The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-31
A Wasted Life.


81 have tickets for the concert to-
night, Abba" said James Henley, com
ing into the sitting-room where his wife
was running sewing machine with a
busy whirr.
"Oh, James, how wish l could go I''
The light died away from her hus-
bands face in a second.
"Wish you could go, Abba! Why,
of course you will CO."
81 can't, James. 1 must finish these
three dresses before Sunday, and it will
take every minute"
"Three dresses 2"
"For Jennie, Susie and Lotta. 1t is
Easter Sunday, you know, and all the
spring things are ready but these
dresses"
"But this is only Wednesday,"
~ know, James; but look at the
work. There are overskirts to each,
and ruff1es on all the waists. Jennie's
has three fOunces."
81 suppose it is useless for me to re-
peat what have said so often, Abba,
that you are foolish in the choice of
work. Little girls do not require the
finery you put upon your children"
''But all the children in the congrega-
ton are well dressed, James. You can
not afford to put the sewing out, SO
must do it,"
"Let the children dress more simply,
then. Come, Abba, stop that buzz for
once, and go to this concert. I think
we can all survive the disgrace if the
children wear some of the dresses they
have, on Sunday. 1t is so seldom that
any really good music is in our reach
at L, that hate to miss hearing
it."
"Can't you go ?"
"And leave you? 1 should not enjoy
it if 1 knew you were stitching here.
Come ~
With heavy sigh, as if James was
exacting sacrifice instead of giving
her pleasure, Abba left the room, and
went to her own apartment to dress for
the concert. While she dressed she
was calculating closely the time she
must save to make up for her evening
of pleasure. By rising an hour earlier
and retiring an hour later. she might
be able to finish the dainty silks that
were to excite the envy of all the moth
ers in l. on Sunday. All through
the evening, while her husband drank
in the sweet sounds in which he de-
lighted, Abba, with her face all polite
interest, was thinking of the unfinished
work.
''Was it not delightful >" James
said, as they walked home in the soft,
spring moonlight.
Delightful! / am so glad 1 went,
James. Mrs. Gordon had on her new
spring suit, and her dresses all come
from New York. The trimming on her
basque is quite new style, and I'm
sure l can put Jennie's on in the same
Way.n
So the talk went on, and the sewing
machine whirred for two hours after
James slept, so that Abba might not
forget how the trimming was put upon
the new basque she had seen.
Sunday morning shone clear and
cloudless. Mrs. Henley had put the
last stitch in Lotta's dress as the clock
struck twelve, and she awoke with a
pain in her chest and headache, but
with feeling of triumph. Her chill
drsn would wear their new spring suits,
that had cost nothing but the material.
Nothing! Mrs. Henley did not esti-
mate the hours spent over the machine
the WEAKNESS, and the neglect of many
little duties. There had been no actual
money laid out in dress-making, SO il
was clear gain on material.
Very pretty the children looked when
they were ready for church. Jennie
and Susie, twins of ten years old, were
dressed alike in delicate pearl-color
trimmed with blue, and hats of the
newest shape with blue ribbons. Lolita
wore a cerise color with cerise trim
mings, for Lolita was a brunette OF
seven.
The charges at starting for Sunday
School were: -
'Be sure you lift your overskirts
Whpn git dunn r10V,1k locT L
streamers of your hats, and walk where
you will not soil your light boots
Don't strain your gloves, and lift youI
hounces when you kneel DOWN.
ut Is such relief that they are al
dressed" said Abba, as the children
started, their little parasols jauntily
held, and their whole air showing theiI
appreciation of their new finery.
"Over-dressed, Abba !i was the reply
Your own dresses are not more elab.
orate."
1t is the fashion now to cui childrens
dresses like ladies'. But YOU ought tc
be proud of your children, James
everybody compliments me upon the
taste with which dress them"
Abba !' said Hr. Henley, suddenly,
leading his wife to a mirror, ''LoOk al
your own face.n
"Well !" she said, wondering what
he could mean.
"Your cheeks are white as chalk,
there is heavy line under your ewes
and your whole air is that Of a woman
worked to death.n =
James, what nonsense p'
1T is not nonsense. I wish it was.
Five years ago you had the complexion
Of child, as clear and rosy as Susie's.
Your eyes were then bright and full Of
animation. You had young children,
ahouse to keep in order, and just hall
our present income. Yet, you could
then find leisure for daily walk, and
could enjoy an occasional evening OF
social pleasure, or some entertainment.
had wife then.n f1T9I r 4 :
James! What do you mean?"