Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-02-12
From Hearth and Home.
What a Little Song Can Do.
A TRUE INCIDENT.

A gay young visitor said to me the
other day, 4" M do you rememb Der
that little English girl who made dres-
ses for me last summer -
| g Yes, % replied, she usually work ed
| by the corner window of your sitting
room a delicate, fair-haired girl, wasn't
she ?-seemed to be q rapid sewer P
what of herr"
'sWhy, heard her story the other
| day-a terrible story; and do you know
| it seems so strange to think that during
all those days when she used to sit and
| sew for me, never once thought of her
as an Individual? ?"
What do you mean
I mean Just what say. She never
| appeared to me in the light of an indi-
vidual. She was just the dressmaker /;
and whenever I thought of her it was
only in connection with fashions and
mantau-making. L remember noticing
sometimes that the sunshine fell bright
| ly on her head as she sat sewing, and
that she had a shy, trem bling way with
| her. But it never occurred to me that
| she had interests apart from her work
personal affairs, you know, such as
you and I have. It's awful to say it,
but it's really true. don't believe it
ever crossed my mind that she cared
for anything but making dresses. And
oh such a life as that poor girl led-AN
AWFUL LIFEi She's dead now, and I
.eJ---N- ~ ROSA SAA05s OOON~-
by!"
Wait moment, Lu." cried Fwhat
a strange child you arel You surely
won't 60 without telling me more 20
g Yes, must. It's time for my mu-
sic Lesson. Good-by dear; I'II come
again soon;" and off she ran, lightly
humming a tune as she hastened down
the stairway.
have NOT seen her since or would,
perhaps, be able to tell you the poor
sewing girls story. But can relate an
incident that came vividIY to nv mind
even before the sound of LUIS light, re-
ceding footsteps had died away.
One lovely day in the spring of 1856,
made startling discovery. just
when. the fields were putting on their
brightest green, and the fruit-trees were
wreathing themselves with blossoms, I
raiment. All my last years stock
seemed shabby, amid the VernaI fresh
ness of things. In short, as my friend,
Helen Fitz tenderly limited, there was
nothing left me but either to look like
a fright or get some new dresses.
Then arose new trouble; the man
tua-makers were in the height of their
busy season. Not one could find who
would take in another order. What
was to do? The Flora McFlimsey
within me grew faint. If should make
the dress myself, it wouldn't have q
particle Of style. So my best friends as
sured me, with a mysterious shudder
which made me feel only too thankful
that my humble aspiration had been
nipped in the bud.
And all this time Nature was laugh
ing with her blossoms, and slipping so
softly and easily into her new dress.)
Well, the only plan open to me was
to employ a visiting mantua-maker.
After what seemed, at the time, an end
less succession of VexatiOns and disap-
pointments, succeeded in hearing of
that rd70 dUis-a dress maker who not
only could but would make a dress-a
visiting dress-malker and Hperfect
tFeasure," as Helen declared-such a
sagood hand at conjuring''- "ht"
admiEably-her only fault was that she
was slow. If I could stand that, Mrs.
Bond was the very person 1 wanted
and, wonderful to relate, she had few
lisengaged days, So sent a messen-l
ger, and received word in return that
she would be with me early on Monday
Was satisfied then? Not quite. A
strange unrest came over mean I'M
rest that increased as the distance be-
tween the date OF engagement and
Monday diminished.
To make this feeling clear, l must
confess that am of q peculiar temper
ament. - En- ployes Of all kind hold a
mysterious power over me. shrink
from my Waiter-girl, and feel condemn
ed in the presence OF my cook. Some
times I am almost tempted to say, "Ex-
cuse me, Ann; forgive me, Kitty. It's
not entirely my fault that some must
work while others play. 1 know you
are far more clever at washing win
dows, ironing and cooking than I
should be. Inever in the world could
wait at table or answer the door-bell
as cheerfully and patiently as you.
I'm afraid wouldn' t have the fortitude
to rise on snowy, wintry mornings, and
attend early mass before commencing a
hard days work. Pm not sure that I
could deny myself as you do, in order
to send money across the water to bring
my cousins over. In short, Ann and
Kitty, if life seems hard to you if my
kitchen is dreary, and my visitors too
many, forgive ms-bear with me. You
might, either of you, have been a poor,
helpless lady you know"
The same feeling comes when with
those who, higher in the social scale,
still serve me; for all mankind are,
/ after all, servants in some sense. I al
ways submit my pulse deprecatingly
! to nv physician, fearful lest ruy case be
too unimportant for so august person
| age; wonder what L should do if had
/ to consult a lawyer; and in church I
| sometimes feel so crest-fallen and
| ashamed, that if the Sexton were not so
! very like the Lord Chamberlain, IN
| suppressed greatness and noiseless sub
| s4lllbNg L WOulO3 ulA4AS NAlC SCI FtCO3tSN
him to step up to the pulpit and ask DR..
Blast that if my particular case of sim
/ fulnesS aggravated him 1 would will
| ingly get up and go home.
| Even shopmen are formidable crea-
| lures in my eyes. When at Stewards, I
never can throw off the impression that
the clerk who waits upon me owns the
entire establishments. But all this is
nothing to the appalling influence Of
] fashionable milliners and dress-ma-
] l. l. --H.M : 4
the field can sustain me when in their
| presence.
What wonder, then, that I dreaded
! this particular Monday? It came, all
the same, however; and when, just be-
} fore breakfast, the door-bell rang, Ann,
who answered the summons, was q
| grander, lighter hearted young woman
/ than her mistress who stood in an Cp-
per room, bracing herself to meet the
coming presence.
In moment Ann came up, saying,
| n1vsteriously: 'tSne's down stairs
mum and she's had her breakfast. Ny
but she's the quare-looking old cray
| ture, though"
''Show her up, Ann"
She entered-a quiet-looking, mild
old woman of seventy.
/ / had not expected this. Fancy had
conjured dressy, fussy young person;
with manner as quick and shipping
as her scissors, and q roll of fashion,
plates in her hand-sOmebody with an
/ iron will who knew the exact Rize a
lady's waist ought to be-lungs or no
Lungs.
But this quiet, sober old body, clad in
dingy black, how could, I ask her to
make up my finery?
''Good morning Is this Mrs
Bond ?'' I asked, half hoping that it
was not.
81 believe it is" she answered, with
a pleasant smile, taking of her shawl
and bonnet as she spoke, and adjusting
her spectaeles carefully, so as not to
tear her simple white cap. 'Shall sit
here, ma'am?"
''Ohl yes, certainly )" and, somehow,
before knew it, the old lady was cut
ting out lining, and was upstairs
again, (after having taken a hasty
breakfast) and seated near her, running
up the breadths Of skirt, everything
inst as aaRu and natural aG OOaaf bla