Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-19

voted to the purchase OF some comfort LOT
her enfeebled mother. 1t soon became ev-
ident that her common earnings were not
sufficient She took home extra work, and
abridged her intervals of rest. Her candle
was not out by night, and sometimes when
her mother had retired, she almost extin-
guished the fire, continuing to work with
chilled hands and feet, lest the stock of f1-
ell should not suffice until her slender ear
nings would enable her to purchase more.
Her nervous system became over-wrought
and diseased Those for whom she work.
ed were often queruous, and hard to please
She felt an insuperable longing for a kind
word, an encouraging look for some form
of sympathy, to sustain the sensitive spirit.
Those who hired her, had not put these in
the contract Work, on her part, and mo-
ney on theirs, was all the stipulation. They
! did not perceive that her step grew feeble,
as day by day she passed through the crow
ded streets to her task, or night after night
returned to nurse her nfirm mother. A
sudden flush came upon her cheek, and she
sank into the grave before the parent for
whom she had toiled.
The wife of sailor, during his periods
of absence, did all in her power to aid him
in diminishing their expenses. He was not
of that class who spend their wages on their
arrival in port, and forget their family But
as that family increased his earnings, with
out rigid economy on her part, would have
been insufficient for their support
AT length the bitter news came that her
husband was lost at sea. When the first
shock of grief had subsidized, she summoned
bar Il a. g.,
her children, which their father had so Of
ten expressed his wish to have done, that
they should be kept together, and not be
dependent on charity. She meditated what
mode of livelihood would best enable her to
comply with wish she had held so sacred.
She had great personal strength, and good
constitution. She made choice of the hard
est work which is performed by females, be-
cause it promised the most immediate re-
ward. Often, after her task of washing,
did she forget her WEAKNESS, while in the
dusly twilight she FASTENED toward her lone
ly home, as the mother bird nerves her wing
when she draws nearer to her nest
But she found her sickly babe sufferer
from these absences, and sometimes acct
dents befell the other little ones, from her
having no person with whom to leave them.
The sum which she earned, would not al
ways pay for the injury they had sustained
by the want of her sheltering care. 1t oc-
casionally happened, that the lady for whom
she worked was out, or engaged with COM
pany she returned without her payment, for
which, either to wait, or go again, were in
conveniences, which those who dwell in a.
bodies of plenty cannot estimate.
I Was there not some labor which she
could perform at home, and thus protect the
nursellngs for whose subsistence she toiled!
The spinning wheel and loom first present.
ed themselves TO her thought, for she had
been skillul in their use, in the far-oif agr-
cultural village, where youth was spent
But domestic manufactures had become un-
fashionable, and she could obtain no such
employment. Coarse needle-work seemed
her only resource. At this, she wrought
necessarily, scarcely allowing herself time
to get, or partake of scanty meal. But
after all was done, the remuneration was
inadequate to their necessities She could
scarcely supply suiliclency of the coars-
est food. Hel children shivered as the win
ter drew on. Their garments, though con-
stantly mended, were thin, and their poor
from the miserable fire that they might be
warmed, and shuddered as she saw the
means of sustaining this comfort wasting a
way.
Still, the injunction of her departed hus-
band lay deep and warm at her heart. She
asked no charity She RENTED no exer.
ton, and her whole life was one prayer tc
God.
AT this crisis, society which was form
ed on the true principle of benevolence, tC
t aid poverty through its own efforts, arose to
save her from destruction. Its express OBJ
? lect was TO improve the condition of the
4 tempest-tost mariner and his suffering house
= hold. 1t comprised an establishment, where
G garments were made for seamen; and hert
e she obtained constant supply of needle
c One of its most beautiful features, was
. school, where the elementary branches of
5 good education were gratuitously taught
a Here, instruction in the use of the needl
c was thoroughly impaired, and as soon "a
the pupils were able to finish a garment 70
the clothing store, they were encourages
by receiving Just payment.
Now, the small, lowly room of the wild
ow was frightened with comfort, and he
h heart was too full for words. When her Iii
i tie girls came running from school, with
t. shout Of joy, the eldest one exclaiming =
= "See, mother, see, here are twenty cents
s. Take them and buy frock for the baby
e They gave them to me for making a sailor
a gingham shirt, strong and good. M
a. teacher says, | shall soon sew well enoug
is to make one of nicer kind, for which
e. am to receive seventy-fve cents. Then
'r will help pay your house rent. Oh, neve
l. was SO happy in my life, and yet could NJ
Or help crying when | walked, for remembe
s. ed that you used to make exactly such shir
to for dear father, and did not know but til
of man for whom made this, might be lost
ly sea, and never come back to his home an
lie more"
I'd Here is book" said the little sist'
h (Which my teacher let me take from Il
r. school library, to bring home, and read
IL you, while you sit at work. And she is
RI, good, and SO kind to me, mother, she taxi
d. as much pains to have me learn as if v
ut were ever SO rich, aud love her dearly"
d, blessings on her." said the wido'
o. through her grateful tears. Heaven
h. blessings on the society, and ON every Lao
he into whose heart God has put it to help Il