The Portland daily press., 1870-04-23
Selected story.
The City Sewing Circle.
NEEDLES AND TONGUES.

The City Sewing Circle.
NEEDLES AND TONGUES.
As Polly entered the Shaws' paror, an ap-
palling array of well dressed girls appeared,
each provided with dainty reticule, basket |
Or bag, and each tongue going good deal |
faster than the needle. while the white fingers |
stitched sleeves in upside down, put flannel |
Jackets together hind part before, or cobbled
buttonholes with the best intentions in life.
You are dear to come so early. Here's
nice place for you between Belle and Miss
PERKINS, and here's sweet little dress 10
make, unless you like something better" said
Fanny, receiving her friend with warmth, anu
placing her where she thought she would en-
Joy herself.
:. Thank you, I'll take an unbleaehed COTTON
shirt, if you have such thing, for 1T IS likely
TO be needed before cambria frock," rePleo
Polly. subsidng into her corner as quickly d.
possible, for at least six eyeglasses were w
and she dindn't enjoy being stared az ,ouno
Miss Perkins, grave, co'o i so,nSS oooi;toly
lady, with an arstocratlc nose, 0oweu Poi''uy
and Then went on with her work, winch u.s.
nlaved two diamond rings to great advantage.
Rai,e being OF the demOustrative sort, smiled
and nodded, drew up her chair and began
whispered account of Trix's last quarrel with
Tom. Polly listened with interest while she
sewed diligently, occasionally permitting her
eyes to study the elegant intricacies OF Miss
Perkins dress, for that young lady sat like a
statue, auirking her delicate fingers and ac-
comprising about two stitches minute. In
the midst of Bellies story more exciting bit
of gossip caught her ear and she plunged into
the conversation going on across the table,
leaving Polly free to listen and admire the wit,
wisdom and charitable spirit Of the accom-
plished young ladies about her. There was
perfect babel Of tongues, but out of the confu-
sion Polly gathered scraps OF fashionable in
teliigence which somewhat lesseEed her re-
spect for the jewellers in high places. One fair
creature asserted that Joe Somebody took so
much champagne at the last German, that he
had to be got away, and sent home with two
servants. Another divulged the awful fact
that Carrie P.'s wedding presents were half OF
them hired Tor the occasion. A third circu-
lated Whisper to the effect that though Mis-
Buckminster wore thousand dollar cloak,
her boys were not allowed but one sheet TO
their beds. And fourth young gossip assur-
ed the company that certain person never
had offered himself to certain other person,
though the report was industriously spread by
inter ested parties. This latter remark caused
such clamor that Fanny called the meeting
to order IN most supplementary fashion.
"Girsl girls! you really must talk less and
sew more, or our society will be disgraced. do
you know our branch sent in less work than
any OF the others last month, and Mrs. F'tz
George said she didn't see how fifteen young
ladies could manage to do so little"'
s.FWe don't talk bit more than the old la
dies do. l just wish you could have heard
them 90 on, last time. The way they get so
much done is, they take work home, and make
their seem tresses do it, and then they take
credit for vast industry" said Belle, who al
ways spoke her mind with charming candor.
That reminds me that mamma says tley
want as many things as we can make, tor it's
q hard winter, and the poor are suffering very
much. DO any OF you wish 10 take articles
home. to do at odd times ?" said Fan, who wa
Pre- ident of this energetic Dorcas Society.
"Melcy, no! 1t takes all my leisure time tt
mend my gloves and refresh my dresses" an
swered Belle.
81 think if we meet once week it is all
that should be expected of us, with our Other
engagements. Poor people always complain
that the winter is hard one, and never salts.
tied," remarked Miss Perkins, making hel
diamonds sparkle as she sewed buttons on the
wrong side of calico apron, which would
hardly survive one washing.
"NobOdy can ask me 10 do any more, i
they remember all I've got to attend to before
Summer" said Trix, with an important air
l. II
another, but every one is so busy, aud ask sucl
abominable prices, that I'm in despair, an,
shall have to take hold myself Pm AFRAID"
"There's chance for Jane," thought Pol
ly, but hadn't courage " to speak out loud il
meeting" just then, and resolved to ask Tri,
for work in private.
