Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
A Careless Word.

time she would probably have been gracious
and forbearino with tbe dressmaker'a Young
woman, Now. the least omission and care
leqsness became mapnified. in her ewes. into
a serious misdemeanor.
She stood in front of the preat. olistenino
cheyal glass. a slight. exouisitely propor.
toned figure, critically viewing the fit of
the new satin dress. exactly the color of a
beliotrope blossom. while the timid assist.
ant stood anxiously by. IL was her first ap-
pearance in the show rooms, and she was
painfully eager to please.
Doesn't III Won p" she ventured To ask,
gift me |" echoed Cbrissy. with scorn-
ful toss of her pretty younq head. "What
a question why, the dress is ruined
Where il Mrs. Golden 2 Do send some one
to me that understands her business p
So when Mrs. Golden herself at the head
of the dressmakinp establishment. hurried
in, Chrissy declared the dress was a failure
that she couldn't, wouldn't and shouldn't
wear it
al do wish, Mrs. Golden" said Miss Yer
vain, impetuously, "you wouldn't give valu-
able material like this into the hands of
such an awkward girl. Really, one would
think, in an establishment like this, you
would be little more particular p
"Indeed |" timidly spoke up the girl. al
and"
"You will favor me, Young woman, by
being silent" said Mrs. Golden, who was by
far too well versed in the ways of the world
to take the part of the weaker part "Let
me assure YOU have no idea OF losing all
my customers through your awkwardness.
Go TO the workrooms at once. Now Miss
Vervain" altering her voice to soft and
obsequious accent, off you will allow me, |
will try to ascertain whether we cannot alter
the dress to suit you."
Half an hour later Miss Vervain's car
riage, aforementioned, lined with downy
rugs and feecy foot-muffs, drove away
through the orange glitter of the December
sunset.
"Really," said Chrissy to herself, as she
leaned back and thrust her pink kidded
hands into the little seaskin muff "the
dress wasn't actually spoiled after all. That
Golden woman is quite a genius in her
way and am almost sorry spoke so pet
tishly to the little apprentice girl. But when
one is so tired one cannot always command
ones tongue"
While the glistening carriage was rolling
on noiseless springs over the aristocratic
pavement of Fifth Avenue, poor little Elsie
Emmons was hurrying down the dimly
lighted purlieus of narrow wilderness Of
lane.like streets, her veil drawn tightly over
her face, her eyes obscured by tears, until
she entered little red brick house which
stood in yard, few feet from the street.
Although it was only dusk out of doors,
it was quite dark in the low-ceiled basement
room where Mrs. Emmons, pale-faced
woman dressed in rusty black, had lust
lighted the kerosene lamp.
Mrs. Emmons looked up in surprise.
"Why, Elsie it can't be YOU 2" said she.
"Home already ? And it is not six yeti"
Elsie Emmons flung herself, sobbing, into
her mothers arms.
eyes, I'm home, MOTHER she faltered,
through her tears. "And what is more. |
never shall 90 back to Mrs. Golden's again.
I've lost nv situation. mother 1"
"Lost your situation. child" Mrs. En-.
mons stood with a face of dismay; the
schoolboy looked M from his books and ut
tered a long. low whistle: even the two lit
tie girls stopped in their busy manipula-
tions, and stared with round ewes. "And
however did that happen 2"
az don't know. mother" sobbed Elsie
otis like bad dream. There was a grand
Young lady there-one of Mrs. Golden's best
customers-and her dress didn't fit. and she
found fault with me. And Mrs. Golden
said answered her hack insolentlv. INIT in.
dred-indeed. | did not mean IL. So now
/ am discharged; and, oh. mother. what
shall we do p"
0Tbe Lord only knowsl" said DOOR Mrs.
Emmons. sinking down on a chair and dis
solved into tears. And the landlord was
here about the rent not half an hour ago,
and told him he should have it when your
quarters wages were paid. And there's the
coal merchant and the grocer, and the suit
that Billy ought to have"
0Neyer mind" yaliantly smoke M Billy.
am do well enough. with patch or two
extra. But that cross old landlord means
business, and there isn't peck of coal in
the bin. And it's too bad about Elsie's sit
uatiop, | declare but don't fret, sis.
Maybe you'll get another"
ats not likely," said Mrs Emmons. de-
spairingly-" with no reference from the last
employer, and winter setting in. lido think
we are the unluckiest people in the world"
Miss yervain was sitting in her paiy dec
GRATED little Japanese boudoir where the
anthracite fire sent IN its shooting spires of
flame. and the scarlet birds warbied fitfully
in the sunshine-and Mr.. Dent. the assistant
rector of the parish was with her.
MVisit a sick nerson OF course 7 will |"
said Cbrissv. cbeerilv. {" Pm ALWAYS anxious
to do ali the good | can"
And the little girl really meant il. She
was a good hearted Girl in the main. and her
brief yisitations of ill-temper were quickly
over. Nor need we saw that she had long
since forgotten the little episode of the iii.
fitting heliotrope satin dress.
So Chrissy Veryain wrote down the ad-
dress on one of the perfumed cards. and that
afternoon set forth on her mission of mercy.
n was tall. dismal looking tenement
house. and Chrissy had to INQUIRE her way
mn staircase after staircase. until she reached
acramned and close SMELLING IttIa room
the door of which was opened by pallid,
elderIv woman.
"Is this Mrs Emmons ?" said Cbr;ssv
pleasantly. 81 have called 10 ask what |
can do for vour sick daughter madam NJ
dent sent me"
I" It's NOT much anvone can do for her in
this world" said Mrs. Emmons with a sun-
pressed sob in her voice, 0You will please
excuse the room miss It,s a MOOR rIace
bnt we are moor people. NV danghter Iost
her nlace three months apo. and we have
been running down steadily ever since. She
was in a dressmaker's Mace. miss and one Of
the fine lady customers-God forgive her
comnlained and found fault. and he madam
dismissed her lust as the winter set in and
sbe loaf her heart m;ss--Flsie did-and w.
r,o,ad ~, a met a., Co. Tho londIoud ,,o,Ia,,