The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-01-19

you know I viii"
"At three o'clock to day the week:
work will be given out and taken il
at Hartley's. Will you go for my
works.
I "You will not need it now"
"Put on my shawl and bonnet
We are both in mourning, so you
will not mind the poorer garments
for once. Twill give YOU the ticket
that entities me to work. and YOU
look enough like me to escape obser-
vation. Nettie, do rot refuse mel
| Do not ask me to explain now nv
motive. Go this once Ior me-"
With a very grave face, Nettie
Hastings put on her cousins coarse
shawl and poor bonnet, took the
ticket from a table drawer, and drew
on her hands a pair of coarse cotton
gloves.
'"You mean more than l see clear
ly, Hattie, she said. 1T is for nv
sake you want me to gog" and kiss
ing her, she went out.
''For you SAKE" said Hattie. '.for
your whole ire's happiness or mis-
cry, Thank heavenl she does not
love Cecil Graham" and covering
her face with her thin trembling fin
gers, she prayed silently and fer
yently for the noble young cousin
she had sent upon an errand fraught
with such deep significance.
And with the prayer following her
footsteps, with misgiving she felt.
but could not describe in her heart.
Nettie Hastings hurried along the
streets. She half repented that she
had told her cOachman to 90 home
and return later to take her cousin
to her new residence, and then she
smiled at the idea Of a sewing girl
going for work in private carrIaye.
1t was bitter day, cold and threat
ening, with the remains of one snow
under foot and the prospect of anoth
er overhead. Nettie in her dear lit
tie heart, wished she could give CON-
Portable homes and incomes to every
one OF the shivering poor she met On
her way to the palace store, where
she had spent hundreds of dollars in
her petsed life. Her first rebuff was
IN being informed, not too politely.
that the gir,s who came to work
we're not allowed to pass through
the store, but must mount to the
fourth floor through a small side
door There was an elevator for
employees of certain grades, but the
tired woman who came to earn the
plttance paid for sewing were not
allowed to use it. Up the weary
stairs flight after flight, Nettie fol
lowed two weary women, others com
ing after her, tor the city clock was
striking three, and unpunctuality
night cost them their weeks work.
The room was alresdy half full of
women when Nettie entered it, and
Cecil Graham, standing behind a
large table, with two women as as
sistants, was opening bundle after
bundle of sewing, and checking the
mount due for each in a large
book. AS he did so, the women
stepped aside to wait till all the work
vas examined, when each would be
aid, to wait till all received their
money, and work for the next week
vas given out in the same routine.
What mattered it if a whole after
loon of precious time was thus con
'umed? 1t was the system of the
establishment.
Nettie watched the proceedings
from under her thick veil with keen
interest, not taking her place in the
line, but sitting down, as she had no
work to be examined, and must
therefore wait till fresh work was
given out. 1t was hard for her to
believe that the stern, harsh man be
fore her was the courteous gentle-
man whose ring was hidden under
her coarse glove. He seemed to
have magnifying glasses in his eyes,
50 sharply did he criticize every
stitch. Several women had passed
through this rough ordeal Of criti-
cism, when one came up that at once
interested Nett:e's kind heart. She
vas so poorly clad, so palIid and
worn that she scanned scarcely able
20 stand.
"LRis won't do at all, said the
gentleman, harshly. "Ishould think
YOU would be ashamed to offer such
work here"
IL had to sew without fire." said
the woman, in a weak voice, "and
my baby is sic,."
"Fve got nothing to do with your
fire and baby. can't pay you for
such work as this"
81 don't think anybody but you
would notice any fault" was the re-
ply; and Nettie, looking at the gen
agreed with her. She was
not very near it to be sure, but to
her it seemed neatly made.
"No use to US at all.
80 Mr.. Graham, give me half
price! 1 have not a cent in the
worldr'
Il shall not pay for work that
don't suit me. Move up; you are
others"
With a moan as if wrung from her
by physical pain, the woman turned
towards the door. As she passed
Nettie, she felt the pressure ola soft
hand and looked down.
"Take this" said a whispering
voice, "and tell me where yOu live.
To morrow you shall have fuel and
food. This will help you to-day"
The woman looked wonderingly
at the five dollar bill. =.
But you are poor yourself" she
said.
Il can spare that. Where do you
live"
"She gave a number and street,
and with a faltering "G-d bless
you," left the room.
Others followed in the long line
to the table, and Nettie watched
again. Some asked for trlaing adj
vances to avert freezing, staryation,-
or the terrors- of unpaid landlords.
Some pleaded illness for slight i'm
perfections or delay, but there were
exceptions, and every favor or iGdul-
0ence was sternlv refused. The ma