The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-09
Mr.. TomIkins Buys n sewing Ma.
chine. ~ @tgFaL tG aE

in behalro of Mrs. Tomkins, at seeing her,
from dawn to midnight, working with her
needle, because, with a sort ofmaternal pride,
she felt that nobody but herself was good
enough to plan and execute in the prepara-
tion of raiment for our children. But, a
fortnight since, sight at her care.worn face
suggested tie brilliant idea that, after all,
her caprice might be gratifed, and that too
without her having to perform the excessive
physical labor which she was then enduling.
That idea was, to buy a Sewing machine
Now, fatter myself that a noble impulse
suggested chat idea, and I instnctively as
sumed the perpendicular before the mirror,
that might gaze upon tue counterfeit pre-
sentiment Off philanthropist. | thought |
saw a serene beniSnity resting upon my side
whiske,s /; l fanc.ed that noble charity
beamed from my spectacles while nv au-
burn hair (some people i,reverently call it
reU seemed to glow with the fervor Of a
Christian spirit engaged in noble works.
Il IL
to purchase genuine shuttle sewing ma
chine, with sort of "hookemsnivy" attach
ment to make lock stich lone of the old
kind, brass mounted" I WANTED her to be
astonished and sladdened. went The next
morning 10 an establishment where I saw
sundry sewing machines and saw beau
tiful female, gifted with pleasing manners,
operate upon them. She had blue eyes, and
winning crinoline;a musical voice, and a
persuasive network about her hair; alluring
teeth and expressive CATERS; an att active
form and an eloquent embroidel ed skirt; and
the way she made the cloth travel tn, ough
the machine was caution to fingers. The
needle kept punching holes through the
cloth Ike juvenile crowbar, and faster than
a little niggers teeth in an equinoxial sto.m,
and each punch made stitch measured with
mechanical exactness, amidst a rickety
whirl of the machinery that was highly sug-
cestive, to the uninitiated, Of the old maxim,
Mustn't meddle with edge tools." Then
seeing what state of enthusiasm ] had
reached, she put in some fancy touches as a
clincher.g She made the seam into all sorts
of curlikews, and finally capped the climax
by sewing the Lords Prayer. the Decla:a-
ton Of Independence, my name in full, and
"a picture Of Adam and Eve in the Ga,denof
Eden, and the Stars and Stripes, and all on
a piece Of cloth two inches square, at the
same time putting on an embroidered margin
TO give it effect This last dodge settled the
matter. paid the price, and gave directions
where to send the machine. .n ~ a1i1ua .l
When presented it to Mrs. Tomkins, as
I expected, she acos astonished. And not
only astonished but electrified, though she
was afraid she would never be able to use it.
However, after two or three days practice
and a close reading the directions, she got
the hand of the contrivance, and in a week
more had accomplished sewing enough to
load acart, and that, loo. without any con-
Isinption of midnight oil. ID nsarosu
! But in the mean time, Mrs. Tomkins had
been preparing asurprise for me. She bought
a book called Every man his own Tailoress," "
which gave explicit directions to the unskllled
!hn-~a.o c,i. etls mascuioei essgHryin accord
a,see with the latest style, ana guided by
this book and pair ofmy pants, Mrs Tomp-r
kins slashcd into piece of cloth. She ap-
piled the sewing machine to the ruins. when,
presto la pair of pants greeted her vision
"A few touches of fat7iron and press-board
completed the structure, and that night re- e.
ceived the compliment ofa pair ofpantaloons,
the triumph of Mrs. Tomkins' genius. -
Iwish everybody could have experienced
my feelings when Mrs. T. gave me those pan
falcons. had enough upon which to pride
myself in possessing her. had revelled in
her smiles. had watched her motherly
care and guidance orour little ones. knew
that in times of adversely her affection had
been tower ofstrength upon which | had
leaned, that she had soothed my sorrows,
smoothed my linen, and ever been vigilant
in caring for my morals and buttons. 1t
was a happy moment when I bought that
sewing machine that I might modify the Sc
verify Of her cares, and once more see the
bloom on her cheek. But doubly was graft
fed when, with woman's remembrance of
little acts Of kindness, she had fastened to
show her appreciation Of the gift. To be
sure, the pantaloons were little tight in the
knees, somewhat loose in the waist, trifie
long in the hips, and rather short in the legs,
little full before, and scant behind, and the
pockets were not easily accessible, (Which,
as Mrs. T. ingeniously suggested. made
them proof against pickpockets,) but aside
from these slight defects, they certainly were
admirable pants.-N Y. Courier. hFe
The Father Of Rivers.
The Mississippi river extends. 2, 100 miles
from the frozen region Of the North to the
sunny South and with the Missouri river is
4 500 miles in length 1t would reach from
| New York across the Atlantic ocean, or from
France to Turkey and the Caspian Sea. Its
averSge depth is fifty feet, and width over
half mile The floods are more, than a
month travelling from its source to its delta.
The trappers can exchange the furs Of ami
mails caught by them on the Upper Mississip.
| pi for the tropical fruits gathered on the
| banks below. The total value Of steamers