she,
encouraged by the kind and feeling manne
of the lady.
+, q ALL ~. Ill .