The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-24
A RUSSIAN SEWING WOMAN.

What was to doe Never was wo-
man placed in such a pitiable condition.
had been brought to Russia by a New
England sewing-machine company to
run their machines at an agency oil
theirs III street. in ST. Petersburg,
where handsome shop had been rent
ed. One blustery cold ,iay towards the
end of October | found TIE shop door
closed, and learned to my aiSmay that
our agent had disappeared and the ma
chimes had all been seized for rent and
debts. What was to be done? All the
money | had in the world WAS about
equivalent to 81. What WAS due me
had left in our agents hands, and | fell
sure it Was LOST. thought of every
thing IN the twenty-five minutes which
elapsed between my heart breaking
when / found the shop door closed and
my rapid walk To my lodging. Forth
nately my room had been hired for the
month, and had been paid for in ad-
vance. I had at least roof over T.
head for few weeks An idea sudden
" struck me. | had been making an
evening dress on the machine FOR Rus
sian ladV who spoke English. She had
some idea of bJTving a machine In or
der to expedite the work | had taken to
my room the body of her dress, and,
having machine there, had sewed on
it of nights. That machine | would GER
tainly keep; it would go very little
toward the payment of the debt the
agent owed me. | hurried home. Peg
haps there Was letter with some money
in it. There was nothing. | must lind
the ladv-but how? She had left no
address. She had hardly spoken to me-
l thought / heard her say that she
would come again, and | believed she
had fixed on this very day. There was
but one chance in thousand. | must
stand in the street and wait till she APP
peared.
l fastened back and took my position
near the shop. | scanned every woman
passing by 1t was bitterly cold and
raw. and the wind chilled me- was
faint with anxiety. Had L only known
more of the language l would have ask
ed policeman to take me to the Amer
lean consul, to the minister. | WAS in
despair. Suddenly carriage drove up,
a footman opened the door, and lady
elegantly dressed alighted. | tore
across the street; it was the Russian
lady. With my heart in my mouth
told her my pitiful story and begged her
TO help me. LII she wanted a servant,
would she try me? | had sewing ma
chine, and would make her dresses for
nothing if | could only stay with hel
until / could write TO my people AT
home; they would send me money and
/ would go back to the United States.
My words must have had but little
sense in them. Twas SO broken hearted,
for at first she hardly seemed IL under
stand me.
II was without Il friend in the world
here-a poor American woman. thou
sands of nilesffom her home
She looked steadfastly nj me. then
opened her porte-monnaie.
No, no. | said, Il want no money.
cannot beg. l was not yet SO poor rs
TO ask aims. But do YOU not remember
me? The store is closed. The man
who kept il has lun away. | showed
you the way the machine was worked"
Then she scanned me quickly; next
questioned nte sharply.
How could Young girl trust herself
alone i'll thi3 strange country? she ask
ed
Il am not alone Two other Young
women came from the United States
with me Two weeks ago they were
sent home, and the miserable man in
charge induced me To stay, promising
to give me money enough ut the end OF
next month for my trip home To the
United States Might not the police
look up the matter? l have been out
awindled.
s.The police? and my dress am | to
lose # p" the lady asked impaticntiy.
Not all CT it, The skirt is in the
shop: the body, the waist, IS in my
room, almost finished. 1t seemed to
me dreadful that in my agony She should
talk about her dress.
Where dow live?' she inquired
abruptly. | told her. Get into the
carriage. she said. did SO. When
we were off the main street she stopped
the carriage, got out with me, and we
walked to my lodgings. | opened the
door On the table was her basque. Ii
did not seem to interest her. She picked
it up, however, glanced ut it a moment,
then threw il down. She examined the
How long would il take me to be-
come proficient in working t.tis?'' she
inquired as She sat down before the nia
chine and tried the pedals. sis ii ia
tiguing?"
mo. madam. Oh, would you buy ii?
1t is mine by rights. The money for II
might help me to leave ST Petersburg"
.'How long did vou say ii would take
for me TO become proficient
Two perhaps less.
'.Wonid it disfigure my hands - She
took off her gloves, showed her we'll
cared-for hands. her fingers glittering
with rings
Your beautiful hands would hardly
be soiled -
''Well, then give me lesson at once
at once. | will pay you for your
trouble. .
l expressed my gratitude with almost
tears in my eyes. Il have no material
here-but anything will do, / said, as
l opened my trunk and took out an
apron Il viii run tuck across the
bottom--it will do no HARM
Nonsense. Take the waist and begin
ON that. =
..But it is quite finished, and any 9th
er stitching would spoil this cream-eol
ored silk .
Give it to me, said the lady, taking
up her scissors and deliberately cutting
the waist up the back.
'sNow sew me up this, = she cried. i
took it and as carefully as [ could ran
the machine, sewing up an ugly cash,
but of course the waist was spoiled.
Now / will try" and she sat down,
and under my instructions worked for
an houra She was wonderfully clever
with her fingers. and seemed to seize the
Deculiarities of the machine at once.
AT this rate of progress, madam,
you would become quite good work
$1,000, i, %a,a douc - I said aOnrOVlnOly.