Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-12-25

OI traue 10 Inc trimming StoIeS Wnere ,materl-
ais are purchased, and afford great many peo-
pie an opportunity to be charitable, and, at the
same time, to obtain undersleeves, cuffs, night
caps, children's socks, and aprons, the products
of the aforesaid industry, at very low consid-
Grafton, much cheaper than they could be fur
nished at the small shops kept by industrious
widows, who depend upon the sale Of these
very articles for the maintenance and educa-
ton of their children Then, if their reduced
custom obliges the petty shopkeeper to seek
open charity the Dorcas Society is sure to
send, after much solicitation, the half ton Of
coal, and the scanty garments made and pro-
yided for such contingencies. OF course they
have no reason to complain. They are no,
supposed TO be sensitive on the subject of re-
ceiving aims, or to make any internal reflec-
tions upon the wisdom, not to say justice, Of
the course pursued. The poor, God help
them are far too busy to allow time for NOR
alizing. .s-,.u,il! j ..i, s..sH .a
Itwas objectionable in Mrs. Stone to reason
for Them. Mrs. Skmpton listened to her with
ill-disgused horror. She had called, expect
ing jealous cooperation. She read the BY
laws of the fair that was to be, the annual re-
port ofthe society, including the disposal Of
soup tickets, and though it was understood as
a mere matter of form, of course, came for the
sanctioo cf tho rector ,nd ,ba ,an-,r,E of t;e
lady. Mrs. Naylor, despite her short-com-
ings, had always been active on these occa-
sions. Mrs. Stone, with her leisure and her
winning address, could, no doubt, do wonders.
Of course, she was not expected to sew, ex-
planned Mrs Skimpton; only to be present at
the varions meetings, and make herself and the
movement generally popular. For there ,cere
some ladies in the church so obstinate and
SO narrow-minded as to object to fairs -
Therefore they especially counted on her coun-
tenance -lf 90 .. '... .
Mrs. Stone had seen but little of city life,
she said, but was already made sorrowfuI by
the amount of want and misfortune she could
not relieve. There was something to her
very sad in the sight of those little shops, il,
which fancy articles were sold. They seemed
to tell of last effort to keep little family un-
divided. 1t made her very heart ache to pass
them at night. The solitary lamp in the win
dow shedding such feeble light over the din
gy muslins and cheap ornaments displayed
there, and then the tired-looking woman be-
hind the counter, stitching away as rapidly as
her fingers could fly, and looking up with such
an eager, craring look, if the jingle of the little
bell announced a customer. She had heard OF
the Dorcas Society, and somehow, though she
could not pretend tojudge for others, it seemed
as if its members would make happier ar
rangement if they contributed money instead
of time, and employed poor women TO make
the garments they distributed to those who
could not, for ill-health or care, assist them
selves at all.
But urged Mrs. Skimpton, blandly, 'there
are many young ladies now-your young
friend, Miss Tullle, for instance-who have no
purse of their own, and can still give time'
Do they not choose their own wardrobes 9
asked Mrs. Stone, quietly. 'And one expen-
slve dress or ornament less, might furnish the
means " a
Mrs. Skimpton's thin features grew sharper
still by extension. What heresies and from
such source! She could scarcely refrain
from an instant explosion; but she still hoped
by Miss Litlle's assistance, to overcome Mrs
Stones scruples. Unfortunately, as she was
obliged to confess it, many would be Influenced
by the expressions of opinions more than one
already held.
But Miss Little's visit proved equally unsnc
cessful-Mrs. Stone remaining firm, though
gentle. in her resolution to avoid taking an ac
tive part in the proposed charity The very
next day, the steel clasp was shut with an un
deniable negative snap when some young la
dies looked up from the mysteries of embroid
ering bronze toilet slippers 10 propose doing ;
pair for Mrs. Stone, and making new set o
bands for the doctor. .-I -. -.
They might as well work for Queen Vic
toria at once, for all the thanks they woult
get,' she said. Mrs. Stone preferred to pa
for all she wore; and it was well her hnsban,
had large salary, the way she managed al
fairs!' -.
1t was an undoubted dash of vinegar upo
the fire of enthusiasm Mrs. Stone had kindled
Meek little Miss Brown, who had made tn
proposal, and who, withal, was the younges
of the Sunday School teachers at St. John S
bent over her sewing with flushed cheeks an
mist before her eyes, which interfered not
little with the accuracy of her stitches. Mis-
Angelica Tuttle was also observed to hav
changed her phrases of adnation to mino
key, to say the least Mrs Clarke plainly de
clared that she never did like her from tn
first; and poor, dear, Mrs. MAYORS forgot
ten virtues were paraded once more in epe
day, as the 'sainted Maria of some recently
married widower is held up for the correction
and edifcation of her unfortunate successor.
Two hundred visits are not to be returned il
two months, unless the whole of ones time i
devoted to that specific object. 1t may answe
for young bride who has Honiton veil, a
India shawl, or new eqripageto display; bu
for the wife of a clergyman, with recent
organized household, fond Of her nursery, an
obliged to entertain visitors at all hours, an
on the slightest notice, it is a task in whic
even the most social would fail. Mrs. Stone
with natural shrinking from new faces, an