Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-03-18
VOL. VI.


hair, would you not accept it!'
Doubtless; if there be any, tell me what it
is, and my gratitude will be everlasting. But
no you do not know the dreadful position in
which | am placed. l cannot undertake any
sort of work-my mother is ILL., and deprived
of reason her state requires that should be
in constant attendance upon her.
The price would give you for your hair
would not enable you to support yourself and
her more than a week at farthest, and what
would you do after that-what would you have
recourse to thenp
Margarita raised her eyes to Heaven in des-
pair.
well, ifyou will accept the offer am about
to make TO you, your mother will, for the fu-
ture, be preserved from want
i accept your proposals, without knowing
what they are
Il will pay you ten dollars month with
this sum you will easily find servant TO at
tend upon your mother, who will take care Of
her, and do all which her situation can require
The remainder of your salary will be sufficient
to procure for the old lady all tbs comforts you
can desire.'
'And what must do to earn this money!
Become my shop-woman.'
There was no time for hesitation. In the
profound distress in which she was plunged,
such an offer appeared TO Margarita miracle
from Heaven.
Il accept your proposal she replied 4 will
become your shop-woman.'
Il will prove TO you that am no niggard-
there is dollar to bind the bargain come TO-
morrow morning and sign the articles of our
agreement, and will pay you one months sal
ary in advance
With heart full of joy, gratitude and glad
ness, Margarta left the shop of this benevolent
man for the first time since the death of her
father, did she return with hope and joy TO her
miserable abode.
That night she slept more soundly and more
comfortably than she had done for many weeks
She went early the next morning to the hair
up by lawyer, and read to Donna Margariia
but she listened to it with divided attention
she was eager to sign it, that she might re-
ceve the ten sparkling pieces of money which
lay shining upon the counter. All that she
knew of the document was that she bound
herself to remain in the hair-dresser's shop from
eight O'Clock in the morning until twelve at
night.
This was certainly laborious duty to fulfil
Had such an offer been made TO her only two
months before, she would have turned from it
with disgust; but she heard the grating of the
scissors near her head-a moment more, and
they would have deprived her of those beautiful
locks; and what she would have before consid-
cred bitter degradation, she now regarded as
a perfect blessing. Poverty, as Montagne
says, is severe and rude task-master
All that day was happily employed in pro-
curing few articles TO furnish her mothers
little room. She fortunately found an intell-
gent and kind-hearted woman TO take charge Of
her. Misfortune appeared weary of overwhelm-
ing her, and she looked forward with confidence
to happier days.
AT eight o'clock the next day, she. punctual-
ly presented herself 10 undertake her new en-
poyment. The hair-dresser was impa,enlly
awaiting her arrival.
$50 into the back room,' said he; 'you will
there find some clothes have had made for
you,' added he, looking disdainfnlly at the pow
erty-strcken garments of the humble Marga-
rita, my shop-woman must not be seen in such
plight as that
The dress prepared for her was certainly not
such a one as she would herself have chosen !;
there was theatrical affectation and bad taste
about ii which afflicted her. She, however,
put it on, with many sighs, and returned into
the shop after she had finished what she con-
sidered her degrading toilette.
Now said her new master, we must at
tend to your head-dress.'
Donna Margarita turned her eyes TO large
looking-glass which hung over the counter
she thought her hair was disposed in simple
and becoming manner.
The hair-dresser destroyed, in few moments
the elegance of the arrangement, and set to
work with most laborious combinations to pro-
duce, what he termed, in his emphatic Ian
gnage, head-dress worthy of his art. He
braided and unbraided the hair of the young
girl, ornamented it with flowers, covered it
with precious stones, or encirled her head with
diadem; but nothing seemed to please him.
He destroyed his work as soon as he had finish
ed it. Patient and resigned, Donna Marearita
allowed him to proceed in his experiments.
without uttering complaint, murmur or an
objection.
All at once he uttered loud cry of ioy, and
striking his forehead, he exclaimed.
Il have it. that is the thing!'
He took the comb out of Donna Margarine
hair, combed it with great care, and letting it
fall over her shoulders, and all around her
1t covered her as with veil.
Now, madam said he, go and sea,
yourself at the COUNTER
What, before you have finished dressing
my hair?
Your couture is completed he replied aE
fectedly; 'whnt other head-dress could show
of your magnificent hair to such adv,n,.oo