The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-10
Only a Dollar.

OAlJ OU4aIs
"She sews very nicely" said Mrs.
Wharton, "and if you have any work
you wish TO have done well and very
cheaply, would advise you to employ
her"
Mrs. Wharton was sitting before the
fire in her crimson silk morning wrap
per, and her pretty hands, loaded with
rich rings, lying in her lap. She felt
that she was doing a charitable deed in
employing this poor widow, and a still
greater one in recommending her to her
friends. 1t is easy to be good Chris
tiaD under such circumstances.
"Well, / shall certainly send for her, ,"
said Mrs. Marvin. "What did you tell
me her name and address were ?"
"Mrs. Leggett, and she lives in one of
those horrid, musty tenement-houses,
No. 1879 Blank street; the back room
in the third story"
Mrs. Marvin entered the details in her
little pearl-bound tablet and took her
leave, internally convinced that Mrs
Wharton was a "good Samaritan" of
the very highest type.
Meanwhile, the latter was gazing
dreamily into the fire, wondering what
toilet would be most appropriate for the
morrow evenings soiree.
There's my pea-green satin" unused
Mrs. Wharton, checking off the various
garments on the tips OF her white fin-
gers, but I've worn it already. And
there is my Marie Louise blue silk, if
the skirt was only gored little more
My wine cOlOred silk, with the ruby set,
would look very well, if Fanny Parks
hadn't got one just like it. And purple
velvet don't light up very well at night
I raa1ftT r.of
something new-a rose-colOred tissue,
perhaps, or a white India muslin. Dear
me, who's that? How you startled me,
Mrs. Leggett r'
81 beg your pardon, ma'am, I am
sure" said the slender, meek-looking
little seamstress, rustling gently for
ward in her garment of shabby, we'll
worn black; "but / Knocked several
times and you did not answer"
"Ihen you should knock louder next
time" said the irritable fine lady
"hOwever, now you are here, you may
as well sit down. How wet you are
positively drippingr
"Yes, ma'am; it rains very hard and
have no umbrella"
"NO umbrella dear me, how shock
ing. Well, did you bring home those
things 2n
E9f Aua alAls mere blEN are.
And the seamstress produced a neat
package from beneath her shawl.
81 hope they are not wet. No; they
seem tOlerably dry. What is the bill ?ii
"SiX dollars, ma'am."
"Six dollars Isn't that high 81 in.
ouired Mrs. Wharton, discontentedly.
81 worked eleven days faithfully on
them, ma'am."
"Well, l suppose I must pay whai
YOU ask" said Mrs. Wharton, opening
her purse and slowly examining ia
compartments. "Dear me, l have only
a five-dollar bill; suppose you coulC
not change a twenty p
Mrs. Leggett smiled bitterly.
"No, ma'am, / could not"
"Well, then, we will call it five dol
lars, won't we? A dollar is not mucl
either way, and the five is all the chang
/ have.m
"a dollar is a great deal to me, Mrs
Wharton"
The lady's smooth brow contracted.
Il have given you a great deal o
work, Mrs. Leggett.n
81 know it, ma'am, and / am very
much obliged for all your kindness"
"And ! should be sorry to have sucl
a trifiing thing as dollar part US now
Mrs. Leggeit was silent; she did no
know what TO say.
"Call 1t five dollars" said Mrs. Whar
ton, tossing the bill into the lap Of IN,
widow. "a dollar won't signify: an,
then l recommended my friend. Mrs
Marvin, TO employ you"
''1hank you, ma'am,n said the moo
woman, family. as she took the money
feeling inwardly that she had been de
frauded, yet perfectly aware that sh
had no means of redress.
"Ma'am, if you please" said Mary
the waitress, "here is the newspape
boy; he says master told him you woul
pay the bill this week"
"How much is it, Mary ?"
"a dollar, ma'am."
"How provoking. l haven't dolla
in the house."
"He says be has orders not to lea'
the house until it is paid"
"He is very impertinent," said Il
lady, coloring up, and for the first tin
in her petted life feeling the want Of
dollar.