Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-12-21
/" Charity Envieth Not. %
BY ALICE f. NEAL.

ma-cost every cent Of twenty-five dollars.
Then there's her bonnet-that came from
New York, too; Miss Dunn's work amt
good enough for her of late years. Well,
that bonnet couldn't be bought for less'n
eight dollars. Why, the ribbons must be
four and six yard, not to speak of the
feathers. Then there's that new plaid silk,
you know, and that French merino; neither
of 'em less'n twelve shillings, and that's the
way she dresses. Time was when she was
glad enough to get me to sew for her. I've
had her beg and beg, and beseech me to
give her day, or even half day, 10 my
spring hurry andnow she's gotta seamstress,
as she calls that stuck-up girl, that sets in
the settu'-room all day. She makes the
children's clothes, and her'n are cut and
fixed in New York, when they amt made
there"
ashes dreadful extravagant for church
member" said Mrs. Smelling, with sigh,
as she turned herself slowly around before
the little lookiug-glass. She was having a
lining fitted by the village dressmaker, Miss
Prime, and a merino dress she had worn
two years, was partly ripped up on the
chair by the window. 1t was the only
dressmaking she had for the season. 1t
was hard winter, and with sickness Of the
children, and Mr.. Smelling losing so much
time by the frost, their means were limited.
No wonder that she thought of the ease
and plenty of the rich manufacturers house
hold with feeling of envy. She did not
know it. though. She was plain, good
hearted person, naturally, struggling on to
do her duty through the discouragements of
i'll health, ailing children, and very narrow
means; but she could not help thinking
Mrs Hubbard was getting worldly and ex-
travagant, as, year by year, her household
arrangements and personal expenses in
creased.
Only the day before, at meeting, she could
not fix her attention upon the sermon for
looking at the velvet Talms worn for the
first time by her old friend and kind neigh
Dor, Mrs Hubbard. They were members of
the same church, of which Mr.. Hubbard
was the most liberal supporter. He gave
according to his means, and at the same
timo desired his wife and family to dress
and live as became his altered position and
prospects. "Time was when she had to
work hard enough" continued Miss Prime,
pinching in a seam in the endeavor to pro-
duce the hour-glass shape, orthodox when
she 'learned her trade" II remember
when they first set up housekeeping, and
she had to do her own work as we'll as other
people, and her own sewing too. Now l
don't believe she takes needle in her hand,
from morning till night, while you and I
Miss Smelling, don't git many play spells"
The leaven of unchartableness worked on
in Mrs. Snellng's heart"
"'m afraid there isn't much spiritual
growth, Miss Prime. The cares of this
world choke the seed" Poor Woman! she
thought it was only an interest in her neigh
boris good that prompted such q constant
review of her conduct. "People that have
their hearts set on dress and high living,
can't have much time for better things"
"That's what 1 think. How do you like
them bask waists, Miss Smelling? hear
they're all the fashion in New York. Miss
Dunn said she'd try and get me a pattern
when she went down in the spring.
wouldn't ask Miss Hubbard to lend me hers
to look at for nothing in the world. How
am l goin' to get out new backs; Miss
Snelling"
"Therc's the cape, you sec."
"Why, so there is? never calculated
the cape. was studyin' and contrivn' all
the while you was to breakfast. Says |,
"Miss Smelling II have to have them backs
pieced, and then everybody in town II know
its been made over"
As if everybody in Mrs. Snelling's com.
munity would not have known and noticed
under any circumstances, that her brown
merino of two winters ago had been turned
and made up again for best dress. She haC
set her heart, early in the fall, on new
style of plaids, forsale at Brown & !Chapin's
but as the doctors bill was much large
than she expected, she was obliged to give
it up. The sacrifice had cost her many
hours of calculation, alternate resolves, anC
reconsiderations. Every purchase that sh'
made, indeed, was of necessity turned ove
and over in her mind for weeks.
Miss Prime went on with her fitting by
the window, and Mrs. Smelling with he
task of washing up the breakfast dishes
Jogging the cradle" with one foot every nov
and then, as her youngest child stirred ii
his morning nap.
"That was lucky thought, that cape
Miss Prime resumed her thimble and he
conversation together. at don't seem t,
be worn as much as the rest, neither"
"No, it isn't; l only kept it for very COLI
days. thought of it in church, Sunday
right in the middle of the sermon. Queer
wasn't it9 / was so dreadfully afraid you
couldn't get it out. So, as soon as cam
home, l took it out and looked at it, sur
enough il was the very thing"
II see Miss James has got new cloal
this winter. She hain't worn her'n more
than three winters, to my knowledge. Well
these rich people are just as worldly, fss al
see, as if they wasn't professors" Mis-
Prime was one Of the most constant attend
ants of the church prayer meetings, anC
saw no beam in her own eye.
"Time was as you say, Miss Prime, wheI
we were all plain people together, with gooC
feelings toward each other. l think of
very often, the days when Susan Hubbar'
and used to send our little presents L
each other, New Years, and be neighborl,
all along. That was before the Jamese
moved here, or lawyer Martins people,