Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-02

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room
"I1i change seats with you Jessie
Wilson. Il you're cold" said Annie.
addressing little girl. very book
worm. who. clad in threadbare
printed cotton gown, sat shivering over
her lesson.
Jessie, thus invited, came little
nearer.
'syou should put on woolen frock
like mine, and warm yourself well at
your mothers Gre before you come 10
school these winter days." said Annie
scrutinsiuing the poyersy'struck ap-
rearance Of the girl.
"Mother says" replied Jessie.
"that she'd rathre do without a FIRE
that my schooling, and she can't pay
for both
HAS your mother no FIRE at home
this cold weather." asked Annie, in
amaxemcnt.
"No. /" said Jessie. 81 wish / dared
bring her with me here--it's warmer
than at home. And know that mo-
ther Is i'll. though she won't tell me-"
"Sit there" said Annie. placing
Jessie in her warm corner; land don't
90 out Of school without me-"
That afternoon the two girls went
hand in hand to Jessie's door.
"Have you plenty to eat. IL you've
no fire?" asked Annie.
"This Is the first day mother has
been forced to send me to school with
out any breakfast" said Jessie, hang
ng down her head. asif ashamed Of
the confession.
"Here" said Annie, after slight
pause, untwisting the paper in which
were deposited Of her first earnings; i
won't 60 in with you, for your mother
might not like to take it from little
girl ike me; but''-and she put two
shillings into Jessie's hand--''that is to
buy you something to eat, and FIRE,
and, II your mother can sew as well as
| l can, said Annie, with pardonable
vanity, "I can tell her how to get plen-
| ty Of money to pay for both"
No wonder Annie's riches increased; /;
the first investment was a good one.
Nevereless, the concealing Of it from
her parents she knew to be wrong; she
feared they would disaprove Of It; and
she added to her little prayer at night
after the usual ending Of "God bless
father and mother-and forgive me
for keeping secret that / helped Jessie
Wilson" Could the Recording Angel
caryedup a purer prayer to Heaven.
OF course; Mr.. end Ms. Linton very
soon discovered that Mr.. Semwell, Of
the "Ready-made Linen Warehouse. :"
was the grand SERGE Of Annie's wealth.
He said that there was no one who
could work ike her, and said he would
give eighteen pence each for the finest
description Of shirt-ma aking. This was
no great payment for Annie's exquisite
stitching-and thirty years ago II
would have brought her three-and six
pcnse shirt. But Annie Is Of the
present. not Of the past: and as she
could complete shirt day, her fin
ger flying swifter than weaver's shut
Tie, she earned nine shillings week.
GOOD wife," said Mr.. Linton, Eve
are not so poor but that we can main
tain our daughter until she's twenny.
and by that time. at the present rate
of her earnings. she will have little
fortune In the bank" But this little
fortune smassed but slowly, for Annie
seldom had nine shillings vt the end
Of the week--there were other''Jessie
Wilson's" who required food and FIRE.
Had Annie been poet, she would
assuredly have written. not the song,
but song Of the shirt. for once when
she was questioned as TO the dull mon.
tony Of her work: "Dull? Delightfull'
said Annie in advocacy OF her calling.
"Why. with this rare linen and fine
thread my stitches seem like stringing
little pearls along the wrist bands and
collar!" What an anti-song Of the
shirt might not Annie have written
Annie's eighteenth birthday was cell
ebrsted by a party to eli the SEM
stresses Of Mr.. Seamwell's establish
ment. where she was now forewoman:
besides being cheerful. kind d.hearted d
little creature, beloved by every body
II was compliment, Mr.. Scamwell
said she we'll deserved--her admirable
surperintendence Of the department
allotted her having increased his bus
mess tenfold.
Sometime after, there was great
day Of rejoicing in the firm of Semwell
Il Co. The father had taken his son
as q partner, and the son took part.
ner for life--the indefatigable little
seamstress. Annie Linton. There
never was blither bridal. Annie
herself having risen from the ranks
had a present for every work woman.
Indeed, Il wasa day Of presents. for
on that very morning, and in time to
be worn at she wedding. shawl ar
rived for Annie. AL the way from In
dia-sn India shawl that a duchess
would have enviedl
Upon it was pinned paper. on which
was written: "Wear this for the sake
Of one who Is now rich and happy, but
who never can forget the services you
rendered to the poor school girl--jes-
sic Wilson,"
"Annie, said young Seamwell after
their marrisge II fell in love when you
we're child. and rame to our shop for
your first sewing. ] also happened
to be passing when you gave part Of
| your first earnings to Jessie Wilson: l
was boy then, but l said to myself:
"lfl were man, I'd marry Annie
Linton; not because she's so pretty
here Annie blushcd most becomingIy,
mot because she's so industrious, but
because she's 60 kind hearted
~ The young lady. in Paris. who
lately made her fortieth ascent in n
balloon, has certainly a taste for circu-
lating in the upper Circles
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