The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-10-13

/ | a
"You have not been in our neighbor-
hood long ?" asked Mrs. Graves.
g" Only few months" was the an
swer. / could not get enough to do
where we moved from, but / have done
great deal better since ] came to this
place." - gag
"And have you always been dress
maker?" said Mrs. Graves, kindly.
"That is my trade, madam. When
I learned it, / little thought should
work att like a slave" she continued,
her lip trembling. "My father was
doing very good business then, and
/, because I did not like to go to him
for all the money I wanted, applied
myself to this kind of work. / mar
ried soon after, so I did not sew a grea,
while, but now !''-her voice was bro
ken-"I am obliged TO-" .a'i 4
81 How long has your husband been
dead 90 e4 W +
| From any other lips the question
might have sounded hard and unfeel.
ing: but there was evidently grea,
deal of sympathy in the kind heart Of
Mrs. Graves, and her voice expressed
as much.
"My husband has been dead fol
three years." was the unsteady reply
and the eyes were hastily touched with
| the finger tips. ~ ssiasuoC
| ssJenny, my youngest, was born on
the day he lay corpse in the house, y
she added a moment after. cit is 8
hard world for the widow and father.
less" she said very softly bat sadly
/ "Indeed it must be-" Mrs. Graves
responded, earnestly watching the
seamstress fold up the dress.
Sand must you sew more more to-
night ?" she asked, seeing the widow
snatch up dress that did not appea,
quite done.
"Oh! yes; 1 expect I have disap
pointed Mrs. May very much. Iprom
| ised this dress should be done by dark
but had such an i'll turn -
Then give me a needle and thin
ble," said Mrs. Graves.
The dress-maker looked at her ir
mute astonishment.
"Stop, l have my own thimble /; give
me your needles, 1 will take this one,
she added, helping herself from nee
dle-case. 81 am going to sew fo
you; am much more able to do tn,
whole of it than you are to set on,
stitch"
"Oh my dear madam p exclaime'
the seamstress-sno, no. You ar
sweet; kind words have. done NOR
toward aiding me than your needl
would. Oh! l thank God there ar
some that can feel for U.S." and sh
dashed away the tears, still intent upo
her work. a
At this moment the fraii little be-
received such wrench that it struc
violently against the wall. The drea
makers nervously arose and hurried t
the door.
"Haye you that dress done % dt
msnded coarse voice.
{" Almost" she tried to speak cheer
fully" Won't you come in?"
+" Yes, l suppose I shall have to, bu
l tell you it is the last piece of wor
e that you can ever do for me.'
Mrs. Graves was shocked. She ha
q noticed the delicaoy, the retiring mar
s ners of the poor seamstress, and tn
. harsh voice smote very painfully 0
k her ear.
4 81 tried very hard, Mrs. May" sal
: the poor woman, catching up the dres
s before the other was scarcely inside {
D the room.
go, yes, that's always the excuse
J, You've done so two or three times, an
!, / wish to help-but l really can't sui
n NIT to be imposed upon"
81 The pale sewer bit her lip, but mad
n no reply.
III "I suppose 1 shall have to stay her
d an hour !" exclaimed Mrs. May, pettisl
It ly, still not seeing the face of the othe
5, customer who sat in the dark shadow
II 40, no, / think l can get through
Hess time than that-much less" replie
IT Mrs. Hall. az was taken quite i'll,
d day" she added gently, "or shoul
II not have disappointed you.''
VI "It is not ths first time !" exclaime
e Mrs. May, unfeeHngly.
/, care you not going to let me sew
b asked Mrs. Graves.
ssThank you a thousand times, but
a will not be convenient for two, replie
g the seamstress, while Mrs. May e,
claimed in tones of deepest mortifc
st ton. Why! Mrs. Doctor Grave
At l did not know you were here"