Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-03-09
u am very much overpaid, said.
Where are you fromy English or Anieri

"One Of the New England states"
81 never heard Of IT, You are a good re-
publican, suppose ~
~ hope so"
"Well, adieu."
felt very much inclined to kiss her. She
looked very cold and naughty, but my heart
was so very full of thankfulness that, over
coming somewhat the awe l felt took her
hand in mine and put it to my lips She did
not withdraw it,
Poor child, " she said, you do not look
more than twenty and, at your age, to be in
such troublo-it must be hard experience
for you Goodbye until tomorrow" She
gazed at me steadfastly, as If she would look
me through, and then, bowing, left me.
did not, would not, allow myself to be dis
heartened. l sat down and wrote two letters
one to my mother in Amherst, the other to
the sewing machine company in New York,
explaining my pitiful condition.
Next morning early there was a low knock
at my door. l opened it, and woman plain
ly dressed entered. She did not say word.
She placed bundle she held in her hand in
a chair, and at once went to the machine, took
up the bodice, and began sewing.
You will kindly forget the lady of yester-
day, and know Inc simply as Elise-or rather,
as Elise is French, we will say Eliza want
to learn your trede-it is a whim Of mine. DO
you think that in month could earn my
bread this way =! l offer you partnership.
can find the funds The contents of the
shop will probably be sold out and you can
buy one of the machines for me. Now, will
you take this one apart 2"
l had not a word to say. brought a screw
driver, wrench and oil-can, and loosened the
working parts of the machine. She took the
oil can and bent over the machine, studying
it. l noticed that she touched with her white
fingers all the grimy parts, until her hands
were soiled.
1T is by no means as complicated as a re-
volyer," she said
l made no comment as put the working
parts together. She sat very silent, working
lndustriously on some coarse material she had
brought with her. l sat near her, teaching
her what to do. She worked on until past
noon.
is it not time to eat something :" she said
at last.
1T is, replied Would madam partake
of my simple meal -
Madam! am Eliza-and you say your
name is Mary. Well, Mary l shall be very
glad to share your meal with you, if you will
let me. II you have not enough for two, |
will go out and buy what is wanted. l dare
say can shop better than your What shall
it be +! Will you lend me your shawl, your
furs and your overshoes =
Before l could say word she had them all
on. Then she laughed for the first time and
curtsied to me. 'Sister Mary, Sister Mary,
she cried in great glee, "our copartnership
begins day. l am to be capital and you
brains. Little sister, goodbye l shall not
be gone more than quarter of an hour l
was so astonished as to be speechless. In a
trice she was back loaded down with pack
ages. She had a loaf of bread piece of
cheese, pot Of preserves, breast of smoked
goose, some salted cucumbers Il have a
samovar, but it was too heavy for me to car
ry. The man l bought it of will bring it
here at once. 1t is a secondhand, but as
good as new. l see you have tea pot My
only two extravagancies were some good soap
and pound of the best tea. Come let US
eat. can arrange anything 1 am to wait
on you"
Then up came the man with the copper
urn and charcoal, and she made the fire and
prepared the meal. 1--WE don't drink tea out
of cups when we belong to the people, and
we are Of the people, but swallow it in tum-
blers." Though l sat down at the little table
with her ate sparingly, was so much con-
fused.
Before conclude my first days lesson,
Sister Mary, let me ask you something. Did
you ever read the Arabian Nights?' 1t is a
book l suppose all the world has read"
1T is quite well known in the United
States. All children read it and Robinson
Crusoe'"
$50 thought"
you want me TO remember Aladdin p
mo, not at all. The story l wish you to
think about is not half so pleasant. 1t is
about Sindbad the sailor and the old man ape
he could not get rid Of You are the sailor,
Sister Mary, and / am the ugly old man ape"
and she made so comical a grimace that l
could not help smiling.
Il assure you that is my character and
you never will get rid of me until you break
my head. Sister Mary, will you share your
supper with me, your bed with me to night,
your breakfast with me tomorrow not for
that day, but for the next day and the day
after that - she said this very quietly as she
took my hand in hers l was at a loss how
to reply. 1--WE are to work together for our
living-only, Sister Mary, make me proficient.
l will be so diligent"
But, Madam
mo, sister Eliza"
Sister Eliza, how is it possible that lady
Of means, whose acquaintance | made but
yesterday who awed me with her grand man
ners, her carriage, should wish to become a
sewing woman
Ask me no questions. This, however,
promise you. The story of the old man ape
is partially true, but there is limit to your
endurance. In a month from now, l swear
to you, your passage home shall be paid you,
and, besides that, there will be given you
handsome sum for you to start life with in
your own country only, for Gods sake, re-
member that Just you threw yourself on
my mercy l now throw myself on yours.
| believe you will have character and courage
| No harm will come to you. want refuge
and have found it. Teach me what you call
the tension, how to tighten the band when it
slips how to gauge the stitch, and what to
| do when the thread breaks"
Iu day l learned to love that woman.
| All the naughty, proud manner was gone
She waited on me. She was the first up in
! the morning She was always busy. The
| porter of the house evidently mistook her
for one of the two girls who had been in the
employ Of the sewing machine company, for
! one or the other Of them had often been in
my room. Some small extra compensation
was given him for the new lodger She new
er spoke save in English, and her coming to
me had been so mysterious that l felt quite
certain the porter was entirely ignorant OF
| her condition.
Certainly it worried me a great deal Mole
than once l ventured to ask for an explana-
ton, but Eliza would place her hand on my
mouth so that my speech was interrupted. II
| distressed me to see how hard she worked
for felt sure that this new life was hurting
her. ] could see that from her pallor. II
anything more than another made me fee
sorry it was for her beautiful hands. She
seemed to take infinite pains in spelling
them. They are flthy-horrible, she
would say, land still think l care for then
more than l should-if l could only get
thick, red, rough skin on them"
AS she had said, the owner of the store wal
only too glad 10 sell me machine. Elizs
furnished the money. Work came to us in 6
mysterious way-left down stairs with tn,
porter By aud by a fashionable dress
maker, who made dresses for the court la
dies, sent for me and gave me work. As
what we had to do was well sewed, and WI
were always prompt, in less than three week
we were doing good business. My com
panion, save for the daily purchases made il
the immediate neighborhood for food, neve
went out. No one called on her she neve
received letter. A few days over the montl
had passed, when one morning as 1 was run
ming up seam in piece of cloth my needle
struck something, 1t was a piece of paper
'It is for me, Sister Mary said Eliza
She took the bit of paper, held it to the stove
appeared to read something, and then Opene'
the stove door aud burned it. l did no
question her. She worked on cheerfully al