The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-11-19
THE TIMELY WITNESS.
~ MRS. n. 4. DENNISoN.

You are very tired, Mrs Hall"
| VERY" was the low reply, and tn
stitching went on
sewed for a living There was not mucl
| was to fall directly upon the work in tn,
pale hands that flew hither and thither
A bedstead stood in one corner, and from
beneath acrib was drawn, and three beau
| tiful child faces smiled in serene slumbers
Another form lay on the bed, that Of {
poor spine broken boy of ten, whose large
eyes were even wide open at that lAt>
hour; whose brow shoue fearfully while in
the midst Of the dim floating shadows
As a matter of course the furniture was
shabby and mean, and the pale sewer had
not much time to devote 70 her household
duties, while she toiled to give bread to
her poor little children. 1t is Saturday
night, past the hour Of nine She had
been much hindered in her work, ON &C.
count Of three or four hours of sevsre i'll
ness, which had prOstrated her in the
morning, and now she was hurrying, while
brain reeled, and back ached, to get
through with her tasks One of these was
the finishing of little dress, upon which
she was setting the last stitch 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, tear trembling on their lash
es, she had not the heart 70 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 began
this story.
you have not been in our neighborhood
long, queried Mrs. Graves.
Only few months, was the answer,
Il could not get enough to do where we
moved from, but have done better since
/ came here
makery asked Mrs Graves kindly
That is my trade, madam. When
learned it, little thought l should work
1T 1t like slave" she continued, her lip
trembling My father was doing . good
business then, and l. because did not like
to 60 TO him for ali ihe money that
wanted, applied myself to this kind of
work. l married soon after, SO l did not
sew for q great while, but now her voice
was broken am obliged to"
How long ha. your husband been
deadY' From any other lips the question
might have sounded hard and unfeeling
but there was evidently a 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 tip.
Jenny, my youngest was born the day
he lay a corpse in the house she added a
moment after 1t is a hard world for the
widow and the fatherless," she said very
softly and sadly
Indeed it mus. be-" MR.. Graves re-
sponded, earnestly watching the seanstre.s
folding up the little dress
And must you Sew more tonightY'
seeing the widow snatch up a dress that
did not appear TO be quite done
"Oh yes, expec, have disappointed
Mrs. May very much. | promised this
dress should be done by dark, but had
such ansiR turn!
,.~csy, TIVE me q needIe suu 'i1"i'"'>'
The dress MAKER ,<=zsr-... her in asto-
nishment.
stop. have nv own ,himble, give me
your needles; | will take this one, she al
ded, helping herself to needle Il am
much abler To do the whole Of it than you
are 10 set stitch.
20 my dear madam" exclaimed the
seamstress-" no, no Your sweet, kind
words have done more towards aiding me,
than your needle would thank God
there are some who can feel for us, and
she dashed away her tears, still intent on
her work
At this moment the frail bell received
such a wrench tina. it struck violently
against the wall The dress-maker hurri-
ed to tho door.
is that dress DONE asked . hoarse
voice
Almost" she tried to speak cheerfully.
Won you come in?'
"Yes, | 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 no.
ticed the delicacy, the retiring manners of
the poor seamstress. and the harsh voice
smote painfully on her ear.
II 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
have done SO two or three times, and l
have put up with it because you re poor,
and wish to help you-but really cant
submit to be imposed upon
The sewer bit her lips but made no reply
IL suppose 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.
90! no, l think l can get through in
les. than that-much less, replied Mrs.
Hall II was taken quite i'll to-day, she
added gently, or l should not have disap-
pointed you"
at is not the first time" exclaimed
Mrs Nav nnfoolip ulv
Are you not going to let me sew z
asked Mrs. Graves.
Thank you a thousand times, but it
will not be convenient for two replied the
seamstress, while Mrs. May exclaimed in
tones Of deepest modification, Why
Mrs Doctor 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 heart ache to see her sit
ting there so late and so tired. wish
could help her"
Really-I-" exclaimed Mrs May. ter
ribly embarrassed, as Mrs Graves was 80
cially, as we'll a. intellectually, her superi
or, and she aspired to be well thought oi
by her
"Let me send you in some jellies fol
your sick boy, won't your? continued tht
doctors wife, preparing to 60. call il
again Monday" she said and slipping s
dollar into the hand of Mrs. Hall, she
turned to go.
"Here il more than my pay, Mrs
| Graves.
"No matter-I shall have plenty for yoI
to do; don't stop to give me change; goot
night And she was gone.
Mrs May sat silent and uneasy while
| the stitching went on
"Why didn't you tell me somebody VA
hereY at length she asked almost GROSSLY
"Why should IY' asked Mrs. Hall gent
ly-" ladies are here quite often, yot
know" she added, land Mrs. Graves 10 {
true lady" The cheek of Mrs. May sud