Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-09
to a Sewing society,

AVictim to a Sewing Society.
A friend of mine who had the privil-
ege, Thy paving the landlord for it, Of
occupying corner in my sleeping apart
ment, was a member of no less than
three of these societies. He was lately
from the country and the description he
was in the habit Of giving me, of these
assemblages, always comparing them
with brilliant contrast in their favor,
with the quilting parties. apple bees,
and corn huskings' which he attended
.athum,' afforded me considerable amuse-
mcnt, at the times; but whenever l would
attempt to demonstrate with him upon
the danger of his becoming too much en-
crossed with them, and the likelihood of
their leading him to a neglect of the true
value Of money, he would laugh and
say it only cost him q few shillings, and
he considered il cheap at that.
was aware that the mere privilege Of
meeting with these ladies, for the purpose
of enlivening the time they were enga-
ged in their gratuitons work, with the
few extras which they saw fit to bestow
upon the gentlemen by way Of "redeem-
ing pawns," &C., &C., could not be very
expensive, but my experience in attend
ing fairs (which are the latter claps) had
taught me that like everything else, the
'road TO ruin is bordered with very fine
scenery, and though considered it my
duty to hint the fact TO him did not feel
at liberty TO oppose the charitable object
so much as to urge him very strongly to
desist. As the time approached for hold
ing the fair, he became excitingly enthu-
siastic, and was induced TO ask him, on
one occasion, when returned from a NEE
ting, if they had used liquor-he really
appeared to be intoxicated. And at
length the night arrived, he informed
me with much qualification that he was
sin for accompanying two ladies there"
/ saw how it was at once. He was a
victim. said nothing, but resolved to
await his story when he came home.
/ waited for his return until past mid
night, and my eye lids becoming heavy,
turned in, and soon fell asleep. In a.
bout two hours he came in, and as the
door opened, Iawoke, but laid still to OBJ
serve him. He looked around to see if
] was asleep; aud went to table, and
emptied his pocket of some cash. He
then took out his pocket book and spread
out abill, and thus he spake:
"Wall, I'm done neow--I swow. If
they didn't skin me pretty clean, then !
wouldn't say SO. But they didn't get
that five though. Ha! ha! They tried
pretty hard to. That girl that snatched
It. and was going to the lottery with it,.
darn her impudence! Wall, there, if the
girls in the country were 10 act as them
girls acted tonight. they would be ruined,
for all time to come
Thislastspeech aroused mel thought
there was something ont, and being nat
urally curious, wished to find out all
about it. So / stretched myself, and
turning over, exclaimed:
"Hello! you are in ELI! What sort Of
time have you had! Counting your
money how much have you got Overt"
"Neow, how much do you think it
cost me!' he ao|ked.
.Well, do know about seventy
Ave cents, ! suppose.
"Pshaw, your joking. Meow, really.
how much do you think?"
Il cannot tell. but ! suppose il didn't
cost you over dollar at the most.
"A dollar! I BY jingo, il cost more than
seven dolIsEs.''
.Why you don't cay 20! How did
il cost you 80 mnch!'
"Wall, I'lltell you. II the FIRST place,
cuss these fairs--it's the last time you get
me atone Of them. First one girl would
come up to me to buy somsthing from
An