Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-01
Letter from Boston

week. when The Elr-- we're coming 10 ALl-tl-
You know. psrhar,s. that for two year, Jen-
HE Collins has furnished a free dinner for
POOR working girls during the entire winter
and many is the poor girl who has been kept
from absolute starvation ty the kindness and
fore;lcught Of this little woman. who proba-
by more than any other knows the wants
and needs of thi, class Of girl. and knows
too. Lov 90 meet them 80 shat the recipients
q her bounty shall not fs-l humiiiated- nor
lo-e I'll. sef-respeci which is 80 necessary %
even the poorest q them al. Many Of the
most prominent business firms headed by
Jordan Marsh & Co. and Macnllar. Williams
4 Parker. assis; Mis- Collins 10y gifts Of mon
ey and many private individuals Id con-
tiibution- 70 help til good work along It is
d good vofk. Lad ro idea how good until
] watched it, working. for my.,H l; was
quite ACCIDENTAL too. was IL ssarca q an
American servant and very naturally sent to
Jennie Collins 90 see Il she could assist Inc.
and happened 10 get there just "a, the girls
were gathering for dinner. They were clean
and tidy looking. some II them omit. CON-
f0rtallv dres--d. but all Of them ont II elI-
ploymeut from the hard time Some bad
been hUI-e servants. some sewing girls. 9TH
ers attendants Ia stores. There were Amer.
can. Irish. English. Scotch and Provincial
girls They were quiet and gell.appearinp
bu; some Of than looked no worn. and al Of
them sad and troubled Jennie greeted each
one as she came in. giving them. With a
pleasant smile the lcArtlest welcome There
was nothing IN her manner 10 remind them
that size vas bes1ovIug charity upon them
.i aa. Tx d hostess receiving specially bid
i.u guests When dinner "a. served. At one
O'Clock four long tables were filed with the
waiting girl. HE bil Of fare that day A.
co-l.i b-.f and vegetable. vel cooked and
nicely -erNtd. homemade bread and butter
and coffee. The food varies every day One
day il is roast beef. another. boiled mutton.
another. couei SHOULDER. again hsL. with al
ways az least one kind Of vegetables besides
potato. plenty Of nice broad and butter and
"a or coffee Il j. better dinner and more
a4refuly prepared than j. --rved al many
loarlug-L0u-e,. Ms, Collins told me that
some days she had tie ialles teice allied and
there is -4rt,.y a day but that there AYE NOR,
than can be stated at once. She says. too.
that she las had many nicely dressed women
who coI4e aid ak for dinner. saying tina;
they want 90 TASTE il and see that i rally j.
nice. She respect, their little deception and
giv.s them their dinner. with an invitation TO
come again. In every case she has found
ont after a y hIle that it va, hunger that
brought them. Many Of them aTc girl, y no
are either seeking employment or have lot
situation and. too proud 20 acknowledge their
poverty. are vet driven 70 apply 20 Ms, Col
Inns for "a dinner. | vi.h ! could d scribe
Jennie 10 Won ~ that you might See her A.
she seems 10 me- She Is q Little body With
-hr.wd. kindly face. brown hair through
which the gray begins 90 show blue eyes that
D
ton. d straightforward manner. and a way
Of getting night 81 the heart Of tLiugs. with
ont any preliminary fl-,. ! don't wonder the
girls lke Ley. and trust her: she J, kindness
.t--E / knew her. before she Lad started
Boffiu, Bower. 90 take the money from her
own pocket tina. she lad saved TO procure
some necessary article Of clothing for herself
and buy coal for some poor family. or pay a
..ck girl room rent 10 keep her from being
turned out from the only shelter she had
think more than any other person ! know.
either man or woman. Jennie Collins embed.
jos thu true idea Of Christian charity.
Lent is almost here there are only ten
dAy, left INTO which 10 crowd al the remain
ing pay,ty Of the winter The season. which,
owing probably to the hard times. has been
much lc~, brilliant than usual is to wind up
with q grand ball in Music Hall Oh the Mon
day before Ash wednesday, FOR the benefit Of
the Ola South Fund wouldn't the Puritan
founders Of that same church b. horrifed at
,ha idea Of dancing for IT, salvation uuless
they have leaned federation. and have dis
covered that 20 have q good time j. not 10
commit the objectionable sin. and that there
I ar, iiss.yltio.ls more dangerous than dancing
A. any event. the hall j. 20 take place and
tL.r. IT, some Of the loyelie.t dres~es being
mad. for II at Parcher', and Miss Gle,
Do You know. think my seI have three
yrluer,hle points, on any Of which # they
are at;ae k,d. they viii grow savage. Let me
tel yor. -'r # you have no; already learned
the lesson. never, under any circumstances.
attack q woman'- minister, doctor. or sewing
uaehinr You may abuse her in any other
way yon see fl You may even criticise her
new bonnet. call her last new gown ''iowdy".
turn up yOur nose at her parlor carpet and
sic viii forgive you; but woe unto You If
you take exception TO the theology ot her
minister. question the skill Of her physician.
or doubt the capabilities Of her sewing ma
chine | have noticed this little weakness in
my sisters for some time. with a sor, Of
amused scorn Little did dream that day
would come when ! should he given over
TO the worship Of idols likewi,e. But We are
all only human. myself with the rest. and !
am confessing humbly the ways into which
have fallen. ! have actually become a sewing
machine deyotee. blush TO own it. but its
a solemn fact A. q rul, I det4st machinery
that is, have profound respect for it, but
have chosen to yenerate it at distance.
Washing machines, wriugiug machines. sow
ing machines have been offered Iue: have
refused to have anything 10 do with them.
and have frowu,d al agents from my door |
can't understand machinery, and v ont have
anything to do with things which | can't CON-
| preheud. But I've experienced a change Of
! heart and ! was converted by the New Amer
! lean Sewing Machine. / was inyeigled by a
friend into approaching one. ! was coaxed
10 make a trial Of ii, and ! conquered it,
/ Wasn't that triumph for me Now that
have conquered it / can do anything with it
/ It has become my abject slave. l 20 about
/ with elevated eyebrows, plying all benighted
women. who don't use my machine. I've
| learned all it, good points. and can talk as
| glibly as any Of the rest on its superior mer-
It's Haven't l tried. and don't know that it
viii run so n0iselessly that the baby in the
room with it, won't awaken from It's nap !:
! Isn't It simple, too it has only ninety-seyen
| parts. Only you say-why bless your
unsophisticated masculine heart some ma
chimes have two hund- ed and forty. It's fun
TO wind the bobbins. and any child can set
the needle There don't speak all Of you
| whose elbows l have grazed. I'm frln on the
sewing machine question and you can't move
me.
J. Il. Osgood 4 Co., have Just published a
new story by Bret Harte one Of the best he
| has written for long time Indeed. in this
| Story Of a Mine he quite redeems his rep
utation. Presumably, the story is founded
on fact, and the characters are mostly drawn
! from life They must be well drawn too,
| if by those to whom they are familiar, they
are as easily recognized a. was Senator Sum
1 ner by his friends. Another volume Of the
Artist Biographies has been issued Rem
| brandt Is the subject These are the last pub
! LEGATIONS Of this well-known house: all here
| after will be under the new name of Houph-
] ton, Osgood a. Co. WM< iirdke for March