The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-12-24
MY CHRISTMAS REVENGE.

| L 90 nos bnlnk Gnere is any need OF
my explaining how it happened, that I,
who when born had expectations of
| quite fair fortune, should have found
| myself, when womanhOOd came, obliged
to earn my daily bread. But so it was !;
and IN one of the large sewing machine
! emporiums (no matter which one) of a
leading American city, I held posi-
ton as a teacher for several wears.
My duties were very monotonous ;
but 1 used to extract a considerable
amount of interest and amusement,
while engaged in giving instruction,
from learning the histories-and they
were very varied-of my scholars. If
the proverbial cup of tea unlocks the
female tongue, I found that lesson on
the machine, aud initiation into the
mysteries of setting a needle, winding
bobbin, and regulating a tension,
we're even more conducive to communi-
cation. do not wish to appear egotis
tlcal ; but l must confess to quite a
| power which L seemed to possess Of
| gaining the confidence of my pupils,
through my habit of taking an interest
in them also that I was very fond of an
"o'er true tale;" perhaps SONS mali
cious critic would call my propensity
by no higher name than female curl
Osity.
Even now, though time has brought
it's changes to me, and I no longer
haunt the old familiar places, often
find myself recalling one and another
among the many romances and stories
IN which figured as an interested and
sympathetic listener, and occasionally
an unsupported actor.
The present recollection always comes
back to me at the Christmas time; and
therefore when the season rolls around
again, with it's merriment and cheer,
its mistletoe and holly, its written and
un ritten tragedies and comedies of
life, / feel like reeounting it to others.
The position of instructress brought
me almost entirely in contact with my
own sex. Sometimes I had a male
pupil-one of a mild mechanical turn,
who would wish to become familiar
with the machine, so as to be able to
assist some wife or sister but the in
stTuctiOn-room, as a rule, was usually
quite free from frequent visits of the
sterner sex.
During the fall of a special year I
became conscious, however, that a Ger
tain Mr.. Harry Lee, a gentleman whom
I knew to be an intimate acquaintance
of one Of my employers and whose face
was quite well known to all in the es-
Enlistment, began to occasionally drop
into my department and look on during
instruction hours. He was very pleas
ant and gentlemanly in his manners,
and gave as an excuse for the interest
he took, that he was a born Yankee and
therefore very fond of inventions.
Although there were other teachers,
discovered that he fingered most fire.
rYyranf1wr N, !
more interested IN my conversation than
| that of my companions. ] was young
at the time, and no doubt had the usual
desire of my sex TO please. felt fiat
tered, perhaps, at his respectful atten-
tiOn, and took particular pains to make
my observations on "what knew about
sewing machines" as Intelligent as my
limited powers permitted. He soon
became frequent visitor, and some
times when business was dull would hin
ger and converse on other subjects be-
sides the technicalities of the trade. I
found that he was well educated, had
travelled considerably in his own coun.
try, and knew, as they say, men and
things" His intimate friendship with
one Of the firm prevented any remarks
as to the frequency of his visits and
he made the additional apology for pos
sible intrusion. that he was very much
at his leisure, anG sometimes Thought
of connecting himself with the bust
ness. must admit that I was quite
interested IL him, and felt pleased when
sometimes he would bring me some
favorite book about which we had CON
versed and exchanged views, or ask my
opinion on some magazine article that
was eugrossing public attention. had
U Il. L
| In life-Whether he was married or sin
| gle he had simply been to me a pleas
/ ant episode among my daily labors and
| the flash of his blue eyes and his frank
smile, when salutiDg me, I at first con-
sidered as merely among the other
usual incidents of my daily life.
It was during a somewhat extended
| conversation, one day, some weeks after
our first acquaintance, that the thought
! flashed across my mind that he had
/ seen trouble and was unhappy in con-
neetion with his affections. His opin-
/ ions of the female sex, discovered, up
on probing him a little, we're not very
/ enthusiastic or rose-colored. Some
| times, when speaking of marriage and
/ its relations, I thought his remarks
/ rather cynical and bitter; and once OF
/ twice be criticised some of my young
aud fashionable pupils very severely,
/ seeming to have very poor opinion OF
them as to their usefulness as probable
wives and mothers. I naturally always
defended my sex; and once when /
Iaughingly expressed my belief that II
| I ever should see the woman destined
to be his wife, it would no doubt be one
of those same pretty, useless, fashion
able creatures against whom he rallied
50 bitterly-a look of pain passed across
his face, that set me to thinking that
had touched a sore spot in his expert
] ence.
We became very good friends, even.
tually; indeed, am afraid that should
I confess to the truth, we INDUCED 8
little in harmless aud pleasant Irritation.
I know that I was always pleased to SEE
him; and I am sure that he often I'm
cered beside me IL a manner savOr1ng
little of devotion. Still this vas only
on the surface and grew more ano
more certain from g melancholy ina