The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-12-04

lesson progressed an unconsciously
drawn long sigh or sob proved very
plainly that she had lately passed
through some strong emotion, and that
nature was kindly restoring the equili-
brium.
In the course of the lesson, that day,
| she told me that she was married and
the mother of little boy somewhat
over a year old. She hinted at trouble
in connection with her marriage rela-
fions, and of late news that had caused
the past night to be spent very nnhap-
| PLY. She seemed low-spirited, and
deeply ashamed of her ignorance as re-
garded all knowledge of sewing or the
construction of the simplest garment. l
encouraged her-told her that patience
and application only were necessary, as
! she showed very good natural abilities
and would learn easily. But she replied
sadly that she was afraid that those vir-
tues she had never cultivated, nor even
until lately deemed at all necessary.
She assured me that I could form no idea
how useless and helpless she had been.
She never liked to sew, and her mother
had never wished her to do so, telling
her that there were plenty of poor peo
pie who would be glad to do such labor
instead. She hoped l would not laugh
at some of her no doubt trlfling and sill
ly questions, as she had never even
made garment of any kind in her life
not even a little one for her baby! /
laughed good d-naturedly:I I could not help
it; and told her that she took too severe
view of her defciencies-that there
were plenty of other ladies just like
her; but she said, smiling a little mourn
fully IN return, that If l knew how Bit
terly she had lately begun to under
stand what an uneducated woman in use
full matters she was, and how inconven-
lent she had found the position, l would
not wonder at her desire to do better
The first lesson was succeeded by 9TH
ers, for several days following, during
which learned that she had been mar
ried between two and three years; that
she had always before her marriage led
a gay and Injurious existence, perhaps
because she had never known of any
other, her parents being fashionable but
terhies; that she had passed through a
great sorrow, been very sick when her
babe was born, and now was just begin
ming to appreciate some of the realities
of life. She confessed that it was when
recovering from a sick bed, and among
the new and strange feelings that came
with the birth of her babe, that she had
awakened to the truth, and listened to
the promptings, always before ignored,
of her more practical nature. That it
was through the advice of a kind friend
who had been with her through her sick
ness, that she had purchased a sewing
machine, the friend believing that it
would be good beginning in her efforts
to do something useful.
All this my new pupil did not tell me
in so many words, but it was the sub
stance of what 1 gathered by degrees.
1 was very much interested las usuaD ;
and one day, as she was leaving, casual
ly remarked that her husband was, no
doubt, pleased at her progress in master
ing the mystery. Then heard what
had almost before suspected, as with
} tears filling her eyes she said that she
J had no husband in one sense-that she
had separated from him-that it was
her own fault-an act done by herself in
pented. She indicated that there were
l others to blame, but did not excuse her.
) self; and said that she had spent the
: night previous to the day on which she
had taken her first lesson, in great griet
: from learning that he was very soon tc
3 sail for Europe, and the thought that
! they would then be utterly and forever
separated had nearly driven her to>dis
r traction.
D / felt very sorry-never more so fol
: any human being; her repentance was
a so sincere and her sorrow so hopeless
: A dim suspicion had been creeping
j through my mind during this last rela
ton, that had heard story something
e akin to this before; and as she was abou
s leaving reminded her that although
:. we were well acquainted as teacher ant
pupil, had never yet heard her name
j Apologizing for her remissness, sh,
t handed me a card as she left the room.
r will not say that was very much sur
\ prised, for had half guessed the coin
: cidence by intuition,-when I read OF
4 the card held in my hand, "Mrs
e Oracle Lee"
a Yes, it was Harry Lees wife who hat
d been my pupil A great many strang
d feelings were at work within my breas
r during the next ten minutes. had no
: seen Mr.. Lee for some time: he hat
j. avoided the instruction-room-ac cours
e of conduct for which had been thank
1t full. 1 had heard nothing of his inten
1t tion of going to Europe, and felt sure
E must be new project, very suddenl
tnOuSnL OF. Anu why haQ my acI1On
lie anything to do with it {? felt sorely dis
te tressed before l had done thinking ou
h the whole matter: and might have bee
ID even more SO had 1 not possessed a re
ss source always SO dear to women an
1T children-that of doing something.
sr Now the rest of this is going to be yer
ID brief. On my bed, that night, the d.
sire to do something" born of the n,
h cessity, took practical shape, and l sa
lie my way to my revenge on Harry LIE
I'd Dickens Christmas stories were then
70 the height of their popularity ha
ne been fascinated by them, and to the
r. influence and that of the approachin
r holy season perhaps my plans wei
ne chiefly due. hope my imaginary blusl
re es may be spared, when I say that to a
n complish it / took occasion to thro