Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-10-21
THE TIMELY WITNESS.
BY MRS. NJ. A. DENNIsos

Very was the low reply, and the stitch
ing went on.
It was the room of a poor woman who sew
ed for living. There was not much light fo
the shade made what little there was to fal
directly upon the work in the pale hands tha
few hither and thither. A bedstead stood il
6ne corner, and from beneath, a crib wa
drawn, aid three beautiful child faces smiet
in serene slumbers. Another form lay on ths
/ bed that of a poor spine broken boy cf ten
whose large eyes were wide open at that late
hour; whose brow shone fearfully white in the
midst of the dim floating shadoa5s. As mat.
/ ter of course the furniture was shabby and
mean, 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 Saturday night, past the hour of nine.
She had been much hin1ered in her work, on
account of three or four hours of severe Illness
which had prostrated her in the morning, and
now she was hurrying. while her brain reeled
| and back ached, to get through with her tasks
One of these was the finishing of a little dress,
upon which she was setting the last stitch
Mrs. Graves had called in and first felt ner-
vous and unpleasant to find that the work was
not done but when she saw the heavy eyes
lifted, tear trembling on their lashes, she had
not the heart to say anything in blame, but
sat quietly down. Then as she noticed the
STOPPING form and frequent sighing, she said
in her kind, sympathizing voice, the words
with which we have begun this story
" You have not been in our neighborhood
long? ?" queried Mrs Graves.
81 Only few MONTHS was the answer Il
could not get enough to do where we moved
from, but l have done better since [ came
here"
And have YOU always been a dress ma
ker ?" asked Mrs. Graves kindly.
"That is my trade, madam. When learn
ed it, | little thought l should work at it like
slave she continued, her lip trembling. My
father was doing good business then, ard ],
because did not like to go to him for all the
money l wanted, applied myself to this kind
of work / married soon after, so did not
sew great willis, but now her voice was
broken" am obliged to-"
''How long has your husbad been dead p
From any other lips the question might have
sounded hard aud unfeeling, but there evil
IDENTIFY was great deal of sympathy in the
kind heart of Mrs. Graves.
My husband has been dead three years
madam, was the unsteady reply and the eyes
were hastily touched with the finger tips
Jenny, my youngest, W as born on the day
he lay u corpse in the house" she added a mo
tiient after. "It is Il hard world for the widow
and fatheriess, she said. very softly and sadly
Indeed it mrist be- Mrs. Graves respond
ed, earnestly watching the seamstress folding
mp the little dress.
And you must sew more tonight o. she
asked, seeing the widow snatch up a dress that
did not appear to be quite done.
oh! yes / expect [ have disappointed
Mrs. May very much 1 promised this dress
should be done by dark, but Lad such an ii
turn"
Give me a needle and thmble, said Mrs
Graves.
The dress-maker looked at her in astonish-
ment.
Stop, have my own thimblc give me
Your needles l will take this one" she added
helping herself TO a needle. = [ am much
more able to do the whole of it than you are
TO set a stitch
oh my dear madam" :" exclaimed the
seamstrcss-'' no no. Your sweet kind 1orCls !
have done more towards aiding me, than your
needle would. I thank God there are some
who can feel for u.s." and she dashed away her
tears, still irtent upon her work.
At this moment the fraiI little bell received
such wrench that it struck violently against
the wall. The dress-naker nervously arose
and hurried TO the door,
I" Is that dress done?" asked hoarsc voice
Almost" she tried to speak cheerlulIy-
" Won't you come in? ?"
Yes, suppose l 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 delicacy, the retiring manners of the poor
seamstress and the harsh voice snote painful
ly on her ear.
Il tried very hard, Mrs. May, said the
poor woman, catching up the dress, before the
other was scarcely inside the room.
20! yes, that's always the excuse. You've
done SO two three times, and I've put up
with it because you're poor, and 1 wish to
iieIp you-but really can't submit to be i'm
posed upon"
The sewer bit her lips but made no reply
al suppose i shall have to stay here an
hour ?" exclaimed Mrs. May, pettishly, still not
seeing the face of the other customer, who
sat in the shadow.
80 no, no think can get thr ough in less
than that-much less,' replied Mrs. Hall. Il
was taken quite i'll to-day, she added gently,
" Or 1 should not have disappointed YOU
at is not the first time p exclaimed Mrs.
May, unfeelingly.
Are you going to let me SOW ?" asked
Mrs. Graves.
Thank 5ou thousand times, but it will
not be convenient for two," replied the seam
stress, while Mrs. May exclaimed, in tones of
deepest modification
Why Mrs. Graves, 1 did not know you
were here !"
"Yes have been urging Mrs. Hall to let
me assist her. replied Mrs. Graves with a
cold inclination of the head. 1t really makes
my head ache to see her sitting there so late
and so tired l wish I could help her."
Readily" exclaimed Mrs May, terribly
embarrassed, for Mrs Graves was socially, a
well as intellectually, her superior and she as
pired to be well thought Of by her
Let me send you in some jellies for your
sick boy, won't you p continued the doctors
wife, prepared to go I'm call in again on
Monday" she said and slipping a dollar into
the hands of Mrs. Hall, she turned to go.
Here is more than my pay, Mrs Graves"
No matter-I shall have plenty for you to
do; do not stop to give me change; good
night and she was gone
Mrs. May sat silent and uneasy while the
stitching went on.
why didn't you tell me somebody was
here ?" she at length asked almost GROSSLY.
Why, should ?" asked Mrs. Hall, gently
=" ladies are here quite often, you know" she
added, and Mrs. Graves is true lady" The
cheeks of Mrs May suddenly flushed.
" Your dress is finished" said the seamstress