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

to make at third of the price. I can
90 to any profcssed shirt-maker in the
city, and get them made for seyenty-hve
cents or dollar"
"I know you can, ma'am," said Mrs.
Walton "But why should receive
less if my work is as well done :"
" \ pretty question, indeed !" retort-
ed Mrs. Lander, thrown off her guard.
You can get such prices if you can, but
| never pay them to people like you"
What are you willing to pay"
asked the poor woman, choking down
her feelings
81 have had shirts made as well as
these for forty cents many and many a
time. There is poor woman down in
Southwark who sews beautifully, who
would have caught at the job. But, as
Mrs Brandon said you were suffering
for work, | thought | would throw
something in your way Forty cents is
an abundance but l had made up my
mind, under the circumstances, to make
it fifty and that is all will give. So
here is your money-three-dollars." ;"
And Mrs. Lander took out her purse
and counted out six half-dollars upon
the table. Only for few moments did
the poor woman hesitate. Bread she
must have for the children Slowly did
she take up the money, while words of
singing rebuke were Cd her tongue;
but she forced herself to keep silence.
"Did you get my shoes as you prom
ised mother :" eagerly inquired her lit
tie boy, as she came in, on returning
from the house of Mrs Lander.
" No, DEAR" replied the heart-full
mother, in a subdued voice. Il didn't
get as much money as | expected"
The child shrunk away with his little
heart so full of disappointment that he
could not keep the tears from gushing
over his face. The mothers heart was
Iuite as full. Before she had recovered
herself, there was knock at the door,
which was opened Immediately after
wards by a lady who came into the
'oom where the poor widow sat with her
title family arounn her.
More than an hour had passed since
he unpleasant interview with the plain
ewer, and Mrs. Lander had not yet re-
covered her equanimity of mind, nor
ost the feeling of indignation which the
'ttempt to impose upon her by the poor
widow had occasioned, when she was
avored with visit from Mrs. Brandon,
Who said familiarly, and with smile, as
he entered
All, how do you do, Mrs. LANDER
have just corrected mistake you
made little while ago"
Indeed what is that ?" asked
lrs. Lander, looking little surprised.
You only gave poor Mrs Walton
fly cents apiece for the half dozen
lrts she made for you, when the lowest
rice is seventy-fve cents. | always
ay dollar for Mr.. Brandon's. The
lherence is a very important one to her
no Tess than dollar and a half |
ave found her in much trouble about
and her little boy crying with disap-
ointment at not getting pair of shoes
is mother had promised him as soon
she got the money for the shirts. He
as been from school for want of shoes
n more than week. So l took out
" purse and gave Mrs. Walton the
,llar and half to make up the sum
le had earned, and told her would
c you about it. acted right, did l
IT. Of course it was a mistake on
ur part :"
Mrs. Lander was never more COM
,tely outgeneralled in her life The
ly who had corrected her error was
c in whose good opinion she had every
ason for desiring to stand high. She
uld grind the face of the poor without
" or shame, but for the world she
'uld not be thought mean by Mrs.
andon.
/" am very much obliged to you in
ed" she said, with blaud smile. 1T
$ altogether a mistake on my part, and
blame the woman for not having men
ned il at the time. Heaven knows,