Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-01
MAINE 1885,
NO. l..
Gales ano Skettbes.
RrrH's srRPrAraER.

Rrfn'S SfEPFAfHER.
A curious trade to take, hut then it has
grown to be profitable. Things were at
a low ebb with me when took It up, while
now
There, l won't boast, only say I'm
thankful for it. Poverty comes in at the
door, and love flies out of the window, SO
reur poor people will he always misers-
BILE, while to my experience your poor
man is often moro light-headed than the
man with thousands.
+ was at my wits end for something to
do. and sat nibbling my nails one day,
grumblng horribly.
Don't 60 on like that, Tom." says my
wife, ''things might he worse"
..Howe" said.
| "Why, we might have Luke at home,
and he is doing we'll"
I.uke's our boy, YOU know. and we have
got him into merchants Office. whence
he seems likely to stay; but was in
grumbling fit then. and there was click
ETY. click noise going on in the next room
that fidgeted me terribly.
Things can't be WORSE" said angri-
ly; and l was going to prove myself in
the wrong by making my wife cry, when
there was knock at the door.
Come in,' said, and fellow -lodger
put in his head
Are You good at work, Mr.. Smith,"
he said
"What work." l said; fireworks
gasworks?"
''Oh. no; I mean works of things as
goes with wheels and springs"
"Middling." said, for was found Of
pulling clocks to pieces. and trying to in.
vent.
Il wish you'd come and look at this
sewing machine of mine, for can't get 1t
to go"
Sewing machines were newish IN those
days, and got up to look at 1t. and after
about an hours's fiddling about it began
to see "A bit of the reason why-the pur.
pose, you know. of all the screws and
cranks and wheels: found out, too. why
our neighbor's wifc--shc was dressmak-
er, and had Just started one-could not
get it to go; and before night, and by
thinking, and putting this and that togeth-
err, had got her in the way Of working it
pretty steady. though with my clumsy
fingers | couldn't have done 1t my.
self.
had my bit of dinner and tea with
these people, and they forced half crown
upon me as well, and went back feelipa
like new man, so refreshing had
that bit of work.
There" said my wife, II to1
that something would come''
"Well. SO you did," said !,
something is rather SMALL
But the very next day--as we
ing in the midst Of the people
fast taking to sewing machip
folks from the next house didn
to look at theirs and then the D
ing. as news will spread. that
somebody who could cobble anSl<
machinery. without putting people to IT,
expense that makers would, IL the Jobs
didn': come in so fast, so that was obliged
to get files and drills and vise-regular
set of tools by degrees; and at last l was
as busy as a bee from morning to night,
whistling over my work as happy as
king.
OF course. every now and then got
breakage. but could generally get over
that by buying new wheel or spindle. or
what not. Next we got TO supplying
shuttles and needles, and machine cotton.
Soon after l bought machine Of man
who was tired of it. Next week sold it
at good profit bought another and an
other, and sold them; then got to taking
them and money in exchange for new
ones; and one way or the other became
a regular big dealer, as you see.
Hundred? Why, new, second-handed
and with those being repaired upstairs by
the men. I've got at least three hundred
on the premises, while ifanybody had tsld
me fifteen years ago that should be do
ing this should have laughed at him.
That pretty girl showing and explain
ing the machine to customer? That's
Ruth. that is. No, not my daughter-yet,
but she soon will be- Poor girl, ALWAYS
waters at the same time
Curious idea that. you will say, but I
will tell you why.
In our trade we have strange people To
deal with. Most of 'em are peor. and
can't buy machine right of, but are
ready and willing to pay so much week.
That suits them. and it suits me, if they'll
only keep the payment up to the end.
You won't believe me. perhaps, but
some Of them don't do that. Some OF them
leave their lodging. and never see them
again; and the most curious part is that
the sewing machine disappears with them,
and never see that again. Many a one.
too, that has disappeared like that, I do
see again-perhaps have them brought
here by some one to be repaired or ex-
changed for bigger or for one by a dif-
ferent maker; for if You look round here
you'll see I've got all kinds-new and old,
little domestics and big traders-there.
you name any maker. and see II don't
bring you out one Of his works.
Well, whenever / ask these people
where they got the machiEe-for always
know them by the number-it turns out
that they've bought it through an adver-
tisement or at sales-room, or maybe out
Of a pawnbroker's shop.
But I've had plenty Of honest people to
deal with, too-them as have come straight
forward and asked me to take their ma
chine back, when I'd allow them Is much
as thought fair, and 'twould be an end Of
| a pleasant transaction.
| The way have been bitten, though. BY
some folks has made me that case-hsrde1;-
ed that sometimes I've wondered WkeG6f
I've got any heart left, and the Wifi llad
to interfere, telling me I've been spoiled
with prosperity and grown unfeelimc