The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-03-08
rom the New York Observer.
The SEAMSTRESS UNPAID.
BY MRS. LUCY F.. SANFORD.

BY MRS. LUCY f. SANFORD.
'Error is wrought by want OF
thought, as we'll as want of heart.'
She wasjust all average American
girl. But on this last day of girlhood,
when her face beamed with love and
her tears and smiles seemed frolicking
with each other, she was very pretty
and sweet.
The home was full OF kinsfolk, and
hustle, and merriment, and life long
mates, who came with good wishes,
good byes and bridal gifts.
And on that morning came a lone
woman thin and pale, weary and
worn she was. Very quietly she lay
down her heavy bundle.
oh! knew you'd come you never
disappoint anybody said the happy
girl, opening the bundle. .How beau
tifulIy you have made them! Kate,
Louise, see how nicely Mrs. Allen
sews.'
Il speak for your needle when l get
married ! cried one.
And y laughed the other.
Mrs. Allen needed not, scarcely
heard,
All about her brought back so yiv.
idly the little while ago when she too
stood bel ween the old life and the
new, and her whole soul quivered
with happiness; when she too leaned,
with full love and tru at ,on one good,
kind and true. Then she heard that
shrill whistle of the proud locomotive;
saw it bound down the deep, dark
gorge heard those shrieks and moans
and groans. Then she thought Of that
grave, flower-coYered now, where,
with breaking heart, she had laid
that broken body, thanking God her
own beloved would suffer NJ more,
and thence came forth to suffer alone.
Then came sweet thought of her dear
little girl who, i'm that hour of bitter
sorrow, was her joy; for whom she
lived on then, and for whom (since, i'm
the panic, her means had all been LOST
she had labored. AS thoughts of her
her stimulant, her idol, her all
came upon her, she reused herself to
hear:
4 am very much pleased with your
work, Mrs. Allen. and / am sory,-
but, really, money slips through ones
fingers SO at such time,I haven't any
to pay you. Come around Tomorrow,
and mother will pay you, and give
you some flowers and goodies for
Mamie
In dazed way, Mrs. Allen, half
sick and heart-sick, turned to go, but |
could not, and said falteringly:
Mamie is sick, and | did hope to !
get something for her.
1T is too bad! Please 60 into the
store and ask father to pay you. Tell
him l sent you.'
Mrs. Allen went TO the store, and |
asked for the father. lie was not in;
no one knew where he was. With a
slow step, for the heavy heart che
took back weighed her down more
than the bundle she brought out, she
turned 10 her home. BeWildered by
her hopelesness and need of food, life
seemed burden she could bear no
longer, and as she crossed her thres-
hold she sank down. But sweet
voice called:
II q ,l,ak
you brought me to eat?
Love winged her tired feet, and she
went to neighbor near,-opc who
had always been kind to and thought
full Tor ber. She had meyer begged,
and now she would but borrow. The
neighbor had gone TO get present
for the bride. She went to the road,
looked up and down, then desperately
turned back, asked for pencil and pa
per, aud wrote it all.
The neighbOr came in late. 1t had
not been easy to find any thing the like
of which had not been selected by
some one; the teapot was smoking and
she was chilled. and the family impa-
tient.
SO tea was oyer and toilets COM
menced as quickly as possible.
The church and the home were
dres- ed with flowers the bride look
ed never SO well the presents were a
very medley of rich aud simple, use.
less, delicate aud common, but by their
number flattery and charm. And
life and light and Joy was in all and
over all.
The morning of so bright a night
found all the gay town weary and dull
and lazy. Over late break fasts they !
revived the last evening. Half envl-
Gus criticism of dress, sarcastic imita
ton OF manners, just and unjust, took
the place of the honeyed praises and
sweet smiles of the last night.
And the heavens, too, were changed.
Where shOne the crescent moon and
the brilliant stais now were cloud
masses charged with snow. Slowly
and calmly the. storm commenced,
eavy and thick it grew. The fierce