Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-06-23
How the Sewing Machine was Bought.

MS caf rs though SomethiIS hId Ollteu IL.
How the Sewing Machine was Bought.
Papa" said little Susie Weston, climb
Ing upon her fathers knee. "what plcascs
you 50 much to-day You have been
smiling TO yourself all dinner time"
Something has pleased me TO day,
Susie. Ii you and Johnny would like to
hear the story, draw up your chairs"
~ story said Mis-. Weston, looking
up from her sewing -. May Ihear, loo ?"
III you'd be very good. said Mr.. IVES.
ton, smiling. "Lcl me see, how old are
you. Johnny?'
Twelve, sir"
"Wel, my story is about boy just
your age 1t is nearly year since | iirst
saw him. was very busy one afternoon
lasl winter, when saw u little boy com
ing into my store, whose face attracted
my attention at once. II was not a very
handsome face. but it was earnest and
bright; strong, good face, ii ever saw
one. The boy was poorly clad, but his
clothes were clean and whole"
MAY see the boss ?" he asked.
IL am the boss" answered. "What
can DO for you?'
IL van; to asS tho price OF II first rate
sewing machine, not fancy one, sir, but
Il good WORKER
"Wc!l, sir" | said, IL can give you =
good machine for sixty dollars
"SiNtY dollars. Well, Mister" said he
"caa | work it out? | have
every afternoon from halt past two till
seven. and can run crrands or do any
work about the Store. You see, sir, this
i, how ii is. Father died two years ago,
and mother wants me 10 stay ut school n
year or two longer; but she has to work
awlully hard 10 keep me there. Father
WAS bricklaycr. and mother owns the
little house he almos. built himself, but
that j. all. She scws, sir. and she could
make twice rs much il she only had a
machine. But we never could spare sixty
dollars, sir, 50 | thought | would see II |
gould earn one
"But it would take YOU long time,
said /. "It give you dollar week it
would be sixty weeks
"Wiil you give me that?" he said, his
eyes fairly dancing. Il can come all day
Saturday"
Can you? Suppose we say dollar
and half? and il You do we'll, you can
have the machine Little less ;han the
retail price"
You sec. Susy, | was interested
already in the boy. with his honest face.
aud resolved if he wal faithful in his
duties to keep him along. SO We made
an agreement. he 10 give all his spare
time out OF school, and | to credit him
each week with dollar and Fifty cents
towards the purchase of machine.
livery day he came, Punctual to the
minute. rain or shine, and nc was the
most prompt and reliable errand boy ]
ever employed. Little by little the dol
lars rolled upon tho account until one
evening in the fall, was here after din.
uer, just before you and your mother
came home from the country, when the
door bell rang, and in walked Harry
Cummin IS, my errand BOY.
81 found this. SIR" he said, "when |
was sweeping out the store" and lie
handed me roll of bank notes | had
thought safe in my pocket.
please see if it is all right, sir said
he, "iL WAS under the counter"
Il counted the notes, two hundred
dollars, and then taking out one twenty
dollar note, said
Il should have offered reward for
this, Harry. if you had not found it,"
II am glad saved you that. sir" he
answered. I'll bid you goodnight"
"But You have earned the reward" |
said, putting down the twenty dollars,
Twill you take it or pass it to the machine
money ?"
Mine all that! Oh, sir. pass it TO
the machine. You see I'd have 10 tell
mother where got that money, and the
machine is TO be surprise"
Il never spent twenty dollars witt so
much pleasure in my life, Susy! This
WAS great lift on the machine, and this
afternoon when Harry came, | told him
TO pick out one ror his mother.
I'VE selected first rate one, hand.
some, too, and promised him one of our
best teachers should go to show his
mother how to work upon it.
"Whcn it was on the cart ready 10 60,
invited myself to go with Harry to see
il delivered. He had asked me 10 write
note telling his mother the piice was
honestly earned, and told him | would
tell her.
so away we went, and when we
reached the little house, the cart was just
turning the corner OF the street. Harry
opened the door, very softly. and the men
lifted the machine into the parlor. Then
Harry led Inc to q small room at the back