Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-04
q bolte Giterature.
From Chambers Journal
I'll E SEWING GIRL.
0N0O0Oo~N-o~o->-~-
A BEAUTIFUL SKETCH

Annie Linton was the best sewer in Mrs.
Roy's school; and the mistress declared, on
inspecting the first shirt she made for her
father, That the Duke of Buchleuch
himself might wear itp This was high
praise for little Annie, who was only eleven
years ofage; and she never forgot it. Her
work was the cleanest and neatest ever seen.
Then she did itso quickly, her mother could
not keep pace with her daily demand for
something to sew
Il wish Annie would take to her book
said Mrs. Linton to her husband. But It
was quite clear that Annie would never take
to her book; she had little reading and less
spelling; and yet she could mark with
cotton) all the letters of the alphabet, as if
she was very miracle of learning.
Something to sew?' eagerly demanded
Annie.
'Will any moving come to this sewinpY
asked her father, with very natural attempt
at pun.
Those who do not sew shall not reap'
said little Annie, cleverly taking up her ia
theirs meaning and her work. BAG at the
same time, as she whisked past him in fear
of being too late for school.
Three weeks after: tAnnie's learnipe to
be Scholar said Mrs. Linton: mo more
demands for sewing That afternoon An
ME came bounding into the house from
school, sat upon her fathers knee. opeped
her work-bag, which hung over her arm, and
putting a screwed up paper into his hand,
said: There's the moving
Her father undid the paper, and found
four half crowns. ANNIE questioned her
father, 'where did this come from :?
From the sewing,' answered Annie,
laughing delightedly at his surprise, as she
escaped from his knee, and ran out of the
room, to delay little longer the solution of
the riddle
Wife, said John Linton, 1T is impossi-
ole that Annie could earn all this by the
sort ofchlld splay girls call work and whom
did she earn it from? I'm afraid there's
something wrong? And, to tell the truth.
Anne Linton was practising little disguise:
nor had she given her father all the money
she had earned. The sum originally was
twelve sh'llings This was all designed for
hef 1ather alone; but prior claim had come
IN the way. 1t was cold winter weather.
and the children Of the school brought their
forms IN sort of square, around Mrs. Rows
tlre. Annie, who was fayorite Of the mis-
tress, always occupied warm corner close
to her own big chair. On the day in ques-
ton, Mrs. Roy happened to be out of the
room
III change seats with you, Jessie Wilson,
II you, re cold,' said Annie, addressing lit
tie girl, very book-worm, who, clad in a
threadbare printed cotton gown. sat shirer-
ing over her lesson.
Jessie, thus invited, came little nearer.
1ou should put on wooden frock like
mime ana warm yourself we'll at your mothers
are before you come TO school these winter
days, SAID Annie, scrutinizing the poverty
struck appearance Of the girl.
Mother says replied Jessie, that she'd
father co without FIRE than my schooling,
and she can't pay for BOTH
Has your mother no fire at home this
cold weather? asked Annie in amazement.
No, said Jessie. I wished | dare
bring her with me here-it's warmer than at
nome. And | know mother is i'll. though
she won't tell me-
Sit here said Annie, placing Jessie in
her warm corner; and don't 90 out of school
without me-
That afternoon the two girls went hand in
hand to Jesse's door.
Have you plenty to eat, if you've no
fire ! asked Annie
This is the first day mother has been
forced to send me to school without breakfast !
said Jessie, hanging down her head, as 4
ashamed of the confession.
Here said Annie, after sl;obt nanso
untwisting the paper in which were deposited
her first earnings; won't 90 in with Won
for your mother might not like 10 take 4
from a little girl like me; but'-and she put
two shilling into 'Jessie's hand that IS f.
buy you something to eat, and fire. and !;
your mother can sew as we'll as can sa;d
Annie, with pardonable vanity, I can tel
her how to get plenty of money to paw fo
No wonder Annie's riches increased ii,
hrst investment was good one. Neyertba
less the concealing of it from her parents n,
knew to be wrong; she feared they wouIC
dlsapprove of it; and she added to her Gt,l