The weekly Shasta courier., 1872-12-28

Now, when you guess what tlis Is, you may
open the box, and read the inner page of my let
ter"
Such time they had guessing-Grace and her
brother; such an examination of the box - Tor
they dare not open it until the mystery was solved
"Here is mark of some kind" said VIII;
!" great letter G, in large capitals. What can
that meant"
"Gift, of course" said Grace,-"can't you see
that."
"No, Greeny, that's not il" retorted viii.
"OhI here's something else-W. & G. on this
side the box"
THAT must be Work and Grow
Nonsense; it stands for Will and Grace"
"Look at your Pas letter, and then you can
guess better" said Aunt Susan, coming out into
the porch.
"Useful and ornamental; mechanical and ar
tistic. Well, that's queer combination, any
how" said Grace, "I've always heard the arts
and mechanism spoken of something different
and distinct"
But don't you know Professor Gibbs, in his
address before the institute, said they should be
united in indissoluble union? And this is some
to tell
"Something that can run and not be weary
then it must have foot Sing, and Keep time
and tune. Play upon yourself f. and learned in
one lesson. Well, I'll give it up, Aunty."
Attachments and stops; a time. saver and
a merry-go-round a toy and article of furni-
ture. Better still, helper and money maker. i
"Can it eat Guess it can-eats some queer
things though. Dispatches thread and cotton,
and wooden and leather; dgests like an os-
trich; greedy as tape-worm; takes muslin,
and lace as delicacies; and drinks oil like an Es
quimauX.
Grace burst out laughing. "Dear old, kind,
jolly Papa. He has bought a sewing-machine
the W. K 6. for WILCOX GIBBS. Your guess,
Work and Crow was not SO bad, Will. Now
thing that marries them, replied Aunt Susan.
" A rotary footstool Now what can that mean !?
"Something that turns Wheel" suggested
Aunt Susan.
"Ohl know; it is washing tub, with a
wheel and dash board"
"But Pa would have sent that to the house
maid," said Grace. An industrious little
worker! a fascinating boudoir companion-that
sounds nicely. don't it ?-as if it could speak"
1 guess it can" after fashion" said Aunt
Susan. 1 think it has a tongue; and l am
sure it has arms, hands and nails.
why, do you know what it is, Aunty }"
| Aunt Susan smiled. If / do, l do not mean
we can read the rest of Pas letter."
| elf you have at last guessed my riddle, dear
daughter, remove the machine from the box and
put II in the sewing room. l will tell you how
came to purchase it. You know promised you
a present that would combine beauty with utility
and amusement; for l know you have good
many lonely hours way up there in Shasta.
visited the jewelry, dry goods and took stores,
and although saw many beautiful things, |
could not find just what l was seeking; but
happened to see on page of the Overland Month
| ly an advertisement of WILCOX & GIBBS SEW
ING MACHINE. You know had experimental
on sewing machines before. One of them a w. x
| W., and the other G. & b. and did not much
fancy breaking your back with either of them
again-they ran so heavily; and l knew if they
| got out of order there was no adjusting them up
there in the mountains. l hesitated. At last
thought might well just look at the w. & G's.
So walked leisurely along Kearny to Post street,
reached No. ll3-here was the place, and saun-
tered in. 1t was large, pleasant, airy.room, and
| the natty little machines stood round witt ready
air, as if to say, Well, one of us has go, that
is certain. Here's gentleman who lives in the
country" And one seemed to say, "Take me,
l want country air." Another "Oh take me,
| I'd like to go to the mountains" And another,
"Oh, dear ! | am just tired exhibiting my graces
here, should like to retire to private life" till
fancied they were almost human.
lady sat holding dainty fabric of the finest
linen; and it passed under the needle of ma
chine it came out elegantly hemmed; and in a
twinkling she turned and ruffed it just fit for
those new aprons you are making. Well, thought
1, guess I'll buy that piece of ruffling for Gra-
Gle. But it was not for sale. Let me show you
how it is done, she said. As was watching the
operation, the manager came forward, and in a
gentlemanly manner offered to shew me round
the room, and explain the workings of the ma
chine. Before had made half the circuit l had
determined to get one They were just about ar
ranging new invention, by which the wheel could
be turned by water and all the operator had to do
was to guide the work. From faucet in the wall,
looking like that on our hydrant, the water was
running; and he held the work lightly in his hand,
talking all the while, and 10 it was completed.
1t did seem like the work of an invisible fairy.
One thing particularly noticed, that the young
| ladies using these machines expended scarcely
any physical force, and did not seem the least
tired. They run so easily, and that was the reas-
on called them happy go-rounds." Just then
bright Young girl came in, and said she, Oh,
Mr.. Cutler, l just delighted with my little
worker, and would not change it for any sewing
machine l ever had, and / have tried Singers,
Howe's, the Elliptic, Wheeler & Wilson's, Grow
er & Baker's-and 1 want you now to take the
last named in part paymentsfor the one you sent
me to try.
"Just your age, she was, Oracle; and, as was
an old man, said, Will you allow me, Miss, to
ask you in what its excellence consists?"
Certainly, sir in the first place, it is lighter
and more convenient article of furniture is more
Sl1nple NEVER PelS Out VI ana SeWS Lnc lpnI-
est and heaviest fabrics; next, it runs patent
castors, ,and can easily moved from to room,
shifted at pleasure to get the light; then it has
sundry conveniences in the way Of extension ia
bles drawers, etc., which are so arranged as not
to be the least in the way. 1t works the cotton d-
rect from the spool, without its having be reeled
off; the needle is readily adjnsted the band so
arranged that it can be frightened in a moment.
The treddle is light, and works smoothly the
wheel is prevented from turning back by an India
rubber ball, inserted in the groove against which
it runs. A child can manage it. The facilities
for oihng such that the worker is scarcely in
terrupted 1t does not jerk, loop, drop stitches
and what makes it especially desirable, it is not
hampered with numberless, useless "attach-
ments, involving extra expense in buying, and
extra trouble IN adjusting. The hemmers, tuck
ers, braiders, etc., are simple and easily under
stood; and to embroider you have but to put in
a coarse needle, and silk or cotton. Half the at
tachments to sewing-machines are so clumsy and
complex as to be seldom used after they are
bought, the trouble of fixing them overbalancing
heir advantages
" In short, the young lady was so enthusiastic in
her praises that began to think WILCOX &
GIBBS indispensable as cooking stove, as
CHEEKY as piano-and good deal more played
upon.
:" So my dear, it resulted in my sending you the
contents of this box, and you can commune with
your household fairy at once. / am sure you will
find it good company for the rainy days of winter.
Your loving PAPA"
" Such a nice long letter, and such nice pres
ent, said Grace, while Will was taking the nails
carefully from the box, and getting little WILCOX
GIBBS ready for its new home.
"Oil it now, and put on the hemmer, said
Grace, as soon she opened it; here are wide
and narrow, both-what curious things they are"
To the surprise of Aunt Susan, Grace at once
saw the manner of inserting the side of the rufle
under the hemmer, and springing the " foot !"
down on it. Unevenly at first, she sewed but in
few moments she caught the motion. and was
singing merrily over her work, while Will count