Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-25


little voices II il all she says then stands by
his side, one tiny flake-hand remaining at his
shoulder, cycling intently and curiously the
largeness of the boot on her pappy-pa's knee.
Turning round cautiously the room is ginger
ly scanned the darkness Of the corners eyed
snspiciously. Thus engaged a sudden gust of
wind without startles her, and again she snug
giles up to the seat.
Poverty has its expedienis. The candle--he
can afford to burn but one-being burnt down
into its stocket, and dying out he proceeds to
rake up bits of wicks remaining in the melted
tallow Of the bowl Of the candestick, which is
pendant from the ceiling. He has managed to
get above the Oil three noses, which he sue
ceeds in lighting by management with a coal.
In this operation the little girl seems particu-
larly interested-now here, now there, trying to
be Of some advantage. She has managed to
drag up q chair, and has seated her busy body
upon it; and with her feet--little toes looking
out Of the shoes--on the upper round, and her
hands in her lap, she ia demurely contempla-
ting the white flames that burn brightly, like
little confagrations. Presently one is extin-
guished; shortly another, the consumption be-
ing too extravagant
AT last, tired Of the candle, the little form
leaves the chair, and sidles up nearer the boot,
a
the small man, yet which is readily, almost to
miracle, controlled It is lesson to see him
ply with his dexter hand the ponderous ham
mer, necessary to drive home such pegs, and
with his sinister, fit but for cambria purposes,
clasp the Coarse awl. This he does with COM
parative ease-tact rather; but not 80 easy to
draw from its thrust the large spike, which Of
ten staggers him.
He has finished his pegging and it will do"
The heel also is secured, and the "capn on.
But now comes the worst. | see he breads it;
looks doubtingly, not about doing the work, but
whether he can do it. He has still left him to
sew on the cap or foxing; and this requires
strength to secure it 80 as to pass the ordeal of
inspection, on which his chance Of support is
depending. 1t is well that he meets but sell
dom with 30 desperate CASE These lady-lke
hands must do it. and they are willing.
Again he looks at the dial. An hour has
expired, and one boot is worked off, He
looks at the other, and patiently takes it up
but directly puts it down again. The fame
has finished the OIL and new, a Whoie cah-
die, which is somewhat eyed, as 'twere pity
to consume, is taken from the benchs drawer,
and set a-burning.
Footsteps are again heard, and the door
opens to woman this time. Ii needs no effort
to guess the character of the vister. Scarce has
the door opened, ere with bound the ringleted
child, like little Eva as she is, trips forward,
and, with arms outspread, clasps the skirts
of the entering form, exclaiming, "Oh, my
mamma looking up pleased, as only such
angel-child can.
Here is a form that would strike the unac-
quainted at once but the chance seldom occurs
IL is but at this still hour of midnight, and
xuhar, snn hat so
seen abroad, within the precincts of Uttered
workshop. Her decision and frmness are un-
mistakeable in that stately walk and set coun-
tenance-sternly set as if against fate, but
relaxing, momently, in the sunny mirror Of
that child face upturned to meet the kindred
image STOPPING to embrace it. Her quick eye
having observed the stairway open, she ap-
proaches and shuts the door. In short time
two hammers are busy, and the shop feels an
increased activity.
Presently the stairway door again opens,
and up comes the lad; but on seeing my room
dark-which he discovered only on near APP
proach, being partly blind--he stopped short,
remarking, half to himself as he turned to de-
send
81 thought you were up yet
"Come up! come up!n / called after him.
Never mind-it matters not-you're to
bedn
"Come up, lad, / want to SEQ you; Pm not
in bed,n | replied, we'll aware he wished to
communicate something
| intrude," he continued BY this time
the lamp was lit for had not yet lain down
Seeing me up and dressed, he ventured into the
room, and with a betrayed painful effort, and
an endeayor to suppress trembling of the
voice, he spoke
III thought, if you wasn't engaged, you might
not care to change little work with me- II
you could sew on cap on one Of giant Jakes
boots, that would finish the job. He'll be
after them in the morning. The cowhide in
too heavy for me, Pm afraid"
went down with him, and asewed ON the
cap" In asking for its mate, he told me it was
"donen
clad, you never could sew it stout enough
where is the boot?v
twas handed me- and the work was well
done; but his hands were swollen, and blister
ed and red
When entered the room with the lad, il
was past midnight; and there, with aworkn
strapped TO her knee, found his wife engaged
in driving pegs. will say nothing of the en-
barrassment caused by such necessity, and the
excuses, when they came as they did, and from
high-minded woman who in the type Of her
sex in all that makes the dignity Of noble
souled humanity This was not my initiation
to the mystery Of this now phase Of female la
Dor; was long aware Of it. And here let me
say that this is not an invention, but q fact,
occurring TO my knowledge, almost daiIy-a
woman working, bona fde, on shop-bench
among the litter and bad air Of such place,
mending coarse mems boots and .hammering
leather, as would any jourheyman Of the trade,
oil from sheer, pnching necessity, and to save
her family from the poor-bouse
The next morning found il difficult TO tell
which was the greatest effort for the lad--to
attempt working, or to keep the tears from be-
traying him. Before this, there seemed no tears
in him. was applied TO by him for the ex.
change Of labor which he owed me, though he
must have been aware that his hands would
not admit it. On telling him he owed me moth
ing, and that would farther assist him, his
stress Of feeling overcame him, and the little
80 G. .xI II r.