Prices are Ligh, but you forget how mucl
more il costs to live now than it used to do
Mamma never allows us to beat down work
lint uichpc n Q m thorn well opr
economize in some other way, if we must,
said Emma Davenport, a quiet, bright eyeC
girl, who was called "odd" among the youns
ladies, because she dressed simply, when hel
father was millionaire.
Just hear that glrf talk about economy!
beg your pardon, she's some relation of yours
believed! said Belle, in a low tose.=--'
"Very distant; but Pm proud of it, for witt
.Ler economy doesn't mean scrimping in on
p paee .s.aake snow in another. Ii ever
one WOuiu- i----a-A--annort,s examnl
work women wouldn't starve or Servants It's
such a trouble. Emma is the plainest dresse
girl in the room, next to me, yet any one ca
see she is true gentlewOlnan," said Poll
warmly.
And you are another" answered Belle
who had always loved Polly, in her scatter
Drained way.
"Hush! Trix has the floor"
/" If they spent their wages properly,
shouldn mind SO much; but they think the
must be as tine as anybody, and dress SO wei
that it is hard to tell mistress from maid Why
our cook got bonnet just like mine 1.-THE ma
teIials were cheaper, but the effect was The
same), and had the impertinence to wear II
before my face. l forbid it, and she left, o.
course, which made papa SO cross he wouldn't
give me the camels hair shawl he promised
this year." aw
Us perfectly awful" said Miss Perkins
rs rrix paused, out of breath. Servants
ous bit to be made TO dress like servants, as
thew do abroad; then we should have no more
trouble" observed Miss Perkins, who had Just
maize the Grand tour, and had brought home
French maid.
ferky 0on't practice as she breaches
whispered Belle to Folly, as Miss P. became
absorbed in the chat of her other neghbors
She pays her chamber girl with old finery
and The other day, when Betsy was out pa
rading in her missis's cast-of purple plush
suit, Mr.. Curtis thought she was mademoi
bat. but recognized the dress, and pulled of
his hat to it in the most elegant style. Perky
adores him, and was mad enough to beat
Betsy when she told the story and giggled
over it Betsy is quite as stylish and ever so
much prettier than Perky and she knows it,
which is an aggravation."
Polly couldn't help laughing, but grew So
Der minute after, as Trix said pettishly:
swell, Pm sick of hearing about beggars; 1
believe halt of them are humbugs, and # we
let them alone they'd go to work and take
care OF themselves. There's altogether too
much fuss made about charity. do wish we
could be left in peace"
''There can't be too much charItyw burst
out Polly, forgetting her shyness ali at once
"Oh, indeed Well, take the liberty to
differ from you" returned Trx, putting up
her glass, and bestowing upon Polly her most
"topiottlcal stare" as the girls called it,
regret to say that Polly never could talk
with or be near Trix without feeling irritated
or combative. She tried to conquer this feel
ing, but she couldn't, and when Trix put on
airs, Polly felt an intense desire to box her
ears. The eye-elass was her especial aver
sion, for Trix was no more near sighted than
herself, but pretending 70 be because it was
the fashion, and at times used the innocent
glass as weapon with which to put down
any one who presumed to set themselves up.
The supercilous glance which accompanied
her ironically polite speech reused Polly, who
answered with sudden color and the kindIing
OF tue eyes that always betrayed perturbed
spirit.
II don't think many of us would enjoy that
selfish sort of peace. while little children
starve, and girls no Older than us TO kill them
selves because their dreadful poverty leaves
them no choice but sin or DEATH"
sudden lull took place, Tor, though Polly
did not raise her voice, it was full of Indignant
emotion, and the most frivolous girl there felt
little thrill Of sympathy; for the most utter
ly fashionable life does not kill the heart nj
women, till years OF selfish pleasure have
passed over their heads. Trix was ashamed