Litchfield enquirer., 1855-03-01
Every Description of "a
 70 D.P R I IT 2 I N G,
WiscsIjapy.
PAIN IN THE CHEST.

PAIN IN THE CHEST.
 "Here is shirt bosom I wish you to stitch, Emma,' said Mrs. Harvey to her daughter, 1" it is for your father, and as. he is in hurry for his shirts, l must get you to help me-"
 "Oh! mother," said Emma, reluctantly taking the piece of linen, "you know sew ing always gives me such pain in the chest"
 "But, my daughter, this is case of necessity. Your father has to go South next week oss~business, and these shirts must be finished for him to take. really cannot do them myself by that ,ime."
 Emma said no more. Ruefully sitting down, she began to stitch the shirt bosom :; and, for . while, worked with something like real industry. But this did not con tinue long. Soon she began to 6dge.: then to glance at tte windows and finally she laid down her task, under pretrnce of want ing some water. It took her full quarter of an hour to satisfy her thirst at least it was .ha, period before she returned to her work Several times during the afternoon she repeated this behavior. Al tea she sat dropping over her plate, and when her fa- thsr asked her what Twas the matter, she complained of pain in the chest.
 "What have you been doing l' he said. "Oh 1 thought would stitch one of your new shirt hosoms," replied Emma, hAstening to answer before her mother could speak. i" But it has made me quite sick" "Never mind the shirt bosoms," replied the fond father with look of concern. "l am sure 1 an as much obliged to you for trying as if you had stitched me dozen. You always were delicate. my dear"
 The mother gave glance of silent re- proof to Emma, and said, {" am afraid, un- less Emma assists me. l shall have to hire a seamstress, for cannot, swithout help, finish the shirts by next week."
 "Oh then get a seamstress by all means; I declare Emma looks quite pale. Poor thing. she can't stand what you can, my love-"
 Mrs. Harvey was on tho point of saying. in reply, that Emma could stand as much, if she would but on second thought, con- cluded to be silent. Yet she sighed. as many mother has, to think how the in- considerate fondness of the father was spoil ing the daughter.
 Mrs. Harvey sent for seamstress that evening, and accordingly. the next day Em- ma had nothing to do. In the morning she made calls, and then came home to read q novel, over which she stopped till dinner time. In the afternoon, having finished the novel, she had recourse to her worsted work over which stopped until it was too dark ,c sec. All this time she made no complaint of the pnin in. the chest, though she has stopped for a period twice as long as on tn, preceding day. Her mother, who watched her for some time with u meaning look, al last said:
 Emma. how long have you been enga' ged on that bit of work, my dear!"
 "About six months, isn't itt" replied Emma, looking up for second only, and nesuming the counting of her threads. "One two, threS; it was just after New Years began it; one, two, wasn't iii"
 "And what do you expect to do with it!'
 Make a chair cover of it, to be sure.- Why, you know that, mamma"
 "Bat you know We have no chairs ts cover."
 "Oh! it will come in use sometime O if it don't, can give it away, You know
 :" How much do you suppose your worst eds have cost i'
 "Three dollars. I believe that was it But you know as we'll as do, ma, for yo, were with me when bought them.''
 al had forgotten" said Mrs. Harvey.- And she mentally added, [. ah 1 have mor, important things to remember"
 There was silence for a short time whes the mother quietly said:
 Don't 1t sometimes give you pain in thi breast. my dear. to ssoop, hour after hour over this sort of work !"
 Emma looked up. crimson with sham She was a sensible girl, and felt tho home thrust. Dropping her work, she said:
 Give mo shirt bosom, mamma, an ll'll stitch t. indeed will. was wron last night to cay what did"
 "Oh! no," said Mrs. Harvey. with Slight irony in her tone, for she wished | mske Emma thoroughly ashamed. "Yo had better go on with your worsted work for there is no hurry for that. And, beside it is uos for your father, nor even, it seems for yourself, bat for somebody, you don exactly know who, or perhaps for nobod, st all. No my dear, could not think Q taking you away from your useful employ ment, and putting you to one 70 worthles ss assissing to stitch shirs bosoms for you fathsF."