Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-10-05
THE TIMELY WITNESS.

"You arc very tired, Mrs. Hall"
Very" was the low reply, and the stiching
went on.
1t was the room Of poor woman who sewed
for a living. There was not much light, for the
| shade made what little there was TO fall diree
tly upon the work in the pale hands that flew
hither and thither. A bedstead stood in one
corner, and from beneath crib was drawn, and
three beautiful child faces smiled in serene
slumbers Another form lay on the bed, that OF
a poor spine broken boy OF ten, whose large
eyes were even wide open at that late hour
whose brow shone learlully white in the midst
of the dim floating shadows. As matter of
course the furniture was shabby and uean, and
the pale sewer had not much time to devote to
her household duties, while she toiled to give
bread to her poor little children. 1t was Satur-
| day night, past the hour of nine, Shs had
been much hndered in her work, on account of
three or four hours OF severe illness, which had
prostrated Ler in the morning, and now sho
was hurrying, while brain reecd, and back act-
ed, to get through with her tasks. One of
these was the finishing of little dress, upon
which she was setting the last stich. Mrs.
Graves had called in, and first felt nervous and
unpleasant to find that the work was not done;
but when she saw the heavy eyes lifted, a tear
trembling on their lashcs, she had not the heart
| to say anything in blame, but sat quietly down.
Then as she noticed the STOPPING form and FREE
quent sighing, she said in her kind sympathiz
ing voice, the words with which we have begun
this story.
"You have not been in our neighborhood
long!" queried Mrs. Graves
"Dnly few months, was the answer. 81
could not get enough TO do where we moved
from, but have done better since came here
"And have you always been dress maker!"
asked Mrs. Caves kindly
THAT is my trade, madam When / learned
it, l little thought | should work at it like a
slave she continued, her lip trembling. MY
fatht IS doing a good business then, and l.,
because did not like to 60 to him for all the
money | wanted, applied myself to this kind Of
work. married soon after, so did not sew a
great while, but now!'g-her voice was broken
IL am obliged to-"
GLOW long has your husband been deadl -
From any other lips he question might have
sounded hard and unfeeing, but there evidently
was great deal Of sympathy in the kind heart
of Mrs Graves.
My husband has been dead three years, mad
am, was the unsteady reply, aud the eyes were
hastily touched with the finger tips.
"Jenny, my youngest, was born on the day
he lay q corpse in the house." she added mo
ment after. at is bard world for the widow
and fatherless," she said, very softly and
sadly.
'lndeed it must be" Mrs. Graves responded
earnestly watching the seamstre1s folding ur
the little dress.
"And must you sew moro to night" she
asked, seeing the window snatch up dress that
did not appear to be quite done.
"Oh yes l expect have disappointed Mrs.
May very much. promised this dress should
be done by dark, but had such an i'll turn
"Givo me a needle aud thimble," said Mrs.
Graves
The dress maker looked at her in astonish-
ment
"Stop have my own thimble; give me
your needles; will take this one" she added,
helping herselft to needle. II am much ADLER
to do the whole of it than you are to set n
stitch"
20! my dear madam" exclaimed the seam
stress-'nu, no. Your sweet, kind words have
done more towards aiding me, than your needle
would. thank Goll there are some who can
feel for u.s." and she dashed away her tears
still intent upon her work.
Atthis moment the irail little bell received
such wrench thatit struck violently against
the wall. The dress maker ueWuusly arose and
hurried 20 the door.
"Is that dress donel" asked hclrso voice,
"AImost," she tried to speak checrlully--
won't you come in!'
Eyes, suppose | shall have to; but let me
tell you it is the last piece OF work you can
ever do for me-"
Mrs Graves was shocked She had noticed
the d"licacy, the retiring manners of the poor
seamstrees, and the harsh voice smOte painfully
ON her ear.
81 tried very hard, Mrs May said the poor
woman, catching up the dress, before the Other
was scarcely inside the room.
90! yes, that's always the excuse. You've
done 50 two or three times, and I've put up
with it because you've poor, and | wish TO help
but really cant submit TO be imposed upon
Tue sewer bit her lips, but made no reply
Il suppose | shall have to stay here an hOur
exclaimed Mrs, May, pettishly, st Il not seeing
the face Of the other customer, who sat in the
shadow.
80! no, think l can get through in less than
that--much less" replied Mrs Hall. 81 was
taken quite i'll to-day she added gently, "or
should not have disappointed you"
alt is not the FIRST time!' exclaimed Mrs
May, unleeingly,
fare you not going to let me sewl" asked
Mrs Graves.
THANK you a Thousand times. but it will mol
be convenient for two," replied the seamstfess
while Mrs May exclaimed, in tones of deepest
lnortiGcaton, "Whyl Mrs. Doctor Graves,
did not know you were here"
ayes l have been urging Mrs Hall to let mt
assist her, replied Mrs. Graves, with a cold in
clination of the head, "lt really makes my
heart ache to see her sitting there so late ant
30 tired wish could help her"
/ "Realy--I--" exclaimed Mrs May, terribly
embarrassed, for Mrs Graves was socially, al
well as intellectually, her superior, and she hs
: pired to be well thought Of by her
"Let me send you in some jellies for you
sick boy, won't your continued the doctor
wife, prepared to go. I'm call in again Mon
day." she said, aud slipping dollar into th,
hand of Mrs Hall, she turned TO 90.
"1lere is more than my pay, Mrs. Graves.
''No matter--l shall have plenty for you tC
do; don't stop TO give me change; good night.
and she was gone.
Mrs May sat silent and uneasy while tn,
stitching went on.
"Why didn't you tell me somebody was herel'
at length she asked almost GROSSLY.
"Why, should II" asked Mrs, Hall, gentl,
-"ladies are here qnite often, you know" she
added, " and Mrs Graves is true lady," Til,
cheek of Mrs May suddenly flashed.
"Your dress is finished, sal tho seamstrsss
folding itup.
II really did not intend to 9ay you to nightl'
said Mrs May, half angrily. Il am very puDe.
Z tual, myself aud it annOys me when others ar,
I not What is the bi.l!"
. 1.-TWO dollars and fifty cents" replied Mrs
Hail.
"EXtravagant preeln exclaimed Mrs MAY
p "You did not charge Mrs. Graves half that.
at was a child's dress, replied the other.
"O there is always favoritsm," responded
Mrs May. "Herei I'll have to owe you dol
lar now, you can send for it in week"
Il She, too, was gone, and the weary woman
bowed her head upon her caAPed hands an,