Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-10-21
5f(isteIlaueons.
| did not Think of That.

rather coldly upon his visitor
81 can make pantaloons and vests" replied the
girl,
! "Haye you ever worked for merchant tailor -
eyes, sir, have worked for Mr.. Wright"
| "Has he nothing for you to do ?"
| mo; not just now. lie has regular hands, who
always get the preference"
| "Did your work suit him ?"
"He never found fault with it,
"Where do you liveF F'
ain Cherry street. at No."
Mr.. Lawson stood and mused for q short time.
'1 have vest here" he at length said, taking O
small bundle from the shelf, (which l want by to-
morrow evening at the latest. If you think you
can do it very neatly, and have it done in time,
you can take it."
at shall be done in time," said the young wo-
| man, reaching ont eagerly for the bundle.
"And remember, shall expect it made we'll
If like your work will give you more"
81 will try to please you," returned the young
girl.
Tomorrow evening, recollect."
"Yes, sir; will have it done"
The girl turned and went quickly away. In q
back room, in the third story of an old house in
Cherry street, was the home of the poor sewing
girl. As she entered, she said in cheerful voice
to her sick sister, "Mary, have got work; it is q
vest, and 1 must have it done by tomorrow even
ing"
"Can you finish it in time ?" inquired the inva-
lid in feeble voice.
"Oh, yes; easily"
1t proved to be white MarSeilles. As soon as
the invalid sister saw this she said, 81 afraid
you will not be able to get it done in time, Ellen.
You not very fast with the needle, and besides
you are very far from being we'll"
Don't fear in the least, Mary; l will do all
engaged to do"
1t was after dark the next night when Ellen fn-
ished the garment She was weary and faint, hav-
ing taken no food since morning. The want of
every thing, and particularly for herself and sister,
made seventy-fve cents, the sum which she expect
ed to receive for making the garment, treasure
in her imagination. She hurried off with the vest
the moment it was finished, saying to her sister,
81 will be back soon as possible, and bring you
some cordial and something for our supper and
breakfast"
"Here it is half-past eight o'clock, and the vest
is not yet in" said Mr.. Lawson in fretful tone.
81 had my doubts about the girl when 1 gave it to
her, But she looked so poor, aud seemed so earn
est about the work, that was weak enough to en-
trust her with the garment" At this moment FL
len came in and laid the vest on the counter where
Mr.. Lawson was standing. She said nothing, nei-
ther did he. Taking the vest, he unfolded it in
manner which plainly showed him not to be in a
very placid frame of mind.
Goodness p he calculated, turning over the gar
ment, and looking at the girl. She shrank back
from the counter and looked frightened.
"Well, this is pretty job for one to bring inl"
said the tailor in an excited tone of voice; a pref
ty job indeed !" at the same time tossing the vest
away from him in angry contempt, and walking
off to another part of the store.
Ellen remained at the counter. At length he
said to her, "You need not stand there Miss, think
ing I am going to pay you for running job. 1t
is bad enough to lose my material and customer.
10 justice you should pay me for the vest; but
there is hope for that; take yourself off, and
never let me set eyes on you again"
Ellen made 10 reply; she turned round raised
her hand to her forehead and, bursting into tears
walked slowly away.
After Ellen had gone, Mr.. Lawson returned TO
the front part Of the store and taking up the vest
brought it back TO where an elderly man was sit
ting, and holding it towards him, said, by way of
apology fo- the part he had taken in the little scene
THAT is beautiful article for a gentleman to
wear isn't it ?" The man made no reply, and the
tailor after pause, added, II refused to pay her
as matter of principle. She knew she could not
make the garment when she took it away. She
will be more careful how she tries to impose her
self upon customer tailOrs as a goOd.vest maker
"Perhaps," said the elderly gentleman in mild
way, necessity drove her to undertake job that
required greater skill than she possessed. She GER
tainIy looked very poor"
at was because she appeared 50 poor aud mis-
erable that l was weak enough to place the vest in
her hands," replied Mr.. Lawson in a less severe
tone of voice. "But it was an imposition for her
to ask for work she did not know how to make"
"Mr. lawson" said the old gentleman who was
known as pious and good man, ave should not
blame with too much severity the person who, in
extreme want, undertakes to perform piece of
work for which she lacks the skill The fact that
young girl, like the one who just here is viii
ling in her extreme poverty, to labor instead OF
sinking into vice and deness, shows her to possess
true virtue and integrity of character and that
should be willing to encourage, even at some sac
rifce Work is slack now, as you aware, and
there is but little doubt that she had been to many
places seeking employment before she came toyou.
1t may be that she and others are dependent upon
the receipt of the money that was expected to be
paid for making the vest you hold in your hand--
The expression as she turned away, her lingering
steps, her dropping form, and her whole demeanor,
had in them language which told me of all this,
and even more"
A change came over the tailOr's countenance.
al didn't think of that" fell in a low tone from
his lips.
81 did not think you did, brother Lawson" said
his monitor; "we are oil more apt to think of our
selves than others. The girl promised the vest
this evening; and so far as that concerned she
performed her contract Is the vest made very
badly p
Mr.. Lawson took up the garment examined it
more closely. "Well, / can't say that it is badly
IL