Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-05-27
YpsILANTL (Nlich) WEDNESDAY, MAY u, 1874

dollar week the year round
Yes, it is so: and if keep her at it, or some one
else at the same price for year, you'll let me have
a fifty dollar shawl, wont you?
Eyes, if you want IT.
Well, I'll do my best. It's shameful what some
of our seamstresses do charger
1t is often well to reverse picture. Suppose we
look at the other side of this.
Mrs-ha had always been delicate. When girl
she never could sew long at time without getting
pain in her side. She married working in
dustrous mechanic, whose trade was not very lucra
tive, yielding barely enough for support Her health,
after her marriage, was but little improved, and
when with several small children she was left Wild
ow, she yielded, in her first anguish of bereavement
to despair. But mother cannot sit long in dleness
when her dear babes are about her. She could
think of no way of getting living for them but
by her needle, and as she neat sewer,she hoped
to get work, and earn food an scanty clothing at
least. But she could get no work. No person
knew her who wanted sewing done. She applied to
several, and still without the of earning
dollar when her last one was spent. Just at this
sad moment, the fact of her restitution becoming
L
AS she carried home her work, the day after
the interview, she was glad at heart with the
thought that there was way of escape at least
from starvation. But little more her yearning heart
could promise her. Boys shirts at twelve and half
cents were her first pieces of work. Two of these,
by close application, she managed to get done in
day. Had they been made perfectly PLAIN, she could
have finished them earlier and had time to give ma
ny Necessary attentions to her children but the last
words of Mrs. T. had robbed her of that chance:
you stitch the collars and wrist of those,
any how,--you can afford it, l suppose,-they iron
better when that is done.' The simple and touch
ma amr but in sadder tone than usual,
was the only response.
Next morning she was up early, though her head
ached badly, and she faint and weak, from hav-
ing sat steadily through the whole of the prece
ding 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 appettes,
and she could only swallow few mouthfuls of dry
state bread.
1t was near ten o'clock when she got fairly down
to work. head still aching intensely almost to
blind her. Somehow or other she could not get on
FAST and it was long past the dinner hour before size
had finished the first garment The children were
impatient for their NEAL and she had to make great
haste in preparing it, well for their satisfaction as
to gain time.
Mother, we're getting most tired of mush and
milk said one Of the little ones.
you don't have all the good thing now you used
to. No pies, nor buildings, meat
.Neyer mind, dear, wei have some nice corn cakes
for supper
you'll have supper soon, wont you, mother p
said another little one, coaxingIy her thoughts busy
with the nice corn cakes.
sand shan't we have molasses on themP said an
other, pushing away her bowl of mush and milk.
No, dear, not tonight but to morrow We'll have
some.'
why not tonight, mother want some to-
night 2
Mother has no money to buy it with tonight,
but tomorrow she will have some,' said the mother
soothingy.
20, we'll have 'lasses tomorrow for our cakes"
cried out little girl who could just speak plainly,
clapplng her hands In great glee.
After dinner Mrs., 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. T. her thoughts mostly
occupied with the comfortable food she was to buy
for her children with the halfdoar she had earned.
For it was sad truth that she had laid out her last
cent.
After examining every seam, every hem, and ex-
pressed appreciation of the work ana handed the poor
widow couple OF fine shirts to make for Mr. T. and
calico dress for herself She did not offer to pay
her for the work she had done.
After lingering few moments, Mrs, ven-
tured to hint that she would like to have part of
what she had earned.
sOh, dear never pay seamstrcss until her bill
to five dollars. 1t troublesome to keep
account of small sums. When you have made five
dollars will pay you.'
sMrs.-, retired, but with heart that seemed
like lead in her bosom. when shall earn five dol
for whole month at this rate were the
words that formed themselves in her thoughts.
sWe shall have the molasses now, mother, shan't |
we said two three glad little voices, as she en-
tered her home.
For few moments she knew not what answer to
make. Then gathering them all about her she explain
ID to themas well as she could make them understand
The lady for whom she had made the work did not pay
her, and she was afraid 1t would be good while be-
ore she would and that until she was paid, she |