New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-06
DAILY CRESCENT
THE DRESS MAKER AND THE
DRESS WEARER.


Half buried in the velvet cushions of one OF
the luxurious arm-chairs of an apartment, fur
nished with a magnifcence an Eastern sultana
might envy, sat an elderly lady, habited in a
costly and most elaborate undress. Her face
had been fair to look upon; but, by long prac-
tice in the fashionable art of concealing all ex-
preston, she had succeeded in wi ping out from
her features every thing of the, kind, save one
of cat-like distrust and naughty self f-conceit.
Listlessly reclining upon yielding lounge
was "a young lady of seventeen or eighteen, with
set of features most rarely and wonderfully
beautiful. Still, with face and form of perfect
symmetry, the long lashes Of those usually down
cast eyes could not conceal, in their occasional
over bright flashes, the pride and discomfort Of
a heart warning with itself; also in the pettish
curl of her faultless lip, and in the naughty
arching of her exquisitely penciled brows, could
you read the same
Beautiful as had been the mother, and as was
Bertha, her favorite daughter, no one for an in
slant could accuse the eldest daughter, Caroline,
of being even good-lookiDg. Hopelessly homely,
her face expressed most plainly that she had
never forgiven either father or mother for her
ill-ooks, nor her sister for being SO favored.
Like stray sunbeam in scowling picture
was the presence, in that family group, Of Clar-
ice, the youngest daughter. If she was pretty,
she did not know it. Her delight lay, not in
herself, but in her tame birds and squirrels; in
Strauss and Labitzkys waltzes-which she was
forever playing; in dancing fancy dances; and
diffusing the warmth and joy of her own snnny
temper among the ever-contending members Of
her family.
GO 'Clarice, do stop that intolerable drumming
on the piano! I wish to read something to
MOTHER
Certainly, if you wish it, sister Caroline
for my fingers fairly ache with the last grand
attempt replied Clarice, waltzing, with the
llghtness OF a fairy. across the spacious room,
her voice softly echoing the air she had Just been
playing.
&c You might as well be humming top, and
done with it, such whirling and buzzing as
you keep up
'What were you going to read to me, Caro-
line 20 said Mrs Winslow
&c An announcement of the death and failure
of Mr.. Walter Lee"
'sOf Walter Lee Caroline, did you say ot
Walter Lee :''
&C think spoke sufficiently plain for you tc
understand the name''
''Walter Lee! How shocking! When did he
die:"
every suddenly, last evening" and the para.
graph states that his death was most probably
occasioned by the startling announcements Of
the failure of the house in which all his property
was invested
81 suppose his widow and daughter will look
to US now for their support said the hitherto
silent Bertha.
edo tell me, Bertha Winslow, if you have
aroused yourself sufficiently to make such wise
| remark?' sneered Caroline 81 thought you
had been fast asleep ever since breakfast. All
| can say is, if you suppose that suppose Wal
ter Lees widow and daughter will not be sc
weak as to imagine they have claim upon US
merely because Mrs Lee happens to be the sister
| of my father
sc Ruth Lee has many accomplishments She
Will doubtless conclude to maintain herself anc
her mother by her own industry said Mrs
Winslow
"l do not recognize any claim they hav
upon u.s. persisted Caroline elf people ar
careless in business, it is no reason they shoul
expect to depend on those who are NOR
prudent"
AT the first word that announced her uncle
death had Clarice left the room, and, with he
school bonnet and shawl in her hand, was hurry
ing through the streets to her uncles dwelling
The closed shutters and the Grape at the doc
told too plainly the sad tale within
''l knew yOU would come to us in our atfc
ton, dear Clarice,' said Ruth Lee, as the warm
hearted girl stole into the room where tn
mourners We're sitting and threw herself weep
ing on Ruth's bosom. 'sOh, Clarice, may sucl
a bitter grief as is now breaking my heart
strings never come upon YOU -
Ruth paused, for the vision of her uncle Win
slow, her cousin Clarices father, her own dea
mothers brother, passed before her-a vision O
a stern, cold, cruel hearted man, who neither
asked for nor accepted love from those neares
him; and she felt, if he were to die, Clarice'
loss could not compare with hers. And thel
arose to her mind the image of man with ,
child's simplicity of heart, with a woman S ten
derness. and nobleness of nature that wa
godlike in its uprightness and truth. The ire
parable weight of her bereavement once NOR
overpowered her, and the tears she shed SCENE,
like tears of blood wrung from her heart.
The hard, uncompromising truth at lengtl
stared the widow and orphan in the face. The,
were beggars. All was swept from them, to tn
very home in which they had lived so happily
With strength of purpose scarcely belongin
to her years, Ruth Lee aroused herself from he
grief, and set herself seriously to planning wha
had best be done. She could not look for mlc
help from her mother, for her health, never yer
good, seemed 50 broken down by her athletic
that Ruth began to fear she might lose her alst
:" Tomorrow, dear Ruth, we must leave tn
home where we have seen so much Joy. Stran
gers will reap the fruits of your dear father
taste and judgment in planning and executn
this comfortable abode. But what shall me do
Shall we accept brother Richards invitation t
make home with him. -
'' And be looked upon by his parsimon ou
wife as dependents and in the way No, dcal
est mother; while have youth and health wi
look to no one but myself for our support.
have found two pleasant little rooms down tow
that can get for a mere song"
Sc Yes, but that song must be paid for; an
what with, dear Ruth -
'By myself have decided upon maxim
I dresses
ssRuth -
81 always had a handy way with my scisso,
and needle,' continued Ruth, with Il stead
voice, but with cheek more and more pale
'' You be dress maker2"
E 'Why not, dearest mother 1t is an hone
employment,
But you play and sing so beautifully!
I you must do something, why not teach music ;
; "Who would learn of me, dear mother:
whom could | apply. or ,could apply for p'
tronage? All our friends, even our relation
have shown how little they expect to do for u
Then, l doubt my own proficiency too much
put myself before the world rs music teache
Besides we have no home suitable to bring p1
!, pills into
e e But situation in some school, my child :
n "Would take me from you too much duril
3 the day. No. dearest mother; | have thoug
: of all, of every thing, and can see nothing el
= for me to do. Besides, have partially engag
/ some work for next week Aunt Winslow pa
Al us another stately visit while you were lyi
down this afternoon and without E;po d