Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-01-03

ines, you will win prayer from many lips that
will not burden your heart when ysu die
''lie docs share my feeling, Hattie
"Butvou have not told mehis name.
Cecil Graham"
mir. Hartiey's nephew said Hattie.
"ls he? The man YOU worked for"
Yes"
"You know him, then
He superinsnded the department where 1
went Tor work. Ready made clothing OF all Kinds
forms prominent feature in his uncle large dry.
goods store, and made shirts and other clothing
Mr.. Hartley knew my father in his better days,
aud gave me work"
"And Mr.. Graham
"Gave out this sewing, examined ii when .e-
turned, and paid for it
"Did you like him"
"Nettie, do not ask me, You have to-day made
Inc your grateful sister Tor life; will You grant me
one more favor"
"You know will"
AT three o'clock to-day the weeks work will
be given out and taken az at Hartley,s. Willy you
go for my WORK"
"You will not need 1t now"
"kut on my shawl and bonnet Wa are both
in mourning, so you will not mind the poorer
garments for once. | will give you the ticket
that entities me to work, and you look enough
like me 10 escape observation Nettie, do not
refuse me- Do not ask me to explain now my
motive. Go this once for me"
With very grave face, Nettie Hastings put
| took the ticket from table drawer, and drew on
her Lands pair Of coarse cotton gloves.
"I on mean more than see clearly, Hattie,
she said. "lt is for my sake you want msto go:"
and, kissing her. she went out
"For Your sake" said Hattie, "for your
whole life'S happiness or misery. Thank
heaven she does not love Cecil Graham, "
and covering her face with her thin, trem-
bling fingers, she rayed silently and fervent-
| ly for the noble young cousin she had sent
upon all errand fraught with such deep signll-
cance.
And with the prayer following her footsteps
with a misgivng she felt, but could not de-
scribe, in her heart Nettle Hastings hurried
| along the street. she half repented she mad
told her coachman to go home and return later
| to take her cousin to her new residence, and
then she smiled at the idea OF q sewing girl
going to work in private carriage. 1t was a
bitter day, cold aud threatening, with the re-
mains of one snow storm under foot, and the
prospect of another overhead. Nettie in her
dear little heart, wished she could give com
| Portable homes and incomes to every one Oi
the Shivering poor she met on her way to the
palace store, where she had spent hundreds
of dollars in her petted ilfef. Her first rebuff
was in being informed, not too politely, that
| the girls who come to work were not allowed
| to pass through the store, but must mount to
the fourth floor through small side door,
There was an elevator for the employees OF
| to earn the pittance paid for sewing were not
allowed to use it. Up the weary stairs, flight
after flight, Nettle followed two poorly clad
women, others coming after her. for the city
clock was striking three, and unpunctuality
might cost them their weeks work. The
room was already half-full of women when
Nettie entered 1t, and Cecil Graham, standing
beAind a large table, with TWO women as as
sistants, was opening bundle after bundle af
| ter bundle OF sewing, and checking the
amount due each in a large book AS he did
so, the women stepped aside to wait till all
| the work was examined, when each would bt
| paid, to wait till all had received their money
and work for the next week was given out in
the same routine What nIattered 1t if whole
| afternoon of precious time was thus con
sumed: 1t Was the system of the establish
ment.
| Nettie watched the proceedings from under
her thick veil with Keen interest, not taking
her place In the line, but sitting down, as sh,
had no work to be examined, and must there
| fore wait till fresh work was given out. Il
| was hard for her to believe that the sterI
harsh man before her was the courteous gen
tleman whose ring was hidden ander hel
coarse glove He seemed to have magnify
ing glasses in his eyes, 50 sharply did he criti
cize every stitch. Several women had passed
through this rough ordeal of criticism wher
one came up who at once interested Nette
kind heart. She was so poorly clad, SO palllt
and worn, that she seemed scarcely able Il
stand.
"This won't do at all, said the gentleman
harshly. 81 should think you would be asham
ed to offer such work here"
| II had to sew that without a nre" SaiI
the woman. il weak voice, "and my baby i
sick
1--WE not got anything to do with your Cir
and your BABY can't pay for such work a
this."'
Il don't think anybody but you would no
tice any fault, was the reply; and Nettie. look
ing al the garment, agreed with her. She wa
not very near it, to be sure, but to her it seem
ed neatly made.
| "No use to Us at all.
| 30, Mr.. Graham, give me half price, hayi
not Cent In the worldl''
II shall not pay for work that does not sui
me, certain. Moye up you are hinderint
others"
With deep moan as il wrung from her b,
physical pain, the woman turned toward
the door AS she passed by Nettie, sh,
felt the pressure OF soft hand, and looked
down.
"Take this" said a whispering voice
and tell me where you live. Tomorrow yol
shall have fuel and food. This will help yol
to-day"
The woman looked wouderingly at the hy
dollar bill in her hand.
"But perhaps you are poor yourself" sh
said.
IL can spare that. Where do you live 90
She gave number and street. an,
with a faltering "God bless. YOU" left th
room.
Others followed in the long line 10 the tabl.
and Net,ie watched again. Some asked 10
, trifling advances to avert freezing, starvation
or the terrors of unpaid landlords, Som
; pleaded illness for slight imperfections or de
lay, but these were exceptions, and every favo
or indulgence was sternly refused. The ms
| ljority came up with mechanical precision, an