The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-06-02

work in the house, she divided her time
between them, sewing one day for Mrs
Lander and the next on the work re-
ccived before hers came in. At the
end of u week three of the shirts were
ready, and, as she needed very much Of
the money she had earned in making
them, she carried them over to Mrs
Lander on Saturday afternoon.
"I have three Of the shirts ready"
she said, as she handed to the lady the
bundle she had brought.
"Ah! have you :" remarked Mrs.
Lander, as she opened the bundle and
examined the garments. She found the
shirts exceedingly well made.
when will you have the others
ready :" she asked, as she laid them
aside.
Ct will try and bring them in next
Saturday"
Very WELL"
Then, came deep silence. The poor
woman sat with her fingers Of both
hands moving together uneas.y, and
Mrs. Lander looked away out of the
window and appeared to be intent upon
something in the street
care these made to please you 2"
Mrs. Walton ventured to ask
They'll do" was the brief answer J;
and then came back the same dead
silence.
Mrs. Walton wanted the money she
had earned for making the shirts, and
Mrs. Lander knew it. But Mrs Lam
der never liked to pay out money, if she
could help it; she liked to encourage
the very poor, because she knew they
generally worked cheaper than people
who were in easier circumstances.
Badly as she stood in need of the
money she had earned, poor Mrs. Wal
ton felt reluctant to ask for it ; and 50,
after sitting for little while longer, she
got up and went away. 1t happened
that she had expended her last sixpence
On that very morning, and nothing was
due to her from any one but Mrs. Ian
der. Two days at least would elapse
before she would have any other work
ready to take home, and what to do in
the mean time she did not know.
BY placing in pawn some few articles
Of dress, and paying heavy interest
upon the little sum of money advanced
thereon, the poor widow was able to
keep hunger from her door until she
,ould finish some work she had for a
ady more considerate than Mrs. Ian
ler Then she applied herself with
'enewed industry to the three shirts
get to make, which she finished at the
ime she promised to have them done.
With the money to be received for
hesc, she was to pay one dollar and
lalf to get her clothes from the pawn J
,roker's shop, buy her boy pair Of
hoes-he had been from school week f
or want of them-and get supply of 81
ood for the many mouths she had to p
eed. n
Mrs. Lander received her with that d
'ecoming dignity of manner and gravity -
'hich certain persons always assume h
,hen money has to be paid out, She it
thoroughly examined every seam, line D
{ stitching, and hem upon each Of the h
hree shirts, and then, after slowly laying a.
he garments upon table, sighed and h
ooked still grayer. {,
"Does the work please you :" she n
entured to ask. IL
q don't think these are as well made i
5 the Others" said Mrs. Lander. 50
Mrs. Walton knew better than this nt
ut she did not feel in any humor to yc
,ntend for the truth. Mrs Lander
ok up the shirts again, and made pl
lother examination. la,
|" What is the price OF them :" she on
ked. re
" Ssventy-fve cents" co
" Apiece :" pi
" Yes, ma'am." w
" Sventy-fve cents apiece :" BI
" | never got less than that, and some
r whom sew always pay me dollar" de
"Sventy-fyo cents It's an imposi- wa
,n. l know plenty Of poor women L
ho would have been glad of these shirts tic