Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-05-19
From the It. Louis Republican.
A LIFE PICTURE.


"Why do you weep, child? Say, Rosa
lie, what is the matter?"
For some minutes the young girl wept
violently, and not until the question was
repeated did she look up from her recum
bent posture, saying, in broken voice.
"Mother, it is uncomfortable"
"What, child?"
"Wby the gross insults of the vulgar
rich"
The mother bent her head lower over her
sewing, stitching rapidly. But a close OBJ
served might have discerned Sigh. tre-
NOR about the muscles Of the mouth But
her strong will subdued the emotion. at
least she succeeded in conceaing it from
her daughter, remarking, composediy,
mo one, presume, has wantonly insuI
ted you ?"
The young girl tarncd around sudden
II, almost fercely.
"Didut she? Listen, Mother. 1t was
Mrs. Lnden's house into which we1t a
month since. There we're two ladies in
the room into which was ushered. One
a very young and queealy looking crea-
ture, most elaborately dressed. l stated
my business. The elder lady said, 81 will
engage your services forthwith" Pretty
soon . mountain load of white garments
lay before me. | almost sckened as the
idea arose in my mind, out of this huge
mass of cloth have 20 shape and fashion
garments many. Just four weeks I've
been immured in that house, sitting and
stitching away my health. And this" she
said holding FIVE dollar bill between her
thumb and finger, sis all she gave me for
the months labor"
"That is much too little it is less by
half than you received last month"
"Yes, told her so but rs the lady said
as made no positive arrangement | was
not entitled to more than her judgement
dictated. Oh, why did my father spare
no pains in educating me, why cultivate
and refine my taste. Better to have me
rude and fitted 10 undergo the hardships
of humble life, fit associate for the vul.
gar those who earn their Bread she con
tinued, in bitter ironcal scorn.
"Rosalie, you would then have been ar
unfit associate for your MOTHER said Q
voice, tremulous with age.
Mrs. Benton arose, approaching the ad'
vancing figure, and said tenderly: "Come
in, mother. Here, sit BY this open wind.
ow; it is excessively hot this evening"
She seated herself in the offered chair
"What ails the child p, she asked, looking
at Rosalie.
The story was repeated by the incensec
girl.
"You, my child, are to blame. Why
did you not stipulate for certain sum ?"
II should have done SO, grandmother, bu
l dreamed not, where hundreds Of do larl
we're expended SO recklessly for the gra.
ificatien of whims, they would withhold
the small sum due sewing girl Ia sum 81
justly earned. Why mother, more thar
this was often spent in confectionery"
"Just the very reason, my dear, they hac
aless inclination to give it to you. Those
who sel6shly indulge their vitiated tast,
have little regard for Others"
"Did you make no appeal to their feel
ings--their sense Of justice, mean 2" sal,
the grandmother.
Il told them the tale Of distress connec
ted with our lives, which so narrowing, an,
stranger than fiction, might have melted
obduracy itself. | told them Of my nobl,
brother untimey end my fathers dealt
but that girl laughed, aid sad that WA
good romancer--that my father conl'
never had been professor in the uniger,
ity Of Is. That tho faculty Or mlaica
corps would never had allowed bis wido'
10 suffer would make no explanation
after she accused me of falsehood.'
II was small room in which those rep
resentatives Of three generations sat. Ih
one whose locks lime hsd b.aiched sat uea