The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-11-26
MRS. SPEERS' sEAMSTRESS.
6 lust like Betsey plal,e,o said Mrs.

she don't come. Now l know the story
she'll tell. Couldn't finish Mrs. Jes-
sup's cloak in time, and found the
flounces took longer to trim than she
thought they would 1 wish there was
another dress maker in this place; I'd
not put up with Betsey, that l know.
Well, young woman, what do you
want?n
She uttered these last words with a
sort of a start, for as she looked up from
the pile of goods spread upon the sit
ting-room table she saw girl standing
by the door-a girl she had never seen
before - wrapped in that leveler of
womanhood, a waterproof cloak, with
the hood over her head, and wearing a
pair of rough shoes, cut and torn by the
stones and white with the dust of the
road.
She was young and pretty; but it was
dry, warm day-the cloak was quite
unsuitable. How old the wrap was, ,how
torn the shoes
" Well ?" she repeated again, for there
was no answer. "Well ?"
I" L stopped because 1 saw the door
open. 1 am very tired, hungry and
thirsty" said the girl. 81 thought
perhaps you could give me a piece of
bread and a cup of tea, and let me do
some work to pay for it. l can do any
kind of housework, and 1 can sew"
ooh ~ said Mrs. Speers, cautiously
She was not one to let her heart go out
at once to dusty stranger. Well, of
course, if it is civilly asked for don't
think Tvs Christian duty to refuse any
one little food. never give money;
but generally find that beggars don't
want work"
=" If you mean beggars," said the
girl, 81 suppose they don't = do,
though. What is the use of being proud
and saying Pm not a beggar when I've
just asked for food? Only it's not my
usual-my-I haven't been in the habit
of it-that is what I'm trying to say"
You don't look like it, young
woman" said Mrs. Speers. Trouble
will come to good people, 1 know.
What has happened ?'
My parents are dead" said the girl.
Didn't they leave you anything? ?"
asked Mrs. Speers.
haven't a penny in the world"
said the girl. 81 am going to walk to
London, if can, to get dress-making to
do.n
Can you cut and fit ?" asked Mrs.
Speers.
Anything" replied the girl. "Oh,
do you want to try me ?''
Mrs. Speers looked at her sharply.
81 WILL" said she. " 1 suppose it's
risk that's good dress, but"
C can fit you as no country dress
maker ever did, cried the girl. {"
can make you look like a fashion plate.
You can give me what you like, you
know"
"I1l try you," said Mrs. Speers. I" You
can have your breakfast first, and then
begin. You'd better take off your
cloak"
"Please let me keep it on" said the
girl. Wait-I can't keep it on and
sew, can L =? suppose L must take it
off, but"
!" Well ?" repeated Mrs. Speers, more
igrimly than before.
=" haven't no dress on underneath"
said the girl.
No dress on / never heard of such
a thing - cried the old lady.
81 hope not" said the girl. " You
see, I've been robbed"
Mrs. Speers considered.
"I'll lend you an old wrapper" said
she. "Why, what has been happening
to you? ?"
But the girl said nothing. She went
into the little back bedroom, donned
the wrapper and, having been fed, set
to work. Soon Mrs. Speers found her.
self obliged to acknowledge that Betsey
Blake was outdone; but the girl would
not talk = would tell nothing of her
story that" Mrs. Speers said to her.
self, " she did not like much"
At noon-time father and son came in
- the father grave, slow-speaking,
slow-thinking farmer; the son college
bred, and spending his vacation with
his parents.
Who is that pretty girl at the sew
ing-machine, mother?" the youth asked
in a whisper. 81 thought you ex-
pected old Betsy Blake to make your
J.ao,